Time for the FA to stop poluting the environment and costing fans money

[Giraffe]

I was talking to a Luton fan today and he was saying how absolutely ridiculous it is that Luton and Wimbledon to have to go all the way to Manchester to play their play off final when they could play the game at Arsenal, Tottenham or something.

We had the ridiculous spectacle of both Manchester teams going to Wembley for the FA Cup Semi Final as well.

The FA Cup Final aside why can't the FA chose the venue after the teams are known.

For green reasons alone this has to make sense.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

They have to plan these things way in advance, because of other matches, pitch maintenance, travel considerations, staffing costs. It really isn't a case of "oh, two Southern teams have made it to the final, let's swap it to somewhere else".

Both teams knew the score when they got into the play offs, if they don't want to go to Manchester they could always forfeit the game.

The BSP final is this Sunday, the competing teams were only known as of this week. Doesn't leave a lot of time to choose a venue, arrange staff and everything else involved.

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

They have to plan these things way in advance, because of other matches, pitch maintenance, travel considerations, staffing costs. It really isn't a case of "oh, two Southern teams have made it to the final, let's swap it to somewhere else".

Both teams knew the score when they got into the play offs, if they don't want to go to Manchester they could always forfeit the game.

The BSP final is this Sunday, the competing teams were only known as of this week. Doesn't leave a lot of time to choose a venue, arrange staff and everything else involved.

Surely its about time they had at least 1 back up venue for these situations.

 

[Giraffe]

They have to plan these things way in advance, because of other matches, pitch maintenance, travel considerations, staffing costs. It really isn't a case of "oh, two Southern teams have made it to the final, let's swap it to somewhere else".

Both teams knew the score when they got into the play offs, if they don't want to go to Manchester they could always forfeit the game.

The BSP final is this Sunday, the competing teams were only known as of this week. Doesn't leave a lot of time to choose a venue, arrange staff and everything else involved.

I just think that's all a load of bollocks though. Surely they could line two venues or even three if needed.

 

[beorhthelm]

I just think that's all a load of bollocks though. Surely they could line two venues or even three if needed.

and pay two lots of fees, hire two lots of staff, police, etc. top idea.

 

[Giraffe]

and pay two lots of fees, hire two lots of staff, police, etc. top idea.

Has to be cheaper than 40,000 lots of coach or train travel!!

 

[GT49er]

Has to be cheaper than 40,000 lots of coach or train travel!!

Yes, but the FA won't be paying for the 40,000 fans to travel, so it's fine by them! High time they stopped having the FA Cup finals at Wembley, though - book Villa Park and Old Trafford, and then let geographical considerations decide which semi-final is played where.

 

[Giraffe]

Yes, but the FA won't be paying for the 40,000 fans to travel, so it's fine by them! High time they stopped having the FA Cup finals at Wembley, though - book Villa Park and Old Trafford, and then let geographical considerations decide which semi-final is played where.

Agreed. Although can't see why they cant do the same for other finals other than the FA Cup Final.

 

[melias shoes]

Unfortunately wembley has to be paid for and holding the semifinal at wembley is going to happen for the foreseeable future . I preferred it when the semis were held elsewhere but it's a case of needs must.

 

[Southover Street Seagull]

Has anyone on this thread actually considered it might have nothing to do with the Football Association? I think you'll find that where the final is played is decided by the Conference just like the Football League playoffs are decided by the Football League.

 

[El Presidente]

They should have done the same for the World Cup final too and held it in Belgium last year once they knew the finalists

 

[Giraffe]

They should have done the same for the World Cup final too and held it in Belgium last year once they knew the finalists

I know you're taking the piss, but actually you're right. Given where players and supporters come from Europe and South America are the only two continents that should host the world cup finals.

 

[Albalbion]

not play the final at wembley?? what sort of sacrilege is this!?!

 

[drew]

Yes, but the FA won't be paying for the 40,000 fans to travel, so it's fine by them! High time they stopped having the FA Cup finals at Wembley, though - book Villa Park and Old Trafford, and then let geographical considerations decide which semi-final is played where.

not play the final at wembley?? what sort of sacrilege is this!?!

I think in his excitement he forgot to add the word 'semi'. I hope so as any fan that thinks the Final itself shouldn't be at wembley isn't really a football fan.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

As far as the play-off final is concerned, it should be played at the home ground of the team that finished higher in the league. It's only fair that some reward is given to a team that, over the season, has been better than its opponents.

 

[ROSM]

In the good old days when the team who just missed relegation would be involved with the 3 teams who just missed out on promotion, the play off final would be two legged affairs. We had the great sight of Middlesbrough beating Chelsea over two legs so that Boro went up and Chelsea went down from what is now the Premier league. The boys from west London took defeat on their home patch so well that day!

 

[chimneys]

As far as the play-off final is concerned, it should be played at the home ground of the team that finished higher in the league. It's only fair that some reward is given to a team that, over the season, has been better than its opponents.

Couldnt see it working. Take 2004- presume we would have been given half the stadium/10k tickets at Ashton Gate, thereby depriving a lot of City fans of watching their team. Or if reduced capacity for us-say 1 stand/5k seats for Albion- would have deprived the other 25k who made the trip to Cardiff-the memory of which for some will have cemented their love for the Albion and will have influenced some on their decision to buy a seat at Falmer.

If the team in the playoff final is that much better to deserve favour, it would have gone up automatically! I think the playoff format works fine.

 

[cuthbert]

Going to Wembley for Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool fans may get boring, but for the rest of us it's a great day out.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Couldnt see it working. Take 2004- presume we would have been given half the stadium/10k tickets at Ashton Gate, thereby depriving a lot of City fans of watching their team. Or if reduced capacity for us-say 1 stand/5k seats for Albion- would have deprived the other 25k who made the trip to Cardiff-the memory of which for some will have cemented their love for the Albion and will have influenced some on their decision to buy a seat at Falmer.

If the team in the playoff final is that much better to deserve favour, it would have gone up automatically! I think the playoff format works fine.

But that is still rewarding teams who failed. They get a big payday and their fans get a big day out at a prestigious stadium.

What did Albion fans get at the end of this season? A day out at Notts County.

FC United got to the play off final of their league. Where did they play it? Away at their opponents' ground at Colwyn Bay. The Seagulls won, btw.

 

[El Presidente]

I know you're taking the piss, but actually you're right. Given where players and supporters come from Europe and South America are the only two continents that should host the world cup finals.

I'm not actually taking the piss, just taking the point to a logical extension.