I'll be happy with any away game, Newcastle away on a Saturday afternoon would be nice.

Play them both together. One game that gets you through to the next round and also gets you two league points.
Brilliant idea I thinks!

To be fair, I bet both clubs would go for that as the cup game is likely to be a money loser all round - probably won't even cover expenses.

Were you W.S. Gilbert in a previous life, FA?

I have no idea, but would love to take the credit for his masterpieces. I got hooked on them when by fluke when i was at Uni we were living near Sadlers Wells and someone got tickets for Pirates of Penzance, by yer actual D'Oyly Carte, for a laugh. I went expecting a joke, but came out hooked!

Your prose was heading that way, almost "the very model of a modern forum moderator". For me it was being dragged by my mum to the Alhambra or Leeds Grand when the D'Oyle Carte were in town, but as you you say, the very English eccentricity of it all stays with you forever.