FA CUP Semi-Final - Venue/Date confirmed

[Motterman]

United and Arsenal

Arsenal and Manchester United will now face each other on consecutive weekends, with the pair due to play in the Premiership on 28 March.

FA Cup tie is on April 4th

[Potomac Red Devil]

I think it's better to play them now than in the final.
By the time the FA cup final rolls around, Arsenal may be fielding reserve sides in their EPL matches.

Still, I am not happy to be playing them, as I think they are arguably playing the best football of any side in the world right now, and they have a chip on their shoulder which has our name on it.

Still, one advantage we may have is that the 4-5-1 may match up well against Arsenal, as we drew them 0-0 at Old Trafford playing the same formation earlier this year.

And playing them at Highbury the week before may have its benefits, as we can probably play a 4-4-2 against them on the 28th, and change things up the next weekend. It will also allow SAF to experiment with a lineup because the FA Cup has to be our focus now (of course Arsenal can do the same thing).

[Motterman]

We are apparently playing this tie at Villa Park.

It's a decent enough pitch and venue, and being centrally located in England (Birmingham) we both will travel some to get there....

We have to beat Arsenal to win the cup. I don't think it matters all that much when we have to face them....

[Its only Ray Parlour]

Lets get it on. Happy with the draw really. I don't think playing eachother in the Final would be much of an enjoyable experience until the 90mins were up anyway. I prefer it this way. And we can finally lay a certain ghost to rest. ;)

[Its only Ray Parlour]

It's also conceivable that we could play you 4 times in the space of 2 weeks if we draw you in the CL quarters as well. How about that? :)

[Achtung]

We knew we'd have to play Arsenal eventually anyways. This will be as good a match as any, and personally I'm up for the challenge. Arsenal are playing extremely well right now, and if we want silverware this season, we'll have to raise our level of play.

Interestingly enough, this draw also means that one of either Millwall, Tranmere, or Sunderland will also reach the FA Cup final. When was the last time a Division 2 club made it to the final?

[SpeedyGonzalez]

its better to loose semi final to them than final.......................if we loose... CUM ON LETS BE CONFIDENT WE ARE TALKING WITH SO LITTLE CONFIDENCE NOW ITS HORRIBLE...........................................................CUM ON UNITED WE BEAT THEM BEFORE IN A SEMI FINAL AT VILLA PARK......REMENBER GIGGSY.......................................

[Its only Ray Parlour]

I think Wimbledon were in the old Division 2 when they beat Liverpool in the final over a decade ago. Not only that but they'll also definately be playing in the UEFA Cup next season because Arsenal (or Man U) will have secured a CL spot already. Imagine Millwall or Tranmere in Europe ahead of Spurs....*S************* :D

[phishy]

I wonder how up for it you lot will be... your only chance at silverware... so maybe that should provide the drive... but, then again, manyoo care's about this competition so much they dropped out as holders.. so go figure... care to drop out this year? lol


game on.. should be fun~~

phishy~

[Motterman]

Just found out I am travelling that day, so I'll miss the game. Lovely. http://pages.prodigy.net/rogerlori1/emoticons/cry6.gif

[johno]

Arsenal is by no means unbeatable... beating Portsmouth 5-1 after exchanging blows with Celta does not make them the best club in the world in terms of form. However, things are indeed clicking for them...

We still have a major advantage in this game...
the majority of our players know what victory and success are, whereas Arsenals players will remember last year's collapse. Players like Giggs, Scholes, Ruud, and OGS know what its like to win when the game is all but over, so when this season is all but over, they know that there is much to be salvaged... I have don't have hope, I have expectations, and at the end of the day, win or lose, I know that my boys, the team I support will leave it all on the field... I fully expect this game to be won by 2 clear goals and that the match will probably involve 4 goals or more... I think it would be a great time for some of Ole's magic potion.

[bigtoga]

Originally posted by its_only_ray_parlour
I don't think playing eachother in the Final would be much of an enjoyable experience until the 90mins were up anyway. lol - I can sympathize/understand.

Originally posted by its_only_ray_parlour
It's also conceivable that we could play you 4 times in the space of 2 weeks if we draw you in the CL quarters as well. How about that? :) How about five times in 3 weeks? What if we tie in the FA Cup tie? Will it go to a reply or PKs/Golden Goal? I don't know the rules for the competition so if someone could chime in here...

And what about the UEFA Cl rules? I know that in this round, two teams from the same league could not have met each other. What about the round of eight though? Again, don't know the rules so help me out, please.

[Motterman]

Originally posted by bigtoga
How about five times in 3 weeks? What if we tie in the FA Cup tie? Will it go to a replay or PKs/Golden Goal?

Giggs' wonder goal against Arsenal came in a FA Cup Semi-Final Replay.

[USsupport]

Originally posted by bigtoga
What if we tie in the FA Cup tie? Will it go to a reply or PKs/Golden Goal? I don't know the rules for the competition so if someone could chime in here...



as far as I know no more replays of the semi final, so it should be extra time then GG and/or PKs

[yossarian]

Originally posted by mtkillamanjohno
Arsenal is by no means unbeatable... beating Portsmouth 5-1 after exchanging blows with Celta does not make them the best club in the world in terms of form. However, things are indeed clicking for them...

We still have a major advantage in this game...
the majority of our players know what victory and success are, whereas Arsenals players will remember last year's collapse. Players like Giggs, Scholes, Ruud, and OGS know what its like to win when the game is all but over, so when this season is all but over, they know that there is much to be salvaged... I have don't have hope, I have expectations, and at the end of the day, win or lose, I know that my boys, the team I support will leave it all on the field... I fully expect this game to be won by 2 clear goals and that the match will probably involve 4 goals or more... I think it would be a great time for some of Ole's magic potion.

I'm sure last year's collapse is very much on the minds of many Arsenal players but why would that give United an advantage in this FA Cup match? I could just as easily argue that Arsenal beating United at Old Trafford last year to knock them out of the FA Cup could weigh on the United players' minds.

[Coach_McGuirk]

Originally posted by mtkillamanjohno
<snip>We still have a major advantage in this game...
the majority of our players know what victory and success are, whereas Arsenals players will remember last year's collapse. Players like Giggs, Scholes, Ruud, and OGS know what its like to win when the game is all but over, so when this season is all but over, they know that there is much to be salvaged... <snip>

Not to state the obvious, but Arsenal's players sure as hell know all about victory and success in the FA Cup.

This is going to be one hell of a match, regardless of the outcome.

[Sofabloke]

Well, we all love the game because of the excitement and it doesn't get more exciting than this. Your form is better than ours, however most Arsenal fans agree that the last semi was one of the most hurtfull games.

Will any of this matter? Nope. Cup games are one offs and form tends to go out the window as does history. Probably a tight game for the neutral but one hulluva game tension wise. Always some big incidents when we play each other ;)

[AmericanGunner]

Lots of interesting things going on. The game will come amidst a rough 2 week spell for us. Playing you guys Mar. 28 and April 4, then a CL quarter on April 7th, then Liverpool on the 10th and Newcastle on the 12th. Could make or break our season. If we lose our form then.

On the other hand it could take our minds off the fa cup if we win and if we can win 1 and draw 2 of the 3 league games (and I'd hope the draw would be against you guys. It wouldn't be bad off and leave us with enough points to keep a good cushion.

The potential bad thing for you guys is that Saha is cup tied. He'll be in the league though. Also, Scholes will miss one of the games due to suspension. Hopefully for us it will be the cup game.

If you guys are out of the CL then it puts a lot of pressure on us for the cup game. As we'll have a quarter final game and no rest and you guys will have the cup only to play for and it will be played like a final.

[mixmastermatt]

giggs goal in the semis was fantastic

so was his miss last season..... ive got it if anyone wants to see it...... so good!

it'll be a great game and i fully expect the winner of this to win the cup!

[bigtoga]

Originally posted by Motterman
Giggs' wonder goal against Arsenal came in a FA Cup Semi-Final Replay. Originally posted by USsupport
as far as I know no more replays of the semi final, so it should be extra time then GG and/or PKs Hmmmmmm - who's right?