The Most Lucrative Football Match on the Planet!
I'm fully ensconced in vacation mode this week and very much looking forward to watching the Championship playoff final this afternoon. It's Brentford v. Fulham, now that the Welsh contingent has been dispatched. I'm cheering on the Bees, as I've got a soft spot for them and they've never been in the Premier League before. The Cottagers are a boring yo-yo club and have Bad Boy Mitrovic up front. No one needs to see that.
So, join me with a mid-afternoon snack for the big money match this afternoon on the Plus.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 1:40 PM
365 Comments:
I am here with you Bob..... in the same RED corner as you are!
Sitting thru pouring raining from the hurricane coming up the coast. Supposed to get even heavier later on this afternoon
News out of Championship today.
Wigan have lost their appeal today about the points reduction. They have officially been relegated to League 1
Barnsley survived with a great end of the season! Better side at Elland Road but still lost to the Champions. Beat Forest and Brentford in their last two games to keep up
Line Ups
Brentford: Raya, Dalsgaard, Pinnock, Jansson, Henry, Norgaard, Jensen, Dasilva, Benrahma, Watkins, Mbeumo.
Subs: Daniels, Canos, Valencia, Marcondes, Dervisoglu, Jeanvier, Fosu-Henry, Zamburek, Roerslev.
Fulham: Rodak, Odoi, Hector, Ream, Bryan, Reed, Cairney, Kamara, Decordova-Reid, Kebano, Onomah.
Subs: Bettinelli, Sessegnon, Christie, Le Marchand, McDonald, Johnasen, Knockaert, Cavaleiro, Mitrovic.
Cottagers have some firepower on the bench
Plus' coverage starts at 2:30 and the kick off is at 2:45
Good Afternoon , Bob and Dave. I'm in the red corner too.
Hope you say dry and safe, Dave. We went through the same thing with Hanna the last weekend of the Premier League season
Afternoon, chaps! Great to have you on board.
We had quite a bit of rain yesterday through this morning but the sun has put it's hat on now - hip hip hip hooray!
This match affect a few people in the PPP. If the Bob tied for first with his fellow LUFC supporter and with a three point lead over Swansong and a half a dozen point lead over WHR. Bob will be in sole possession of first place with a three point lead if the Bees win today
The coverage is finally starting on the Plus. Wahay!
Coverage just started
Thanks for the PPP summary, David - that's spot on. Come on, you Bees!
Afternoon boys
Why have an ex Fulham man on the mic!!
Interesting to see that several usual starters are on the bench tonight for Fulham, including Chrstie, Knockaert and Bad Boy Mitrovic.
Brentford wearing their changed kit...they should be the home team...they were 3rd and Fulham were 4th
WHO WAS FIRST BOB?
Thanks, Bob. Thought you would like reading that
Mitrovic has been out hurt and hasn't been fit
That's an unusual purple kit
I agree. I was surprised to see those players left on the bench
A quiz question for Bob and Dave. The Bees have had a five season spell in the top flight. Who was relegated with them in 1947?
Surprised to see Emiliano Marcondes on the bench for the Bees
Bob will be watching the performance of Pontus with some interest
My pool is going to overflow!!
Did you see who Stevie G bought today, Bob?
Looks like a lovely day in London. Both teams had just a short to Wembley Stadium
We are off as the heavens open up in ENY!!
They're off from Wembley Stadium.
COME ON YOU BEES!
And away we go in the playoff final.
WOW! That was our weather the final day of the Prem season
Cottagers struggle to clear away the Bees free kick, but finally do
Who did Stevie G sign? Wonder if he will make his debut vs Bayer in the EL
No - who did Stevie G. buy today?
I just changed all my tables for the new season....have a couple of gaps in the Prem and Championship
BTW....Leeds in 9th, United in 13th
Kemar Roofe
So relieved that I don't have to watch my beloved Leeds in this one today - we're #!!
Josh Da Silva has a shot comfortably saved by David Raya on a solo run on the break
Fulham break and have a decent shot saved
David Raya makes a sharp save from Onomah.
I don't recall Roofe featuring in the Leeds side the second half of the season and surely wouldn't have played in the Prem. A won/won for both sides
I feel bad for Wigan. Terrible way to go down - I remember our relegation to L1.
They sold him to Andelecht
Agreed, Bob. Anything can happen in the playoffs. Automatic promotion is always better
Hiya chaps. I'll join you for a bit. I'm waiting for a cloths dryer repairman to come and tell me why once I start it, it just won't quit until I throw the circuit breaker.
I'm generally in the Fulham camp. They're the club (and Everton later on) that took a punt on American outfield players and I appreciated that. I've never been but I've always heard that the Cottage experience is lovely too. I don't like Mitrovic but I don't see him, so I'm hoping he's on the transfer list. Go on the Cottagers.
Stupid foul by Michael Hector on Benhrama. Decent position for a Bees free kick
Wow - that's good move for Kemar. I wondered if he'd be able to adjust to life on the Continent.
He scored 7 goals in 16 appearances in an injury-ridden season
Into the wall by Bryan Mbuemo
Katie wearing her Raise The Roofe shirt?
Welcome Steve...congrats with the FA Cup win
Brentford have a dangerous free kick chance now - Benrama can hit these. He leaves it to his mate Mbeumo. Into the wall.
Good afternoon, Steve. Wishing you the best with the clothes dryer and great points regarding the Cottagers.
Welcome, Steve. I'll have to tell Kate that she'll need to become a Rangers fan now.
So bad at the back by Brentford.... then Fulham don't shoot
Modern Day football is down in the Championship!!
The Bees get away with stupid passing in their own box. . Bobby Reid laid it off for Onomah, who should have scored, but couldn't get a shot off
Ironically, we just had the dryer repairman in to change a broken belt on ours.
Brentford not shooting either.... they had space 18 yards out....have a pop!!
Back to m quiz question The Bees five season top flight spell ended in 1947. Who was relegated with them?
Thanks Dave. I'm still buzzing about that FA Cup win. I'd like to hear quickly that the club has met Auba's contract demands and that he's staying.
Sancho is a hell of a pick-up for you.
We had the AC guy clean our coils the day after the rain from our hurricane ended
Manchester United?
My friend just recently replaced a dryer belt himself...saved himself hundreds!
He was annoyed that the belt cost him $12
Can't wait to see Jaden Sancho in the Premier League. The cameos for England have been fun to watch.
We replaced the dryer belt a few years ago when it wouldn't turn. But this is new problem. (sigh)
Sancho is definitely a United type player. Would love the Gunners to keep Aubama. He's the one current player who would have started for their title winning teams. He's an example of how a footballer is supposed to conduct himself
We looked at some YouTube videos to see if we could do it ourselves but they showed that you had to reach behind the drum and do the work by touch without actually being able to see what you were doing. I didn't fancy it. $75 was worth every penny.
Sorry, Bob. That's incorrect. Anybody else want to try
I know it wasn't United going down
They won the Cup in 48 and not as a 2nd Division team. I think United weren't in the 2nd D since the mid 30s...until the mid 70s
Fulham?
That's a bargain by today's standards, Bob.
Leeds?
Aiyy, sleepless night in store for me because the guy doesn't think they make my machine's timer any more. He's gone already to check and see if he can find another somewhere.
I haven't heard anybody say it this week but Brentford would be the 50th different club to play in the Premier League
Sorry, Dave. That's incorrect. I think that was just before their first ever top flight season
Panicky defending from Brentford there.
Oh - Onomah on the turn pulls a nice save out of Raya.
Correct, Dave. Well done . It was Leeds relegated with the Bees in 1947
Nice save by Bees' keeper
Nice double save from David Raya
Sorry about that Steve. ope they are able to find the part
I forgot about the Bees being number 50 of they go up.
Shot from Bobby Reid deflected off of Ethan Pinnock for a Cottagers corner
Fulham starting to turn the screw a bit now.
Me too. It's a washer/dryer combo that I haven't budgeted a replacement for.
Harrison Reed with take two coming after the short corner to Neeskens ( who's having a laugh) out for another corner
1946-47 was the first season after WW2
Liverpool won it by a point over Man U and Wolves
Stoke and Blackpool completed the top 5
Arsenal finished in 13th
Charlton finished in 19th ....winning the Cup
Brentford 21st on 25 points
Leeds 22nd...on a MIGHTY 18 points from 42 games!!
Sorry, Steve - hope he can find the part in the van.
Low cross from Tom Cairney cleared off a short corner
Hope he can find his van!
Brentford haven't showed up yet
Another !947 coincidence. Two South Wales clubs failed in the playoffs this year. In 1947 two South Wales clubs also failed, but because they were relegated from Division 2. It was the Swans and Newport County, who played their only season in the second tier
Boy....it is raining outside!!
Mbeumo with a looping header from Henry's cross. Easy catch there for Rodak.
Michael Hector heads out a teasing Bees cross for a corner
oooh.... Mbeumo almost in at the back peg
Oh - dangerous cross there just diverted away by Hector. Mbeumo was lurking at the back post.
Horrible Bees corner from Jensen goes into the side netting , signalling the two minute timeout
Brentford corner taker... must be thirsty....he decided he will kick it straight out of play so he can have his drinkies
How's the weather your way, Steve. Did you get any action from Isaias?
Hope your pool doesn't overflow too much
That horrible corner from Jensen may have reminded Steve of Brian Jensen , who played for the Gunners in the 90s
Harrison Reed picks up the first yellow of the match. Brentford players not happy about that challenge.
My pool had a little leak and lost water over the winter. Some guy was supposed to come and find the hole... $250! He never got back to me so I never had anything done. It is a slow leak so I just topped off the pool a couple of times this summer. I think I found the little hole this week... cost by $1.37 for a patch
FINGERS CROSSED I found the right hole
Harrison Reed not exactly a suave movie director with that nasty tackle. I've seen red given for those, but just a booking from Martin Atkinson
Agreed, Dave. Sounds like you saved a few Bob if you found the correct hole
Come on Brentford!!
Didn't this guys meet at Bob and Kate's in the first game back after restart?
Brentford scored two late goals to win 2-0
Heavy rains here. Nothing to write home about. We're luckier than the Eastern Shore folks. They got hammered with rain, wind, and power outages.
How is Reed still on the pitch after that tackle? Ooof. Don't want him going into out players next year.
I think so Dave. The Bees came from near the university to play at Bob and Kate's . The final today is in nearby Dunkirk
I was hoping for a 4-3 in this match
Stay dry Chaps. I'll be thinking of you
Looks like a one niller today. I would love to have seen a seven goal thriller
On the face of this, I'm going to be really pissed off if Arsenal drops even two points to either of these teams. Which of course they will.
By the way, Kate doesn't fancy becoming a Rangers fan, Kemar Roofe or no Kemar Roofe.
Didn't realize that Bees star, Josh Da Silva is a graduate of the Gunners academy
Kemar to Rangers? Hadn't heard.
Agreed. Either of these sides becomes the early favorites for relegation next season. West Brom will struggle, too. Big question mark on us. I think Bielsa's nous gives us just enough points to stay up with the likes of Brighton, Southampton, and West Ham and Villa worse than us.
Don't blame Kate. Agreed, Steve. None of us wants to drop two points again st either of these sides. Surely the winner is favorite to be bottom of the Prem next season
Good on Kate.... you didn't follow King Eric....after he moved to good side
I'm happy for him - he's not the sort of player that I imagined would settle well on the Continent.
We were robbed!
Nonsense.....only took Leeds their second season back to be Champions of the Land.....dream big!
Yeah. We abandoned the project in 2018. Josh didn't carve out a slot into the first team or anywhere near it. 3 total senior appearances and I can't remember any of them.
David....do you like United's new shirt unveiled today?
Bits of yellow from the badge in the shirt
Steve, like Arsenal's new shirt? CUP WINNING SHIRT
Neither can I Steve. If he's with the Bees then he would never have panned out with the Gunners
I haven't seen the new short yet. Thanks for letting me kn ow and I will definitely look at it today
What makes me nervous is the thin squad that Bielsa prefers to play with. He's also famously loyal to players. If Bielsa decides to stick with Patrick Bamford as our lone striker, I'd at least like to have someone in reserve - perhaps even a loanee - to step in if he can't prove himself.
Last time we had a hurricane come thru Glenville....I remember it well. We lost power and I couldn't watch a certain match....Man Utd 8 Arsenal 2
Yeah the kit is fine. The Franken-steen font is illegible however. No idea who green-lit that.
We are under a tornado watch until 9 pm
Agreed with the list, Bob. You can add Palace to the list of teams Leeds will surpass and the Evil Blades if they can't hold on to Dean Henderson
A minimum of 1 minute? They had a drink for 2!!
Coming up on the half time mark now - this one could easily go the whole stretch, as no one seems to want to threaten to score.
Very nice. I'm coming to drill several more large holes in you pool, pillock.
WOW! That does sound like the conditions we faced the weekend before lat. Remember that United match well
A minute of stoppage time
I had a laugh at the Frankenstein font on the shirts - really idiosyncratic touch.
Ht... disappointing half in my book
It's 0-0 at the end of a dour first half where neither team seems to want to be promoted
Don't you have a cover for your pool, Dave - get out there in the monsoon and stick it on, eh?
hahaha....that was funny Steve!
What would a cover do?
The font reminded me of the font that Shakey's Pizza used back in the day. It's very silly. The kit however is pretty nice. The shade of red is nice but that font...
It's a Cup Winning font!
We'll see if it's a talismanic player retention font.
Fingers crossed for you.... I was very disappointed with him not knowing anything about the FA Cup trophy!! Not know about the base... being very confused... tried to loft it with the base!
He should have watched some the Gunners' captains holding up the trophy before the match!
Bees coming out ...I hope they improve in this half
Off we go
Back for the second half at Wembley
Back for the second half now. It's quite remarkable how successful the Project Restart has been. The baseball restart back here has been a complete disaster.
Rico Henry fouls Bobby Reid just outside the Bees box
Dangerous free kick early in the second half now for Fulham. Kebano to take.
Oh - into the side netting - a good sighter. I wouldn't give him another chance.
OH! The Cottagers nearly took the lead. Neeskens Kebano Bent the free kick like Beckham , but it went off the side netting
Free kick chance for the Cottagers....into the side netting!
I thought that was in!
Agreed, Bob. Hopefully the CL and EL are also a success.
BMW have one NOWT today
Done nowt
Fulham trying the playing out from the back nonsense
Defenders don't have the skill of strikers!
Benrahma was claiming a handball on Reed their but it seemed unintentional.
Talking about the playoffs, congratulations to Harrogate on becoming the newest members of the Football League after defeating Notts County, one of the oldest clubs, 3-1 in the National League playoff final
Agreed, Bob. Never a penalty
Useless by Da Silva.... took forever with the ball inside the box and never shot or crossed it!
That was a big chance
Useless cross by Bryan Mbuemo.
Is that Harrogate's first stint in the Football League?
Cricket update
England already won the series taking a 2-0 lead in a 3 game One Dayers against Ireland
Today
England 328 all out
Ireland 250 for 1...they have two batsmen well in.. 137 and 93
Ireland to beat the World Champs
The Bees attacking more this half. Their manager must have had a Frank halftime talk
It is
Brentford have started to get on top
Cometh the hour mark, cometh the subs. Marcondes seems to be being prepared to come on.
Ireland the new cricket superpower. Never knew it to be popular there
Did anyone else see Aubum's disaster with the FA Cup trophy?
They are real outsiders David
Oh - Reed had a big chance there but blew it wide.
Despite his name, Emiliano Marcondes will be one more to add to the Scandanavian contigent on the pitch for the Bees
They need 76 from 10 overs
Yeah - Steve posted it on FB - good laugh.
I saw him drop the cup. It was hilarious and never seen anything like it before.
Thanks for the clarification, Dave. I was thinking the same of the Irish cricket team
Emiliano Marcondes on for Bryan Mbuemo, which makes one more Dane on the pitch for the Bees, who also have a Danish manager
Right then - Marcondes is on and Mbeumo is off and seems to be having a right sulk about it.
Reminded me of the time that Tony Adams shrugged one of his teammates off his shoulders during the post-match celebrations and the bloke had to go up to meet with Queen with an arm in a sling. Hilarious.
A day in the Life of Bryan as the corner from Joe Bryan is headed well over by Michael Hector
Oh - Hector had a chance there from the corner but the stooping header was over the bar.
Not sure if we want an extra half hour of this dour match
It seems like neither team really wants to be in the Prem.
He didn't understand it had a base!!
Speaking of Life of Brian, I came across a really good six-part documentary series on Python on Netflix the other night. I'll stick a post on the LOB about it.
Dennis Odoi heads out a long diagonal from Jensen for a Bees corner
Again....Arsenal have only won the Cup 14 bloody times.....take a look at some pictures!!
Pinnock heads on the corner and then headed out for another in a day in the life of Bryan
Corner headed out then a horror tackle by Tom Cairney on Benhrama . Booked for that and lucky to still be on the pitch
Cairney lunges in on Benrahma and picks up a yellow for his trouble. Dangerous chance now for Brentford.
IS VAR checking for a possible penalty to the Bees off the corner. Came off the elbow of Michael Hector. No penalty
That would have been a pen in the VAR dominated Prem....there is a new name for it.... a Pogba
Free kick from Emiliano Marcondes well over and it's now the start of the two minute timeout
I don't think there is VAR
LOL, Dave! Nice one
That may be a good thing. There's enough stoppage time as is
I laughed when when he dropped it. But not as hard as when Sergio Ramos dropped that cup into the road from the top of the bus. That was priceless.
It’s time for drinks. Mine’s a gin and tonic with ice and a slice, please.
Yeah - the Ramos drop took the biscuit.
I don't get the two players standing either side of the keeper inside their box.... it should never go to them!
At least the keeper didn't pass it this time
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