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It Must Be A Conspiracy
Another home draw and two deflected goals later I'm surprised that they haven't relocated the FA Cup semi finals from Wembley to Stamford Bridge. I suppose there is still time.
Has the Cup ever been easier to win than this year for Chelsea?
Jamie Bedwell, Cheltenhamshire
Happy To Have Semied Chelsea
Must say I'm happier to have drawn Chelsea in the semi's than have to play them in the final should both teams have gotten there. Finals are generally tight affairs that go in the favour of the bigger,more experienced team while semi finals are often more open games where an upset can be more likely.
I don't think Villa beating Chelsea would necessarily be an upset in the greater scheme of things considering we've already beaten them this season but I do fancy our chances of doing it in the semi's where the occasion mightn't be as overwhelming for the players and they can play to their strengths. Looking forward to what should be a great match.
Oh yeah, John Carew. Legend.
Kevin Walsh. Luimneach
Answering Back
Of course Porstmouth should still be allowed in the Cup. They are
still allowed win the league after all.
They're unlikey to, but they can.
Declan, Leixlip, Ireland
Over The Top
When has Wes Brown being injured ever been a crisis?
Steve, Barcelona
He Can't Be Right All The Time...
Just wanted to share some quotes from a weekend preview article on a popular footie website:
'I'd rather soil myself at Asda than back Bolton against West Ham'
'If they can score 3 at the Emirates and the San Siro, Man United can do it at Molineux.'
'Spurs have goals in them all over the pitch'
'I can't see a stack of goals in this game' - on Reading vs Villa
And who uttered these famous words? Degsy Bilton, F365's in-house betting 'expert' who got only 8 out of 8 punts wrong.
You must be the Nicklas Bendtner of football betting.
Cakes
...A quote from the Friday's Cheeky Punt's weekend preview had Degsy saying "I'd rather soil myself at Asda than back(Bolton) them here, even at 4/1. No this is definitely a home win job with Carlton Cole Bolton's tormentor-in-chief"
Shall we be having the pictures then?????
Louis (Degsy owes me a lot of money) Msindo
Defending Bendtner
Dermot Woods, the reason Bendtner was laughing when he came off, not fuming, would appear to be that he is an optimist, rather than a pessimist (which you would appear to be). Optimistic people see the brighter side of things and generally make life for those around them more pleasant (a pessimist has the opposite effect).
When Bendtner came off, instead of sitting on the bench sulking selfishly while his team defended a comfortable 2-1 lead (remember, this is a team game), he had a laugh at himself and moved on. Nothing wrong with that. Perhaps he was even happy for his mate Theo, who was having a day out after copping flak during the week for having the audacity to not be a fully developed footballer at 20 years of age.
Most Arsenal fans still gave Bendtner an (unironic) ovation because (a) his effort didn't drop throughout; (b) we love seeing him inside the box meeting crosses (as opposed to the usual Bendtner-less routine of crosses flashing harmlessly across the box or the ball carrier retreating); and (c) he will play a crucial role in our title run-in.
Finally, I do hope that, even if only for a week or so, Walcott's display will shut up the clowns who think they know more about football than Wenger and Capello.
Kirk König, Arsenal
Apparently Waddle Said Something Original Then
Waddle was bang on target when he said that Walcott has not improved even a little, over the last couple of years. I used to remember Walcott a couple of years ago when his pace and direct running used to be exciting but it looks like after playing with the team which plays by far the most beautiful game in the Premier League, he seemed to have picked nothing else up.
Yes, yes he was brilliant yesterday...against Burnley (no offence to their fans). This is a team sitting 19th in the league and is no way a fair comparison to the type of teams that England will face in the World Cup. I saw Walcott playing against Egypt and frustrating is the first word that comes to my mind. It was almost like Walcott was on a mission to run the ball out whenever he can. Teams with organised defense like Egypt the other day easily double teamed and brushed him off the ball. If he is going to mindlessly stroke the ball forward and run, he needs to bulk up and be ready to shove off defenders who block him aka a Valencia. I am no City fan but I would feel it would be quite unfair if Walcott made if ahead of SWP to the WC'10. The latter seems to have a couple of billion more brain cells inside his head.
Nate (this is my first mail to F365)
Just So We Know
After Arsenal's win on Saturday and Wolves' loss, I'm delighted to report that the Gunners are now mathematically safe from relegation.
Steve Owen
Bullet Responding
Dear F365,
In the spirit that this is what it takes to be printed these days, here are my views in bullet points..
- AKV says that Saturday night was irrefutable proof of Rooney's worth to ManYoo. How so, good buddy? Would he have been marking Sam Vokes? Because even without Shrek, ManYoo were able to score enough goals to secure 3 points.
- Dermot Woods says that Bendtner is a crap striker who belongs in the conference leagues. Now while your pub buddies probably nod along while you say stupid things like this, please don't repeat these views in a football mailbox where people might know their stuff. The old adage goes that you're not worried about strikers missing chances as long as they're in the right place to get them. From this point of view, Bendtner actually had quite a good game, and a big well done to the Arsenal fans for the vocal support they gave him.
- Jamie Redknapp, Gareth Southgate and Robbie Savage. Is this really the future of football broadcasting? Dear God in Heaven, let it not be so.
- When Zola had the chance to do one to Chavski last season, he should've taken it. Because as the West Ham "boo-boys" (don't girls boo?) proved this weekend, loyalty in football is a one way street.
- Redknapp senior spent all week bleating about his lack of players. Which of Spuds' starting XI was a player who wouldn't have been expected to start??
- Last week, I read with incredulity contributions in this mailbox by people who cared little for England doing well at the world cup. I couldn't begin to understand where these people came from. Then I read this morning that Gary Neville might make the world cup 23. I get it now, I really do.
- Finally, a word about Carra. You have been a great servant, and we will remember you with fondness. But Rafa is right not to play you at centre-half anymore, and if you feel you can get first team football somewhere else, good luck to you.
Javed, LFC (We all dream of a team of Carraghers, a team of Carraghers,
a team of Carraghers)
Heskey's Ton...
Re your Winners and Losers section, and the number of games that are required to reach 100. Can Emile Heskey have his own section called 'Strikers that rarely score but are there to act as a way of bringing other players into the game, as without him they would just stand idly around waiting.' In which case he is a clear winner.
Luke 'Understands the concept of bringing others into play, but still maintains that an international striker should bring more to the pitch then that' Colchester
...Reading the Winners and Losers seciton today, I noted with interest your
comment on Paul Scholes achieving the 'ton' of Premier league goals.
(Good on the veteran mid-fielder, albeit remember that carrot-top is only
revered as much because he is English: personally, I would much rather
have had Giggs play for England, and Scholes for Wales.)
However, what REALLY caught my eye was who else has hit the ton. One name in particular: "Emile Heskey (407)".
407. Let that number roll off your tongue. Is that a misprint? Are there
two or more Emile Heskey's? Or is he a goal-scoring genius at club level,
whose style for some reason is so radically different for country. He is
certainly an enigma, our Emile.
Anthony (One Emile Heskey, there's only One Emile Heskey!) Rimell, New
Zealand
'ITV's Failed Poet'
Portsmouth v Birmingham provided the worst commentary double act I've heard for a while. Peter Drury is always annoying and Portsmouth's win gave him the perfect opportunity to ham it up like never before. Cringewothy lines that were obviously the result of hours of pre-game thought included: 'Portsmouth haven't got a penny, but they may yet get a cup!'; 'Pompey's silver lining is almost as big as their cloud!'; 'Their road to Wembley is not paved with gold, but it is a road nonetheless!'.
It's like he's a failed poet employing more and more ludicrous hyperbole and awkward metaphors in a desperate attempt to distract viewers from watching the game. I suppose the producers encourage him to play up the drama to make the game more accessible to a wider audience, but by trying to increase their audience share by let's say 10% they only serve to enrage the 90% of viewers that just want (at most) an unobtrusive commentator.
I was managing to ignore Craig Burley until he made reference to his own 'successful' international career. Baffling. Until then I had happily assumed his 'successful' career as a pundit had died along with Setanta.
Tyrone Lawson
...Well said Ben "Peter Piper Piqued a Pep of Pickled Pompey" R, Brum I was concerned I was the only one who found the commentary completely myopic and hyperbolic. What I do find odd is the praise for the Portsmouth players in this situation. It's not as if any of them have offered to lower their wages to allow other non playing employees to get paid on time or keep their job. David James is the only player who offered anything like this when he waived his right to a new contract, however he only waived this when he wasn't playing (as they couldn't afford to award him the new contract which was based on games played) which was harming his chances of going to the World Cup, and the transfer window had closed meaning he couldn't leave! Hardly a massive sacrifice.
If you listened to the media you'd think the whole Portsmouth team were playing for free. The whole coverage of the game was based around Portsmouth and the Portsmouth "story". As a Birmingham fan this was particularly frustrating, there was no mention of the fact that the Birmingham "story" isn't a bad one- promoted club in top ten in Premier League and on verge of first FA Cup semi final for 35 years.
Although the media coverage was frustrating it was nowhere near as depressing as the fact that as usual Birmingham missed a massive opportunity and didn't give any reason for the media coverage on Sunday to be about anthing other than Portsmouth.
Daniel (Ridgewell for England) Zakis
And Finally...
Hmmm just having a thought...does the number 52 behind Bendtner's back signifies the number of chances he's going to miss before the football itself begs for mercy and rolls itself across the line?
Omer Zaheer, Lahore, Pakistan
