Player ratings: Reina - 7 Quite solid, couldn't do much about either goal, loved that punch out from their corner Johnson - 6 Hot and cold, quite poor in defence again, gets an extra point just for his pen Skrtel - 8 Immense, but was partly culpable for their first goal. Agger - 5 Not bad, but nothing outstanding. Enrique - 4 Woeful outing from the Spaniard, slow tracking back, sloppy in his passing, one of the weakest links on the pitch, a real off day. Henderson - 4 faded out to nothing within minutes, but he is young, and I hope he'll be better if we get back there in May. Gerrard - 6 Not the best from Gerrard, but as a holding Mid-fielder you shouldn't expect much. Tried far too hard in the first half trying far too many Hollywood balls when he should have passed to others. I knew he would miss his pen. Adam - 6 Mr. Hollywood struck again, soft free-kicks, woeful pen and rubbish passes and shots all day. But he was busy and did try. Downing - 7 Still piss poor at putting balls in with any real pace, especially from corners, but he did do enough in other areas to get a slap on the back. Suarez - 6 Was well off his game today, ball control and passing were both awful. Once again showed his love for the woodwork. However his trickery did keep the Cardiff back four busy. Carroll - 5 Was like a sack of potatoes with his movement off the ball. Gets an extra point for that back of the head header, just before he was rightly dragged off. Subs: Carragher -6 Solid enough performance Kuyt - 8 My man of the match for the impression he made in such little time. I need this man to finish his career at this club. Bellamy - 6 Was he in two minds over his loyalty, or was he just not fit enough, but I expected a lot more than he gave, quite disappointing. Overall, we played with no-one up front, lacked accurate passing and any kind of first touch, but that is a criticism I have levelled at the lads all season. If we had a good goal poacher, who thrives on balls into the 6 yard box, he would have cleaned up today. A young Michael Owen would have had at least 5 goals. Nice to see us mix it up with how we attacked their box, but it will go down as the Hollywood final with the number of failed spectacular efforts made today.
we won! we won! Though it surprises me that everyone praises cardiff. i thought they actually packed the bus. if we played that way against a better side say barcelona everyone would be calling for our heads.
without going OT what Dippers have 41 and UTD have 40 pointless link here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_football_clubs_in_England_by_major_honours_won
Fair play to you, but we find pragmatism can be helpful ;-) If your fans get 10, we have to give ours 15, as we out performed your weak lunged lot all day. ;-)
Great win! Was on the edge of my seat the whole match. I thought we played decent on the ball. Off the ball though was a different story, we didn't press them enough and they looked much more hungry for it. With all that said.. Who cares?! We won! YNWA
My team ratings: Reina: 6 Johnson: 7 (Good first half, played like a winger, hit the bar, good enough defensively) Skrtel: 8 (Excellent defense, vital goal, nearly scored a second. Should have a 9, but his poor headed clearance helped Cardiff get their first) Agger: 5 Enrique: 6 Henderson: 3 (Really saw nothing of note in his performance. Hard decision between a 3 and a 4, but the yellow card, the importance of the occasion, and the fact he's played quite well in the run up tilt it for me). Gerrard: 6 (Solid, but inaccurate faced with the goal. Penalty wasn't terrible- excellent save) Adam: 6 (Same as Gerrard, except better with the shots and much, much worse with the penalty) Downing: 7 (Yes, he had a good game. Some very good crosses, and had a lot of the ball. Nothing match-winning, though, IMO) Suarez: 6 (didn't play badly, but didn't do much either- kept on running at players and losing it) Carroll: 7 (I thought he actually had a good one. Yes, he didn't score, but he did his job of holding the ball up well, and most importantly, interfered with Miller enough to stop him scoring at the end of full time.) Bellamy: 6 Kuyt: 8 (a high score, but to have such an impact and to completely outshine Bellers was quite an achievement. A shot that I couldn't believe went in, a nearly crucial goal line clearance. I think the 2nd Cardiff goal wasn't his fault, looked like Reina could have pounced on it. To blame it on anyone would be harsh.) Carragher: 6 Kop Kid who, whilst waving and cheering, poked himself in the eye, only to keep cheering through the pain: 10
The local cats home in Manchester is looking for donations due to the many that were injured as Steven Gerrard lifted the cup.
Really it wasnt unlucky for cardiff. Penalties are skill in football like any other. Liverpool bottled their pens but cardiff approached each panalty in a terrible way. You have to have confidence and conviction. They had none. I dont think zidane ever missed a penalty even in highly presurised situations. With a cool head and flawless technique you should never miss. They should be able to put it where they want and where the keeper cannot get it.
You really don't know anything do you? Have you ever kicked a ball in your entire life? You really need to stop humiliating yourself like this, day after day... it's laughable!
goals against the run of play.it often happens. first goal was a gift then you packed the bus. second came from your first/second corner after 115 minutes!