Semi Final

[Sydney Rovers]

Also for fans in Australia, SBS will be showing both semi finals live!

[Duff's Minder]

no way they will move from Cardiff. acc to my brother at the FA the Milennium stadium owe the FA money which is why they are doing the semi's there on the cheap.

[thenodrog]

Can vouch for the above.

For the Worthy final I avoided the motorways and approached Cardiff down the valleys from the north (came through Caerphilly I think). Went home the same way. No problems at all.

Parked in the city centre near the university right outside a pleasant pub and only five minutes walk from the ground.

Thank you you two for ensuring that our little secret is no more! I stayed for the presentation and a bit, dropped the wife and kids off at home and still got back to the West View by 9.30. And we weren't the first back to the pub either!

ps I seem to rem undertaking some ancient nissan sunny parked in the outside lane at high speed too! It probably caused severe delays for some of the people leaving later .

[1864roverite]

You dont have to drive anywhere near Cardiff to avoid congestion.

drive to Caldicott and get the train in.

it cost £5.50 and takes 30 minutes, a train every 25 minutes

[evukovic]

Sydney Rovers Posted on Mar 15 2005, 09:11

Also for fans in Australia, SBS will be showing both semi finals live! 

You beauty! About bloody time, I'll have the wife packed up, the fridge full of cold ones and doctors number on speed dial at the ready for my impending sickie...

Can't wait. Go you blues!

[CAPT KAYOS]

Channel 4 News reported this evening that our game is on the Saturday. That's 2 sources now, so think we can just about take it as fact

I'll believe it when it's on the FA's web-site. Channel 4 may just be saying that because we were drawn out first.

Its possible, my better half said to me it had said we where playing on Saturday on the ews but she couldn't remember which.

However, on Radio Lancs last night, a BBC spokesman said a decision will not be made until later this week nad is all dependent upon Newcastle and their involvement in the UEFA Cup.

To me this reads, that they definitely had MU pencilled in for the Saturday game, otherwise why wait and just do as normal where whoever plays in Europe plays on the Sunday.

Anybody have any link for the Mu representative - tempted to send him a mail in agreement and my feelings.

As for getting out of Cardiff - we did the same except we caught the train in from Newport which is excellent getting in - but a nightmare after the match.

[cravenblue]

will we find out today who is showing our game. i know its likely to be sky on th esunday but i'm living in hope it will be on the saturday

[Hughesy]

Why on brfcs home page does it say that melbourne rovers are meeting to watch on the saturday. Has it been confirmed that its on then??

[Alan75]

Because we play Arsenal in the league on SATURDAY 19th MARCH

[SuperStella]

I dont expect any decision to be made until Thursday night after the Newcastle game in uefa cup. The 2nd leg of the next round of the uefa cup is on April 14th (Thursday), therefore, if Newcastle progress - they are sure to play on the Sunday.

From uefa.com - Quarter-finals : 07 & 14 April 2005

[CAPT KAYOS]

WTF is going on??????????????????????????????????

SEMI FINAL

[cravenblue]

as much as i hate to agree with manure fans the games shouldnt be played in cardiff. i dont think there will be many people who disagree, despite which team they support

[Hughesy]

Because we play Arsenal in the league on SATURDAY 19th MARCH

Ahh i see. Sorry on passing it wquickly i just automatically thought, of the semi final

[Paul]

The article from This is London is full of contradictions:

The kick-off time will be noon, for safety reasons. The FA are aware that many fans of Manchester United and Newcastle will converge on Cardiff late afternoon or early evening on the Saturday.

They want to eliminate the potential hazard of thousands of supporters of all four clubs in the city at the same time.

By giving Arsenal a noon start the match should be finished, even allowing for extra-time and possible penalties, some time before 3pm.

That will give both Arsenal and Blackburn followers adequate time to leave Cardiff before the first arrivals of Newcastle and Manchester fans.

With a later kick-off, there is the potential for disorder and the FA's strategy has always been to make the safety of the supporters paramount.

There is no way Arsenal and Rovers fans would be clear of the city before the Utds arrive. Absolute rubbish and the potential for more chaos.

[SuperStella]

noon kick off?!?!!?

B*STARDS!!

[SouthAussieRover]

WTF is going on??????????????????????????????????

SEMI FINAL

From a purely selfish point of view I'd prefer the midday kick off as it means it would be on at decent hour here rather the middle of the morning

[Jim J]

WTF is going on??????????????????????????????????

SEMI FINAL

So, not only do we have to travel 200+ miles, we have to get there for a 12 o'clock kick off.

There avin a larf

[SuperStella]

Absolutely disgraceful!!!!

LIVID

[SouthAussieRover]

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/...CER_FA_Cup.html

Or possibly Saturday evening kick off though I doubt it given the amount of booze that would be consumed beforehand.

[CAPT KAYOS]

The article from This is London is full of contradictions:

The kick-off time will be noon, for safety reasons. The FA are aware that many fans of Manchester United and Newcastle will converge on Cardiff late afternoon or early evening on the Saturday.

They want to eliminate the potential hazard of thousands of supporters of all four clubs in the city at the same time.

By giving Arsenal a noon start the match should be finished, even allowing for extra-time and possible penalties, some time before 3pm.

That will give both Arsenal and Blackburn followers adequate time to leave Cardiff before the first arrivals of Newcastle and Manchester fans.

With a later kick-off, there is the potential for disorder and the FA's strategy has always been to make the safety of the supporters paramount.

There is no way Arsenal and Rovers fans would be clear of the city before the Utds arrive. Absolute rubbish and the potential for more chaos.

Possible Paul but you never know with the FA.

I agree and who is to say many wouldn't be staying anyway - in addition the likelihood is they would probably all be arriving earlier anyway to sample the atmosphere.

Wherever the information is from there must hav e been some rumblings somewhere as this is also on the Arsenal World MB

[DP]

As long as they keep the games at Cardiff there's going to be problems whenever the ko is.

Midday ko means fans risk missing the start. Late afternoon ko means too many drunken fans.

3 o'clock on both days will probably work but with TV licensing laws that rules out the Sat game.

Looking at it from all angles, I expect the games to remain in Cardiff (although that's obvious) with a 3/4 o'clock ko on the Sunday and a lunchtime ko on the Saturday - leaving Rovers fans the only ones with the short straw.

[CAPT KAYOS]

leaving Rovers fans the only ones with the short straw.

Think the Geordies will have a shorter one whatever the circumstances

[Hughesy]

If you want a room for the friday then Ring Cardiff Ocean Park. Its around 1 1/2 miles from the centre and they still have some double rooms - 0870 197 7050

[DanLad]

"They want to eliminate the potential hazard of thousands of supporters of all four clubs in the city at the same time."

Why did they put the games in the same city over the same weekend, then?

Stupid people.

[den]

Quotes from the FA, saying the ties will be played at Cardiff and no decision will be made about times until after Newcastle's game in europe.

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