by Joey Davies
@theonejoeydSomeone explain to me why the Premier League scheduled a full programme on FA Cup quarter-final weekend knowing full well several of its clubs would be in action at that stage of the competition?
In a season with no European Championship or World Cup upon its conclusion, there is no tight squeeze to fit fixtures into dates. And despite Champions League, Europa League and Capital One Cup commitments, there have been a few free midweeks this season where last weekend's league schedule could have been played. UEFA apparently don't want any re-arranged games clashing with European matchdays even if the clubs involved are not in any of their competitions, which is laughably obtuse.
Not only did the clash with the quarter-finals spoil the Saturdays of fans of Arsenal, Fulham and West Ham who should have had a game to go to, but it adds another midweek rescheduled game to the clubs left in the Europa League, adding more crippling weight on their schedules that could well affect their chances of success. Manchester United drew with Chelsea, yet nobody had an idea what date it would be played on after Chelsea completed a turnaround against Steaua Bucharest to advance to the Europa last eight- and get this, there are no available midweek dates between now and the FA Cup semi-finals, to be played on the weekend of April 13/14. How incompetent and inexplicable can both the FA and Premier League possibly be? Demonstrate a semblance of unification, and pull out the requisite stops to help your clubs succeed on a fair playing field both domestically and on the continent.
Now Chelsea will be facing United on Easter Monday, two days after a trip to St Mary's to face Southampton in a Premier League fixture, while the replay is three days before the Blues take on Rubin Kazan, who originate from the Russian Republic of Tatarstan, in Europe's secondary competition. Luckily it's at Stamford Bridge, probably an unusual situation where being at home for the first leg is the beneficial outcome. Why on Earth couldn't the Premier League and the FA organise a decent fixture programme?
Then again, the vibe I receive from the Premier League is it only cares about lining its pockets. The Liverpool-West Brom fixture taking place on a Monday three days before the Reds were due to travel to St Petersburg to face Zenit is a case in point- Sky TV was blamed, but it was the league's authority that has the power and they did nothing to help its club in Europe. What happened? Liverpool understandably tired towards the end in Russia and conceded twice which ultimately cost them the tie on away goals after a stirring effort at Anfield in the second leg.
I heartily request that the Premier League would actually show a modicum of common sense and consideration for both its clubs and the supporters- whose loyalty in spite of extortionate ticket prices deserves better, but maybe it's too much to ask.
Joey Davies
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