ManYoo vs. Chelski Live!
It's the first Cup Final at the new Wembley and I'm here manning the LOB. This day always conjures up great memories for me of a time when the whole day was taken up with the trappings of a footie festival. It's a bit different these days. Ironically, the popularity of the game in the U.S. today has meant that it's no longer offered for free but is now a PPV event hosted by those gangsters at Setanta. So, I'm happy enough blogging and listening to Five Live. And perhaps you'll join me to see which of the big boys will be hoisted the trophy in about two hours time.
posted by gatorbob @ 9:56 AM
29 Comments:
Here are the teams for this afternoon's match:
Chelsea: Cech, Ferreira, Essien, Terry, Bridge, Mikel, Makelele, Lampard, Wright-Phillips, Drogba, Joe Cole.
Subs: Cudicini, Ashley Cole, Robben, Kalou, Diarra.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Heinze, Fletcher, Scholes, Carrick, Ronaldo, Rooney, Giggs.
Subs: Kuszczak, Evra, Smith, Solskjaer, O'Shea.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent)
And we're off. It's either a double for United or a double for Chelski on the line today.
Already the commentators are putting a slow start down to the heat on the pitch. Global warming...? There's a long way to go yet, lads.
The game is apparently being played at a walking pace. That's okay in the Maracana, but it seems a bit indulgent for an FA Cup Final. Come on lads, people have paid good money for this tosh.
Sounds dreadful. . . I won't be able to follow the LOB . . . will there be any highlights to watch on the telly, later?
I would imagine that FSC will show highlights on its news shows such as the Sky News at 7 p.m.
Good to hear from you, Trev.
First meaningful strike on goal...and it's Drogba who launches a rocket from an ambitious range. It drifts wide and VDS had it covered in any case.
Thirty minutes in and here's what 365 has to say about it all:
"We could very well get to the end of this half with no shots on target..."
What a load of old rubbish!
Getting close to half time and still no chances. I'm even happier now that I didn't dish out twenty nicker for this codswallop.
The referee blows his whistle to bring a turgid half of football to a close. It's 0-0 with no chances to talk about, no key incidents to deliberate and no controversy to reflect on.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Second half starting and Robben's on for the dire SWP.
Sixty minutes in and here's the 365 view: "We're slowly beginning to get a game on our hands now with both sides looking to attack occasionally."
Well, this really is looking like a 0-0 er even though there's fifteen minutes left. Dear oh dear.
And extra time it is. The real question is though - "Does anyone really want more of this shite?"
Smithy has replaced the ineffective Fletcher.
It's an indication of how poor this match is that the typically consistent Scholes scuffs a 20 yard shot that he'd ordinarily dispatch with ease and it's well wide.
Getting close to the half way point of extra time and both managers have got to be sketching out their list of penalty takers.
Let's start with Mourinho - he's got to leave the chokers from the Champions League semi final, who - if memory serves - were Geremi (not playing today) and Kalou (who is on the pitch. Given that I'd go for these five:
1. Essien
2. Lamps
3. Drogba
4. Makelele
5. Robben
And for United:
1. Ronaldo
2. Scholes
3. Carrick
4. Heinze
5. Giggs
You're saying, "What - no Roon!?" Yes, I reckon he's a bottler.
Second portion of ET starting and 365 laments: "What a shame if the new Wembley, on it's grand opening, doesn't even see a goal."
Hear hear.
And if it does go to pens, it'll be the third FA Cup Final in a row that's gone to pens. That tells everything that's wrong with the highest level of the game these days.
That said, this pale affair doesn't rate comparison with the thrilling UEFA Cup final in mid-week, to say nothing of last year's smashing game between Liverpool and West Ham - both of which ended in pens.
Oops, Robben's been withdrawn for Cashley. Is that an indication that Jose wants him to take a pen - I don't get that. But remember that Jose put two players on in the Champions League semi final against Liverpool. And they both missed their penalties! Not exactly the "Special One," eh?
GOAL! And finally Wembley has been graced with a goal and it's Drogba - it really couldn't have been anyone else, could it? A neat one two at the edge of the box and Drogs taps in neatly.
Chelski have played this kind of slow, torturous game all season, but what about United? It's a shocker that they haven't tried to play their normal flowing game. Where's Skippy been all day? PFA Player of the Year? Pull the other one!
Full-time: And the ref has thoughtfully brought this dire affair to an end. Chelski will troop up to get their second cup of the season and United will have to be satisfied with the championship.
Sorry you had to suffer through this, Dave. I hope the gathering made it worth it.
Totally disgusted by United's display.
There was no attacking game. They played the slow Chelski European game.
I can't believe Giggs missed a sitter. The ball did end up over the line but Cech was pushed in by Giggs but I am still stunned that it was missed.
As for Ronaldo, INVISIBLE!!!!
I don't think ANYONE played well on either team.
Sad in Scotia
Dave
Sorry about that one S-I-S. Everybody looked knackered. I'm beginning to take up the Gator's point that FA cup finals that feature teams that haven't played in Europe and are outside of the top 6 in the League tend to be better just from a player fatigue viewpoint.
Anyways, commiserations.
Yes, sorry, Dave. I didn't see it but it sounds awful. Gator B had me running to the OED with "turgid".
As always, Trev, I'm glad to give the old OED a workout. Have you read Simon Winchester's "The Professor and the Madman?" Man, I love that book. I'll send it to you if you haven't got a copy.
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