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!
Manchester United are racing toward a glamour Champions League final with either Real or (more likely) Barca next month. But before that, there's the annoying hurdle of Schalke 04 who sport a resurgent Raul. In the Premiership, Stoke City have the chance of reaching (relative) safety today against Wolves. Join me for all the action from 2:45 pm onward.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 12:11 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!
229 Comments:
I will be home from work about 20 minutes in... FINGERS CROSSED!!!
I'm back at 2:30 with kick-off rapidly approaching. I've got a brilliant link for the Sky coverage this afternoon:
http://www.silversportz.co.uk/
Here's the team news out of Germany this afternoon:
Schalke 04: Neuer; Uchida, Matip, Metzelder, Sarpei; Farfan, Papadopoulous*, Jurado*, Baumjohann; Raul*, Edu
Subs: Schober, Escudero, Plestan, Kluge, Charisteas, Karimi, Draxler
* = on a booking
United: Van der Sar; Fabio, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Giggs, Park; Rooney, Hernandez
Subs: Kuszczak, Anderson, Smalling, Nani, Scholes, Rafael, Evans
Ref: C Carballo (Spain)
Teams in the tunnel - the atmosphere in the stadium is electric with loads of blue and white Schalke flags waving. The Germans are definitely underdogs in this tie but they're going to make the most of this experience.
The best omen for United tonight is that they're yet to concede an away goal in the Champions League this season.
Berbatov hasn't traveled tonight! I know that he's got a groin strain but there's definitely something deeper going on there.
United to get us underway then....
An early shot from Baumjohann who looks and plays quite a bit like Tom Cleverly. I like him a lot.
Schalke bossing the midfield in the early going here.
Farfan is nominally a winger tonight but he's already indicated that he's more than willing to cut inside and run down the center if need me. Penalized for a handball there.
Oh - Rooney floated over a great ball there and Giggs wasn't a million miles away from that. Neuer palmed it behind. Early corner....
Great ball from Giggs to Chicha there but he overran it.
Oh - Park shot well and Neuer could only palm it out and Chicha was offside with the rebound.
Martin Tyler is really gushing over Manuel Neuer in the Schalke goal. He is good but I'm not sure he's that good yet. He's off to Bayern next season, apparently.
Edu with a speculative shin toward goal that VDS gobbled up.
Giggs seemed to haul down Raul there but he got the benefit of the doubt. United spring forward through Valencia. Really open game here.
Farfan hits one but it's well wide. Schalke fans really enjoying this.
Great turn from Valencia springs him again. They're having trouble handling the United attack.
Stoke and Wolves still at 0-0 in the first half.
Great run from Fabio but the defender just did enough.
Roon's gone down off the ball and Metzhelder (aka Phantom of the Opera) is cautioned for it.
Oh - Chicha got straight through there but Neuer did well again.
Now, Graeme Souness is joining the Neuer fan club.
Nice interplay between Farfan and Raul there but Rio did well. Back and forth here. Lots of cut and thrust.
Who exactly would go see Stoke v. Wolves at the Britannia when this stuff is on the telly? You'd have to be a died in the wool Potters fan, wouldn't you?
Free kick chance here for Schalke. Nothing doing.
Kenwynne Jones has fired Stoke into the lead at the Britannia with a header six yards from goal from a cross by Jermaine Pennant.
1-0!
That goal will give West Ham fans some hope as it brings Wolves back down to 33 points from 34 matches, only a point ahead of the Hammers.
Oh - Chicha should have pulled the trigger earlier there. Corner....
Hey Bob
How are things going?
United are really hogging the ball now and the crowd noise has lessened significantly. United's shirtless choir has also picked up.
Afternoon, Dave! So far - so good. You're bossing the midfield and should probably be a goal up. Chicha was in on-one-on with Neuer a moment ago. Really enjoyable match.
oooh, almost in by Hernandez
The Sky SPorts link of yours is slightly behind the FSC but the same commentators
Roon is drifting left a lot. I don't understand that.
Oh - Chicha was in again but shot wide. He's been really dangerous.
Chicha wins another corner off the Phantom.
oooh.... GIGGS SHOULD HAVE PUT THAT IN....WELL SAVED THOUGH
COME ON UNITED!!!
Oh - fantastic save again from Neuer. That Giggs header seemed destined for the back of the net.
LIke what I am seeing since I have been home
Neuer has been brilliant all night - he's saved at least three dead to right goals. The commentators are really gushing and rightly so.
Stoke beating Wolves 1-0
Lots of chances for sure.
Yeah - DahlgrenSportsCenter reported on that a while back. (LOL)
Sarpei is getting burned time after time by Valencia down the right.
All United right now
COME ON UNITED!!!
Oh - Chicha should have shot with his left peg there.
We really need to take our chances!
The ground is so quiet
A bit of attacking there from Schalke but Vidic and Rio aren't fussed.
2016: This looks like bad news for Stoke's Matthew Etherington, who has gone down in agony clutching his hamstring. The Potters will be at Wembley for the FA Cup final on 14 May, but Etherington is a big doubt if his injury is as bad as it looks.
The Schalke fans were making a lot of noise early on but they're not happy with what they're seeing. Apparently Schalke were in some relegation danger in the Bundesliga!
Rooney should have done better there!
COME ON WAYNE!!!
Oh - Roon should have hit it first time there. Let it drop and it ran away.
Yeah... they are in 16th or 18th!
Why don't United buy Neuer?
10 to go til half time
COME ON MAN U
COME ON MAN U
COME ON MAN U
BLOODY HELL!!!
FOUR CHANCES!!!
How did Inter get crushed by these guys?
oh... Fabio over the bar
COME ON UNITED... SCORE
Oh - Fabio with a great chance there.
Martin Tyler mentioned that United scouts have been all over Neuer but he's apparently opted for Bayern. That would seem like the route toward locking up the German #1 spot for years to come. What about Martin Steklenberg?
Never a pen!!
Baumjohann went down under Valencia's challenge but there wasn't a lot in it.
Useless by Rooney
The Schalke crowd is getting back into it. Most of the United fans seemed to be shirtless! That's not very savory, is it?
Too fancy pants from Roon. Play it simple, lad.
Five minutes to play before half-time. United have quieted down the crowd and a goal would just about seal the tie, to my mind.
whereswalters1 on Twitter: "This is the most one-sided 0-0 you will ever see."
No, that first half of the Barca v. Arsenal CL tie this season at the Nou Camp was more one-sided. Arsenal never put more than two passes together.
Roon did well to see Giggs on the overlap but no one was really attacking his cross.
BLOODY HELL!!
COME ON RYAN!!!!
Half time.... keep it up UNITED but SCORE!!!
Oh - another big save from Neuer. He's turning into Jan Tomashevski here. Bloody Norah!
Maybe this performance from United will urge him to join us!!
Peep peep! There's the half-time whistle. United have to be pleased with the way they've gone about this match. One goal would certainly settle affairs here and they look the more likely.
Paul Doyle's thoughts from the Guardian:
"Easter has passed but the miracles continue, thanks mainly to Neuer, who is the principal reason that United's dominance has not yet yielded a goal. Hernandez must bear some of the blame too, though: his movement and interplay has been typically excellent but his finishing has been unusually awry."
Second half starting up with Schalke going straight at VDS, who's changed his jersey to a yellow one.
I am back.... United almost in again!!
COME ON... SCORE!!!
Oh - Neuer tips over from Evra's header. Another good chance.
Stoke two up at half time
The W's are all in the zone with the B's all just outside!
Man United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, speaking at half-time: "Neuer's made some fantastic saves and that's the difference at the moment. But we will keep up the intensity in the second half and we'll keep concentrating too, we don't want to lose a goal.
Giggs with an outswinger here. Matip heads away.
GORDON BENNETT GIGGS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Giggs shoots with his right foot rather than standing on it for once and now you can see why!
You would have buried that one, UWS!
BLOODY HELL... finally it is in the net but offside
At last a good finish. That will give them a bit of confidence, I suppose.
Schalke warming up a few - they can't afford to just let United keep plugging away at them. Even a 0-0 would certainly make United favorites in the home leg.
Farfan runs over Evra but Jurado does nothing with the cross.
If United lose this... it will be criminal!
ooh Vidic with a flick but blocked!
United should be AT LEAST FOUR UP!!!
Stoke are three up... can we have some of the goals please Tony P
Stupid foul by Fabio.. in the book
Free kick chance for Shalke but United clear and break... but they blow it
COME ON MAN U
COME ON MAN U
COME ON MAN U
Giggs could have had a hat-trick tonight
WE BETTER NOT LOSE!!
Bleedin' students!
Shalke have created nowt!!!
I knew it!
And they're going to get nowt out of this contest as a result.
I'm off now to set up my class - I'll have one more check on things before my class starts.
Best of luck!
What do you think?
ackobviously on Twitter: "United should bring on Nani on for Park. Don't need Park's battling half as much as we thought. Nani could be the difference."
Shalke starting to get some chances... not
Thanks mate
Shalke with a long shot well saved by VDS
All right....Bob's buggered off so United can start scoring.........PLEASE
25 minutes to go... COME ON UNITED!
YES!!!!!!!!!!!
GIGGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great pass by Rooney!!
Don't stop at one!!!
We a couple of more
Well done Bob for leaving!
YES!!!!!!!!!!
ROOONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Set up straight down the middle by Hernandez
I am so happy that Bob buggered off!
WEMBLEY
WEMLEY
We're the famous Man United and were going to Wembley
GET ANOTHER ONE!
Get this one done and dusted so we concentrate on Arsenal and Chelsea!
I know you are going to yell at me when you read this but..... Shalke won 5-2 in Milan!
Scholsey and Anderson coming on for Hernandez and Park
Man Utd goal: In a word, the Schalke defence has been awful. And that is being kind. Anyway, United quickly extend their lead when Javier Hernandez is allowed to run on to a loose ball and slide Wayne Rooney clear - and he supplies a cool finish. United should really wrap this tie up tonight, and another goal should do it.
ONE MORE GOAL PLEASE!
Shalke could go all out for it next week
PLEASE NO!!
Free kick chance for Shalke
KEEP IT TIGHT
Free kick goes tamely wide!
DON'T LET A GOAL IN UNITED....PLEASE
2117: Right, just over 10 minutes left at the Veltins Arena. United are still in complete control and dominating possession. This is like a practice match.
I'm back - my absence really did do the trick! Wallop!
Bugger off!!!
Nice shot but Shalke and well held by VDS
This is probably the best United performance of the season, don't you think?
I think so apart for the missing of goals!
Roone being replaced by Nani
Valencia fails to get the ball across but what a pass Scholes to him
I'll be buggering off soon enough, ta very much.
Just over five minutes to go... we want another one!!
You're the reason there isn't another!
Just joshing with ya
Stoke's 3-0 hammering of Wolves will be a real tonic to West Ham fans today. They now have a better goal difference than do Wolves. Just a point behind. It's still possible for the Hammers to survive!
I agree with this
I think Crawley gave United a tougher game when they played them in the FA Cup.
oooh, Evra hits it JUST wide!
I'm off again - let the goals begin!
NO GOAL PLEASE!
Cheerio... I am off to class too soon
Into 3 minutes of added time
Giggs almost in again... he could have scored FOUR himself!
Useless by Nani!!!
Bugger off to Elland Road!
90 seconds to go... keep it tight
Shalke don't look urgent to score... ooh, they almost were in there!!
COME ON UNITED!
131: Who has been United's best player tonight? Take your pick. But for my money Michael Carrick has been most impressive of all, helping his side to be utterly dominant in midfield. Anyway, United are on the attack again and Manuel Neuer has to rush off his line to deny Ryan Giggs.
YES!!
GAME OVER
SHALKE 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 2
LOVELY JUBBLEY
STILL NOT TO WEMBLEY BUT WE ARE AT THE M25!
I am happy with today's result and performance
Bring on the Arse!!
TTFN
Fantastic result tonight - that's United safely into the final, despite Dave's usual protestations.
Real v. Barca tomorrow - should be fun!
WE'RE GOING TO WEMBLEY!
WE'RE GOING TO WEMBLEY!
DAVID!!!!!
ALMOST Going to Wembley!
I'm back on Wednesday afternoon (at least briefly) to monitor the matches today.
Real and Barca are just about finishing up a niggly, goalless first half. That's hardly what UEFA would have had in mind for this marquee event. According to Gooner, this one has been shifted onto the FX channel today.
And Clint Dempsey's goal has Fulham 1-0 up at half-time in their dead rubber with Bolton
I am here... not too impressive
i know it doesn't mean anything but United were far better than these two
mikl_em on Twitter: "El Clazzzzzzzico?"
2039: What on earth? ITV have just shown an incident after the half-time whistle blew at the Bernabeu with players and staff from both sets of teams coming together around the tunnel in a handbag-frenzy bust-up involving literally dozens. Gawd knows what started it, and a spot of pushing and shoving aside it didn't look too menacing, but this match is threatening to boil over in exactly the wrong way. Spare a thought for poor ol' referee Wolfgang Stark in the second half, please.
2041: And now, according to Adrian Chiles, it appears as if Barca's substitute keeper Jose Pinto was red carded for his part in that melee. Blimey
The match is FX HD today. I wonder if the yesterday's match was on it too?
US TV haven't said anything about the melee
"Real are playing like an away team... it's embarrassing! says the the bloke on TV
Finally they show a bit of the scuffle
Fulham have a 'comfortable' 1-0 lead at half time
sudharma on Twitter: "El Farcico?"
Lovely stuff
Adebayor has replaced Ozil
Man Utd and Shalke is on FX next week too
Ronaldo should have done better with a chance. He was too wide.. he should have passed
Wonder how United fans would treat Ronny if we play them?
Good to hear.. I wonder if Hughesy likes him
Clint Dempsey running the show - the goalscoring American has been inventive and clinical.
Tom, Inverness via text: "El Scrapico?"
Best so far.
REALLY HOTTING UP!!
PEPE IS OFF!!!!!
The Barca players went nuts and ran to the ref
Puyol having a right argument with Mourino
Danni Alves making a a meal of it
Dempsey scores in the first minute of the second half
Every tackle is being greeted with complaints from each player on the team
DISGUSTING!
Real Madrid red card: Unbelievable. For the fourth time this season Real Madrid will finish a match against Barcelona without their full quota of players. Pepe is the man dismissed by referee Wolfgang Stark this time for a flying tackle on Dani Alves, the German hesitating only a moment before brandishing a red card. Yes, the Real defender's tackle was high, no he didn't get the ball, but I have to say that looked a touch harsh.
Real Madrid red card: And now Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, for his protestations following the sending-off, much watch the rest of the match from the stands after being sent from the touchline by the referee. The atmosphere is hostile to say the least.
ooh
Barca go so close
A shot by David Villa is saved and the rebound headed just wide
Hello UWS and BD. I see that this is a bad tempered match, or is that an understatement. Is it still 0-0?
Hey MUR... VERY BORING, VERY CHIPPY.. HOPELESS!
Is the " Special One's" red card the highlight of the match? I see that Fil;ham lead Bolton 2-0.
He was just arguing about the Red with Puyol and the fourth official
Dempsey is two up against Bolton
I recorded this match. Would it be a waste of time to watch it?
Pepe has to be out of the Final if they make it
Even if it wasn't a deserved red, they can't change it
Fletch missed the final a couple of season ago being sent off against the Arse
Ronaldo with a free kick well over!
neelohith on Twitter: "Terrible scenes. Two of the best football teams in the world resorting to diving and bickering."
It depends upon the length of the suspension. If it is a one match suspension then he would miss only the second leg. Otherwise, he would miss the final.
UEFA should ban all these players for their diving and play acting! If you're banned... it would stop..... JUST KNOCK THEM BOTH OUT... we'l
Deadlock is broken
Messi with the goal at the near post
A straight red is normally three
In my opinion if this match finishes 0-0 then it is advantage Barca.
Definitely advantage Barca!
Still not over... I wasn't supremely confident after our win at the Bridge
Then he is definitely out of the final. If Barca hold on to win 0-1 at the Bernabeu , they are almost certainly in the final. Jose's teams are designed to hold on to a lead, not to come from behind.
I would say almost there , but not definitely there.
I'd like to see Messi carded tonight and next week...
Did you take back your comment from earlier?
I just you an email... make sure you reply
I think Fulham lead Bolton 3-0. Dempsey twice and Hangelaand.
Fulham are three nil up... not a hat-trick for Clint
Hangeland with their third
Adebayor in the book
Just came in and clattered a guy.... nasty
I have not checked my email since this morning. Was it the comment about us going to Wembley?
What about United going the entire Champions League season without conceding an away goal!!
I made the comment about your Wembley comment on this
The email is asking for your address
Just over 5 minutes to go
I saw that. I agree that we are not definitely there, but would be extremely shocked if we are not there on May 28th. I would love a rematch against Barca.
TWO NIL!!!
Messi scores his second
Surely it is a repeat of the 09 Final
westwingjosh on Twitter: "'El theatrico?'"
Stretching it... but I like it.
You have your wish
Post a Comment
<< Home