Rage Online

On the bright side Oxford United are still in the Cup and as it looks like the FA are not going to intervene then it's probably going to get played on a normally unplayable surface, which suits any underdog. Even their own fans have gone public on this shambles today - http://www.castrust.org/2014/01/trust-s ... tponement/

Quite frankly, the idea of having the game switched to the Kassam is, with our home record, as good as giving the game to them. Plus, the money fron the gate is split evenly, so why would we want it played it a smaller venue? I feel that if this drags on any longer, they should forefit.

recordmeister wrote: Plus, the money fron the gate is split evenly, so why would we want it played it a smaller venue?

Well, the question here is not one of capacity, but how many people are likely to attend. If the game had gone ahead on the original Saturday, it would have been a reasonable attendance with something like 1,500 from Oxford. As it is, on a Tuesday night, I doubt we'll take more than 700. Factor in the potential for short-notice postponement, I can fully understand people not even bothering to consider going - home or away fans. In these circumstances, I would suggest that a larger crowd is more likely for a fixture at the KasStad than at the Sunken Valley.

recordmeister wrote:Quite frankly, the idea of having the game switched to the Kassam is, with our home record, as good as giving the game to them. Plus, the money fron the gate is split evenly, so why would we want it played it a smaller venue? I feel that if this drags on any longer, they should forefit.

Not quite evenly split, as ticket sales to cover costs of operating the game go to the home side.

Well, Charlton are 'expecting' the game to go ahead as planned.

Which makes their decision to hold a pitch inspection fully 30 hours ahead of kick-off seem rather a strange one.

What with Saturday's late postponement, it's almost as if Charlton's groundstaff don't know what constitutes a playable pitch, and need someone to come and tell them!

If this match doesn't get played tomorrow, I'd agree that the tie should be switched to a venue without drainage issues - not just to punish Charlton, but to get our section of the FA Cup back on some kind of schedule.

The pitch passed the 1.30pm inspection today, according to both clubs' twitter accounts.

GAME ON
I'm not going though, was going to the original date on the Saturday.

Kernow Yellow wrote:The pitch passed the 1.30pm inspection today, according to both clubs' twitter accounts.

Yes - but apparently there will be yet another inspection tomorrow, by the match official. Charlton have said they will try to get an early decision...

Warning: After heavy showers throughout the afternoon, we are now having a torrential downpour in London.

Interesting that their hoping to play their new striker from Sweden in the match. Perhaps there ought to be a rule that only players available for the original date should be allowed to play. Otherwise any team that is looking to add to the squad would be free to suffer 'pitch problems' for as much of January as necessary...

SmileyMan wrote:Interesting that their hoping to play their new striker from Sweden in the match. Perhaps there ought to be a rule that only players available for the original date should be allowed to play. Otherwise any team that is looking to add to the squad would be free to suffer 'pitch problems' for as much of January as necessary...

rule 15 (f)

(f) All players must have been eligible to play in the original tie in order to play in a replayed or postponed match; however a player who has been suspended according to the disciplinary procedures under the Rules of The Association may play in a postponed or replayed match after the term of his suspension has expired.
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Perhaps Charlton play him, then get kicked out!

slappy wrote:(f) All players must have been eligible to play in the original tie in order to play in a replayed or postponed match; however a player who has been suspended according to the disciplinary procedures under the Rules of The Association may play in a postponed or replayed match after the term of his suspension has expired.
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Perhaps Charlton play him, then get kicked out!

So we can play Kitson, and they can't play their new strike duo? Nice one, FA Cup rule writers!

Mind you, if we play Wroe as well, maybe we'll both be kicked out and Huddersfield will get a bye in the next round...

more on the pitch
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/footbal ... 58371.html

Two main things to take away from that match:

1) Whatever is causing our problems at home, it isn't the state of the pitch
2) If the players could maintain that level of performance, then the squad we've got is more than capable of winning this league and staying up in the next one

I suspect the replay will depend on the weekend's results for both teams. Charlton could be in a relegation spot come Saturday evening, whereas we might have broken our home hoodoo at last. Here's dreaming!

SmileyMan wrote:whereas we might have broken our home hoodoo at last. Here's dreaming!

Sadly we won't, but let's hope we will hold on to the best away record in the top eight divisions.

Heroic stuff tonight, and a replay a decent reward for a great performance from what was far from our first team, even though a draw feels like a defeat right now.