FA Cup semi-final confirmed for 23rd April

derby games, no matter who's playing in them, are extremely intense affairs and with a fair chance of having extra-time at Wembley it could come back to bite us on the bum. But hey let's ensure we turn up at Anfield and never mind the FA Cup as we are such a massive club in the mix for everything... not! – that we can afford to throw away a chance for silverware in exchange for the possibility of gloating over our nearest and dearest for a couple of days.

I don't really care what the other lot think of us. I don't believe that Man Utd would have been sent to the Etihad three days before a semi-final or that Arsenal if they were still involved would have been sent to White Hart Lane but, because we are nice little Everton, we tend to get the short straw a little too often for my taste.

But, Ged, you continue to believe that everything is hunky dory and dismiss those of us who disagree with your view as 'bitters' – that's your prerogative.

It would be like 1977 again when we lost in the semi-final of the FA Cup to the Red Shite in a replay and lost the League Cup Final 2nd Replay to Aston Villa within a week or so.

Bad enough if it was West Ham but I can see another classic Everton glorious failure coming up here.

I'm afraid you are barking up the wrong tree. The decision on which day the games are played is dictated by the TV companies, not the FA.

They alone will have decided who gets which game and on what day it is broadcast. No conspiracy theory, I'm afraid.

'Bout time the fans grew up as the rest of the city is trying, and succeeding, in doing....(despite a government worse than Thatcher's).

Then there is the mustn't grumble brigade, the door mats. Those who will take any shit thrown at Everton and accuse others of having a "victim" mentality.

"Scouse trait"? I would suggest you stop digging.

Many years down the line, we have seen official government papers released which had overwhelming support to embark upon a potential programme of 'managed decline' and we are only just seeing the conclusion of more than 25 years of collusion being brought to an end over Hillsborough.

In terms of both the time / date and potential opponents, I am well and truly happy.

Why put us in the same bracket, Ged???

Yes, let's win both games with our second string at Anfield and our strongest team at Wembley.

I'll be happy to put up a couple of Toffees for the night if it helps though with our shit transport at night and we can celebrate in West London together; it gets quite lonely... just me and me dad cheering us on in the pub.

Let's be sensible here and focus on what is the priority for the medium or long term. On the announcement, well that's great isn't it? No hangover on Monday?

As an aside, I would prefer Man Utd, they are there for the taking, like a lamb to the slaughter!! Plus ol' Rooney would be getting wet pants!!

I've had a smile wider than the Mersey on my face for the last week.

That said, at least it's not a 12:45 start like our last game at the national stadium and having to get up at 4am.

Actually, I prefer half-mild, half-bitter to drink – but you hardly ever see mild down here!

All teams are playing Premier League football on Wednesday and the fact that we've got Liverpool is not a conspiracy – it is just circumstances.

If you're a big time Premier League footballer, then you SHOULD want to be playing in both of these huge games.

What if we throw the Anfield derby then do the trademark Everton hard luck story of losing the semi-final on penalties or extra time... heroic failure!!

I want to go all out in both games; yes, the Semi is more important, of course, but it's cheating the fans to just get done over in the derby. Christ, haven't we rolled over enough at Anfield over the last 15 years? I want to beat them. Or at least salvage a respectable draw.

I'm still somehow expecting Everton to lose both; we know this club too well – you get one high taken away by an avalanche of lows.

Because that's exactly what I would do if it was the other way round and I was playing for Everton and they were in a semi-final 3 days later.

COYB & have a go, regardless – we deserve this at least !!!

Martinez out please... now – not next season – and give us a summer we can appreciate.

Is it me or is that cutting it fine?

What a boost that would be going into the semi. The alternative is that we've laid down and died by picking an inferior team – more or less going into it accepting a loss – and then go to Wembley with less confidence.

I can fully understand the opposing view of resting players for Wembley but, as stated previously above, they are professional footballers and should be well up for both big games.

Even if the worst happened and we lose both, we'd have given it 100%. That's what I give as a supporter – shouldn't the players on their massive salaries do the same?

We're a 'Grand Old Team'... ain't we?

I can't see it being too much of a problem to put 'Everton v Manchester United or West Ham' on the tickets and start selling them to us sooner than April 14th.

Pretty obvious where our priorities have to lie for these games, way too long without a trophy and who knows when the next chance will come if we can't even make the final to face Watford or Palace this time round!