FA Cup final

[Mysteryman]

One of the best finals I've seen - and I can remember watching every one since the 1955 Final when I was coming up to 8 BUT............

It's about time we brought back the replay. Two years on the run the Final has gone to penalties and the team that was the poorer throughout the bulk of the match managed to win on spot kicks which, at that stage of the tie, have more to do with pressure, nerves and the fitness of a few individuals than the overall performance of a team.

If players without the fitness regimes, special diets, lightweight boots and balls and far worse tended pitches - and no substitutes - could play replays in years gone by, so could they now. The idea that the top flight teams have " so many matches to play" doesn't wash. Many have first team capable squads far larger than the teams of the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

If replays were re-introduced and the "superstars" couldn't hack the number of games it could give some of the lesser teams a more even break.

[Bob Singleton]

Three mins to go, Cisse goes down with cramp and West Ham kick the ball out.

Liverpool throw the ball to the West Ham full back but immediately close him down so that he fluffs his clearance, the ball comes back into the middle gets headed out and Gerrard scores a fantastic goal.

But was that really fair play?

[Steve R]

Was the West Ham full-back not a professional footballer?.

[Rude Boy]

"No mate. Cantona did the RIGHT thing."

To be honest I remember watching it on the news and thinking it was fantastic that some gobshite yobbo got a good hiding. But...with him being in the public eye and with him being a hero to thousands of young kids I suppose he should have just walked away.

[hattertim]

Rude Boy wrote:

> Ah yes Bruce Grobelaar, I used to love his crazy runs half-way
> up the pitch. A fabulous character. Another footballer I had a
> fondness for was a guy called Ian Ormondroyd because of his
> great name. Whatever happened to him?
>
> Oh and Cantona of course, I know he did the wrong thing when he
> assaulted that spectator and it caused a huge fuss but the look
> on that guy's face when he realised that Cantona was going to
> twat him was priceless.

Ian Ormondroyd? This tells you where he's ended up...

[bigjossy]

come on bob gerrards strike was pure class and nobody could do anything about it. i agree west ham should have won but credit where its due 2-0 down then 3-2 down and to still come back,sign of a good side in my view.

[Flat_Eric]

I'd love to see one of the less "fashionable" clubs win the FA Cup again (in other words NOT Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal, Spurs, Man Utd or Chelsea). I think it would be a massive boost to the game.

Over the past 30 years, this has only happened 5 times (Southampton 1976, Ipswich 1978, West Ham 1980, Coventry 1987 and Wimbledon 1988).

[jaybo]

I'm happy with Liverpool winning it , what a disrepectful cunt Alan Pardew is turning out in a track suit , scruffy bastard , where was his shirt and tie and 3 piece suit ? On second thoughts don't ask him that it'll save us having to listen to him drowning on . Trevor Brooking ? What's his fuckin' problem ? Always there to give his opinion but never wants to put his neck on the line , he's got a lot of sway with the rest of the no-neck bastards at the F A . JJ .

[jaybo]

Oh yeah , i forgot in all the excitement , Marlon Harewood , couldn't hit a cows arse when he was with our lot ! . JJ .