Anakin Skywalker wrote:
The bigger question is WTF were the RFL playing at booking it for that weekend anyway.
I have my thinking in that they probably went for the dates they wanted late and were told it had already gone but were offered a weekend close to what they wanted. Manchester City probably thought 'It's FA cup weekend so they wont go for it' only to be shocked when the RFL didn't even do basic checks to check they didn't clash and came back with the positive answer.
I know that sounds far fetched but it is the RFL we are talking about here. Plus it's either that or they thought going head to head with the FA cup was a good idea.
So, a complete conjecture on your part that the Rfl left it 'too late'. Either that or they wanted a 'head to head with the FA cup' (a final that was extremely unlikely to hold any interest for the vast majority of RL fans had it not been for the extremely unlikely scenario that has actually prevailled, but we'll leave that one aside for the moment). So you'll agree that your rantings and indignation on this thread stem from your own supposition that the Rfl was forced into choosing this date by their own tardiness?
Well, it transpires that your 'far fetched' dismissal turns out to be right:
paintman, quoting the Rfl wrote:
Due to the Football World Cup taking place Manchester City’s season finishes a week earlier this year. As part of their pitch maintenance they used to remove the turf after their last game however since 2012 they’ve delayed this by a week in order for us to be able to play the Magic Weekend fixtures. It is for this reason that we’ve had to move the weekend not because of One Direction.
Now, I've no love of the headless chickens in Red Hall, but it appears that you've spectacularly jumped the gun on this one.
Go on, bald(?) Ani, give us your thoughts (and the Rfl your apology?).
