11/05/24
March 09, 2004
The dream draw...: For a Sunderland Millwall Tranmere fan anyway. The FA Cup semis will pit Arsenal v Man Utd and Sunderland against either Millwall or Tranmere - Ensuring a Nationwide league team a place in the final (and with it a place in next year's UEFA cup). Haway the lads!
Go Tranmere!
posted by worldcup2002 at 09:53 AM on March 09, 2004
Tranmere all the way! Watch out Gunners!
posted by billsaysthis at 11:27 AM on March 09, 2004
Seriously, I'm curious for one of our Englishers to tell me if any of Sunderland, Millwall or Tranmere are geographically close to Manchester. If not, why is the semi-final match there?
posted by billsaysthis at 11:28 AM on March 09, 2004
The semi-finals are always at a neutral ground. Arsenal and Man Utd are playing at Villa Park in Birmingham. Sunderland is in the North East, Millwall in London so they're both about 150 - 200 miles from Manchester. I suppose Hillsborough would be better geographically (it's where I saw Sunderland beat Norwich in the '92 semi) but Old Trafford can fit in 30k more fans than almost anywere else. Tranmere, btw, is just over the Mersey from Liverpool, and so the closest of all (30 miles or so...) And Sunderland are still smarting from the last time they played Tranmere in the FA Cup - Cheats!
posted by Brettski at 11:42 AM on March 09, 2004
The semi is at Old Trafford because its the biggest stadium in England. Tranmere are from Merseyside, so they're nearby. Millwall are London, so they aren't, and Sunderland are from the North West, so they aren't either, but if it was Millwall v Sunderland, Old trafford would be about the same distance from each. Not that the FA ever give a shit about how fans are actually expected to get to matches.
posted by dng at 11:44 AM on March 09, 2004
Oh, Brettski beat me to it. He also didn't fuck up Sunderlands location like I did (a typo, not ignorance, honest)
posted by dng at 11:45 AM on March 09, 2004
Thanks for reminding me that Tranmere is the "other" football team on Merseyside (oh, yes, and Everton, too - hah!). Now I am truly, truly behind the underdogs. Go Rovers!
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:10 PM on March 09, 2004
Boy did I make a lucky guess above!
posted by billsaysthis at 05:07 PM on March 09, 2004
dng - as long as you didn't say that Sunderland is in Newcastle that's ok......
posted by Brettski at 03:54 AM on March 10, 2004
At least Arsenal may finally draw a non-premier league opponent... if they reach the final. I know I'm a fan, but its been quite a remarkable run for them. Of course, I'm pulling for Division 2 Tranmere to make it as well (I'm thinking their fans would show as much class and spirit as Portsmouth's). It may not help the bars break even on covering the FA cup, but it would be a heckuva lot of fun.