3-2 FT! Sounds like it was a really good game and both teams really went for it. Man Utd and Liverpool play tomorrow for a chance to meet us in the final.
We've been drawn away for the final apparently. The 1882 boys were excellent, "same old Scousers stealing rainbows" made me laugh. Good result for the lads very good first half but took awhile to get going in the second. Thought Bentaleb and Bartram did particularly well and Archer was good in goal, pulled off a great save right at the end.
Is the final not held at a neutral venue then, YV? Shame if it isn't. Good to hear that you enjoyed yourself.
Nah, they said at the end of the game that we got drawn away. Makes sense to have it at home for one of the teams, give it a chance of getting a big crowd.
Not the best of performances today. But credit to Everton for being clinical with their chances, and a better 2nd half display (especially on the left wing) .
Sore throat but well worth it. Pictures of the rainbow are on twitter-sorry I don't know how to post them here but I am sure someone will. Pity we play the final away-one would have thought finishing top of the league should give us advantage but typical Man Utd or Liverpool get home advantage. Will wait to see where and what time till I decide whether to go. O.Spurcat-will you be driving up or getting the train?
"Sore throat but well worth it." Not one "shoes off" all nighr. <plastics> Nice to hear the stadium announcer acknowledge the 1882 crew though.
A disappointingly low crowd at the Lane saw us finally overcome a resilient Everton side and take our place in the final due to be played next week. Frankly at 1-0 we looked comfortable. Alex Pritchard, who had by his standards, a quiet evening, had slotted home from close range. With the back line looking solid and the midfield in control, there was one only one team going through until we decided to go to sleep and let Everton back in the game not once but twice. At 2-2 both side looked capable of winning with Everton pushing us back far more than in the first half. What really swung it in our favour was the introduction of Baby Bale with 15 minutes left. His impact was immediate, skinning his marker 3 times and putting over a perfect cross. From one of these, the keeper made a good block save and he impetus was back with us. Then a low cross from the left saw Obika stoop to score. To call it a "diving header" flatters the player as it was so low, he must have stumbled to get his head on it. Over the season this squad deserves a place in the final. We have won both league stages and now scdored 80 goals in the season. On the night, we definitely shaded it, although the dropping off in the second half will give concern to the coaches. More importantly, over 40 players have played this season, and the improvement and development of some of the players was there to be seen last evening. Beyond the more well known names, the likes of Bentaleb, Ceballos, And Veljkovic have really progressed this season, and Kenny McEvoy will be one to look out for next year. As always, Tom Carroll kept himself busy, rarely giving the ball away and keeping the play moving. I would still prefer to see him take control of a game at this level, before I am convinced he can do it in the PL every week. Obika will no doubt get the headlines from the club as he scored twice. I don't know at what level he will spend his career, but there is still a rawness about his game and a cumbersome style which suggests it will be championship level at best. Now it's Liverpool or Manchester next week.
Talk about "grass is greener" , YV. From around halfway, the rainbow did not look as well-formed. Or perhaps twas cos the ball was not being hoofed around, I do not look up until it was fading away.
Excellent summary. I was also disappointed with the size of the crowd. I thought Obika did wellish but at 23 maybe your assessment is perfect. I felt the chance he missed early on should have been put away comfortably. We should have been 3 up at half time but let them back in-however it's nice to know that even at this level we are learning to score late on -after 80 mins. It's happening regularly.
More or less exactly what went on, Spurcat. My additions would be : 1. Carroll doesn't seem to be able to exert control for a full 90 mins (2nd halves especially) . For the WHU/Goon/Everton games in succession, he has taken control in the first half. But then in the 2nd, he seems to fade. Perhaps that is the subtle difference between Luongo and Bentaleb when it comes to the CM spadework needed when the opposition decide to front up in MF. 2. We got the best and worst of Obika today (the worst being why he does not look like being capable of the final step up) . On the header, I thought it was well taken. It didn't look like a stumble (though the more critical might ask why he wasn't able to get into position for a tap-in ) .
That's why you should have been in block 16 with 1882. We really enjoyed singing about it. Our own Wembley arch; and when it went the scousers nicked it.
