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!
c'mon you gunners!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteStoke-Blackburn on FSC. Maybe I'll watch Faces of Death 3 - it would be less disturbing.
ReplyDeleteone more time. Anywhere in Chicago to watch the FA Cup today? Near Wicker Park? Anyone?
ReplyDeleteSorry bergkamp, Chicago is a bit outta my range of knowledge.
ReplyDeletethis stoke blackburn game hasn't been too bad. stoke applying all the pressure so far
ReplyDeleteshut your mouth, NYK. Rovers need at least a point out of this game, and it hasn't been too ugly so far...
ReplyDeleteAlso, is it just me, or did MGP's throw make it further than Delap's have so far?
@jjf3: it certaintly did look that way. maybe delap has lost his mojo.
ReplyDelete@jjf3 - down, boy!
ReplyDeleteThis 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!
@Bergkamp - I don't know any of these personally, but here is a list.
ReplyDeleteWicker Park Bars
bergkampesdios: You come up with anything?
ReplyDeleteI 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.
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.
ReplyDeleteShit, 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.
ReplyDeleteyeah, 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
ReplyDeleteAlso, Howard Webb is losing control of this match.
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.
ReplyDeleteThanks PR. Someone here mentioned Mac's on Division. I'll swing by there and if not head up to Globe.
ReplyDeleteThe 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.
ReplyDeleteIs this the first time Villa has worn that kit? I don't remember seeing it before.
ReplyDeleteOne goal? Only one goal in all five matches today? This is dreary.
ReplyDeleteand Cisse makes it 2 whole goals. And then gets carded. Its one of those days, it looks like...
ReplyDeleteVilla 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.
ReplyDeleteVilla are coming out of the half with a purpose. Carew and Heskey almost hooked up for a wonderful goal.
ReplyDeletesince 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.
ReplyDeleteLiam Lawrence (who?) with the goal to put Stoke up 1-0
ReplyDeleteooh, he made Givet look a little silly there
ReplyDeletewhat 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...
ReplyDeletenot 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.
ReplyDeleteI think Stoke and Pompey are gonna survive relegation.
ReplyDeleteCould Newcastle and Boro be heading down?
Lineups for the FA Cup semi:
ReplyDeleteArsenal: 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.
@JT - that back line for the Gooners looks leakier than the Titanic. The only 1 I trust back there is Toure
ReplyDeleteand it's all over at the Britannia. Stoke have done enough to survive
ReplyDeletedammit
ReplyDeletesorry, jjf3!
ReplyDeletethanks, 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...
ReplyDeleteElsewhere Celtic 2-0 Aberdeen, Wolves are in the EPL next year, and Leicester bounces back into the Colaship
Hmmm, Genoa-Lazio? Or FA Cup Semifinal? Hmmm, decisions, decisions...
ReplyDeleteApropos of nothing, today I received my 95-96 Blackburn "Champions" shirt. Brand spankin' new - can still smell the polyester. Beautiful.
heh - my dog just barked at EBJT
ReplyDeleteYeah, Gunners are a leaking ship for this game. C'mon you Gooners!
ReplyDeleteWhy no Nasri in the starting lineup? Or Arshavin?
Wenger with the 4-2-3-1. I love him.
Blue Scum versus Red Scum. Whats one to do? Can a meteor hit the pitch?
ReplyDeleteEbullient, if you are under 18 Wenger might just love you back.
ReplyDeleteboy, that was Robinson-esque
ReplyDeleteNo no, I'm overage and not French. I have no shot at Wenger Love.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.justin.tv/baftas
ReplyDeleteThis feed is working good for me, AND in English, so it'll go down in 10 minutes I'm sure.
wenger's lost the fucking plot! no song, no arashavin
ReplyDeleteFrom 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?!"
ReplyDeleteThis is Chelski fandom...
"Chelsea have gone 14 minutes without conceding a goal."
ReplyDeleteHa, Setanta.
sweet goal by Walcott
ReplyDeleteTHEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGOLAZO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteTHEO!!!!!!!!! GET IN!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteoff of Cashley's hand, no less!
ReplyDeleteTHEO!!!!!!!!! GET IN!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteTell me, was it pretty?
ReplyDeleteFabianski is about to give me a coronary.
ReplyDelete@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.
ReplyDeleteBut it was beautiful since it was a goal.
Dear Fabianski,
ReplyDeleteplease stop with the David James/Paul Robinson impressions.
@NYK: I'll take whatever I can get, pretty is measured by goals.
ReplyDeleteSo I'll pose a question here that was posed in the justintv chat:
ReplyDeletey ppl keep hatin on Ashley?
We are happy with the scoreline here at kinsale. Happy for Ashley cole's hand!!
ReplyDelete@Spec: Good for you guys. I'm watching a shit feed in shit Tallahassee.
ReplyDeleteGoddamn it.
ReplyDeleteEboue/Fabianski fail.
ReplyDeletefuckin A
ReplyDeleteanyone know anthing about Mannone? Cause emo-keeper is making Cech look like a rock...
Eboue and Fabianski combine for a shite goal.
ReplyDeleteAs poor as expected from the Arsenal back.
ReplyDeleteIt is so so evident when we don't have Sagna or Clichy.
ReplyDeleteSilvestre is doing an impression of Eboue doing an impression of Titus Bramble.
ReplyDeleteFrank needs to waive his finger at pies, not at the linesman.
ReplyDeleteOur crosses are failing us today.
ReplyDeleteCrap, there goes the satellite again...
ReplyDeletethis is rather frightening defending. we're gonna need at least 2 more goals at this rate
ReplyDelete@NYK: If that's the case, I'm glad we're playing Chelsea.
ReplyDeleteBut I'm all nervy right now.
Chelsea are throwing five guys forward, all because they have Essien in front of their backline. That's incredible.
ReplyDeleteNot so happy now
ReplyDeleteI would pay a $45 million transfer fee for Essien.
ReplyDeleteYou have 45? Arsene would like a talk with you.
ReplyDeleteCome On You Gunners!!
ReplyDeleteWhy does Setanta continue insisting Denilson is Brazilian?
ReplyDeleteDiaby is killing me. Nasri can play center mid, right?
ReplyDeleteWe need Arshavin in there creating like he does.
ReplyDeleteyeah, satellite is back. C'mon, Gunners.
ReplyDelete@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.
ReplyDeleteWe are a mess in midfield. Make a move, Wenger, before we go down.
ReplyDeleteI love the support we're getting in Wemberly.
Diaby gifts Chelsea the ball at almost every opportunity.
ReplyDeleteOur backpassing leaving lots to be desired. Come on Arsenal!
ReplyDeleteMake a change, Arsene. Arshavin and Nasri, please.
ReplyDeleteHas there ever been a player that resembles his number more than Lampard? Big round head on top of a big round body.
ReplyDeleteAde is invisible.
ReplyDeleteEduardo, Jape? Let's give him a chance.
ReplyDeleteI love Eduardo FTW - is he on the bench?
ReplyDeleteEboue is dying, alone and isolated, on the right.
ReplyDeleteEduardo not on the bench - Vela or Nicklost as pure strikers
ReplyDeleteNasri for Denilson... Move Cesc back and Arshavin for Diaby NOW!!!
ReplyDeleteDenilson you twat.
ReplyDeleteGet in Andrei!
ReplyDeleteWhy the F would he take off RvP... if this goes to pens he is the best we have?
ReplyDeleteHere we go. Arshavin for VanP
ReplyDeleteI like Vela, Nasri, and Arshavin all coming on. Put speed and guile and make slow, old Chelsea deal with it.
ReplyDeleteThey look like they are playing on a freaking rice paddy... the FA is a joke.
ReplyDeleteI like the move - RvP has that nasty streak and we do not need a red.
ReplyDeleteJohn Terry trips himself. Douche.
ReplyDeleteFor the love of god, when is Denilson coming off?
ReplyDeleteTerry falls so easily.
ReplyDelete(No CL championship.)
And now Bendtner? Arsene's substitution policy does not match my own FM policies.
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell has Fabianksi done? Jesus Christ on stilts.
ReplyDeleteC'MON ARSENAL! UP THE GUNNERS!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday dummy.
ReplyDeleteThere goes my weekend.
ReplyDeleteWe 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.
ReplyDeletedammit again. Sorry NYK, et al
ReplyDeleteyou have 4th place in the bag. Please don't come to Anfield feeling in the mood for vengeance.
ReplyDeletewow. 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.
ReplyDelete/sorry about rant extremely pissed