FA Cup Semifinal Draw

[kwik1980]

Arsenal-Manchester United
Sunderland-Millwall/Tranmere

So, a Nationwide League team is guaranteed a spot in the final, and, barring a spectacular collapse down the stretch by either Arsenal, or Man. U, a spot in next seasons UEFA Cup. The matches will be played the weekend of April 3-4. According to the official Manchester United website, the Sunderland-Millwall/Tranmere tie will be played at Old Trafford, and Arsenal-Man. U goes off at Villa Park.

[Scouse]

worst possible draw in my opinion. disappointing.

[kwik1980]

Ideally, you'd want Arsenal-Man. U in the final, but with the runs made by the lower division teams, it's nice that one will be able to go all the way to Cardiff, and is almost guaranteed a spot in European competition next season. And imagine if Tranmere finishes their run, and makes it to Cardiff, as a mid-table 2nd Division team. Nice little David vs. Goliath story in the final.

[Scouse]

Originally posted by kwik1980
And imagine if Tranmere finishes their run, and makes it to Cardiff, as a mid-table 2nd Division team. Nice little David vs. Goliath story in the final. yeah, and it will be over by half-time.

[voros]

If Tranmere were to pull off getting into the final and thereby making a big stack of cash off that and then the cash from the UEFA cup, what kind of ramifications would this have for them in terms of making a promotion push in 2004/2005?

Obviously most clubs who get a sudden unexpected influx of cash use a great chunk of it to pay off debts, but how much of a springboard could this be for Tranmere?

[kwik1980]

I would think "at least we were there" counts for something too. Outside of the top clubs who are in contention for trophies on a year-in, year-out basis, what has Tranmere won lately? Or Millwall, or Sunderland for that matter? Let them get to the final, let the fans and players experience the day, and at the end, Arsenal or Manchester United will go back to the Premiership and the Champions league, and the other supporters and players have this great achievement to look back on, and likely some games in Europe as well.

[DennisM]

I actually prefer this. It's the same old clubs each year in the finals. It was nice last year with the Blades doing so well. Very close to making it to the final. I hope the Arsenal v Manchester United match will not be at noon or some early time. Let's hope they wait until 3. That would be good. Go Rovers. Good luck.

[Boro_lad]

COME ON TRANMERE

hate sunlun, hate millwall. tranmere are my only hope!

[kevruth]

I just wonder if Tranmere were to get that UEFA Cup spot if UEFA would force them to play their home matches at another venue? I don't know what their stadium capacity is but I know UEFA have moved some smaller Eastern European's clubs matches to larger stadiums.

[The Truth Commission]

Originally posted by kevruth
I just wonder if Tranmere were to get that UEFA Cup spot if UEFA would force them to play their home matches at another venue? I don't know what their stadium capacity is but I know UEFA have moved some smaller Eastern European's clubs matches to larger stadiums.

Prenton Park holds 16,587, and is all-seater. It'd be just fine for a European match.

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/europe/united_kingdom/england/north_west/birkenhead_prenton.shtml

[NJMackem]

Originally posted by Scouse
worst possible draw in my opinion. disappointing.

I do not agree (ok I am a Sunderland fan and biased)...

Yes a Man Yoo vs Arsenal final would have been great... But this is now all about the romance of the cup. For some of these players this will be their only chance of getting to Cardiff/Wembley, also for some of these fans..

I have seen a lot of both Man Utd and Arsenal, but I really would like to see a smaller club win the cup this year, even if it is not Sunderland...

[DennisM]

Great. So the Manchester United-Arsenal match is slated for 1:00 PM local time on the 4th of April which is a Sunday. So if a person doesn't want to get up early and see it at a pub or someplace it will be on for the regular PPV games 3 hours later. However, that is the same time of the Sunderland v Millwall/Rovers match. Can't win. Taping at home while going to a pub at the same time. Anyway, I have a question for everbody. My Cable provider shows the EPL Sunday match twice with the second showing beginning at 1:30. However, I've tried to order it then but it never works. What a bummer. Why is that? It would be great. You can find out the score and decided whether or not you want to buy it ahead of time.

[John Boy]

Originally posted by kevruth
I just wonder if Tranmere were to get that UEFA Cup spot if UEFA would force them to play their home matches at another venue? I don't know what their stadium capacity is but I know UEFA have moved some smaller Eastern European's clubs matches to larger stadiums.

Prenton Park held a UEFA Cup match in 1998, between Shelbourne and Rangers.

[DennisM]

That's odd. They should have tried a stadium in Shelbourne's home country like Lansdowne Road. Maybe because that would have been too much capacity but still that's ironic.

[schafer]

I would love to see Tranmere in the final, and have a fellow Canadian (Iain Hume) playing against Manchester United or Arsenal, and then in Europe next year.

That being said, neither Sunderland, Millwall or Tranmere could compete at that level, and it would probably just be embarassing for them.