Pamplemousse

I think from the perspective of the BBC, Leicester v Chelsea would be more competitive, and from the perspective of the neutral, I think that's the best game of the four. And you have the Gary Lineker factor too. BBC might also think that they will get our match by default, assuming BT choose ties in their second and third picks that involve the bigger clubs.

We’ll probably be fourth pick, which will mean being on BBC. Leicester v Chelsea would be the first pick for BBC, that’s most likely to be an upset. Then BT would choose Man Utd and Spurs for ratings.

BBC have six nations on Saturday evening too. There is some talk that BT might push for a Saturday 7.45pm game. If they had the Liverpool game at 5.30pm followed by Man Utd at 7.45pm, it would be huge ratings for them. I was looking at this Wigan half marathon and it starts at 9.30am. How long do they last typically? Would Sunday at 4pm still be pushing it or would everything be done and dusted? Tottenham are scheduled in the league to play on the Friday night, so if they get through then it would be the most sensible option to just keep Spurs on Friday. Chelsea can't play on that day due to Champions League on the Wednesday, and it wouldn't be good for the fans (if the FA care) to send Saints or Brighton on a long away day on a working day.

Cup win all day long, not even close. If we did win the cup and get relegated, would Pellegrino still keep his job?? Hope not.

They make Aston Villa's kits, so there's no reason for them to want to cancel. Probably there is a clause that they don't have to pay as much if we're relegated.

Had a read through of POL, lol. Yeh he only won the bloody league title for them, apart from that, the pressure got to him As well as multiple comments about Wigan having fewer fans, it being easier for him there, blah blah blah They're still bitter about him leaving, someone suggested that they were going to sack him and bring Jackett in anyway

They play at 3pm, our game, if it is on the Saturday, it will be at 12.30pm, so any fans would be travelling up earlier than the skates. If the police think there might be an issue then perhaps they can ask Saints to put on free coach travel or something so fans don't use the trains. Wasn't there a time when Saints played Brighton away and fans had to change trains at Fratton station at the same time as a Portsmouth home game?!

I think Monday is off limits due to FIFA regulations, because it’s an international week. Maybe they will make an exception if nothing else is possible. And Wigan play on the Wednesday before, ruling out Friday night (unless they move it to the Tuesday) Saturday lunchtime could be OK, and will the fact Portsmouth are playing nearby really be an issue? It’ll only be a few hundred fans of theirs anyway. We’ll find out soon enough anyway, they should be announced today or tomorrow.

Yeah it can’t be Monday. If BBC make our game their first pick, it’s very likely that it’ll be a Friday night kickoff.

On Twitter he always came across as a nice guy. Shame it didn't work out for him, I wish him well in the future.

Only the winner gets a European place. If the winner has already qualified for Europe, it goes to the 7th placed league team.

They couldn't beat Portsmouth at home earlier on in the season, so this should be a doddle.

Positive thinking - an embarrassing defeat to Wigan would surely see Pellegrino get the sack?!

Yup, exactly. It'll put a lot off going, when we could do with a big away support. Still, the away end would still be fuller than that infamous photo.

Just got to hope that BBC don't bloody put this match on a Friday night.

If they can beat Man City, West Ham and Bournemouth, they can beat us. Let's not underestimate them.

How long is the ref going to give them??

Sheffield United, 2014 League Cup

Can't wait to see Tadic and Boufal huff and puff against them

Anyone remember what happened the last time we faced a League 1 team in a cup quarter-final?

HOLY ****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

It's one of those that would deserve an "orange card" so to speak. Personally I'd have given a yellow, but you can see why it was given as a red.

Oooh Man City down to ten men!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/02/18/wigan-manager-paul-cook-wine-pep-guardiola-will-get-can-skol/ Interesting interview with Paul Cook. Of course he was a skate, but from an objective point of view, he seems down to earth and likeable. And he had the sense to move far, far away from the septic isle at the first possible opportunity...

Yup, so definitely Friday night, Saturday lunchtime and two on Sunday. BBC have first and fourth pick, BT have second and third. We won't be first pick (Leicester v Chelsea is probably the best match) so I guess it depends whether BT (assuming they choose Man Utd for the ratings) would want our match or go for the possible Spurs away fixture (but risk it being Rochdale instead).