After another amazing match in the Scottish cup, we are heading back to Hampden. I really dont care who we draw for the semi final, I'm going down to enjoy the occasion. Although it'll just be like the SFA to give us a 12.30 kick off on the Sunday. 

Reported on Radio Scotland this morning that Robbo has said that a smaller venue than Hampden would be better for our semifinal as it would create a better atmosphere. 

1 hour ago, IBM said:

Reported on Radio Scotland this morning that Robbo has said that a smaller venue than Hampden would be better for our semifinal as it would create a better atmosphere. 

I agree as I don't see the jambos taking 25000 to Hampden for a semi final against us. Be lucky if there is 15000 including our own support inside a 50000 seater. Makes sense they need to move it. Pittodrie Maybe? 

in a way it does make sense. However I think the players from both sides would like the chance to play at Hampden and its a great day out for the fans. 

 

I want the game played at Hampden. we don't get to go there very often and some of our best memories come from there. There could be 500 fans or 50,000 fans there and it wouldn't matte r to me as long as i was there.

Realistically it makes sense to have it at a smaller venue ,but speaking to fans they relish the thought of going to Hampden .It may just be the deciding factor for some as its on Tele.

It would never be at a venue to suit ICT in any case . 

Hampden here we come !!!

Edited March 6, 20197 yr by izzy

Hampden should be for the final only. But the sfa have to make money from it so...it is what it is.

Feel for Queens Park who play there every second Saturday with about 600 fans in it

17 hours ago, Satan said:

Hampden should be for the final only. But the sfa have to make money from it so...it is what it is.

Where should semi finals be played then? Neutral ground or two legs? 

What’s the difference playing in front of a 30% full stadium every second week in Inverness than playing in a 30% full hampden. I’ll be dissapointed if it isn’t held there. 

Personally I feel Hampden should be reserved for the Final. Having said that, there is a need to be clear about where the    semis are going to be played ASAP.  One way to achieve that would be to play the quarter finals to a finish at the first time of asking. That way a venue appropriate to the geographical location of the teams and the anticipated crowd could be quickly decided. That would also help in reducing fixture congestion and in keeping costs down for fans. 

Surely if one semi final is at Hampden the other one should be there too. I think to take away the venue at this stage is unfair on players and fans alike.

Everybody thought the semi final was going to be at Hampden so thats is where it should be.

If rules on semi finals venues are to be changed it should be done from next season so all  clubs and fans ade aware of possibility of other neutral venue.

Some players have never played at the national staduim and to take it away at this stage is not  correct imo.

Mark Ridgers was in paper yesterday saying he has been there 3 times as a sub but never actually  played before.

I understand the argument that only the final should be played there but that should be the case for all clubs.

I have had a look at Hearts fans forum and they feel that Robbo is trying to be cute in getting game played at Eastwr Road as this would give us more of a chance than being played at Hampden.

As far as Im comcerned this season should be Hampden as planned.

 

 

From a very selfish point of view Easter Road would be great. 8 second walk for me but I completely understand why many would want it at Hampden especially, as Gregor says, if one semi final is played there then the other should be as well. Personally I think only the final should be played there but so long as they come to a decision as quickly as possible then I am sure #CaleyAway will make every effort to get there.

When was the last time a semi final was played away from Hampden? Is this not us being paranoid with small club mentality? 

1 hour ago, ICTPAISLEY said:

When was the last time a semi final was played away from Hampden? Is this not us being paranoid with small club mentality? 

During the Commonwealth Games...

Excluding 2014, when Hampden was out of action, the last time seems to be1999 - again Hampden was closed for redevelopment and opened for the Final in 1999. The latest one I can find when Hampden was open is 1995 when Celtic played Hibs at Ibrox in both Semi Final and Replay. Airdrie beat Hearts at Hampden in the other semi-final. 

44 minutes ago, Jack Waddington said:

During the Commonwealth Games...

So for no reason other than Hampden was unavailable. We’re looking back nearly 20 years....

4 hours ago, Gregor said:

Surely if one semi final is at Hampden the other one should be there too.

Yes.  Because otherwise there could be an advantage for the finalists who played there in the semis. 

Just that little bit of local knowledge - how the wind swirls, for example - or simply being a bit more familiar with the place, could be a factor which helps to make a difference in the final.

25 minutes ago, ICTPAISLEY said:

So for no reason other than Hampden was unavailable. We’re looking back nearly 20 years....

And both semi-finals were played at Ibrox. 

1 hour ago, HawkeyeTheGnu said:

Excluding 2014, when Hampden was out of action, the last time seems to be1999 - again Hampden was closed for redevelopment and opened for the Final in 1999. The latest one I can find when Hampden was open is 1995 when Celtic played Hibs at Ibrox in both Semi Final and Replay. Airdrie beat Hearts at Hampden in the other semi-final. 

Celtic played home games at Hampden that season so they maybe played at Ibrox to make it neutral.

League cup semi final at murrayfield 2018.

24 minutes ago, Joe DiMaggio said:

Celtic played home games at Hampden that season so they maybe played at Ibrox to make it neutral.

Thanks Joe - I’d forgotten about that. Although that didn’t seem an issue for the final, which saw Celtic play Airdrie at Hampden. 

Anyway, I must be mad looking for logic in how Scottish Football makes its decisions. 

20 minutes ago, MorayJaggie said:

League cup semi final at murrayfield 2018.

That was supposed to be at Hampden, though. 

1 hour ago, HawkeyeTheGnu said:

That was supposed to be at Hampden, though. 

That's the point it was moved. There is a precedent now.

11 minutes ago, MorayJaggie said:

That's the point it was moved. There is a precedent now.

It was also the SPFL, not the SFA. 

Robbo has said in today's P&J that the reports of him wanting a smaller venue for the Semis was just lazy journalism and taking words out of context...we're still at Hampden