We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
It's Roma vs. United in the Stadio Olympico in Rome. The first leg of the CL quarterfinals. Last year there was an almighty ruck inside the stadium and then United tonked Roma at home. Are we set for a repeat? Are we excited? Oh, yes. Yes, we are. Come on you Reds!
posted by gatorbob @ 1:50 PM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
71 Comments:
Here are the sides for today's clash:
Roma: Doni, Cassetti, Mexes, Panucci, Tonetto, De Rossi, Aquilani, Taddei, Pizarro, Mancini, Vucinic.
Subs: Curci, Cicinho, Giuly, Antunes, Esposito, Ferrari, Brighi
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Scholes, Anderson, Ronaldo, Park, Rooney.
Subs: Kuszczak, Hargreaves, Giggs, Pique, O'Shea, Silvestre, Tevez
Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium).
Significantly, there is no Francesco Totti for the United back four to deal with today. A good omen?
In the other Champions League game today, Shalke host Barca.
And of course I'll have my eye on a group of tasty fixtures in Division, including Leeds traveling to Doncaster. We need a draw at least and a win would be delightful.
I reckon that there will be little of the swagger that we saw from United at the weekend. For one thing, Roma are no mugs and they won't play so high up the pitch and leave those massive gaps at the back that Villa did. It should be a cagey affair. One bit of magic from Rooney or Ronaldo should do it for United, though.
Everyone focuses on United's front line but very few give United's defense their fair due. They've only conceded a stingly fifteen goals in the Premiership this season. They could be key tonight, especially with VDS back in goal.
Here we go then....
Roma have come out quickly through Mancini who catches Rio napping but can't supply a decent final ball.
More pressure from Roma here, with Vucinic trying to sneak through into the area.
Anderson gives up a clumsy foul and this will be the first opportunity for Roma to feed the ball into the area from a set piece. Pizarro to take...
And it's cleared.
The commentators are bringing up the issue of whether Skippy shows up in the big games. Well, he's got a chance to show it tonight, doesn't he? He's bang in form with everything he touches going in the net. So it's time for him to show that he can do more than rack up goals against the likes of Derby.
Fergie will be happy so far with how United have soaked up the early Roma pressure. Now they can slowly play their way into the match.
United now looking to take the sting out of the game with a spell of patient possession. It's working too, with the home fans already starting to whistle in annoyance.
Fergie's got a lot of players out there like Scholes, Park and Anderson who's specialty is hanging onto possession. Lots of whistles going around the stadium now, but it's incumbent on the hosts to break United down.
Roma's fans have stopped the catcalling now and are having a right sing-song. Sounds great - excellent atmosphere and no signs of crowd trouble thankfully.
Ronaldo's on the floor claiming a foul but the ref's not having any of it. Roma come streaking forward. Mancini looks to be the danger man.
The corner comes over and old man Panucci gets above Carrick but sticks his header over the top. Still, VDS is not happy with his defenders and he's giving them a right bollocking.
Barcelona are one up through Krkc after fourteen minutes. That will certainly put Shalke under pressure.
Looks like my Leeds boys are hanging on for dear life against Doncaster - six shots against one so far.
Ronaldo sets Rooney clear on the left. He plays the ball inside to Anderson, who shoots horribly wide when well placed 25 yards from goal.
Giggsy and O'Shea are already starting to warm up.
YESSS! Alan Sheehan scores for Leeds. I've never heard of him but he's gone straight to the top of my list now. A priceless away goal against a promotion contender. Can we hang on to it?
And Luton have scored in their relegation dogfight with Gillingham. It's good news for the Hatters but they still seem doomed to relegation and perhaps liquidation.
I'd like to see a step-over challenge between Ronaldo and Mancini.
Wes Brown certainly doesn't bring the kind of overlapping gifts that Gary Neville once did for United. Will the Neviller ever come back?
Mexes so far has Ronaldo in his pocket. The boy wonder wishes he was playing against Dean Leacock today.
This doesn't look good for United. Vidic has gone down painfully and in writhing around. I'm not sure that he'll be able to continue. Fortunately, Mikel Silvestre is back from injury and is available to come on. The stretcher vehicle is coming on now. Vidic is up now and he may be able to carry on.
Now it looks as if Vidic is coming off for O'Shea who will almost certainly play at right back with the Orange shifting over the center.
Dangerous free kick here now for Roma...
And it's cleared.
The ball's given away badly by Scholes but Roma can't capitalize on it. Fergie won't be happy about that and he's got Giggs warming up again.
GOAL! And it's that man Ronaldo again predictably! But Rooney made this goal with a superb turn. The move seemed to be lost when Scholes couldn't quite latch onto Roon's through ball but then he turned inside and lobbed a lovely ball over and Ronaldo arrived late with a perfect header. 0-1 United and that could be the tie in the bag. 36 goals in all competitions for Ronaldo now.
Ronaldo landed awkwardly after that goal but he's up on his pegs again and seems to be okay to carry on. United can't afford to lose their talismanic winger.
Vucinic catches the United backline napping for once but the angle is too tight.
Coming up on half time now and United will be delighted to come in one goal up away from home. It's a scoreline that will warm the hearts of Mancunians everywhere.
Anderson picks up a yellow for a silly challenge.
And Pizarro picks up a yellow for a nasty challenge on Ronaldo.
The half-time whistle blows. Few chances created, but Ronaldo has taken the one clear-cut one that came United's way to put them in control of this quarter-final tie.
And half-time at Doncaster where Leeds are leading. Come on you Whites!
Second half starting up again...
Davey boy will think that I'm pulling his leg with an April Fool's joke, but it's no joke - his Red Devils are 0-1 up with forty five minutes to get through for a sensational result.
Totti is a massive loss for Roma. They just don't tick without him.
Rio looks as if he's got a massive shiner round his left eye. Has Fergie been rattling the teacups in the dressing room? I can't imagine that he'd be upset - they're in dreamland!
The closest that Roma have come to date. The fullback lashes one just over the bar.
And Panucci misses an absolute sitter. A cross loops over and Panucci slams it over the top.
Still 0-0 between Carlisle and Forest - a result that would suit us fine.
Carrick has a half chance but headed over. I would reckon that Fergie will make some changes soon. Probably Anderson, who's on a yellow and perhaps Park off. Fresh legs must be the order of the day. Hargreaves?
Call me Nostradamus - Anderson is making way for Hargreaves. The obvious move.
Ronaldo's now only ten goals away from Denis Law's club record at United.
Taddei is coming off to make way for Ludovic Guily. I'm shocked that the Frenchman wasn't on from the start. He's quality.
And Guily is straight into the action, drawing a great save from VDS from his cross.
Vidic has gone for a scan on his knee at the local hospital. Not good news for United.
Well, the Leeds boys have picked up three bookings in this match but they're thirty minutes away from a key victory at Doncaster. Hang in there, lads!
An outstanding reflex save from VDS there keeps his side in front. Save of the season contender.
GOAL! Rooooooooooooooooon!
Manchester United are on the way to the semis.
A long cross over from Hargreaves is knocked back in by Park, the keeper bobbles it and Roon is there to poke home.
And Ronaldo is within a whisker of adding a third goal, the post just keeping him out.
Meanwhile Leeds are still 0-1 up with a little over twenty minutes to play. Come on you Whites!
Another marvelous team move from United, starting with Ronaldo, then spread out to Park who plays Rooney in, Roon crosses to Carrick who's just wide with his shot. It's carnival time for United in Rome.
Gillingham have equalized against Luton, dooming both of them to relegation probably.
Ten minutes left in Doncaster - hang on lads!
Huge gaps appearing in the Roma backline, and if they are of a mind to do so United could yet take an even stronger lead back to Manchester.
Forest have taken the lead against Carlisle.
Rooney's coming off but there's no let up for the Roma defenders. It's Carlito to replace him.
Down to about five minutes left.
United are finishing this match at a canter. A very impressive performance.
Ronaldo hits a lovely volley and it's just over.
Into stoppage time in Rome.
Full-time: Roma 0 - United 2
A magnificent performance by United in Rome. They're almost certainly through to the semi finals now.
They're still playing in Doncaster. It's not a win in the quarters of the Champions League in Rome for us but it'll do.
Yes! A priceless away win for Leeds in Doncaster. It puts us up into seventh and within striking distance of the playoff spots.
Barca have completed a 0-1 win in Shalke, so it would appear that one semi has been sorted - United vs. Barca. Tasty, eh?
No word from the Nocito boys today so I'm assuming that the DVR will be fired up later tonight. Enjoy, Davey!
Hey Bob,
Thanks for all the comments. I just read them all.
Obviously, I am a happy chappy!!!!!
A great result. I was able to watch the second half at school after my faculty meeting. I then had to go to the college so I just got home.
Tony sent me an email saying that he wasn't too impressed with United's passing.
Still, two nil away from home is lovely jubbly. I am still not prepared to say we are in the semi yet.
I hope Vidic is okay. We can't afford to lose him!
MANY CONGRATS to your lot too.
A big big result. Win your game in hand and you are in the playoffs!!!
I will be home for tomorrow's games
Come on Arsenal... thump 'em!!
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