It hurts like hell / Manchester United did great, but they must improve
It hurts, doesn’t it?
Fuck.
No use blaming the ref for not giving a penalty – in a final in extra time, it’s very hard to give a penalty unless there’s a very clear-cut case. In Giggsy’s case, he got touched and slid in and collided into Cech – it was quick and fluid and it would have been very hard for Steve Bennett to make the call.
Overall, the ref did great. No use blaming the ref.
Chelsea didn’t cheat either – you can’t expect Cech to say that yes, it crossed over the line – it was a goal that no one saw, so hell, we lost a game we probably could have / should have won.
Is there anyone to blame?
Nope – we did the best we could, and today it wasn’t enough.
Which is why we have to improve.
Manchester United’s have had a good season, great if you compare it to the last 3 seasons, but I want more. You could see the hurt in the eyes of the players, and you could see that 2 FA Cup final defeats, and consistent heartbreak in the CL has taken it’s toll on it. If Manchester United hadn’t won the Premiership, I’d have genuine fears for the morale of this group.
But we’ve done well this season. And we can also improve greatly. Scholes will play an increasingly deeper role next season, similar to today and as a result Ferguson has to pick the right players who can not only replace Giggs and Scholes long-term but also gives us the immediate quality that we need to improve for next season.
Congratulations Manchester United – the season’s over, and you’ve made me fuckin’ proud.
Now we have to figure out how to be better.
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Agree, actually on the day neither teams really deserved to win. I have to say that must go down as one of THE mosting boring cup finals in history.
Neither team appeared to be out to win, both playing defensively!
Yes the ball crossed the line, but only because Cech was driven over by Giggsy a foul in reality.
Lets hope the Champions League final is more exciting. Can’t be any worse!!!
May 20th, 2007 @ 00:55Cech actually did admit it crossed the line, but he said that it would have been a foul anyways.
May 20th, 2007 @ 01:45Yeah it hurt…but it hurt more against Arse a few years ago. Prob cos we played a good game that day. We were not really up for it today. Would of prefered 4 4 2 but thats how it goes. Well done lads and looking forward to next season but what am i going to be doing for the next 3 months. Checking out the rumours….
May 20th, 2007 @ 01:52the worst final in history has to be the manu v spice boys in pink suits final, where cantona hit the winner in a drab overhyped affair. Today wasnt too bad. Best of luck to the other reds in wednesday final (the real one).
May 20th, 2007 @ 01:55A few oberservations:
1) SAF didnt get his tactics spot on, a bold and fearless 4-4-2 should have been the way to go, but like many times before against top opposition, he went in for a 4-3-3 with Rooney as the battering ram. It admittedly worked, a bit, against AC Milan in the first leg, but it significantly eroded ManYoos attacking edge today.
2) Is it only me who noticed how the team effing missed Saha today??!! Bloody hell, his pace and movement would have given a totally different dimension to the team. He was the biggest miss of this game..
3) It was basically Scholes vs Makalele & Obi Mikel in midfield, and boy o boy did Scholes hold his own in that one! He’s amazing! Fletcher and Carrick only showed up intermittently.. and the less said about Lumpard before the 116th minute the better.
And lastly, my summary of the game.. CSKA London brought down the level of the game to their SH*T level, and then beat ManYoo by being more full of SH*T than anybody else in the Premiership. Simple..
May 20th, 2007 @ 02:02I agree with Rahul on his first point. I was very dissapointed that Alan Smith didn’t start the game in the usual 4-4-2. Ferguson has fluffed around with this 4-3-3 to many times. It just does not work with Ronney up front on his own. The only time it has really worked was when Alan Smith played that role.
I think Alex Ferguson decided to go out and match Chelsea man for man. The problem is your not going to beat Chelsea at their own game. They have been winning games in todays fashion all season.
I just hope the 4-3-3 is put to the grave.
Still league champions though.
May 20th, 2007 @ 03:30yeh i agree chelsea managed 2 bring the level down 2 their level and their style. man united need a high tempo. and wen we dont play 4-4-2 i always have a bad feeling.
May 20th, 2007 @ 04:43Uniteds fault for te boring game.
Scholes, Fletcher and Carrick constantly defending in the centre of the park
It was not 4-3-3, but 4-5-1
May 20th, 2007 @ 05:14Do you have to use so many swear words? I swear all the time in day to day things with friends, etc. But in on a website, it makes it hard to take things seriously.
May 20th, 2007 @ 06:47-it
May 20th, 2007 @ 06:51@ Rahul
We miss Saha almost every game!
May 20th, 2007 @ 07:19We don’t bother commenting on it anymore. It’s understood by default.
It didnt help that Brown and Carrick were cramping up did it? And I still wonder why Essein is not at United…the kids worth at least 20 mil..
May 20th, 2007 @ 08:20It was a sorry match with both side failing to be the winners til the last moment… Drogba Nice Goal… Gigs sorry it was not your day. CHELSEA WELL DONE and Njoyyyyyyyyyyyyy
May 20th, 2007 @ 08:49I thought Rooney and Scholes did well. Ronaldo was no where to be found after the first half.
May 20th, 2007 @ 09:58Essien is not at United because like Robben, Mikel, Ballack etc. once Chealsea was aware they were Man Utd. transfer targets they went after them and offered mad money.
May 20th, 2007 @ 10:30We were definately lacking in the pace department. The players were at the end of a season in which we’ve essentially relied on Ronaldo for that burst of pace, and we was nowhere to be found in this game.
Giggs and Heinze were eerily reminiscent of last season, dawdling on the ball for far too long with no real purpose and then giving it away easily. Scholes was never given the time he needed to shoot and Rooney was left to do it all by himself. Ronaldo himself was well below average and I don’t think Fletcher and Carrick should play together, they’re more or less the same player on the ball just that one is a better tackling and the other is a better interceptor.
I’m interested to see you think that Scholes will move into more of a playmaker role next season, Ahmed. I can’t help but feel that Scholes dropping had a lot to do with the lack of force that Carrick and Fletcher were playing with – surely with Hargreaves next season we’ll have someone better at occupying the midfield space and causing quick turn overs. Scholes is still a goal scoring threat in that attacking midfield role, he’s shown that several times, particularly when the usual avenues of attack are misfiring. Maybe if we splash the cash on a decent winger Giggs can move infield and play a more central attacking role. Either way I don’t fancy Fletcher’s chances at a lot of game time next season (hoping we stay relatively injury free).
P.S I don’t think we missed Saha at all, the guy struggles to hold onto the ball in situations where he’s surrounded by defenders, as he would have been all day.
May 20th, 2007 @ 10:43avrv – I said fuck just twice! But you’re point is noted, and I appreciate your concern.
Saha would have helped here, definitely.
May 20th, 2007 @ 12:48Ahmed,
Havta confess that I was very, very pleasantly surprised to see your very sensible and balanced reaction to yesterday’s Cup Final. Everywhere I’ve only read about SAFs gripe on a penalty not given and Giggs moaning that the ball has slid in that I did not expect any Man U fan or their blogs to come out and tackle the real issues. Bravo !
Though I am an avowed Chelsea fan, I must admit that Man U have been wonderful this season and though they had their fair share of luck with Chelsea down with big injuries, one cannot but gridgingly admire the way they play their brand of football. They entertain and sometimes thats more important than mere trophies in the cabinet. As you rightly mentioned, they have more scope for improvement and thats something really scary. Looking forward to next year and my gut feeling tells me you will have more to celebrate next yr !
Best of luck !
May 20th, 2007 @ 18:43Martin (1st comment) – you’re wrong – the final CAN be worse. It features the other half of the ‘shit on a stick’ show, remember?
May 20th, 2007 @ 19:06Jupe – thanks.
May 20th, 2007 @ 19:06I think it was a bit of a drab final but then again.. we were by far the better side in the finals.. we did tear chelsea’s defence a couple of times n we shud hv found the net.. but hell.. we still acieved more than anyone dared imagine during pre-season.. of course the most comforting thot 4 me is the fact that this team is still not complete.. n that is a scary scary fact.. a couple of good signings in the summer.. n ill bet my ass we’ll c much more the ultra reds next season..
May 20th, 2007 @ 19:511. We lack numbers ufpront. Rooney or Smith on his one doesn’t cut it. We need another center forward in addition to Saha.
2. We seriously lack numbers in center midfield. We had all our three center midfielders starting and nothing on the bench.
3. We have only 3 wingers. We need a fourth this summer.
4. We are still some way off being the undisputed best side in England. This defeat will make us more hungry next season.
May 20th, 2007 @ 20:10What goes around, comes around :p For all those times Ronaldo duped the refs, hahaaaaaaaaaa I’m glad Cech was present-minded and did what was supposed to be done :p
Technically speaking, Cech-Giggs collision was a messy situation. Cech CLEARLY grabbed the ball OUTSIDE of the line but Giggs momentum pushed Cech in. By rules, Giggs had already fouled, however, if that foul was not given that means ball crossing the line is a goal. To be a fair, a foul was not given and what it resulted in, was not given either.
But I enjoyed reading SAF, priceless statement:
“I think the pressure Jose Mourinho put on the referee before the game has certainly worked and I’m disappointed at that.”
LMAO!
May 20th, 2007 @ 21:07Azar,
SAF said that on the supposed challenge by Essien on Giggs right before the Cech – Giggs incident which SAF thought should have been a penalty.
May 20th, 2007 @ 21:11the match waz a bit disappointing and dead boring but i’m proud of man u.lets jus hope wednesday’s match covers up for the shit from yesterday,and as c.ronaldo said “we’re still the champions.”
May 20th, 2007 @ 23:16I think rooney should not have played as a lone striker
He (and drogba) we’re isolated.
i thought smith should have started and they should of played 4-2-3-1. i think this would of brought out the best in giggs/ronaldo/rooney.
rooney is able to play that striker in that formation but he’d need support from the 3 behind him and that day he didnt get it. They were way too cautious. I dont know, they were trying to play like chelsea or something :\
May 21st, 2007 @ 00:15Ahmed, It WAS a penalty. But there’s no way anyone could have seen it in real time.
May 21st, 2007 @ 00:23teh way i see it.. i hate to admit but ManU had a great season, they just ruined it quite a bit towards teh end.. they topped teh premeirship but it wasn’t that good a performance in teh end after that Chelsea match.. i don’t know exactly but i think they lost to some small team.. and now this..
May 21st, 2007 @ 00:28and im sorry to say, tis’ always a penalty when you lose a match.. =P
First of all, Hey Jupe. Thanks for the comments on the football. In my country there are very few sensible Chelsea fans like you. they just became fans after Chelsea won their second league title.
Ahmed,
I was just looking back at the results of this year. Yes we ahve played an awesome brand of football. The sheer goals tally will tell that. and the Everton, Blackburn comebacks were spectacular. But looking at it in another way, We havent played well enough against the big teams. Infact I can only look back and remember the home match against Liverpool, the home match against Milan and the home rout of Roma. Instead we have got beaten twice by a youth Arsenal team, we havent beaten Chelsea but lost to them once. The only real good result came against Liverpool infact we did a double on them. But the second match, we were outplayed for most of the match remember. I must also admit we had an easy run up til the quarter finals of the UCL. The first real good team we got was Roma.
Dont you think we need to be better in this aspect if we are to win the Champions league?
I just feel we need to get long term replacements for Giggs. one more striker please, and Owen is anyway coming. One more question. Whats the formation gonna be if Owen comes. Will one of three be rested every match? I mean Scholes, Owen and Carrick? or is it gonna be a 4-5-1?
May 21st, 2007 @ 12:06Ahmed Umair,
May 21st, 2007 @ 12:19It Was a penalty. And it was a goal too dude. I know fergie complaints about Penalties a lot but this was a definite one man.
That was quite possibly the most negative, boring, disgrace of a game of football ever. Neither manager went out to win it and both teams were so defensive it was pathetic.
Great stadium, awful game – I expect most casual observers felt quite cheated.
May 21st, 2007 @ 13:53Keith Kaira II, Mate you are off your head.
It was no way a penalty, giggs shuld have finished it off, HE WAS SLIDING FOR THE BALL ANYWAY.
Was a tap in missed, Cech saved, Giggs pushed him over the line, its a foul. So it was justified the Ref didnt give a decision, because there wasn’t one to make.
The thing is this year there was an extra incentive to win the FA CUP, Why? u make history. First Winners at the new wembley is a HUGE thing for your club to win.
and Chelsea done it BUZZIN.
My mate said he didnt care coz united won the title, but deep down hes gutted, missed out on a page in the history books. People say Chelsea dont have History, well were making it Today!
May 21st, 2007 @ 15:08Richard… im sorie to say man.. but ur jes full of shit.. we outplayed chelsea.. giggs didnt foul cech.. simply because he came sliding in 4 de ball.. he made contact with the ball.. the momentum then ran him into cech and cech over the line.. u cant jes pull de brakes when ur in momentum so how can it be a bloody foul on cech.. ill tell ya wat.. essien fouled giggs.. n dats quite clear frm the buildup to the whole thing.. why do you think giggs couldnt make clear contact wit the ball.. he was shoved thats y.. hell if he wasnt we’d b holdin de FA cup..a clear crisp touch would hv changed de power on de shot.. cech wouldnt hv a chance at makin a save there no would he??
May 21st, 2007 @ 17:36one sentence to sum it : Carrick isnt the big match player he was bought for! this dude cant raise his game for these kind of big matches, just look at the arsenal, milan and now chelsea matches! anonymous! he cant control the midfield, and cant really help out our defence…thats the problem with carrick! n i must discount the Roma home game cos that game saw everyone raised their games and roma lost theirs, which made carrick looked good! not really worth the big money!
May 21st, 2007 @ 18:22Red, IM sorry to say man, you are really a bitter fan, and u r the one full of shit mate. So lets have an example of what u wud call a goal.
C corner comes in and van der sar claims the ball, drogbas momentum as he has gone to head has forced van der sar behind the line, must be a chelsea goal then right???
Mate watch the video again, hardly a touch on giggs, giggs himself claimed he wasnt tripped but felt a “touch”, said he wasnt claiming for a pen.
You have no case, this is hardly debatable, its not like the chelsea liverpool case a few years ago. Clear cut, no goal.
May 21st, 2007 @ 18:32United’s respect for Chelsea caused this to become one of the most boring finals ever.
May 22nd, 2007 @ 12:25What hurts me most is not that we lost, neither the fact that we came so close in the 2 cup competitions, but rather, the way we went out. This game was almost a carbon copy of the AC Milan game (except that there we got hammered). Same shit…different team. What hurts me even More is the knowledge that next season, we can probably expect “more of the same”.
It appears that ever since Mourinho came on the scene, SAF started becoming obsessed with 451. Why is this?
richard i wouldnt really be a united fan if i wasn’t bitter eh.. we shud hv had 3 trophies this season.. in retrospect we overachieved in comparison to early season predictions.. but its still a bitter pill to swallow.. id still argue giggs scored the goal.. i still say i hv a case n, dats it u dats full of shit.. but it wouldn’t bring the trophy back to old traford now wud it.. so u noe wat.. kudos to chelsea they won we lost.. that doesnt make any less bitter tho..
May 22nd, 2007 @ 17:08