2008 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL.....MANCHESTER UNITED v CHELSEA

[Billys Boots]

Where does Giggs and Scholes go after United

I heard that Blackburn have made offers to their agents.

[nrico2006]

As previously mentioned, Fergie will not be going anywhere.  Why would he go considering the bulk of this side is so young and are starting to win things?  It would be different if they were an old side.  Expect to see more of Anderson and Nani next year, plus hopefully Hargreaves will be available all year and at his best.  Bye bye Louis Saha and add another striker.

[Shrewdness]

Did anyone else notice Terry 'snotting' on Tevez as the handbags died down? Karma is a bitch JT.

I never seen that and I actually was feeling sorry for Terry after the match.  The incidenet which led to Cole going crazy was a bad decision but it was his reaction that was terrible, plus he ran to the ref when it was obvious for any half wit that the linesman made the call.  There were a couple of other dubious decisions and one of those was when United got a corner near the end froma Ronaldo left foot shot at the corner of the box.  As for the flag up and down - strange.  Good to see Darren Fletcher in charge for the presntation - he was the one who designated himself as director of operations.

David May used to assume that role nrico. He always managed to get in front with the trophy despite only playing a handful of games each season.

[Barney]

i think that's an unjustified criticism of Davy May

[nrico2006]

I read about that the other day and how May said his dad encouraged him to get his head in beside the cup and the hoore did well for himself.

[T O Hare]

does anyone know where i could see highlights online

[nrico2006]

http://blog.soccerslave.com/2008/05/21/manchester-united-vs-chelsea-champions-league-final-highlights-2008/

[Main Street]

Hmmm. I thought Ronaldo was MOTM in the first half, and couldn't understand why Essien was being hung out to dry on him. However, in the second half, largely due to Chelsea's dominance, he was fairly anonymous, and his workrate was dodgy, in that he rarely bothered tracking Essien, who obviously decided attack is the best form of defence.

Overall, I thought Ronaldo was a 7/10, which is good, but he is still lacking 'something' in his attitude.

IMHO.

The Ronaldo effect was obvious because it was Essien and not Cole in the first half. Fergusen put Ronaldo away from A Cole.
A Cole has easily has the measure of Ronaldo in previous games.

In the 2nd half I think it was J Cole assisted Essien and paid more attention to Ronaldo and marked him out the game until Ronaldo moved more central and regained some potency with a few of his attacking runs.

[Puckoon]

Did anyone see the banner at the game yesterday that read


SCOUSE FREE ZONE!


?

Thought it was funny myself.

[fred the red]

Did anyone see the banner at the game yesterday that read


SCOUSE FREE ZONE!


?

Thought it was funny myself.

Maybe explains wayne rooneys dissapearance.

[Square Ball]

Did anyone see the banner at the game yesterday that read


SCOUSE FREE ZONE!


?

Thought it was funny myself.

Maybe explains wayne rooneys dissapearance.

very good

[Norf Tyrone]

Congrats United fans. Probably best team over the course of the season although probably second best last night. I think that should end any whingeing about "lucky Liverpool" anyway. Two European Cups won under Ferguson in games where United were outplayed for long periods and the opposition hitting the woodwork twice in both finals. And that's even before Terry slipped on his hole.

Hard luck Norf Tyrone. Must be sick as a parrott today.

Totally gutted. There are very few times in my life that football has made me feel as depressed as I am today...

Well done United..

Was in the pub from 6:30, and depsite it being fairly packed it was eerilly silent due to the tension. First half and all my concerns from a few pages back re Essien came home to roost. Ronaldo wasn't at his best, but he didn't to be to exploit the Ghanian. This battle put Chelsea on the back foot early on, and truth be told only a wee bit of luck and the goal changed that around.

Second half and I thought Chelsea were awesome. Time and time again these players meet a challange head on, and a special word of praise here for the much maligned Ashley Cole who had his best game in a Blue jersey last night. I think one of the key factors last night came on 70 minutes. Ferdinand went down with cramp, and the 2 or 3 minute delay give United time to regroup. Was it a ploy by Ferdinand? Who knows but surprised at him cramping so early.

Thought Chelsea shaded the extra time, but it had penalties written all over it by the end of the first period.

When JT stepped up I was convinced he'd score. But it was not to be, and but for a few millimeters of wood, and a dodgy piece of turf we'd be champions of Europe today. After that I knew it was gone....and Anelka looked so not up for it!

The United fans out and about the pub last night were gracious in victory. Enjoyed their night, but didn't rub it in..credit to them. Don't get the same warm glow on here unfortuantely.

It took North Longford on page 20 to bring up a couple of major incidents. The linesman who gave the 'ghost goal' at Anfield gave United a couple of 'ghost' goal kicks that he was only yards from, Ferdinand last man when fouling Lampard, and the big one being (End of normal time I think) Ferdinand's head high challange on Joe Cole...how the f**k do you give advantage at that, and then after doing so not bring Ferdinand back for a yellow!

There is also some serious character assasination going on here. John Terry is a legend. The fella wears his heart on his sleeve, and captains Chelsea with passion. His Englishness appears to be a problem for some on here from what I can see. In addition this spiting incident that an Arsenal fan has seen fit to start a new thread about (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvlsEbcZq98) is inconclusive, and no-one has made a complaint about including Tevez! Remember this is the same Tevez that took no time to accuse Chelsea ground staff of racism a few weeks back! I see nothing in that footage bar maybe JT calling Tevez a wee c**t or whatever.

Chelsea's crowding of the refs that people talk about is, as I have said before, something the club needs to address. I don't think it was as bad as usual last night, but I could be wrong. But geez lads take off the rose tinters. I remember on at least two occasions, United players running to the ref last night, and Fergie at half time! Is there a differance? Look back to the game in OT earlier in the year, and when Mikel fouled whoever it was to get a red card how quickly the United players are around the ref...

Anyway...congratulations gents.

[Dinny Breen]

There is also some serious character assasination going on here. John Terry is a legend. The fella wears his heart on his sleeve, and captains Chelsea with passion. His Englishness appears to be a problem for some on here from what I can see. In addition this spiting incident that an Arsenal fan has seen fit to start a new thread about (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvlsEbcZq98) is inconclusiv

I'm an Arsenal fan, so what, fail to see the relevance. Everyone here can see what a tr**p John Terry is, I have no idea why Tevez hasn't made a complaint although the fact that he is a Premier League and Champions League winner probably means he couldn't be arsed and would let his winner medals do the talking for him. As for John Terry, he is a dispicable person, the epitomy of everything that is wrong with your avearage Premiership footballer, greedy, over-rated, believes his above reproach and quite simply removed from reality.

The best thing about Terry missing that penalty was that it saved Ronaldo from a torrid of abuse from the English media, Ronaldo is worthy of our adulation, Terry is not.

[Shrewdness]

I think Nani deserves great credit for scoring his penalty the other night under immense pressure. He was the last of United's 5 penalty takers, and if he missed, Chelsea would have won it without Terry having to even take his kick.

Was surprised that Essien didn't take one before Terry. Essien has a great shot on him, and if he had gone for the power approach to a penalty, i wouldn't fancy facing it.

If Anelka had scored, the  remaining penalty takers for each team would have been Ferdinand, Evra and Vidic for United, and only Essien and Carvalho for Chelsea as Drogba had been sent off.

[AZOffaly]

I think Nani deserves great credit for scoring his penalty the other night under immense pressure. He was the last of United's 5 penalty takers, and if he missed, Chelsea would have won it without Terry having to even take his kick.

Was surprised that Essien didn't take one before Terry. Essien has a great shot on him, and if he had gone for the power approach to a penalty, i wouldn't fancy facing it.

If Anelka had scored, the  remaining penalty takers for each team would have been Ferdinand, Evra and Vidic for United, and only Essien and Carvalho for Chelsea as Drogba had been sent off.

Academic I know, but I don't think that's correct. In the case of a man being sent off, one of the opposition has to 'volunteer' to *not* be on the roster. Both teams have to have the same number of eligible personnel. I'm sure United would have 'de-selected' Van der Saar, and Cech would have been Chelsea's 10th.