World Football Thread XVI - The demise of one Ronaldo and the rise of another

[C0ckney]

he was poor although full credit to liverpool, they were very good value for their win.

[reds4ever]

Andy Gray and Richard Keys.....what can I say?

[Maquiladora]

I was watching it on ESPN with Spanish commentary. Dont know a word, but i could tell they wanted Barca to win.

Saviola has never lived up to the hype, just another in a long line to suffer from the "New Maradona" tag.

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by reds4ever
Andy Gray and Richard Keys.....what can I say?

What about them? I was watching the Blue Circus and hoping for some injuries.

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by Ãskallin
French stadiums

Or forged tickets, perhaps.

[Krill]

Poor Cort...maybe next season you'll get some decent silverware...

[LordShiva]

lol arse-nal sux LOL

[Maquiladora]

Originally posted by Krill
Poor Cort...maybe next season you'll get some decent silverware...

Maybe Chelsea will too, BA-BUM

[Cort Haus]

The result was cruel, seeing as we played some wonderfull football in the first half, with such a young inexperienced team. When I got my ticket I commented how it would be a good spot for calling offside. Well, Drogba was clearly offside right in front of me for the first goal but somehow the linesman didn't give it.

The plus side is that the kids were magnificent, especially in the first half. Traore, Diaby, Denilson and Walcott all played well, and Mourinho must have been seriously worried in the first half when his very expensive machine was getting torn to shreds by 17-18 year olds. The equaliser was undeserved, but Chelsea's experience began to look like it was going to be decisive in the second - and it was. The mass brawl at the end was a shame, as it distracted attention from an excellent Cup Final.

As Maq says, the trinket is neither here nor there, though of course it would have been nice to lift it. The important thing is that the Arsenal kids nearly turned over one of the most expensive teams in the world, and they did themselves and the club proud. I think we outsang then, as well, for most of the game.

The future is bright. There's only one Arsene Wenger!

[Krill]

Yeah, I pretty much agree with that sentiment. Though I think most people underestimate what a group of talented teenagers are capable of if they have the strength and drive to succede. I only saw a few minutes of the second half, and I though arsenal were playing pretty well then. Denilson (sp?) looking nice, even if he couldn't shoot straight

That is a very nice squad Arsenal have there, it would defeinately hold it's own in the premiership.

[Cort Haus]

http://football.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,2021425,00.html

Precocious young Gunners prove that if you are good enough then you are old enough


David Pleat
Monday February 26, 2007
The Guardian

We all know the well used cliche that football is all about goals, but sometimes the memory should be of the beautiful game. It is impossible to avoid the mayhem at the end when three players were dismissed and it would also be unfair to ignore Didier Drogba's considerable contribution, but as an admirer of passing and movement I will remember this occasion for the wonderful promise that the youngest group of players ever to play in a domestic cup final showed.

Article continues
Arsène Wenger's callow side proved that, if you are confident with the ball and you can work to make good angles for one another, reputations can be discounted. Indeed, as a neutral I was disappointed that Arsenal were unable to carry the game off with a victory. It would have been an incredible achievement given the experience of the opposition, but not totally surprising as Arsenal's youngsters approached the game with impressive self-assurance.

We enjoyed a first half of precocious Arsenal youth demonstrating their sublime movement when rarely if ever was there a need to resort to the high ball. Clearly the Arsenal philosophy at youth level is that no individual is more important than the team. They pass and move without any player over-elaborating and, significantly, when the ball is being switched around the field with such quick and angled passes as it was against Chelsea it destroys the opposition's balance.

Jose Mourinho's midfield diamond was made to look rusty and ponderous as the combination of Denilson, Cesc Fábregas and Vassiriki Diaby floated through the midfield using one-twos, round-the-corner balls and takeover plays to exchange possession. It was a display of youthful brilliance which must have made Wenger's heart swell. During this period Manuel Almunia hardly ever kicked, the goalkeeper throwing quick balls to his full-backs who spread wide early to start attacks.

Indeed Armand Traoré and Justin Hoyte joined in at every opportunity and, as they entered the middle third, Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard were forced to leave their narrow right and left diamond positions to confront the wide Arsenal movement. Denilson and, in particular, Fábregas benefited from this, with the Spaniard dropping deeper to find space before playing the ball into the strikers and then slipping behind his marker again to find room for the next pass. He is a master at this skill.

Chelsea looked pedestrian, too narrow in midfield and sluggish in movement. Credit Mourinho for replacing Claude Makelele with Arjen Robben but it was an easy decision to make given the need for a wide outlet. The Dutchman set up the winner for Drogba but Arsenal's youngsters had proved that predictions of a comfortable Chelsea win were misguided. The biggest compliment to Wenger's young team is that no one could suggest that a more experienced Arsenal side would have played any better.

[MikeH]

The many TV replays showed that Drogba was pretty much level, his foot on the same line as Senderos' certainly in "benefit of the doubt to the attacker" territory as it's supposed to be these days.

Great cup final anyway, some really great football from Arsenal 1st half. Without Cech Arsenal could have run away with it a bit in the first half hour. Chelsea did a lot better second half, hit the bar and post. I think only a slight lack of experience let Arsenal down. A few times they didn't quite get the killer ball right.

Draw + extra time would have been fair I think. I also think that it's been shown repeatedly that Senderos just isn't good enough to mark Drogba.

Glad Terry is ok. Shame about the punch up at the end, I really didn't think it was a dirty game up until that point. Just a cracking high tempo cup final.

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by MikeH
The many TV replays showed that Drogba was pretty much level, his foot on the same line as Senderos' certainly in "benefit of the doubt to the attacker" territory as it's supposed to be these days.

Adebayor had a goal ruled out the other week with foot level and body in front. They should clarify what the rules actually are.

[duke o' york]

Cort, much as I agree that you have an exceptional future at Arsenal with the players already there, please don't ever quote David Pleat as an authoritative source to back up an argument.

[Cort Haus]

As ex-Totts go, Pleat is a good analyst. The fact that he can't pronounce anyone's name should not be held against him (even though I do take the piss out of him for it).