FA Cup 2004-2005

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Third round starts tomorrow, boys and girls! Are you all excited?

Note to all Grecians - please make Roy Caroll CRY.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 7 January 2005 11:53 (twenty years ago)

i predict a comfortable 2-0 win and very soggy feet for Liverpool

― Stevem On X (blueski), Friday, 7 January 2005 11:56 (twenty years ago)

What about predicted upsets? I'm assuming that Sheffield United knocking out Villa is a given. I also think Plymouth could do Everton, but the shock* of the round will be when Rochdale beat Charlton at the Valley.

*Depsite Charlton losing all FA Cup games ever.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 7 January 2005 12:06 (twenty years ago)

Are we still going to go to a Charlton game?

― Markelby (Mark C), Friday, 7 January 2005 12:16 (twenty years ago)

(Check yr email)

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 7 January 2005 12:19 (twenty years ago)

Plymouth beating Everton wouldn't surprise me at all. Home Park is a bleak place.

― Matt (Matt), Friday, 7 January 2005 13:45 (twenty years ago)

Home Park is a bleak place

Anywhere with Bobby Williamson in it is a bleak place by default.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Friday, 7 January 2005 14:03 (twenty years ago)

Just watch City lose at Boundary Park four days after drawing at Highbury.

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Friday, 7 January 2005 17:25 (twenty years ago)

I really don't approve of all this Friday kickoff nonsense. All third round matches should be played at 3pm sharp on a Saturday.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 7 January 2005 18:01 (twenty years ago)

I like Plymouth! I met some of the squad when I was out there and they seemed pretty good humans, I hope they win.

agree abt Friday being madness IS NOTHING SACRED etc etc

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Friday, 7 January 2005 18:08 (twenty years ago)

well done the Blades, bye bye Villa!

― MarkH (MarkH), Saturday, 8 January 2005 14:39 (twenty years ago)

Its okay - God has acted to prevent the desecration of this sacred tradition.

Villa out. Told you.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 8 January 2005 14:51 (twenty years ago)

scunthorpe one up.....notts county winning....is it going to be giant-killing day?

― winterland, Saturday, 8 January 2005 15:09 (twenty years ago)

Man City a goal down too. COME ON EXETER.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 8 January 2005 15:20 (twenty years ago)

Is Anelka still sulking?

― winterland, Saturday, 8 January 2005 15:21 (twenty years ago)

up the bleddy ciddy!

live on 5 live xtra folks.....

― Porkpie (porkpie), Saturday, 8 January 2005 15:31 (twenty years ago)

From Sky Sports..."there's an argument between Mick McCarthy and Ian Dowie..could get ugly"

― winterland, Saturday, 8 January 2005 15:37 (twenty years ago)

Brighton have equalised against Spurs.

― The Horse of Babylon (the pirate king), Saturday, 8 January 2005 16:06 (twenty years ago)

I can't believe Exeter and man u are still nil-nil! And that Exeter is getting all the scoring chances!

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Saturday, 8 January 2005 16:19 (twenty years ago)

Ronaldo just got subbed in

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Saturday, 8 January 2005 16:23 (twenty years ago)

Alan Smith on as well now!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 8 January 2005 16:34 (twenty years ago)

And Paul Scholes as well. Shows how well Exeter have done, or how poor Fergie's reserves are.

Replay at St James's Park. COME ON!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 8 January 2005 16:35 (twenty years ago)

Do they have extra time in the FA?

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Saturday, 8 January 2005 16:35 (twenty years ago)

Fergie is reeking of desperation.

Kammy reckons that Scunny should be beating chelski

not in the initial game no, only in the replays

― Porkpie (porkpie), Saturday, 8 January 2005 16:36 (twenty years ago)

COME ON CITY!

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Saturday, 8 January 2005 16:51 (twenty years ago)

oof, take that Fergie

Tim H and Carsmile etc off to Exeter now!

― Porkpie (porkpie), Saturday, 8 January 2005 16:52 (twenty years ago)

what a great result

― Stevem On X (blueski), Saturday, 8 January 2005 16:59 (twenty years ago)

I can't WAIT until Tim, Steve or Dave post to this thread. Incredible.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 8 January 2005 17:00 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, huge congrats to the Exeter posse! Fantastic result, and more cash to come!

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 8 January 2005 17:00 (twenty years ago)

The replay will be live on telly, won't it? Even more money there.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 8 January 2005 17:02 (twenty years ago)

Even as United fan, I was actually hoping we wouldn't score in the last few minutes as that would have been too cruel on Exeter. I'm not very optimistic about the replay.

― The Horse of Babylon (the pirate king), Saturday, 8 January 2005 17:03 (twenty years ago)

So beautiful!

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Saturday, 8 January 2005 17:04 (twenty years ago)

Aaron, did you make it to the Exeter game on New Years Day in the end?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 8 January 2005 17:13 (twenty years ago)

Just watch City lose at Boundary Park four days after drawing at Highbury.

-- Japanese Giraffe (nihonnokiri...), January 7th, 2005.

― DJ Mencap0))), Saturday, 8 January 2005 17:15 (twenty years ago)

I did Matt! Had a wonderful time in Hereford.

Exeter is undefeated in games I've attended or listened to over internet radio.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Saturday, 8 January 2005 17:20 (twenty years ago)

Magnificent efforts from Exeter et al but that's enough FA Cup giantkilling for today, ta.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Saturday, 8 January 2005 17:29 (twenty years ago)

South west double on the cards...

― Matt (Matt), Saturday, 8 January 2005 17:32 (twenty years ago)

Osman and McFadden have just scored to steady Mike's nerves (haha, do you see what I did there)

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 8 January 2005 17:49 (twenty years ago)

Hmm, Everton look like they might scrape through, being two up already.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 8 January 2005 17:49 (twenty years ago)

ah, then again...

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 8 January 2005 18:05 (twenty years ago)

ha, Beattie just put the ball about ten yards over the bar from four yards out!

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 8 January 2005 18:09 (twenty years ago)

A stroll for half an hour and then...unpleasantness. Beattie isn't fit, Naysmith is having a nightmare and the less said about the defending for the goal (sans Yobo and his dodgy finger) the better. In Osman we trust.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Saturday, 8 January 2005 18:26 (twenty years ago)

ferguson claimed that he was pleased with today's outcome because "we're still in the cup". what utter horseshit. fairly or unfairly (probably the latter, as i didn't see the game) i'm laying the blame with that waster wes brown.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Saturday, 8 January 2005 19:06 (twenty years ago)

That'll do - not terribly convincing and Pistone continues to be the worst crosser of a ball in the top flight (Mike Pejic and Gary Stevens must be turning in their...La-Z-Boy recliners) but I look forward to a home tie with Burnley in r4.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Saturday, 8 January 2005 19:28 (twenty years ago)

Armadillos all round!

― Tom (Groke), Saturday, 8 January 2005 19:46 (twenty years ago)

!!!!!!!!!!!!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 9 January 2005 02:48 (twenty years ago)

(The word from The Guvnor, incidentally, is 'Blimey!')

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 9 January 2005 02:49 (twenty years ago)

http://www.soccernet.com/images/jb2/unitedexeter_332get.jpg

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Sunday, 9 January 2005 04:02 (twenty years ago)

Sadly I think the only way Ferguson is going to restore his ravaged pride after the events of this week is to play his first choice XI at St James's Park and smash the plucky Grecians into a million tiny pieces, but hey.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 9 January 2005 11:54 (twenty years ago)

I wonder how large The Guvnor's ruin is this morning?

― RickyT (RickyT), Sunday, 9 January 2005 13:16 (twenty years ago)

Never has such pride been mixed with such shame.

Yeading are still holding Newcastle. Arsenal are one-nil down to Stoke. BEST THIRD ROUND EVER!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 9 January 2005 14:56 (twenty years ago)

Ultimately, my lasting memory of that will be Craig Bellamy trying to execute an utterly pointless "standing foot" cross in a ill-earned attempt to show off, and totally fucking it up. Twat.

Did anyone flip over to Eurosport after? Inter v Sampdoria, Inter scoring in the last minute of normal time and two immediately after for a 3-2 win. Cool.

― DJ Mencap0))), Sunday, 9 January 2005 16:01 (twenty years ago)

Thank you all for your kind thoughts. We had a day out in Manchester and we saw our friends and then we watched the football and after that I couldn't really speak and we went to the pub and it was good.

The replay will be on terrestrial television, apparently, a week on Wednesday but City have never played well in a live televised match and so I don't hold out much hope.

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 10 January 2005 11:27 (twenty years ago)

Inter v Sampdoria, Inter scoring in the last minute of normal time and two immediately after for a 3-2 win.

quickest turnaround in history? or would that be England 1 France 2 Jun 04, or Man Utd 2 Bayern Munich 1 May 99? or something else? considering this one took three goals not two it's surely the greater/greatest comeback to occur in added minutes.

― Stevem On X (blueski), Monday, 10 January 2005 11:30 (twenty years ago)

Will you be in attendance, at the replay?

Meanwhile in the Conference:

Burton won.

Tamworth lost.

A soldier from Tamworth is being court-martialled today.

― Puddin'Head Miller (PJ Miller), Monday, 10 January 2005 11:33 (twenty years ago)

GEDDON CITY!!

it *was* good.

― CarsmileSteve (CarsmileSteve), Monday, 10 January 2005 11:33 (twenty years ago)

Southampton vs Portsmouth in the fourth round.

― Puddin'Head Miller (PJ Miller), Monday, 10 January 2005 13:46 (twenty years ago)

FA Cup fourth round draw:

Derby v Watford or Fulham
Man Utd v Exeter v Middlesbrough
Cardiff or Blackburn v Colchester
Chelsea v Birmingham
West Ham v Sheff Utd
Oldham v Bolton
Arsenal v Wolverhampton
Everton v Sunderland
Nottm Forest v Peterborough
Brentford v Hartlepool or Boston
Reading or Swansea v Leicester or Blackpool
Burnley or Liverpool v Bournemouth
Southampton v Portsmouth
West Brom v Tottenham
Newcastle v Coventry
Charlton v Yeovil

Ties will be played on the weekend of 29 and 30 January.

― Puddin'Head Miller (PJ Miller), Monday, 10 January 2005 13:51 (twenty years ago)

I'm pretty sure that Fox Sports World will broadcast the Exeter replay.

How good is Middlesbrough, for the next round and all?

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Monday, 10 January 2005 13:52 (twenty years ago)

If you're a BBC exec, you're not exactly thrilled at the prospect of picking 3 of those out for live screening.

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Monday, 10 January 2005 13:53 (twenty years ago)

West Ham v Sheff Utd could be a cracker. But they won't choose it

― Masked Gazza, Monday, 10 January 2005 13:56 (twenty years ago)

I am strangely relieved at getting West Brom as opposed to one of those plucky lower league giantkillers.

Oldham v Bolton could be an interesting one.

Middlesbrough are a good Premiership side, Aaron - currently 6th in the league.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 10 January 2005 13:59 (twenty years ago)

That Inter - Samp match is the exact opposite of two games I saw in the 1996/7 season when Samp came back from 3-0 down to win 4-3 and from 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Inter and Milan. I was so annoyed with them, I couldn't bear to go and see them play at Atalanta, which was a shame, because they whupped their stripey arses 4-0.

― Madchen (Madchen), Monday, 10 January 2005 14:00 (twenty years ago)

Middlesbrough are a well-supported team from the other end of the country, and a mere 91 places above Exeter in the English football pyramid.

It looks like we're going to have to win this cup the hard way, ect ect.

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 10 January 2005 14:07 (twenty years ago)

i enjoyed all the GRECIANS EARN Draw At Old Trafford headlines everywhere. You can't BUY publicity like that Tim.

― Stevem On X (blueski), Monday, 10 January 2005 14:08 (twenty years ago)

Middlesbrough are a well-supported team

ah but are they 'big'?

― Stevem On X (blueski), Monday, 10 January 2005 14:09 (twenty years ago)

Yes.

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 10 January 2005 14:12 (twenty years ago)

I knew - knew - we'd get Sunderland at home. Of course, I didn't tell anyone - it's a bit like people having premonitions of plane crashes and keeping schtum about it. I wouldn't believe me either.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 10 January 2005 14:19 (twenty years ago)

i enjoyed all the GRECIANS EARN Draw At Old Trafford headlines everywhere

Some people aint got no originality.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 10 January 2005 14:32 (twenty years ago)

Right, I'd reckon we'll be getting on the telly with that one, then. Good good.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 10 January 2005 15:01 (twenty years ago)

i'd rather watch Yeovil!

― Stevem On X (blueski), Monday, 10 January 2005 15:22 (twenty years ago)

I'd imagine that's a decent bet too - long history of Cup upsets etc. - EXCEPT Oldham-Bolton will almost certainly be on as will Man U-Boro assuming they beat Exeter.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 10 January 2005 15:40 (twenty years ago)

Oi!

Actually my suspicion is that if - and I realise it's a remote possibility - we beat Man U next week, one of the TV channels is likely to show the non-league giant killers at home against another Premiership side.

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 10 January 2005 16:49 (twenty years ago)

Oh yeah, that as well.

Basically, Forest vs. Peterborough isn't likely to be troubling the schedulers at any point.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 10 January 2005 16:50 (twenty years ago)

Congratulations to Exeter City FC and their supporters.

A slight, pleasant surprise for me: what a fine fellow is Steve Perryman. Wry, weathered, wise, almost slowed into caution by experience; yet seemingly so generous with his time and whatever energies he may have left. I liked his Guardian comment that if things go wrong at Exeter, they can knock another nought off his salary. And I liked the way he touched Garth Crooks' arm at the end of an interview, yesterday. Old comrades whose excitable hearts still beat.

― the dreamfox, Monday, 10 January 2005 16:53 (twenty years ago)

Joe, PLEASE write some 80s footballer slash, please?

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 10 January 2005 17:21 (twenty years ago)

No one has Reported Back from Charlton.

It would be nice to see Yeovil.

I always touch people's arms at the end of interviews.

― Puddin'Head Miller (PJ Miller), Monday, 10 January 2005 17:31 (twenty years ago)

Do you think that helps get you the job?

― Mooro (Mooro), Monday, 10 January 2005 19:05 (twenty years ago)

I didn't see Perryman on the Beeb but I did see him on Sky Sports News - he came across tremendously well. Perhaps he told the same anecdote on Focus: he was trying to explain to his daughter's Japanese nursery school teacher why the crowd was so much more involved passionate at the 2nd round FAC match than at LDV or Conference games she'd attended. "In the 3rd round we could get... (with all due respect, I couldn't say West Bromwich Albion) we could get - I mean, we obviously won't - but we could get Manchester United." "Really?!"

Marvellous.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 10 January 2005 19:26 (twenty years ago)

The BBC would be insane to show Southampton Portsmouth. It will be a terrible game, but they'll screen it anyway because of the whole "bitter local rivals drawn together" thing.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 11 January 2005 10:04 (twenty years ago)

Can they choose any games they like? Surely TV accounted for some of the empty seats at Sheffield United. Well, that and the crap opposition.

― Puddin'Head Miller (PJ Miller), Tuesday, 11 January 2005 10:08 (twenty years ago)

Yes, they can choose any games they like, and apparently dictate the date / time the games they choose will be played, and the clubs involved receive £150,000, hurrah.

Exeter are keeping regular league prices for the replay against Manchester United (that's £11 to stand or £13 to sit), which I think is very nice of us.

― Tim (Tim), Tuesday, 11 January 2005 10:13 (twenty years ago)

For goodness sake, Djimi.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 22:22 (twenty years ago)

Even the official Liverpool site says that they deserved to lose... Rafael Benitez is going to get hammering in the tabloids. Serves him right for playing a bunch of kids, even if they have done well in the Carling Cup.

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 22:30 (twenty years ago)

Alan Green was in full-on scathe-mode tonight on Five Live - Lawro just sounded depressed (embracing his McGowan persona) next to him. It wasn't so much the kids, who were out of their depth, but the likes of Nunez, Biscan and Traore who seemed to be thoroughly uncommitted. If they play like this at Watford they'll be out of that cup too.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 18 January 2005 22:35 (twenty years ago)

BURLIMEY

― Stevem On X (blueski), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 00:01 (twenty years ago)

i don't suppose there's a chance of two Premiership KOs on consecutive nights?

― Stevem On X (blueski), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 00:01 (twenty years ago)

Nor does anyone else, Steve, and they're probably right. Kick off's at 7.45. Alan Green says he'll be watching the bill by 8pm.

Come on City.

― Tim (Tim), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 09:40 (twenty years ago)

Ha fucking ha Liverpool. Sadly Ferguson won't make the same mistake tonight.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 10:23 (twenty years ago)

Go Grecians!

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 16:07 (twenty years ago)

I am looking forward to tonight more than I've looked forward to any match since Euro2004.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 16:17 (twenty years ago)

The Utd team tonight:

T Howard, P Neville, G Neville, J O'Shea, Q Fortune, R Giggs, L Miller, P Scholes, E Djemba-Djemba, C Ronaldo, W Rooney
Subs: L Ricardo, L Saha, D Bellion, D Fletcher, M Silvestre

Well, you don't want it to be a meaningless victory over a bunch of kids, do you?

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Wednesday, 19 January 2005 19:45 (twenty years ago)

I was good and didn't catch the score until just watching the re-broadcast. Well played Exeter! So much fun seeing the team on TV. My roommate's gf's favorite player is Steve Flack. And we all agreed that Ronaldo is a puss.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Thursday, 20 January 2005 03:27 (twenty years ago)

Exeter played out of their skins in the second half, it was fantastic. For a period of 15-20mins I seriously started believing they might score. Amazing.

Also that chant of "there's only one Arsene Wenger" even made me laugh.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 20 January 2005 09:18 (twenty years ago)

Mark 'the voice of reason' Lawro let the side down a bit, I thought.

Top entertainment.

I thought I heard a small chorus of the '69' song just after Rooney skied his dinky chip over the goalie. There was a big chorus of the clean version.

― Peter Stringbender (PJ Miller), Thursday, 20 January 2005 09:40 (twenty years ago)

what an excellent match! every time it looked like exeter might have a chance of scoring i was on the edge of my seat with nerves and excitement, every time man u fucked up i howled with laughter! that nutmeg!

― debden, Thursday, 20 January 2005 10:09 (twenty years ago)

Christ, Southampton v Portsmouth is incredibly boring.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 29 January 2005 13:35 (twenty years ago)

A goal and a penalty in the space of a minute! (the other 52 minutes have been very boring though)

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 29 January 2005 13:45 (twenty years ago)

In fact, the match seems to have improved immeasurably since Matt slammed it. Sendings off! Chances galore! Harry-baiting!

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 29 January 2005 14:01 (twenty years ago)

Controversial injury-time penalty!

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 29 January 2005 14:21 (twenty years ago)

Well, that was silly of me, wasn't it?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 29 January 2005 14:34 (twenty years ago)

I wouldn't like to be out there on the streets of Southampton right now, I must say.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 29 January 2005 14:37 (twenty years ago)

I wish Wayne Rooney was Scottish.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 29 January 2005 19:17 (twenty years ago)

His second goal was worthy of van Basten. The first one wasn't bad either.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 29 January 2005 19:19 (twenty years ago)

FA Cup fifth round draw:

Bolton v Derby or Fulham
West Bromwich Albion or Tottenham v Nottingham Forest
Everton v Manchester United
Charlton Athletic v Leicester City
Burnley v Blackburn
Southampton v Brentford or Hartlepool
Newcastle v Chelsea
Arsenal v West Ham or Sheffield United

Ties to be played on 19/20 February.

― Stevem On X (blueski), Monday, 31 January 2005 14:22 (twenty years ago)

Good draw! Come on ye Bees!

― Dadaismus (Dada), Monday, 31 January 2005 14:31 (twenty years ago)

one of Arsenal, Chelsea or Utd will definitely win this :(

― Stevem On X (blueski), Monday, 31 January 2005 14:33 (twenty years ago)

... funny, I don't hear quite so many people slagging off Scottish football for being boring and predictable anymore

― Dadaismus (Dada), Monday, 31 January 2005 14:35 (twenty years ago)

that shit gets old

― Stevem On X (blueski), Monday, 31 January 2005 14:43 (twenty years ago)

We haven't beaten Man U since the '95 FACfinal, so Bring It On. Rooney to be carried off after 10min.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Monday, 31 January 2005 14:45 (twenty years ago)

sent off more likely

― Stevem On X (blueski), Monday, 31 January 2005 15:00 (twenty years ago)

Provided we beat West Brom, that's quite a nice draw. I sincerely hope by the end of today we will have signed a couple of Forest's best players as well.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 31 January 2005 15:09 (twenty years ago)

Henrik Larson's departure has made Scottish football interesting again, from a neutral's perspective.

― Dave B (daveb), Monday, 31 January 2005 16:04 (twenty years ago)

I thought Rooney behaved himself quite nicely the other day.

Do you think it would be difficult to get a ticket for Fulham vs Derby? I feel a strong affinity with Derby in this competition. Maybe I should become a Derby supporter before the transfer window closes.

― Peter Stringbender (PJ Miller), Monday, 31 January 2005 17:58 (twenty years ago)

i'd really like to go to a Cup match

― Stevem On X (blueski), Monday, 31 January 2005 18:05 (twenty years ago)

PJM I expect it would be fairly straightforward to get a ticket for the Fulham vs Derby game. Fulham don't tend to sell out except for the obvious games against the best-supported Premiership sides. These tickets are not cheap, mind.

Getting a ticket for the Derby end might be rather more difficult.

(Good luck, by the way).

― Tim (Tim), Monday, 31 January 2005 18:11 (twenty years ago)

I suspect Newcastle-Chelsea might be on the TV. Also Everton-Man U. Arsenal for the third game, I guess, but no idea on the fourth.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 31 January 2005 18:27 (twenty years ago)

if Spurs get Reid and Dawson today AND beat WBA then that'll make the clash with Forest more worthy of televisation i dare say

― Stevem On X (blueski), Monday, 31 January 2005 18:28 (twenty years ago)

Reid and Dawson will be cup-tied won't they? Barring an eleventh hour catastrophe they look like Spurs players now.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 31 January 2005 18:33 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

Ooh, this is good stuff at Highbury. Bergkamp sent off for Reyes's offence, Fabregas mystifyingly still on the pitch after a *very* dirty tackle, Sheffield Utd goal disallowed for no apparent reason. For the first time in my life, I'm rooting for Neil Warnock.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 19 February 2005 13:31 (twenty years ago)

Aye, Reyes has slapped two players in the face and tried to break another's legs while Bergkamp seems to have been sent off for the crime of POINTING

http://www.arsenal.is/images/bergkamp/bergkamp_new.jpg

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Saturday, 19 February 2005 13:51 (twenty years ago)

God I love the FA Cup so much.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 19 February 2005 14:28 (twenty years ago)

Any BBC coverage of this right now? (I know the clubs seem to grab all the net broadcast stuff for themselves these days but you never know.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 19 February 2005 14:30 (twenty years ago)

do the spurs still exist in this tournament?

― Jay-Kid (Jay-Kid), Saturday, 19 February 2005 14:38 (twenty years ago)

Hurrah for justice! Penalty right at the end of the game took Sheff Utd to a totally deserved replay.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 19 February 2005 14:39 (twenty years ago)

And, yes Jay, Spurs are playing Nottingham Forest tomorrow.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 19 February 2005 14:41 (twenty years ago)

Spurs v Forest kicks off today, doesn't it? My love for this tournament may yet turn to hate before the day is out...

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 19 February 2005 14:44 (twenty years ago)

Spurs v Forest kicks off today, doesn't it?

Not according to the BBC, it doesn't

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 19 February 2005 14:46 (twenty years ago)

Yes, you're right. Also this confused me. The BBC is rub.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 19 February 2005 15:08 (twenty years ago)

Ned, BBC did show that game live, and are also showing Man Utd-Everton at 5.30, I think it is.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 19 February 2005 15:53 (twenty years ago)

Takes a lot for me to want Man U to slap the shit out of any other team, I have to say, but this was one of those rare occasions. Shame Rooney didn't take his golden chance

― DJ Mencap0))), Saturday, 19 February 2005 19:43 (twenty years ago)

Chelsea are about to implode.

― The Horse of Babylon (the pirate king), Sunday, 20 February 2005 20:53 (twenty years ago)

Did you see the linesman at St James Park give Chelsea a corner when the ball rolled out for a throw NEXT TO HIS FUCKING FOOT?

― Michael Philip Philip Philip Philip Annoyman v1.0 (Ferg), Sunday, 20 February 2005 21:02 (twenty years ago)

This has set up a potentially hugely entertaining finale to the season. I said early on that Chelsea could be done for by a couple of defensive injuries and, bizarrely, Celestine Babayaro could prove to be the key player here. Gallas didn't look fully fit by the end of the day and he's the only real option at left back, so they're *really* relying on him being fit, or else playing Glen Johnson (for England Number 1!) on the wrong side.

There is also now a ridiculous amount of pressure on Joe Cole to fill both Duff and Robben's boots. They may have to retreat to conventional 4-4-2 like Ranieri used last year, which would probably suit Lampard better.

Forget Barcelona - Chelsea could still drop six points against Man Utd and Arsenal. And if they do, that's the title race blown right open.

THE STAGE IS SET FOR MIKAEL FORSSELL!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 20 February 2005 23:36 (twenty years ago)

But still, one of the most bizarre games of football I've seen in a long while. Poor Glen Johnson.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 20 February 2005 23:42 (twenty years ago)

i heard he made a great save

― Sven Bastard (blueski), Monday, 21 February 2005 01:13 (twenty years ago)

Whoever it was, save of the game.

― Mr Noodles (Mr Noodles), Monday, 21 February 2005 01:52 (twenty years ago)

That said, a back five of Cech, Ferreira, Terry, Carvalho and Johnson playing on the wrong side is still better than every defence in the Premiership except maybe Man Utd's.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 21 February 2005 07:37 (twenty years ago)

I think Smertin might play at left-back if Gallas isn't fit. They tried him there for a couple of games earlier in the season.

But... it's what I said all along, a couple of injuries and we're looking thin at the back and up front. Duff may be out along with Gallas (possibly), Bridge, Drogba and Robben. Forsell is crocked for the rest of the season too isn't he? No panic just yet, but I think we just need to get through the Barce game somehow and regroup for Sunday. We'll beat Liverpool. We just have to keep it together in the league somehow.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Monday, 21 February 2005 10:24 (twenty years ago)

i predict Joe Cole will do something rather good in the Nou Camp.

― Sven Bastard (blueski), Monday, 21 February 2005 10:33 (twenty years ago)

it's all fun.

forsell due back end of march/early april; drogba and parker could be fit by sunday (both are training). i think we will play the most defensive game ever on wednesday. if gallas is injured, i'd expect mourinho to play ferreira at left back (he believes he can play anywhere) and johnson at right back.

the real problem isn't defense - it's that we never replaced mutu so don't have enough strikers - we were never going to scare against newcastle with cole and kezman up front.

― Pete W (peterw), Monday, 21 February 2005 10:34 (twenty years ago)

well if Kezman's chip had bounced off the woodwork that little bit lower...

― Sven Bastard (blueski), Monday, 21 February 2005 10:38 (twenty years ago)

Yes but it didn't cos he's Kezman. His entire season has been like Robert Fleck's debut.

― Pete W (peterw), Monday, 21 February 2005 11:13 (twenty years ago)

If you're that desperate then Hernan Crespo is still technically a Chelsea player.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 21 February 2005 11:20 (twenty years ago)

We're not that desperate.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Monday, 21 February 2005 11:29 (twenty years ago)

Watching England's first choice keeper come out for a ball he was never going to get to, and instead clotheslining England's fifth choice centre half, was the strangest bit of football I saw yesterday.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Monday, 21 February 2005 11:50 (twenty years ago)

They did that against Arsenal earlier in the season as well. I don't understand it.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Monday, 21 February 2005 12:06 (twenty years ago)

i was wrong about Parker

http://www.physioroom.com/news/table_current.shtml

As we speak Ferguson is looking at this link, rubbing his hands and laughing maniacally.

― Pete W (peterw), Monday, 21 February 2005 12:35 (twenty years ago)

Full sixth-round draw:

Newcastle v Tottenham or Nottingham Forest
Southampton or Brentford v Manchester United
Bolton v Arsenal or Sheffield United
Burnley or Blackburn v Leicester

― Sven Bastard (blueski), Monday, 21 February 2005 17:18 (twenty years ago)

I would love it if the semi-final line-up was Forest, Brentford, Sheffield United and Burnley. I suspect you'd get pretty good odds if you wanted to bet on that.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Monday, 21 February 2005 18:21 (twenty years ago)

More likely something like United v Arsenal and Leicester v Forest with a complete mismatch in the final, like last year.

― The Horse of Babylon (the pirate king), Monday, 21 February 2005 18:25 (twenty years ago)

two weeks pass...

Ideal way for today to pan out: Watch Bolton beat Arsenal at home, then go down to a pub in Finsbury Park with my friend who's a Southampton fan. Sit amongst distraught Arsenal fans, see United win 3-0, gloat.

Nighmare scenario: Watch Arsenal progress to yet another FA Cup semi at home, then go to a pub full of drunken, celebrating Arsenal fans who stay to see Southampton destroy United's season and join my mate in gloating heartily.

― The Horse of Babylon (the pirate king), Saturday, 12 March 2005 10:55 (twenty years ago)

Early goal for the Arse

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Saturday, 12 March 2005 12:23 (twenty years ago)

Freddie Ljungberg's goal was classic.

I'd really like Saints to beat the Red Surrey cunts, sorry.

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Saturday, 12 March 2005 12:24 (twenty years ago)

Diouf off after 8 minutes! Bolton commit FA Cup suicide!

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 12 March 2005 12:26 (twenty years ago)

Bolton are fucked.

Diouf should be sacked and made to leave English football. What a twat.

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Saturday, 12 March 2005 12:29 (twenty years ago)

what the hell was going through his mind?

― Ste (Fuzzy), Saturday, 12 March 2005 12:37 (twenty years ago)

http://www.tshirts365.com/store/thumbNail.asp?size=200&image=/store/catalog/Dioufus_detail.gif

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Saturday, 12 March 2005 12:40 (twenty years ago)

What is he thinking??

xxxpost in a way

― ken c (ken c), Saturday, 12 March 2005 22:29 (twenty years ago)

There's a bit in the Observer about him parking in disabled spaces to save paying for the meter. He seems a thoroughly nasty piece of work. His face has taken over from Alan Smith's as my most hittable in football.

― Dave B (daveb), Sunday, 13 March 2005 15:14 (twenty years ago)

I like Alan Smith.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 13 March 2005 15:21 (twenty years ago)

Oh well!

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 13 March 2005 17:57 (twenty years ago)

Mmmm.. well, it'd probably be easier to get a UEFA place via the league anyway - hopefully it'll be a Man U-Arse final and then the UEFA league places will go down to 7th. And I think we COULD get that ...

― darren (darren), Sunday, 13 March 2005 18:01 (twenty years ago)

dioufys a good lad

― charltonlido (gareth), Sunday, 13 March 2005 18:05 (twenty years ago)

Is he a Greek God?

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 13 March 2005 18:06 (twenty years ago)

Fuck. Still, has least I had 85mins to brace myself for the fact. I thought it was a fairly decent tie despite everything, definitely compared to going 3-0 up against Man City and still managing to lose. Yet another reason to hate Lee Bowyer though.

Man Utd v Arse final would be amazing but as far as I know it has never actually happened. Something tells me this cup has Alan Shearer's name on it though.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 13 March 2005 18:55 (twenty years ago)

Spurs got a lot of bookings, I didn't see the game, as I have no Sky.

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 13 March 2005 19:01 (twenty years ago)

I didn't see it either, but I did see the earlier game and felt quite sorry for Leicester - they did very well to hold Blackburn for so long and it was a very soft penalty award.

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 13 March 2005 19:03 (twenty years ago)

I saw the first half of the Blackburn match, it was kinda funny that Johanson had apodted the Robbie Savage hair style for the match.

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 13 March 2005 19:06 (twenty years ago)

Arsenal's fifth semi in a row and the seventh in eight years - surely if they meet Man U again they could not lose to them yet AGAIN? at least one of them will finish the season without a trophy...

― Sven Bastard (blueski), Sunday, 13 March 2005 19:12 (twenty years ago)

I was getting a bit fed up with the slagging they were giving Craig Levein for having had the misfortune of being in Scotland's squad for Italia 90 . Paraphrasing slightly, and apropos of absolutely nothing, it was along the lines of "of course, Scotland got beaten by Costa Rica, but this was back in the days when Scotland would have been expected to beat a team like that, not like now, hahaha". Levein didn't even play in that game, and they soon shut up about how crap Scotland were when Scotland international striker Paul Dickov put the ball past England international keeper Ian Walker.

Incidentally, has Ian Walker ever looked in a mirror and thought that his hair looks shit? Someone really should tell him.

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 13 March 2005 19:13 (twenty years ago)

Man Utd v Arse final would be amazing but as far as I know it has never actually happened

1979 - Arsenal 2-0 up with 5 mins to play, United pull it back to 2-2 only for Arsenal to score again right at the end.

― The Horse of Babylon (the pirate king), Sunday, 13 March 2005 19:13 (twenty years ago)

ha ailsa, did you notice how the BBC commentator said "Ian Walker...England international....against Paul Dickov...."?

― Sven Bastard (blueski), Sunday, 13 March 2005 19:15 (twenty years ago)

Yes, that was what annoyed me, he could have redressed the balance after a totally random slagging of Scottish football based on the fact that Craig Levein once didn't play in an embarrassing game. But no, let's get the boot in during, er, an FA Cup quarterfinal :)

Poor Gary Lineker was quite upset that no-one in the studio seemed to agree that Leicester weren't totally crap.

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 13 March 2005 19:26 (twenty years ago)

Arsenal v Blackburn
Man Utd v Newcastle

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiinterestiiiiiiiiing...

― Sven Bastard (blueski), Monday, 14 March 2005 14:54 (twenty years ago)

i want the Arsenal v Man U final and i want to see Arsenal beat Man U outside of a Charity Shield for the first time in 3 years or whatever it is now. but if Souness actually manages to guide Newcastle to a trophy that'll be a bittersweet pill for Bobby Robson i'd have thought.

― Sven Bastard (blueski), Monday, 14 March 2005 14:57 (twenty years ago)

at least one of them will finish the season without a trophy...

stevem you applying for a job as a commentator?

― ken c (ken c), Monday, 14 March 2005 15:52 (twenty years ago)

that paul dickov penalty hurts my eyes everytime i see it on the news - i don't care about the result either way but

ARRGH THAT BALL WAS LIKE TOTALLY NOT ON THE SPOT.

― ken c (ken c), Monday, 14 March 2005 15:53 (twenty years ago)

it's like reading sentences that uses "your" instead of "you're"

― ken c (ken c), Monday, 14 March 2005 15:54 (twenty years ago)

Newcastle last won the FA Cup in 1955.

Does anybody want to guess who won Division 1 that year?

Some people might take this to be an omen.

― aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Monday, 14 March 2005 15:58 (twenty years ago)

two months pass...

i want the Arsenal v Man U final and i want to see Arsenal beat Man U outside of a Charity Shield for the first time in 3 years or whatever it is now

Stevem's prediction comes true as the ginger Pele shows himself to be a crappy penalty taker and Lehmann discovers the form that has deserted him most of the season.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:00 (twenty years ago)

My anger and distress is only partly alleviated by the sight of Cristiano Ronaldo crying yet again.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:05 (twenty years ago)

Chuffed!

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:06 (twenty years ago)

Totally unbothered either way, actually, result-wise, though watching Big Chief Fannydangle reduced to a blubbering heap is, as Matt points out, really really funny.

Good entertaining game, one for the neutrals etc.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:09 (twenty years ago)

(my last cliched comments were posted before Alan Hansen just said them there)

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:10 (twenty years ago)

This Arsenal fan on 606 is kinda embarassing me.

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:11 (twenty years ago)

I think the Ronaldo schadenfreude is a bit old hat - he was the best player on the pitch for the first 90 minutes.

Nevertheless, I am glad Arsenal won. The sight of a triumphant Fergie and Keane would have been sickening.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:14 (twenty years ago)

I agree that Ronaldo was the best player in that final - better than Rooney I thought, although a close call. United ridiculously profligate in front of goal - considering they dominated the 90mins they could have been four or five goals up.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:20 (twenty years ago)

Oh, he was undoubtedly very good, but his stepover twinklytoes routine really annoys me, also he just looks annoyingly slappable.

(xpost)

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:22 (twenty years ago)

Ronanldo is like the United player I like! And Giggs maybe. I am incapable of hating twinkletoes wingers.

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:23 (twenty years ago)

Arsenal's tactics of not playing a proper forward line was mystifying. Maybe they were going for penalties from the get-go.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:24 (twenty years ago)

I wish I hadn't resisted the urge to take a nap in the first half. I could've just watched from about the 60th minute.

Arsenal were very lucky, I reckon they'll sell Reyes pretty quickly now.

― jel -- (jel), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:26 (twenty years ago)

Ronaldo is okay now, I hated him last year, mainly because of his hair.

― jel -- (jel), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:27 (twenty years ago)

Fucking Reyes. I was banking on him skying his penalty.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:28 (twenty years ago)

He's like the Spanish Diouf.

― jel -- (jel), Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:29 (twenty years ago)

I would just like to hold up my hands and say that we stole that game today.

― Antonio Reyes, Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:33 (twenty years ago)

Yes, indeed. Much as it pains me to admit it, we only had one shot on target over 2 hours of football. We will donate the trophy to United.

― Arsene Wenger, Saturday, 21 May 2005 16:36 (twenty years ago)

But United had lots of shots on target and failed to do anything useful with them like get them past Lehmann (Rio's offside goal nothwithstanding). Therefore both teams suck and the tournament should be declared null and void. Ha! Nobody's a winner, baby.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 21 May 2005 17:14 (twenty years ago)

Much as that was an unjust result, there are no circumstances under which watching MU players blubbing is not funny.

― Si Carter (Si Carter), Saturday, 21 May 2005 17:31 (twenty years ago)

Also, as a Scottish person who hates the sight of Scholes for being singularly responsible for us failing to qualify for Euro 2000, can I just say HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHAHHA at this point?

Thanks.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 21 May 2005 17:41 (twenty years ago)

Way to hold a grudge.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Saturday, 21 May 2005 18:14 (twenty years ago)

just wish keane had missed his penalty but its ok :-)

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Saturday, 21 May 2005 19:27 (twenty years ago)

He's like the Spanish Diouf.

dont knock dioufy!

― charltonlido (gareth), Saturday, 21 May 2005 19:33 (twenty years ago)

It's always worth seeing Cristiano Ronaldo cry. I mean... I don't know what it is about him, but it's his face and his smirk and if I were a player I wouldn't be able to stop myself from kicking him. In the face if possible.

Oh, I do know what it is.

― Suedey (John Cei Douglas), Saturday, 21 May 2005 19:41 (twenty years ago)

Hey, it's been well established elsewhere that petty grudges are a GOOD THING in football supporting.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 21 May 2005 20:00 (twenty years ago)

man utd in not being able to score a goal shockah.

― ken c (ken c), Saturday, 21 May 2005 21:33 (twenty years ago)

Man of the match, in my view = Lehmann. A few terrific saves, plus the key save that won the shootout. I thought Rooney had been the best in the 90 - Ronaldo wasted too much, as usual, but Rooney looked most like breaking the deadlock.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 21 May 2005 22:12 (twenty years ago)

ken c otm. united's silliness in front of goal is representative of a deep-rooted problem in the current team. united may have been the better team on the day, but it was not "bad luck" that they failed to turn this superior performance into a superior goals tally - that's something that's been happening all season.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Saturday, 21 May 2005 22:21 (twenty years ago)

it's difficult to pin point why this is happening though. like today, none of the front players looked all that bad as individuals.

ronaldo pretty much pwned lauren for the whole day, he played well enough but he just wasn't delivering passes that are telling enough just yet.

rooney was terrific to watch, but i think he hasn't been great for the team through the season. he's always going for the outrageous efforts on goal, and getting lots of near misses, which may look impressive but is actually not very helpful if there are easier options e.g. setting a shot up for someone else in a better position.

and generally they just don't look like the front 4 or 5 players actually play with each other up front. van nistelrooy never got any decent service that's not from a corner. ronaldo is the closest to a beckham they have and he's just not delivering quite as well yet.

i wonder if scholes will retire proper next year. his involvement in the games nowadays seems to revolve around playing some neat passing movements with the back four. and giggs doesn't threaten the way he used to anymore (maybe it's just that there's ronaldo now who does the fancy dribble fun things that he used to do)

― ken c (ken c), Saturday, 21 May 2005 22:58 (twenty years ago)

Their problem is Ruud having been out for a lot of the time, Ronaldo looking fab but not producing much, no idea what the best midfield line-up or formation is. They have a bunch of players clearly past their best (maybe Scholes, certainly Giggs, obviously Keane), and none of the replacements look the part at all yet. Rooney has been very good, and for a teenager in an unsettled team asked to play different roles with all sorts of partners, after a period out injured following a huge transfer, has had a great season, and has scored lots of goals.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Saturday, 21 May 2005 23:15 (twenty years ago)

Ronaldo ia really damm good at stepping over the ball and falling over. At least Rooney runs at the defender before collapsing like a house of cards.

Man of the match should have been Senderos.

― Rufus 3000 (Mr Noodles), Sunday, 22 May 2005 02:58 (twenty years ago)

Lauren was embarassing. Lehmann, as much as ~~hate~~ distrust him looked good. It was an excellent game for an American to be re-aquainted with my pre-soccer loving disdain for the game. Frankly, I've seen more exciting Italian league finals and though I was rooting for Arsenal out of a greater dislike of Man U, I thought United were the only positive looking team in the match. Ronaldo and Rooney actually ran the ball at Arsenal (why did Wenger take so long to bring Ljungberg and Van Persie in?). Again, and I know this means nothing to y'all, I fuckin' hate penalty shoot outs. Considering I had to get up on a Saturday at 5:40 am, 'twas rather boring actually.

― M. White (Miguelito), Sunday, 22 May 2005 06:24 (twenty years ago)

I was reading somewhere that they are making an animated film about Man U with cameos from Rooney and Ronaldo in an attempt to lure in the young girls. Are young girls blind?

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 22 May 2005 09:49 (twenty years ago)

Man of the match should have been Senderos

This would be the player that let Van Nistelrooy clean through on goal leaving Lehmann to sort out his mess, then?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Sunday, 22 May 2005 15:33 (twenty years ago)

So Henry to Barcelona? Why is there no transfer speculation thread yet??

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 22 May 2005 15:35 (twenty years ago)

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