Official FA Cup Final Thread

[Toshowyouwhy]

Oh God. I wasn't overly disapointed last night, because I could see the loss coming a mile away. We had two chances all game, and one was in the first 30 seconds. Once Hibbert was booked he had no chance, because unless he could use some physicality he was cactus. Pissed off with essien not getting booked, but it wouldn't have mattered.

With Arteta, Yakubu and Jagielka, maybe. With the team last night, Chelsea would have had to have played unvelieveably bad. I'm a bit more gutted now that I have reflected on the game, because going in I really likeed our chances, but we were nowhere near good enough.

Lets hope Moysie signs a decent playmaker, and that next year we can have some fit strikers and I reckon it could be a very good season. Until then, its the Ashes and west coast...

 

[apollo_creed]

Florent Malouda is officially a gun and was easily MOTM.

Cole, Lampard or Malouda but yep I agree.

He's showing the quality that made him effective for Lyon and for France.

He was one of Chelsea's better players this season. Definitely top 5 in their player of the season.

And he's most important as well, without him they're incapable of playing any kind of free flowing football with width. He has a great understanding with Drogba and links up excellently well with their midfield. One of the most, if not the most intelligent wide player in the Premeirship. Has a fantastic workrate as well.

He wasnt up against high quality right backs in Hibbert and Jacobsen but he was still sensational. First cross was for Drogbas goal was remarkable to pick him out of 5 defenders and read where he was going before Drogba even moved. The goal that was but wasnt was beautiful stuff. One of the best left wingers in the world. Chelsea need a new right winger not a left one.

Yep, not sure why they need this Zhirkov guy, unless he or Malouda is capable of playing on the right and I know Malouda probably isn't.

 

[AG]

One of the most, if not the most intelligent wide player in the Premeirship. Has a fantastic workrate as well.

That's because he is actually suited as a wide player. Too many sides in the premier league try and push central players out wide who can't cross or beat their opponent tucked out wide. Malouda has all the characteristics for playing out wide.

 

[Duncan Disorderly]

Well done to Chelsea .

I thought Guus got things tactically spot on. Chelsea played a high defensive line and clogged up the middle of the pitch, which meant our central midfielders in Cahill and Neville had absolutley no time on the ball. As a result, we could only try the long ball over the top to exploit the high defensive line, but Chelsea knew that the likes of Cahill, Fellaini and Saha wouldn't have the pace to exploit this well enough. In saying that though, I wouldn't say Moyes was outcoached, I just don't think he had the right players available to beat Chelsea.

Tony Hibbert was awful and it was clear that he was suffering from heat stress, which makes you wonder why he was wearing long sleeves . Getting an early booking didn't help either and he always struggles when he cops a booking early, as one more mistake from then on could mean that he's off.

What has got me down more than the loss, is the realization of just how far it is that we are away from breaking into the top 4. The gulf in class between 3rd and 5th has never been that far apart in my 30 years of watching football in England. One side has Dutch internationals, Brazillian world cup winners, German captains....ect on the bench and the other has academy kids, Bosman journeyman and loans. David Moyes can only work miracles for a limited amount of time with the resources that he has, as it is only a matter of time until the likes of Spurs, Villa and City overtake us.

 

[bigburger]

Those first 20 mins were amazing. Such a great feeling when Saha smashed in that goal.

 

[bus24]

Best game Ashley Cole has played in ages.

Malouda - denied an all time great FA Cup goal. Unfortunate.

 

[bus24]

What has got me down more than the loss, is the realization of just how far it is that we are away from breaking into the top 4. The gulf in class between 3rd and 5th has never been that far apart in my 30 years of watching football in England. One side has Dutch internationals, Brazillian world cup winners, German captains....ect on the bench and the other has academy kids, Bosman journeyman and loans. David Moyes can only work miracles for a limited amount of time with the resources that he has, as it is only a matter of time until the likes of Spurs, Villa and City overtake us.

To be fair - the squads of Spurs, Villa and City are all better than yours - so the gap probably isn't as huge as it is in comparison to you guys. But yeah, it's still big.

Moyes is a w***er - but you can't deny what a brilliant job he's done at Everton. Only a matter of time before he pisses off to Man Utd IMO.

 

[Bradesmaen]

To be fair - the squads of Spurs, Villa and City are all better than yours - so the gap probably isn't as huge as it is in comparison to you guys. But yeah, it's still big.

Moyes is a w***er - but you can't deny what a brilliant job he's done at Everton. Only a matter of time before he pisses off to Man Utd IMO.

Villas squad is definitely not better than ours. It was proven this year. When we had injuries, we still won. When they did, they sucked.

 

[twentydollarnote]

Foster and Murray are both ****wits. Foster - "Cahill should move to a bigger club because Everton dont play his style of football" What an idiot.

Useless analysts and no surprise Simon Hill and Andrew Orsatti moved on to better things as they clearly have an understanding of football.

haha big lols if he said that

 

[twentydollarnote]

I didn't even really bothering watching it, a few years ago would never miss the cup final these days unless my team is in it, meh.

On SBS, it is quite obvious the stronger the English clubs have got in the European Cup the more and more bitter SBS have become towards them. It all stems back to the fact a lot of them believe that the "Old English Training Methods" are still being taught to our young kids here and they don't think that's good enough. I'll watch football on any channel but SBS these days, sad really.

I would say there are borderline racist to be honest. From what i've seen they absolutely refuse to acknowledge anything positive to do with english football at all. Mean while serieA and teh spanish league are the best thing since sliced bread!

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

Mean while serieA and teh spanish league are the best thing since sliced bread!

Murray's love for Italian football is well documented.

When Ireland beat Italy in 1990 in the WC he had a bit of a moment when he came out and said Ireland didn't deserve to win.

Very much in the tone of "how dare they, they aren't in the same class as Italy".

The switchboards lit up with hundreds of complaints.


So he had to issue an appology.

 

[Crimson King]

Tony Palumbo completes the idiotic trio. I still remember how Foster, Palumbo and Murray sat there when Man Utd trashed Roma 7-1 and said that all the goals we scored were down to defensive errors on Roma's behalf.

 

[Minkus_Swan]

Congrats to Chelsea. Showed their quality on the big day and deserved the victory.

But what a start!!! Unnnnnnnnnbelievable. Pity about the other 89 mins

Couldn't believe how much space Malouda was given in the 1st half....

I've got to say that the media's 'Chelsea winning it for Hiddink Tribute' angle is pretty lame.

 

[twentydollarnote]

SBS really is part of the process that holds the sport back, events like the world cup, champions league, FA cup etc should all be on a mainstream station, if they were they'd rate well too. Let SBS show irrelevant highlights of minor overseas leagues which no one cares about, basically stuff that the station was designed for instead of hijacking a sport.

 

[Embers]

Was that really John Aloisi in the studio providing hard hitting analysis. Bit like getting Leigh Brown in the commentary box to commentate on rucking

 

[AG]

SBS really is part of the process that holds the sport back, events like the world cup, champions league, FA cup etc should all be on a mainstream station, if they were they'd rate well too. Let SBS show irrelevant highlights of minor overseas leagues which no one cares about, basically stuff that the station was designed for instead of hijacking a sport.

No, FTA networks would commercialise it beyond belief. We'd get personalities who know stuff all about football and just want their face on TV. SBS have shown loyalty to the sport and just because now it’s starting to find its feet again doesn’t mean some FTA network should have it. I don’t mind SBS because I’m not fussed about the pre/post match and half time discussions they have. I prefer talking about games with friends or on here. The average fan knows more about football than any so called expert. If they broadcast the game with a decent commentator which they did on Saturday night, I’m happy.

 

[twentydollarnote]

well providing it doesnt get a channel 7 job done on it, i think SBS given its limited coverage and who actually tunes into the station is really holding the sport back now. I also dont really care if the 'analysis' is poor, but they do seem to run agendas which arent needed

 

[AG]

I also dont really care if the 'analysis' is poor, but they do seem to run agendas which arent needed

Yeah, that only seems to be a problem with club competitions though, mainly the CL. Fox Sports do a good job with their coverage so maybe they need new on air personnel.

 

[Shane Clayton]

Why does Martin Tyler get all the big games?

His commentary is dire.

 

[davey_magik]

Why does Martin Tyler get all the big games?

His commentary is dire.

Who would you rather?

 

[TorresIsGod]

Why does Martin Tyler get all the big games?

His commentary is dire.

LOL @ this.

Major LOLS in fact.

 

[bus24]

Who would you rather?

Allan Parry.

 

[twentydollarnote]

Martin Tyler is well past his best though

 

[Shane Clayton]

Who would you rather?

Steve Banyard and Ian Dark go alright.

Martin Tyler knows his stuff but as one person has mentioned - he is well past his best.

 

[ShearMagic9]

Allan Parry.

You only like him because he's a Liverpool supporter.