And people still don't get why managers complain about the Europa League.
People don't notice generally but in this case it was Mourinho - he's not allowed to bring these issues up (even when he's asked a direct question by a journalist) ;-)
It really is stark when you see it written down , there could also be 2 finals for UTD post season (although with this heavy load its unlikely)
Mourhino is right to raise this issue and the PL should really look at avoiding this in future somehow.
Stick 2 fingers up to UEFA and play when we want to
The Premier League, as part of the EPFL, are a signatory to the memorandum of understanding with UEFA that restricts the scheduling of top-tier domestic games opposite the Champions League.
In other words, it's not a UEFA diktat, but an agreement between the parties concerned.
The MoU is due to expire on March 15th, but could be replaced by a new one.
Schedule 2 extra League midweek rounds between August- December
Scrap the league cup.
.
While I wouldn't scrap the League Cup, I would consider only making it open to those not in European competition.
This would free up a bit of space in the match calendar for a couple of extra midweeks and make the possibility of THAT winter break a little more realistic.
Bringing forward Southampton v Crystal Palace from the midweek fixtures on Tuesday 4th April/Wednesday 5th April to the Quarter Final weekend, would not actually help with any of the other fixtures to be rearranged, but nevertheless could be done for the benefit of both clubs.
As far as some of the other rearrangements, I think it is obvious that the Premier League are waiting to see which teams get through in Europe, and the FA Cup.
Looking at the last 2 seasons, I think the April Premier League TV fixtures were released the last Friday of February. If that happens again, it will be this Friday 24th. The same day as the Europa R16 draw.
For the Man Utd rearranged games, is there any chance they use the second weekend in April to schedule 2 Man Utd games? Friday April 7 and Monday April 10 for Sunderland(a) and the rearranged Southampton(a) games both on Sky? This seems doable as they play the Tuesday 4th and Thursday 13th(should they reach Europa QF) before and after this weekend, meaning 3 days are given between each game, and as another member pointed out earlier in this thread, it appears to be the only weekend this could happen.
Then the Manchester Derby can be Wednesday April 26. I dont think Man Utd would want to play City in the last midweek as it would mean they would have league games 35, 36, 37 in a row against Arsenal(a), Tottenham(a) and City(a) (plus a potential Europa SF L2 which may also be away) - a possibility of 3 or 4 tough away games in a row in the space of 10 days just before the final league game.
Then if United beat Chelsea in the FA Cup QF, their rearranged game from FA Cup SF weekend - Burnley(a) - can be played the last free midweek of Wednesday May 17.
If United lose to Chelsea in the FA Cup QF they could then change the rearranged Southampton(a) game again to the final midweek, rather than play the doubleheader April weekend, or keep it the same, and have the last midweek free in a very difficult part of the schedule with tough away games.
As the TV fixtures will perhaps be released at the end of this week, I think they need to initially use that April 7-10 weekend to schedule 2 Man Utd games now, just in case they make the SF of both cups...to avoid United possibly needing to play 4 league games the last week - something like Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday/Friday, Sunday.
I would be interested to hear from others about this...Chelsea at home are favourites to win the FA Cup tie over Man Utd, and if Chelsea win it then Uniteds fixture issues go away...however, is it smart to initially have 2 Man Utd games scheduled April 7 and 10 now if its possible and the teams and Sky are ok with it, to avoid a potential brutal last week for United, or should they schedule games with the mindset of its unlikely United actually reach the SF of both cups and if they do then they will have to put up with the 4 league games in the last week?
Personally, I think the PL has to offer Man Utd and the Southampton the option of using Friday 7 April for the Southampton game. Whatever happens in the Chelsea v Man Utd tie, one of Man Utd or Southampton will have three games to rearrange. Obviously this is potentially a bigger problem for Man Utd, but I don't think we should assume that there won't be issues with UEFA midweeks for the Southampton games.
On the TV front I think Sky have their work cut out to show all of the rearranged games at separate times. It'll be interesting to see if they show two at the same time or if they drop one or two for more weekend picks at the end of the season.
Watford v Southampton
So, as far as the maximum five 3pm showings (as confirmed by Sky) quota goes, August - March 4th:-
Hull City 4
Manchester United 4
Watford 4
Burnley 3
Liverpool 3
Arsenal 2
Bournemouth 2
Chelsea 2
Crystal Palace 2
Everton 2
Leicester City 2
Man C 2
Middlesbrough 2
Southampton 2
Stoke City 2
Swansea City 2
Tottenham 2
West Ham 2
Sunderland 1
West Bromwich 1 Recap (Numbers in brackets are the amount of times a teams was shown to that point and in turn indicates the last time a team appeared):
August
13th: Everton v Tottenham Hotspur
20th: Burnley v Liverpool
27th: Watford v Arsenal
September
10th: Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur (2)
17th Hull City v Arsenal (2)
24th: Swansea City v Manchester City
October
1st: Hull City v Chelsea
15th: Manchester City (2) v Everton (2)
22nd: Leicester City v Crystal Palace
29th: Manchester United v Burnley
November
5th: Bournemouth v Sunderland (1)
19th: Southampton (1) v Liverpool
26th: Leicester City (2) v Middlesbrough
December
3rd: West Bromwich Albion (1) v Watford
10th: Burnley (3) v Bournemouth (2)
17th: West Ham v Hull (original choice - Spurs v Burnley)
31st: Manchester United v Middlesbrough (2)
January
14th: West Ham United (2) v Crystal Palace (2)
21st: Stoke City (2) v Manchester United
February
4th: Hull City (4) V Liverpool (3)
11th: Manchester United (4) v Watford (3)
25th Chelsea (2) v Swansea City (2)
Watford v Southampton
So, as far as the maximum five 3pm showings (as confirmed by Sky) quota goes, August - March 4th:-
Hull City 4
Manchester United 4
Watford 4
Burnley 3
Liverpool 3
Arsenal 2
Bournemouth 2
Chelsea 2
Crystal Palace 2
Everton 2
Leicester City 2
Man C 2
Middlesbrough 2
Southampton 2
Stoke City 2
Swansea City 2
Tottenham 2
West Ham 2
Sunderland 1
West Bromwich 1 Recap (Numbers in brackets are the amount of times a teams was shown to that point and in turn indicates the last time a team appeared):
August
13th: Everton v Tottenham Hotspur
20th: Burnley v Liverpool
27th: Watford v Arsenal
September
10th: Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur (2)
17th Hull City v Arsenal (2)
24th: Swansea City v Manchester City
October
1st: Hull City v Chelsea
15th: Manchester City (2) v Everton (2)
22nd: Leicester City v Crystal Palace
29th: Manchester United v Burnley
November
5th: Bournemouth v Sunderland (1)
19th: Southampton (1) v Liverpool
26th: Leicester City (2) v Middlesbrough
December
3rd: West Bromwich Albion (1) v Watford
10th: Burnley (3) v Bournemouth (2)
17th: West Ham v Hull (original choice - Spurs v Burnley)
31st: Manchester United v Middlesbrough (2)
January
14th: West Ham United (2) v Crystal Palace (2)
21st: Stoke City (2) v Manchester United
February
4th: Hull City (4) V Liverpool (3)
11th: Manchester United (4) v Watford (3)
25th Chelsea (2) v Swansea City (2)
Can anyone help to clear up or to clarify as to when possible the games that Manchester United could have in hand if they reach both the finals of the FA Cup and Europa Leagues?
As I see it, we will have three games in hand, but only two possible (if the finals scenario happens) game weeks in which to play them.
Have I got this right or wrong?
Could the season be extended to fit in an extra fixture?
Comments
Smile when you say that! :-D
It's only an issue in England nowhere else
People don't notice generally but in this case it was Mourinho - he's not allowed to bring these issues up (even when he's asked a direct question by a journalist) ;-)
TBA
Arsenal at H League Cup
Man U at H Sixth round day
AND MAYBE
Chelsea a Semi Final Day !!!
IF UEFA still have rule
We only have
Mar 1
Apr 26
May 16
To play the 3 games
Which is why it would be a waste to not play on Mar 1st
It's why I think southampton v Arsenal will be on 1st march announced tomorrow if as likely Arsenal win.
For quarter final weekend so far 4 games have gone a maximum of 6 will.
Although 4 of 5 of the sky TVs ones will likely fall
What's the option of bringing forward some of the midweek April games such as Southampton v palace to the quarter final weekend
Lower League clubs do it to help crowd numbers.
Most PL games are sold out even midweek
But how can the Premier League avoid it.
The Premier League, as part of the EPFL, are a signatory to the memorandum of understanding with UEFA that restricts the scheduling of top-tier domestic games opposite the Champions League.
In other words, it's not a UEFA diktat, but an agreement between the parties concerned.
The MoU is due to expire on March 15th, but could be replaced by a new one.
Schedule 2 extra League midweek rounds between August- December
Scrap the league cup.
No FA Cup replays.
Adjust the FA Cup dates (maybe have a round before Christmas)
Or.... What I'd do (along with scrapping the league cup) Shrink the league to 18 teams.... I know, it will never happen.
While I wouldn't scrap the League Cup, I would consider only making it open to those not in European competition.
This would free up a bit of space in the match calendar for a couple of extra midweeks and make the possibility of THAT winter break a little more realistic.
As far as some of the other rearrangements, I think it is obvious that the Premier League are waiting to see which teams get through in Europe, and the FA Cup.
For the Man Utd rearranged games, is there any chance they use the second weekend in April to schedule 2 Man Utd games? Friday April 7 and Monday April 10 for Sunderland(a) and the rearranged Southampton(a) games both on Sky? This seems doable as they play the Tuesday 4th and Thursday 13th(should they reach Europa QF) before and after this weekend, meaning 3 days are given between each game, and as another member pointed out earlier in this thread, it appears to be the only weekend this could happen.
Then the Manchester Derby can be Wednesday April 26. I dont think Man Utd would want to play City in the last midweek as it would mean they would have league games 35, 36, 37 in a row against Arsenal(a), Tottenham(a) and City(a) (plus a potential Europa SF L2 which may also be away) - a possibility of 3 or 4 tough away games in a row in the space of 10 days just before the final league game.
Then if United beat Chelsea in the FA Cup QF, their rearranged game from FA Cup SF weekend - Burnley(a) - can be played the last free midweek of Wednesday May 17.
If United lose to Chelsea in the FA Cup QF they could then change the rearranged Southampton(a) game again to the final midweek, rather than play the doubleheader April weekend, or keep it the same, and have the last midweek free in a very difficult part of the schedule with tough away games.
As the TV fixtures will perhaps be released at the end of this week, I think they need to initially use that April 7-10 weekend to schedule 2 Man Utd games now, just in case they make the SF of both cups...to avoid United possibly needing to play 4 league games the last week - something like Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday/Friday, Sunday.
I would be interested to hear from others about this...Chelsea at home are favourites to win the FA Cup tie over Man Utd, and if Chelsea win it then Uniteds fixture issues go away...however, is it smart to initially have 2 Man Utd games scheduled April 7 and 10 now if its possible and the teams and Sky are ok with it, to avoid a potential brutal last week for United, or should they schedule games with the mindset of its unlikely United actually reach the SF of both cups and if they do then they will have to put up with the 4 league games in the last week?
On the TV front I think Sky have their work cut out to show all of the rearranged games at separate times. It'll be interesting to see if they show two at the same time or if they drop one or two for more weekend picks at the end of the season.
BUT the THST (Spurs fan group) were advised in a meeting last week with Sky that they would be a day late
http://www.ospreysrugby.com/News/Article/48527
This Saturday's game:
Watford v Southampton
So, as far as the maximum five 3pm showings (as confirmed by Sky) quota goes, August - March 4th:-
Hull City 4
Manchester United 4
Watford 4
Burnley 3
Liverpool 3
Arsenal 2
Bournemouth 2
Chelsea 2
Crystal Palace 2
Everton 2
Leicester City 2
Man C 2
Middlesbrough 2
Southampton 2
Stoke City 2
Swansea City 2
Tottenham 2
West Ham 2
Sunderland 1
West Bromwich 1
Recap (Numbers in brackets are the amount of times a teams was shown to that point and in turn indicates the last time a team appeared):
August
13th: Everton v Tottenham Hotspur
20th: Burnley v Liverpool
27th: Watford v Arsenal
September
10th: Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur (2)
17th Hull City v Arsenal (2)
24th: Swansea City v Manchester City
October
1st: Hull City v Chelsea
15th: Manchester City (2) v Everton (2)
22nd: Leicester City v Crystal Palace
29th: Manchester United v Burnley
November
5th: Bournemouth v Sunderland (1)
19th: Southampton (1) v Liverpool
26th: Leicester City (2) v Middlesbrough
December
3rd: West Bromwich Albion (1) v Watford
10th: Burnley (3) v Bournemouth (2)
17th: West Ham v Hull (original choice - Spurs v Burnley)
31st: Manchester United v Middlesbrough (2)
January
14th: West Ham United (2) v Crystal Palace (2)
21st: Stoke City (2) v Manchester United
February
4th: Hull City (4) V Liverpool (3)
11th: Manchester United (4) v Watford (3)
25th Chelsea (2) v Swansea City (2)
This Saturday's game:
Watford v Southampton
So, as far as the maximum five 3pm showings (as confirmed by Sky) quota goes, August - March 4th:-
Hull City 4
Manchester United 4
Watford 4
Burnley 3
Liverpool 3
Arsenal 2
Bournemouth 2
Chelsea 2
Crystal Palace 2
Everton 2
Leicester City 2
Man C 2
Middlesbrough 2
Southampton 2
Stoke City 2
Swansea City 2
Tottenham 2
West Ham 2
Sunderland 1
West Bromwich 1
Recap (Numbers in brackets are the amount of times a teams was shown to that point and in turn indicates the last time a team appeared):
August
13th: Everton v Tottenham Hotspur
20th: Burnley v Liverpool
27th: Watford v Arsenal
September
10th: Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur (2)
17th Hull City v Arsenal (2)
24th: Swansea City v Manchester City
October
1st: Hull City v Chelsea
15th: Manchester City (2) v Everton (2)
22nd: Leicester City v Crystal Palace
29th: Manchester United v Burnley
November
5th: Bournemouth v Sunderland (1)
19th: Southampton (1) v Liverpool
26th: Leicester City (2) v Middlesbrough
December
3rd: West Bromwich Albion (1) v Watford
10th: Burnley (3) v Bournemouth (2)
17th: West Ham v Hull (original choice - Spurs v Burnley)
31st: Manchester United v Middlesbrough (2)
January
14th: West Ham United (2) v Crystal Palace (2)
21st: Stoke City (2) v Manchester United
February
4th: Hull City (4) V Liverpool (3)
11th: Manchester United (4) v Watford (3)
25th Chelsea (2) v Swansea City (2)
As I see it, we will have three games in hand, but only two possible (if the finals scenario happens) game weeks in which to play them.
Have I got this right or wrong?
Could the season be extended to fit in an extra fixture?