Semi-final draw: City v Arsenal 3pm Sunday confirmed

[Pablo ZZZ Peroni]

But we did last year when we sent the youngsters out against Chelsea.
Arsenal will have a full weeks rest but we could have a big champions league game midweek.
For me it has to be Sunday IF we progress tonight.

100% agree that Sunday is optimal for the team.

Minimum for physical recovery is 72 hours. If we get through and are playing the 2nd leg of CL on the Wednesday night (particularly if away) you are eating in to the 72 hours. Add to that the potentially mentally draining impact of a big CL game and it is a recipe for disaster IMO. Also, the extra day of actual preparation for the Arsenal game is invaluable.

We looked knackered against Stoke and that was 3 days after the Sunderland game and they had an extra day and obv not as many games in their legs.

 

[cibaman]

I would have thought the big question is which time slot gets biggest viewers 5 on Sat or 4 on Sunday. I would then imagine the Chelsea Spurs game will get that time as I bet they think that gets more viewers and we get the other. Totally irrelevant whether fans can get there or what is best for us re Champs Lge

Apparently the 5.15/5.30 slot on Saturday is popular with the broadcasters because many viewers stay tuned to that channel for the rest of the evening. Too lazy to operate the remote.

 

[Eds]

Apparently the 5.15/5.30 slot on Saturday is popular with the broadcasters because many viewers stay tuned to that channel for the rest of the evening. Too lazy to operate the remote.

And of course it isn't too late for the Asian market or too early for the USA to watch not that the FA would even consider that a factor into the kick off times. And there is no reason why they can't kick off at 3.00pm is there?

 

[Tarzan41]

Well it did last year when we put our youth side out against Chelsea..

As if that would matter the FA is what that means

 

[M18CTID]

And of course it isn't too late for the Asian market or too early for the USA to watch not that the FA would even consider that a factor into the kick off times. And there is no reason why they can't kick off at 3.00pm is there?

3pm Saturday blackout - no live games allowed to be broadcast in England on a Saturday between 2.45pm and 5.15pm unless there is no league programme.

 

[its grim up north]

3pm Saturday blackout - no live games allowed to be broadcast in England on a Saturday between 2.45pm and 5.15pm unless there is no league programme.

So the actual final will be at 3 pm on a Saturday, but wait a minute in 2011 we played at 3 pm on a Saturday whilst a full prem league programme was on???

 

[M18CTID]

So the actual final will be at 3 pm on a Saturday, but wait a minute in 2011 we played at 3 pm on a Saturday whilst a full prem league programme was on???

The FA Cup final was the only exception but even that isn't broadcast at 3pm on a Saturday these days. In any case, the "blackout" was primarily to protect attendances at games in the lower divisions. When we played Stoke in the 2011 final, it was after the regular Football League season had ended and there were only 4 PL games that day (one was Blackburn v United which was an early kick-off on TV) plus a couple of play-off matches in the lower divisions (which I'm guessing would've been televised anyway)

 

[borassic]

Anyone know how many tickets we can get per card ?

 

[BringBackSwales]

Anyone know how many tickets we can get per card ?

ONE, unless you are in a supporters club

 

[Carver]

Wembly pitch size is 115 yd (105 m) long by 75 yd (69 m) wide, our pitch is 115 x 74...

UEFA and the FA have attempted to standardise pitch sizes wherever possible at 105m x 68m. It is a requirement for UEFA competitions and FA premier league for the pitch to be this dimension except where it cannot be this large due to physical restrictions (tough shit stoke, ok Chelsea and Liverpool).
Despite websites out there giving different dimensions Wembley is the same, 105m x 68m, because the FA are one of the organisations driving this standardisation.