Football Focus

[????]

The arrival of children stopped my serious hammer's addiction, although someone's just borrowing my season ticket for now. Although 2 years ago as a 40+ not being able to physically watch the last 20 minutes and just staring at the concrete in Cardiff followed by numbness and eventually pain (that is still there a bit.... seriously ) made me briefly question the sanity of this obssession

[Keef]

Well that's you in the final Sandperson. Well deserved I have to say, and if Scholes only does one thing in a match, you'd want it to be that!!!

... I hope we meet you in Moscow ...

[Ladygooner]

Not the same Barcelona team that I witnessed in Paris two years ago but well done to Man U - what a great goal from Scholes. So history to be made with two english teams in Moscow in 3 weeks time - hope its Liverpool!

[????]

I'm looking forward to the FA Cup Final far more than this overhyped crap...hopefully in a few years the 'big 4' will all be in some horendous Mastercard Euro Premiership or something so we don't get Peter Drury's hyperbolic shit "What will be the biggest game between English teams ever" all the time. Corporate, plastic shite.

[SimonM]

I thought Man U were a bit lucky....Barcelona made that one awful error and Scholes duly punished it to spectacular effect. Messi was brilliant, Henry was good for the 15 minutes he had, and quite a few Barcelona shots came very close indeed. Van der Saar's (sp.?) kicking was erratic and Ronaldo was pretty well snuffed out. Still, they are bound to be better in Moscow. I hope it is Liverpool too, but my head says Chelski - if it is they will have home advantage...B)

[DaveR]

"We tend to do well against Ipswich in the playoffs"

Everybody does well against us in the playoffs - it took us 4 goes last time, and we had a much better side than now. Like everybody else (except Baggies maybe) I really fear for us if we do go up.

[dc]

DaveR Wrote:

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> "We tend to do well against Ipswich in the

> playoffs"

>

> Everybody does well against us in the playoffs

Good 'cos I'm a Watford fan and we've done pretty well in the playoffs - only to crash straight back down with a record low points score of course (although Derby may secure a permanent slot in the Guinness Book of Records for that after this season).

Can't see it this year though - our form of late has been so poor. I reckon Hull will go up via the playoffs with West Brom and Stoke taking the automatic slots. At the bottom? Southampton to beat Sheff U at home to stay up thereby condemning Leicester to the drop when they lose away to Stoke.

My wife's from Hull and I can tell you they'll be much fish slapping on Hessle Road (or 'Ezel Rurd' as they would have it) if City get up to the top flight for the first time ever.

[ratty]

Keef Wrote:

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> Our very own Fear N' Boozin is a saints fan,

> and pointed out their plight to me. Any one of 5

> teams could easily fall in to that last relegation

> spot!

And I 4-1 would die laughing if this happened!

[Sandperson]

Lucky? Maybe. Messi was brilliant and the second half was nerve wracking. Edwin's kicking might have been erratic but you can't faulty his saves and shot stopping, I though that made up for it. Rio and Wes were great but my unsung hero was Park, I really enjoy watching him when he's playing and I thought he worked ao hard last night.

Anway Simon, I'll take that luck.

[Annasfield]

Come on you Red Men!! (tu)

[Brendan]

Communist!

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Down among the dead men?

[Keef]

Person who most impressed me last night was Wes Brown, and I honestly have never rated him as good enough for Man U's first team, but he was so solid and fought all night. Reminded me of Carra!!! >:D<

As for tonight, I can't make a prediction. I am not feeling overly confident, but I don't think we're out of it yet...

Basically, What Anna said!!!

[Jah Lush]

Good shout Keef, I too thought Brown was excellent last night. It's a long time since he's played at centre back which is his natural position and it just goes to show what a good player he can be because he is bloody hopeless at right back. Have to admit I thought Ferdinand had a very good game as well last night.

Anybody's game tonight though. I just hope it's entertaining and Chelsea don't try stifle the game in midfield and hang on for a nil-nil. Would prefer it if Liverpool won as I think it would make for a much better final.

[SimonM]

Well as a neutral I thought this evening's game was breathtaking, although clearly both the tension and the really grotty weather made it hard for any kind of elegant play. The extra time was amazing....I have no idea why that "goal" was disallowed for "offside" though. And Liverpool should have had a penalty when Hyppia was brought down - indeed the referee all but signalled for one. I did enjoy the excessive exuberance of Drogba's celebration of his first goal right in front of Benitez's bench...:))

[ratty]

Game got better as it went on. I have a new found respect for Lank Flampard because that took bottle!

Drogba's goals were pretty dam special too!

Chelski Vs Man Ure final - dull as fook! A good one to miss!

WOOF!

[SeanMacGabhann]

respect for Lampard yes.. like him? no

The fact that the game's outcome wasn't certain until the end made it entertaining, rather than the football itself. Liverpool could have nicked it in the second half when Chelsea seemed to go awol but in the end I think the better team won (and I say that as someone who wanted a Liverpool v Barca final)

I haven't heard much since about the way Grant was shoved out of the way by Gerrard. Yes Gerrard was keen to restart play but I can't help feeling if it was any other manager more respect would have been shown

[Keef]

Not sure I'd say the better team won Sean. They were by far better in the first half, and we just couldn't keep the bloody ball, but I don't think it's fair to say we had the better of the second half just because they went awol, I think we outplayed them in the half.

I can understand why Drogba celebrated as he did, but I really really hate that bloke!!!

Regarding extra time, their disallowed goal was not a goal, there were 3 players offside, one of whom was right in front of the keeper. As for our "penalty", I have to admit that I don't really think it should have been one, but the ref did himself no favours, as he clearly looked to have awarded it for a moment...

Lampard - Fair play to him, but I still don't like him.

Gerrard was wrong to push Grant, but I'm not sure it would have made any difference had it been someone else.

Why was Torres taken off?!?!?!?!? Not sure I believe the hamstring trouble story. And why did Croutch not get on? In a game where the pitch is drenched, and the ball isn#t moving to well, you want a target man in the air!

Anyway, twas a good game to watch, but a painful defeat. Guess I should say good luck to Chelsea... I like Avram Grant, and a few of their players, but characters like Drogba and Terry just make it impossible for me to really want them to do well!

I'll be neutral in the final, but I fancy Man U.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I forgot about the Torres thing Keef. Has anything come out about the whys and wherefores? Very strange decision

I didn't mean to suggest that Liverpool only came back in second half just because Chelsea went awol. Liverpool found all the right gears and were looking the better team - it's just with Chelsea not at their best Liverpool should have used that spell to win the game. But I'll say no more because I know how it feels just after eleminiation - on the plus side at least ye have won the thing a few times.. unlike Arsenal

[Keef]

Rafa said Torres had hamstring trouble, but he didn't seem too convincing... That said, Torres didn't storm off and blank the manager or anything, so maybe it was true. Shame though, he's the one man we would have wanted on the pitch in extra time!

[SeanMacGabhann]

indeed

he's a tough little cookie as well I noticed - for all his "who me?" little boy lost looks

(steady, Annasfield!)

[mockney piers]

I found myself curiously vociferous in favour of Chelsea (which more or less represents all that is wrong in the modern game). I can only think I'm still bitter about 2006.

Last night was Liverpool's comeuppance. Karma for their unsporting play.

Agreed, not great football, but very exciting encounter even for a neutral. And the best team on the night did win.

As for the penalty that wasn't, someone in the pub seemed to think it was for a shove rather for offside which would have made no sense at all (offside, can't comment on the shove).

Frank was a pretty decent fella at our place and was always unfairly maligned by a large section of the fans. Agreed his ego has somewhat expanded with his status at Chelsea which doesn't make him likeable, but you'd have to have a hard heart not to doff your cap in his direction for last night.

[ratty]

Totally agree with the offside - 3 players in front of the keeper so they must have been interfering with play.

Did not see that Gerrard shoved Avram Grant. I know Avram from his time at Pompey and he is a thoroughly decent bloke. Now wonder people pursue Steve Gerrard in his car threatening to kneecap him if this is how he treats people - no wonder people also slip one up his wife at will too!

Crouch did not play because he has signed a pre contract at a certain south coast club and Liverpool do not want to risk the fee unneccisarily. He would not have fired one in like Babbel who, until last night has been a scouse talisman in the Champs League. That is not conjecture - that is ITK!

[atila the gooner]

Penalties given or not, offsides given or not, I'd say there was definitely a touch of Karma about last night. Still I don't give a shit who wins it.

[Keef]

If that is true about Croutch, I'd have to say good luck to him. He is useful to us, but he deserves more football than we are likely to give him. I just hope we get rid of Veronin, he can run at people, but he's a useless finisher!