Saturday, April 18, 2009

The Bootroom: FA Cup Semifinal Weekend


It's FA Cup semi weekend! And there are a couple good ones at Wemberley....

Arsenal v. Chelsea (Saturday 12:15 p.m. EST)
Man U v. Everton (Sunday 11:00 a.m. EST)

More on the FA Cup and the rest of the weekend action after the hop, along with your hundreds of comments!

Arsenal and Chelsea are in fine form, but the Gunners' backline is held together with scotch tape and pixie dust, much like Petr Cech's fragile psyche. So, open game with lots of goals perhaps? I should mention that myself and Ian will be at Kinsale in NYC, so please come say hi. I'll be wearing the Arsenal kit.

Then on Sunday it's Everton's Maginot Line against the somewhat sputtering Manchester United. Mike Riley is the ref, making David Moyes none too happy, so it's 1-0 on a controversial penalty? Quite likely indeed.

Here are the EPL matches this weekend (no Liverpool until Tuesday, you Reds)....

Saturday (all games 10:00 a.m. EST):

Aston Villa v West Ham
Middlesbrough v Fulham
Portsmouth v Bolton Wanderers
Stoke City v Blackburn Rovers
Sunderland v Hull City

Sunday:

8:30 a.m. Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United
10:00 a.m. Manchester City v West Bromwich

There's a huge Sunday match in the Championship, as Norwich visits the scum of Ipswich.

Not a lot of good games on the continent, but here are the best I could find:

Celtic v. Aberdeen (Saturday)
Genoa v. Lazio (Saturday)
Juve v. Inter (Saturday)
Bordeaux v. Lyon (Sunday)

And, Exeter City visit Lincoln City as they try to secure promotion to League One. C'mon Exeter!

110 comments:

machine gooner funk said...

c'mon you gunners!!!!!!!!!

The NY Kid said...

Stoke-Blackburn on FSC. Maybe I'll watch Faces of Death 3 - it would be less disturbing.

bergkampesdios said...

one more time. Anywhere in Chicago to watch the FA Cup today? Near Wicker Park? Anyone?

EbullientFatalist said...

Sorry bergkamp, Chicago is a bit outta my range of knowledge.

machine gooner funk said...

this stoke blackburn game hasn't been too bad. stoke applying all the pressure so far

jjf3 said...

shut your mouth, NYK. Rovers need at least a point out of this game, and it hasn't been too ugly so far...

Also, is it just me, or did MGP's throw make it further than Delap's have so far?

machine gooner funk said...

@jjf3: it certaintly did look that way. maybe delap has lost his mojo.

The NY Kid said...

@jjf3 - down, boy!

This match has been pretty entertaining so far.

As for Delap, he looks a little off today, but I thought I heard them say that in one of his matches this year he put a throw over the crossbar. That's crazy!

The NY Kid said...

@Bergkamp - I don't know any of these personally, but here is a list.

Wicker Park Bars

Precious Roy said...

bergkampesdios: You come up with anything?

I thought it would at least be a PPV on DirecTV. Thinking i might head up to the Globe and see if they have it on.

jjf3 said...

NYK: you were right about Givet. He's been generally very solid for us at left-back. A couple of mental hiccups, but otherwise a solid buy for us.

Precious Roy said...

Shit, it's on Setanta... bergkampesdios, try Small Bar, they show matches. It's on at the Globe also, but that's a bit north from Wicker Park.

The NY Kid said...

yeah, I've been enjoying his play so far. If Ooijer does, in fact, sod off to PSV Eindhoven this summer the Rovers should consider making Givet a permanent deal

Also, Howard Webb is losing control of this match.

jjf3 said...

unless the cost is silly, I'd expect us to keep him regardless of what happens with Ooijer. He's really solidified that spot for us, and we don't really have anyone else who's a true left-back.

bergkampesdios said...

Thanks PR. Someone here mentioned Mac's on Division. I'll swing by there and if not head up to Globe.

EbullientFatalist said...

The Villa-West Ham match is all sorts of bland. Villa's backline is all over the place; whenever the ball comes close to the 18, Villa defenders do their best "Great Escape" impression as everyone goes in their own direction. God they miss Laursen.

jjf3 said...

Is this the first time Villa has worn that kit? I don't remember seeing it before.

EbullientFatalist said...

One goal? Only one goal in all five matches today? This is dreary.

jjf3 said...

and Cisse makes it 2 whole goals. And then gets carded. Its one of those days, it looks like...

EbullientFatalist said...

Villa was forced to switch to their third kit after the ref couldn't tell the difference between the Villa's claret and blue and WHU's claret and blue. Provides a microcosm for the shit footie currently going on.

EbullientFatalist said...

Villa are coming out of the half with a purpose. Carew and Heskey almost hooked up for a wonderful goal.

jjf3 said...

since umlaut's not around, I'll let you all know that Aberdeen is down 1-0 to Celtic at HT, courtesy of a late Jan VoHesselink goal.

The NY Kid said...

Liam Lawrence (who?) with the goal to put Stoke up 1-0

The NY Kid said...

ooh, he made Givet look a little silly there

jjf3 said...

what the hell formation are we in now? Samba's pushed up, so I guess its some sort of 3-4-3 set up? And damn you, Mother Nature. Just lost my satellite signal...

The NY Kid said...

not sure where he got the idea that Samba needed to play up top. other than his height, he's not much of a threat up there.

Jim Hendry said...

I think Stoke and Pompey are gonna survive relegation.

Could Newcastle and Boro be heading down?

Jim Hendry said...

Lineups for the FA Cup semi:

Arsenal: Fabianski, Eboue, Toure, Silvestre, Gibbs, Walcott, Fabregas, Diaby, Denilson, Van Persie, Adebayor.
Subs: Mannone, Nasri, Vela, Ramsey, Song Billong, Arshavin, Bendtner.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Ballack, Lampard, Essien, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba.
Subs: Hilario, Carvalho, Di Santo, Mikel, Kalou, Belletti, Mancienne.

The NY Kid said...

@JT - that back line for the Gooners looks leakier than the Titanic. The only 1 I trust back there is Toure

The NY Kid said...

and it's all over at the Britannia. Stoke have done enough to survive

jjf3 said...

dammit

The NY Kid said...

sorry, jjf3!

jjf3 said...

thanks, NYK. I'm confident we can get to 40 points, but I really wanted to nick a few extra ones where we could, and today was one of those chances...

Elsewhere Celtic 2-0 Aberdeen, Wolves are in the EPL next year, and Leicester bounces back into the Colaship

jjf3 said...

Hmmm, Genoa-Lazio? Or FA Cup Semifinal? Hmmm, decisions, decisions...

Apropos of nothing, today I received my 95-96 Blackburn "Champions" shirt. Brand spankin' new - can still smell the polyester. Beautiful.

The NY Kid said...

heh - my dog just barked at EBJT

EbullientFatalist said...

Yeah, Gunners are a leaking ship for this game. C'mon you Gooners!

Why no Nasri in the starting lineup? Or Arshavin?

Wenger with the 4-2-3-1. I love him.

BentPav said...

Blue Scum versus Red Scum. Whats one to do? Can a meteor hit the pitch?

BentPav said...

Ebullient, if you are under 18 Wenger might just love you back.

jjf3 said...

boy, that was Robinson-esque

EbullientFatalist said...

No no, I'm overage and not French. I have no shot at Wenger Love.

Adam said...

http://www.justin.tv/baftas

This feed is working good for me, AND in English, so it'll go down in 10 minutes I'm sure.

machine gooner funk said...

wenger's lost the fucking plot! no song, no arashavin

jjf3 said...

From Vivek, anxious Chelsea fan, SW11, via text on 81111: "See 1710. If the FA Cup is a knockout competition and Chelsea and Arsenal have met 18 times, how can Arsenal win eight times and Chelsea four? What happened to the other six fixtures?!"

This is Chelski fandom...

EbullientFatalist said...

"Chelsea have gone 14 minutes without conceding a goal."

Ha, Setanta.

jjf3 said...

sweet goal by Walcott

Adam said...

THEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The NY Kid said...

GOLAZO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

machine gooner funk said...

THEO!!!!!!!!! GET IN!!!!!!!!

jjf3 said...

off of Cashley's hand, no less!

machine gooner funk said...

THEO!!!!!!!!! GET IN!!!!!!!!

EbullientFatalist said...

Tell me, was it pretty?

EbullientFatalist said...

Fabianski is about to give me a coronary.

The NY Kid said...

@EF - yes, and no. Theo struck it somewhat off, then the ball deflected off Cole's hand and caught Cech (who still got a hand on it) going the wrong way.

But it was beautiful since it was a goal.

The NY Kid said...

Dear Fabianski,
please stop with the David James/Paul Robinson impressions.

EbullientFatalist said...

@NYK: I'll take whatever I can get, pretty is measured by goals.

Adam said...

So I'll pose a question here that was posed in the justintv chat:

y ppl keep hatin on Ashley?

Spectator said...

We are happy with the scoreline here at kinsale. Happy for Ashley cole's hand!!

EbullientFatalist said...

@Spec: Good for you guys. I'm watching a shit feed in shit Tallahassee.

EbullientFatalist said...

Goddamn it.

EbullientFatalist said...

Eboue/Fabianski fail.

jjf3 said...

fuckin A

anyone know anthing about Mannone? Cause emo-keeper is making Cech look like a rock...

The NY Kid said...

Eboue and Fabianski combine for a shite goal.

jape said...

As poor as expected from the Arsenal back.

EbullientFatalist said...

It is so so evident when we don't have Sagna or Clichy.

EbullientFatalist said...

Silvestre is doing an impression of Eboue doing an impression of Titus Bramble.

EbullientFatalist said...

Frank needs to waive his finger at pies, not at the linesman.

EbullientFatalist said...

Our crosses are failing us today.

jjf3 said...

Crap, there goes the satellite again...

The NY Kid said...

this is rather frightening defending. we're gonna need at least 2 more goals at this rate

EbullientFatalist said...

@NYK: If that's the case, I'm glad we're playing Chelsea.

But I'm all nervy right now.

EbullientFatalist said...

Chelsea are throwing five guys forward, all because they have Essien in front of their backline. That's incredible.

Spectator said...

Not so happy now

The NY Kid said...

I would pay a $45 million transfer fee for Essien.

EbullientFatalist said...

You have 45? Arsene would like a talk with you.

jape said...

Come On You Gunners!!

EbullientFatalist said...

Why does Setanta continue insisting Denilson is Brazilian?

EbullientFatalist said...

Diaby is killing me. Nasri can play center mid, right?

jape said...

We need Arshavin in there creating like he does.

jjf3 said...

yeah, satellite is back. C'mon, Gunners.

EbullientFatalist said...

@Jape: Yeah, I agree. I like the 4-2-3-1, but push Arshavin in the CAM slot, and drop Fab back. Put Nasri in for RvP on the left.

EbullientFatalist said...

We are a mess in midfield. Make a move, Wenger, before we go down.

I love the support we're getting in Wemberly.

EbullientFatalist said...

Diaby gifts Chelsea the ball at almost every opportunity.

jape said...

Our backpassing leaving lots to be desired. Come on Arsenal!

EbullientFatalist said...

Make a change, Arsene. Arshavin and Nasri, please.

Goat said...

Has there ever been a player that resembles his number more than Lampard? Big round head on top of a big round body.

jape said...

Ade is invisible.

EbullientFatalist said...

Eduardo, Jape? Let's give him a chance.

jape said...

I love Eduardo FTW - is he on the bench?

EbullientFatalist said...

Eboue is dying, alone and isolated, on the right.

jjf3 said...

Eduardo not on the bench - Vela or Nicklost as pure strikers

hockalees said...

Nasri for Denilson... Move Cesc back and Arshavin for Diaby NOW!!!

jape said...

Denilson you twat.

Adam said...

Get in Andrei!

hockalees said...

Why the F would he take off RvP... if this goes to pens he is the best we have?

jape said...

Here we go. Arshavin for VanP

EbullientFatalist said...

I like Vela, Nasri, and Arshavin all coming on. Put speed and guile and make slow, old Chelsea deal with it.

hockalees said...

They look like they are playing on a freaking rice paddy... the FA is a joke.

EbullientFatalist said...

I like the move - RvP has that nasty streak and we do not need a red.

jape said...

John Terry trips himself. Douche.

Adam said...

For the love of god, when is Denilson coming off?

EbullientFatalist said...

Terry falls so easily.

(No CL championship.)

EbullientFatalist said...

And now Bendtner? Arsene's substitution policy does not match my own FM policies.

EbullientFatalist said...

What the hell has Fabianksi done? Jesus Christ on stilts.

EbullientFatalist said...

C'MON ARSENAL! UP THE GUNNERS!!!

jape said...

Happy Birthday dummy.

EbullientFatalist said...

There goes my weekend.

EbullientFatalist said...

We didn't attack well, we didn't defend well, our goal was lucky. Not a good day - we didn't do anything to win. Let's move on, focus on CL.

jjf3 said...

dammit again. Sorry NYK, et al

Jim Hendry said...

you have 4th place in the bag. Please don't come to Anfield feeling in the mood for vengeance.

machine gooner funk said...

wow. just wow. i wonder if it occurred to arsene that this game was for a trophy (you know the big shiny things we havent won in 4 years). you go with your best horses, you dont try to outcoach teh other guy or be the smartest guy in the room. you start song and arshavin instead of denilson and diaby. this wasnt some league game in the middle of february it was the fucking FA cup semi's. not only that but taking rvp off its moves like that that piss players off and then they leave your club. wenger is the best thing to ever happen to this club and im not an idiot fan calling for the sack but he needs to own this mistake b/c the ramifications are far reaching. this result could fuck up a young team's psyche (the team felt unbeatable coming into this game)for the games we still have left to play for. i just hope theres no hangover from this and we dont bottle the champions league now b/c theyre young and fragile. they need to show some backbone and bounce fucking back starting tuesday.

/sorry about rant extremely pissed