I cant belive its the FA Cup Semi Finals Thread

mike65

Or better put, the Chelsea - Liverpool game!

Early team news form bbc

Eidur Gudjohnsen has been ruled out of Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final against Liverpool because of illness.

Michael Essien is a doubt with a knee injury while fellow midfielder Maniche is suspended following his recent red card against West Ham.

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard returns having been rested with a hamstring strain at Blackburn.

Robbie Fowler is cup tied but Peter Crouch should return. Harry Kewell is poised to start on the left wing.

while in the Boro West Ham game

Middlesbrough captain Gareth Southgate (ankle) is a major doubt for Sunday's FA Cup semi-final with West Ham.

Striker Mark Viduka (thigh) is also a worry but Chris Riggott could return after being suspended for Thursday's Uefa Cup defeat to Steaua Bucharest.

West Ham have rested key players in the build up in their quest to reach their first FA Cup final in 26 years.

But they will be at full strength with Anton Ferdinand and Danny Gabbidon both recovering from hip and groin injuries.

My Liverpool formation line/up

---

Reina

Finnan---Carra--Hyypia---Riise

Gerrard--Alonso--Sissoko-Kewell

---

Luis Garcia

---

Crouch

Subs - Dudek, Cisse, Hamann, Kronkamp, Traore

Mike.

~Rebel~

Id like your linup there Mike, think Rafa could well go for Morientes instead of garcia to start though. Id much prefer the "bit of magic" factor garcia gives, especially when we're not relying him to make tackles on the wing. garcia's always got a little extra something in big games.

Most important thing is that we have that solid back 4 of finnan, cara, hypia and riise though. Can see Sissoko playing a stormer in midfield as well, and Alonso has his own score to settle after having his ankle broken and being forced to miss semi final second leg last year by diving.

Fancy pool to be really up for it - G'wan the pool!!

RE*AC*TOR

I don't see garcia starting tbh. I don't think he has the required physicality for this match.

Anyway, should be a great game. Would be lovely to knock Chelsea out of a competition at the Semi Final stage........ again. I don't think anyone can predict how these matches will go. Chelsea are probably slight favourites, especially at Stamford Bridge.

dbnavan

Would love to see the pool do it, somehow I amnt overly confident will be a great game.

RE*AC*TOR

dbnavan wrote:

Would love to see the pool do it, somehow I amnt overly confident will be a great game.

Not for a neutral maybe, but for me, and my disdain for chelsea it will be a great game.

Kulgan

RE*AC*TOR wrote:

especially at Stamford Bridge.

Its at Old Trafford

RE*AC*TOR

i see - i should have guessed that - i just saw Chelsea's name first in the fixture and assumed.

mike65

Ladies first!

Just read in the Times that Kewell is a possible doubt.

Mike.

county

if its a draw will it go to a replay?or ET and penos?

mike65

Extra time and penos, so God knows why the beeb have scheduled Dr Who for 7.15 pm!

Mike.

county

i can see it going to ET,might put a few quid on it

kaimera

2-0 win for us.

Crouch + Gerrard.

Kingp35

I think this will be a 0-0 bore fest with Chelsea to nick a goal in Extra time.

PHB

I make the same prediction I make for most Liverpool - Chelsea matches, either 0-0 draw or a clear Chelsea win.

Chelsea are playing poor atm, but I'm sure they can up their game for this match. I expect having just won the premiership, they will be in high spirits, so we'll see.

mike65

Confirmed team Liverpool -

Reina, Riise, Hyypia, Carra, Finnan, Kewell, Alonso, Sissoko, Gerrard, Garcia, Crouch

Subs: Dudek, Cisse, Hamann, Morientes, Traore

Mike.

Chardee MacDennis

PHB wrote:

I make the same prediction I make for most Liverpool - Chelsea matches, either 0-0 draw or a clear Chelsea win.

Chelsea are playing poor atm, but I'm sure they can up their game for this match. I expect having just won the premiership, they will be in high spirits, so we'll see.

well i guess liverpool are lucky, they havent won the league yet then!!!

anyway smooth transition there from bbc ni.

Hobart

Get in there.....Riise!!

PHB

Wow, sweetly worked free kicked. Terrible walling (if that's a term) Lovely shot from Riise, passed into the net.

It's about time we had a cracking game from these sides, heres hoping for a five goal thriller

p.s.
It wasn't a free kick

merlinsmerryman

1 the number of things Jose has to complain about so far. Lovely free kick, Chelsea made a mess of the wall.

The Muppet

Kewel seems to be in form if only he had his shooting boots on.

The wall was brutal for the goal TBH. Drogba should have put the ball in the net for Chelsea earlier 1 V 1 with the keeper and he hit it wide, He was offside though it wasn't flagged.

zAbbo

Perhaps it wasn't a free kick, but certainly Cudicini fouled Crouch for a peno.

Good game, Kewel playing well. Gerrard needs to get more into the game.

mike65

Is Gerrard playing?

Kewell is geting so much space down the left its silly, Luis Garcia should have made it two but then Drogba had a clear chance earlier.

Mike.

kaimera

PHB wrote:

Wow, sweetly worked free kicked. Terrible walling (if that's a term) Lovely shot from Riise, passed into the net.

It's about time we had a cracking game from these sides, heres hoping for a five goal thriller

p.s.
It wasn't a free kick

Trust you to be the first to say "no free kick" :rolleyes:

Studs showing in the tackle == free kick. Garcia didn't lead with his studs up.

Kewell, wow, showing his old form every time he gets the ball on either wing. Hope he continues in the second half.

A penalty may have been harsh, ball was there to be won and Crouch may have touched it first but Cudicini did stop it, more of a collision due to forward motion than anything malicious.

and another dirty tackle on Alonso v chelsea. Geremi wasn't it that left the boot in on the wing. fs

The Muppet

kaimera wrote:

Trust you to be the first to say "no free kick" :rolleyes:

Studs showing in the tackle == free kick. Garcia didn't lead with his studs up.

I didn't think it was a free either. Terry made contact with the ball , his foot was a bit high but no higher than the pool players. It was a 50/50 ball free kicks are not usually given for such incidents.

KdjaCL

lol


Terry pretty much brought the rope to climb up on his back there.


kdjac

Aquos76

Good decision there. Ref was quick of the mark

Aquos76

Regardless of the fact the Garcia was offside, how in gods name did he miss from less than 6 yards?

PHB

Garcia pulls what can only be called a Garcia

--

A penalty may have been harsh, ball was there to be won and Crouch may have touched it first but Cudicini did stop it, more of a collision due to forward motion than anything malicious.

Studs showing in the tackle == free kick. Garcia didn't lead with his studs up.

Way to contradict yourself in 3 lines

KdjaCL

Made up for it there, cracking goal.

Keeper didnt even budge.

2-0


kdjac

Hobart

What a goal. Garcia!!!

Aquos76

What a finish by Garcia, certainly made up for the previous sitter he missed.

zAbbo

I guess thats why we suffer Garcia, 2 - Zip

Game not over yet.

The Muppet

prepare for chelsea substitutions

Aquos76

Chelsea are a shambles at the back. Fair play to liverpool though. Garcia and kewell are playing very well.

Hobart

PHB wrote:

Garcia pulls what can only be called a Garcia

Is that the sound of words being munched I hear??

PHB

A liverpool fan just threw something onto the pitch

Aquos76

Liverpool fans may be in a bit of bother over that beer bottle been thrown on to the pitch towards Gallas.

zAbbo

A bottle of bud was flung on the pitch in the liverpool section at crouch/gallas.

Don't know if it was a Reds/Chelsea fan. Disgrace anyway.

The Muppet

PHB wrote:

A liverpool fan just threw something onto the pitch

A beer bottle, ah well it makes a change from Mobile Phones.;)

KdjaCL

Obviously a Man Utd fan.


kdjac

PHB

Stupid idiot, hope it was worth it. Old Trafford have cameras everywhere, so he will be caught, and banned for life from all soccer games.

The Muppet

KdjaC wrote:

Obviously a Man Utd fan.


kdjac

LOL ,Obviously.

zAbbo

Reds all over Chelsea, Duff/Joe Cole on now, Chelsea used all subs now.

The Muppet

The Old Traffor Sniper Strikes again.;)

PHB

What the hell was Reina doing there?

Never going to get to that ball

KdjaCL

Risse slipped Reina had to get it just Drogba was bigger and better placed.

Very good second half.


kdjac

The Muppet

Very enjoyable game for the Neutral. Chelsea are turning the screw now.

Aquos76

The Muppet wrote:

Very enjoyable game for the Neutral. Chelsea are turning the screw now.

Are you really a neutral though;)

The Muppet

Aquos76 wrote:

Are you really a neutral though;)

Couldn't care less who wins so yes that makes me a neutral for this one.

Aquos76

5 mins, Where the fcuk?

Aquos76

Jasus I dont think he was even offside. What a miss by Joe cole