Morning! What a shocker that game was last night.
To start with, an FA Cup 3rd round game on a Thursday night should not be happening. Then ITV go and pick an all-Premier League mid table clash between Crystal Palace v Everton. That saw Everton fans having to travel to London on the 3rd working day of the year with no trains home. Complete disregard for match going fans.
And then it is stuck on ITV4!
The FA Cup should be a way to get some money into the pockets of lower league and non-league teams. A single televised game could double their revenue for the year.
Now I do get ITV / BBC wanting to put on all-Premier League clashes (with the theory that they will get more viewers), but Crystal Palace v Everton? Most of us would not watch it was in the Premier League. I bet last nights viewing figures got no-where near the darts the night before.
Fair enough, our game on Sunday is televised. It is two of the countries biggest clubs going head to head. But is there really a need to show Tottenham v Burnley tonight or Everton’s trip to Palace? Neither game will garner much interest beyond the fans that support them.
On to Sunday, please be aware there are train strikes occurring on the London Underground:
These strikes do only directly affect the London Underground, so the Overground from Highbury & Islington will still be running for those going East to West. Likewise, the Great Northern line from Finsbury Park into Kings Cross and North is running.
Whilst these give you options to get “out of Islington” towards Stratford or Kings Cross, the headache for many (including me) is how to get beyond these stations with no Underground. By the time I get to Stratford, the Central Line will not be running. And this all because the RMT have ONLY been offered a 5% payrise (something us common folk would all have taken at the beginning of this year!).
If you are unable to make the game, stick the ticket on the Ticket Exchange. Get your seat filled. Plenty of local fans will be able to walk to the game, so just because you can not go, does not mean others face the same challenges.
There is not much else happening in the world of Arsenal.
Fans of all clubs are demanding their team spend £100s of millions this January. Always remember the best players will rarely be available this month. You either end up taking a punt on someone who is looking to make a step up (Mudryk, Suarez) or loan in a player who you do not really want.
I would still be surprised if we make any big deals.
Enjoy your Friday.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 
Correction : Great Northern line from Finsbury Park going North is NOT running.
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Correct. There are no trains to and from KX to Stevenage/ Letchworth all weekend
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