Just too good

Once again the FA Cup has served up some magic and its usual dose of controversy. Two fabulous goals from Andrei Shevchenko and SWP sealed a fantastic win for Chelsea at White Hart Lane against a determined spurs side. Man U kept their treble dreams alive with a gritty 1-0 win over boro.

The magic was served up at White Hart Lane. Sheva's goal was one of true beauty. opening up his body and smashing the ball with his left foot in to the top corner of robinson's net. amazing stuff. the commentator kept silent as the ball left sheva's boot. but paused for a few seconds after the ball rippled the net, before letting out a shriek of disbelief and amazement. The ball looked like it was yet another one of sheva's sky-high finishes. But the ball moved and altered its flight to nestle nicely into an unsaveable position. Is shevchenko showing glimpses of his Milan brilliance? His recent form has suggested that the deadly ukranian is nothing short of confidence now and can perhaps, and finally, set the premiership alight.

SWP, yet another of chelsea's underachievers, sealed the match with a crisp left footed half-volley that evaded robinson's despairing dive. sweet goal. keane's last minute penalty proved a mere consolation.

Man U and a certain portugese winger, yet the subject of controversy. with a stalemate looming, a little tumble by cristiano ronaldo in the penalty box proved the deciding factor. Woodgate's challenge just clipping ronaldo's leg as the portugese made a incisive run into the penalty box from the left wing, leaving woodgate no choice but to make his daft challenge. Silly of the experienced defender but yet another victim of ronaldo's tricky feet.

The dissent among the boro faithful was plain for all to see, with the boro bench not hesitating to let ronaldo know what they thought of him as cries of CHEAT were screamed out. Their frustrations at ronaldo's antics this season (which has seen him won 3 penalties in their 3 encounters this season thus far) was exemplified by James Morrison's crunching hacking down of ronaldo in the closing stages of the game.

The results may have been expected but nevertheless we have been once again entertained thoroughly by the FA cup.

Ronaldo gave an exceptionally cracking interview after the match. When asked why controversy followed him, he just snorted "i'm too good"

How henry-like.

Such arrogance has been unheard of ever since henry was in his absolute prime. that aire of invincibility, and unstoppability, is what sets apart the greater from the great players. incredible. such confidence would only serve to intimidate any opponents who try to ruffle your feathers with an insult of two. When a player is on fire, he knows it, we knows it. but when u come out and pronounce that so confidently, then it merely displays the lad's lack of fear and respect for his opponents and critics.

Cristiano ronaldo, public enemy number one in june, the best player in the world now. How hatred fuels a player's ability and performance. so beckham-ish eh?

FA Cup Preview

Aye, g'day.

After last night's ranting, I shall focus on the FA Cup replays to be played today. With both Man U and Chelsea coming off the backs of convincing victories over the weekend, confidence is sky-high in both camps and both teams look set to challenge for honours in football's oldest tournament.

Manchester United vs Boro

After a rather fortituous penalty decision at the riverside, boro are looking to exact revenge over the red devils. Earning a draw at the riverside is always a respectable result, and Man U must be licking their lips at the prospect of an easy way through to the semi-finals. With the match being played at Old Trafford and boro coming off the back of a poor and disappointing defeat against struggling Man City at the riverside, form points to an easy Man U victory.

I reckon:

Man U will win this rather comfortably but not before some careless defending provide the devils a little scare.

Man U 3-1 Boro

Spurs vs Chelski

The original match was a blinder! 3-3 it ended with entertainment value rivalling that of El Clasico played just less than 24 hours before that match. Chelsea served up some Leo Messi of its own as it fought back from two goals down to level the tie. Tottenham were as unafraid as the Galacticos, fighting hard with confidence and valiance in front of an intimidating crowd at a frightening stadium. The replay promises to serve up one hell of a london derby for neutrals to enjoy. With spurs currently experiencing a good run of form, chelsea will find it hard to break down an enthusiastic and fiery white hart lane. With Mourinho facing a deplenished and worn out squad, he will be forced to rotate his team. But to be able to replace robben with the likes of SWP and kalou would rattle the nerves of the white hart lane faithful.

I reckon:

With chelsea's quality, it will shine through especially if tottenham take their enthusiasm too far. chelsea are not afraid to play at any stadium and would be seething from their 2-1 loss earlier in the season at the same venue. The blues will probably edge this tie in yet another thriller

Tottenham 2-3 Chelsea


Don't take my word though, the FA Cup has its own way of producing its own magic and shocking the pundits. We never know what we might get from this two ties, but the possibility of a Chelsea-Man U showdown in the finals remains a distinct possibility.

Cya

Everton 1-0 Arsenal

Dear oh dear.

Once again Arsenal have fallen, succumbing to a last minute scrap. The game epitomised arsenal's season, we dominated, we pressed, we had our chances but didn't take them. And everton punished us well and truly.

To say i'm frustrated, disappointed and utterly upset is an understatement. I just can't believe how many times we have lost a game 1-0 this season. hmm, sheffield, west ham, man city, with fulham and bolton being the exception. One thing that didn't change was that arsenal didn't take their chances.

Today's matchup started with great promise for arsenal, with wenger choosing to make only one change to the side that showed great resilience in overcoming villa in midweek, rosicky coming on to replace denilson in his first start since his injury. Everton opted for inexperience and youth in their unfamiliar 4-4-2 system with Vaughan, a young striker, partnering AJ up front.

As arsenal took the match by the scruff of the neck with some neat passing in the middle of the field, everton responded with pure hard work and determination to huff arsenal down. Carsley with a cracker of a shot midway through the first half on the half-volley, smashing the post from 25 yards out and rattling lehmann's goal. This was to be arsenal's first warning of the match.

Unfortunately, the gunners did not heed the warning and failed to make the most of their chances, squandering possession too easily in midfield, and failing to shoot when it mattered. When they did, the men in blue quickly closed them down, preventing any real opportunity for arsenal to take the lead. Two genuine penalty claims were given, with arsenal's the most convincing after aliadiere was felled in the box by tim howard after he had knocked the ball past the american keeper. Referee Clattenburg waved away arsenal's appeals, to the sarcastic approval of the crowd.

Neat interplay passing showed what devestation arsenal's passing can do when it actually works out, with fabregas breaking down into a great position through the middle, but once again, the spanish maestro is let down by his disappointing finishing, always on target but never confident nor convincing, the ball flying straight into howard's gloves. Baptista had one more chance at the end of the first half, putting a firm header after a flick-on from a corner, but with no one challenging him, disappointingly put it over the bar. With arsenal failing to take their chances, you could forsee their impending downfall.

Nice release on the left gave rosicky a chance to run into the box, cutting a nice ball back for aliadiere, but the young frenchman failed to capitalise with a wild left foot shot. Yet another unconvincing performance from the youngster could leave him at the bottom of the pecking order, and with the likes of henry, van persie and adebayor ahead of him, aliadiere could soon be packing his bags!

As the game progressed, everton fought on. Their efforts were nearly rewarded after yet more fox-in-the-box stuff from leon osman (arsenal should get him!). Osman stole in with an opportunistic shot after a tiny scramble in the arsenal penalty box. unforunately his ball deflected off the post and drifted away. Everton were getting closer.

Eventually, as the snow poured down heavily in springtime, arsenal lost their focus and concentration in the torrential weather. A simple corner wasn't cleared and the eventual scramble allowed an unmarked AJ to smash an unstoppable left-foot shot in. An injury time winner for an everton team who may not have deserved to win, but fought hard to make sure that the hope for 3 pts would always be in their grasp.

"Football has a nasty way of punishing you when you fail to make ur chances count," they always say, an arsenal have been left ruing their chances for the 6th away game this season. You feel that wenger would have to bring in one or two class signings to take charge next season. If they are to challenge for the title, arsenal have to ensure that they are more ruthless not only at the final third, but mentally as well. The youngsters have to intimidate their opponents and mature quickly, or arsenal would gradually be a far cry of the unbeaten class of 03-04.

Full credit to the toffees, who look to push on for europe. With the likes of arteta and AJ, and a great partnership at the back with yobo and lescott, everton deserve to be up there with the big boys.

Glen's verdict: So sad :(

I just hope wenger hardens the team further. they have to start practicing some long range shooting in training, as well as fast paced pressing and clinical finishing. In all i din feel so upset today, cos i'm already so used to losing in the final minute of the game. Arsenal may be poor this season, but they also haven't had the luck that man u have been having. Arsenal may not have deserved to win in a number of their defeats, but neither did they deserve to lose. I think henry's absence has depleted the team's morale and we lack a calm finisher in front of goal.

Anyway i think i report quite nicely!! i felt my words flowed out so nicely and it's a great feeling to talk about football for a living. but i hope i dun get to report arsenal matches because not only am i biased, but i tend to talk about arsenal more, and it's tough talking about them when they lose :(

Goodnight!

p.s. hello baby!

New Blog!

Hi welcome!

This blog is first and foremost dedicated to my one and only darling.