11/05/24
February 26, 2004
Sunderland clinched the final FA Cup Quarter-Final place last night.: So it's Sunderland v Sheffield Utd and Milwall v Tranmere which ensures two Nationwide League teams will qualify for the Semis, where they'll line up against the winners of the two all Premiership ties: Man Utd v Fulham and Portsmouth v Arsenal. I'm sure that the FA's hairdryer will ensure the two Premiership sides are kept apart in the Semis.... Prediction time?
Yes - as the only Sunderland fan on here, I felt it was my duty. You have to admit that we deserved to win both games.....
posted by Brettski at 07:14 AM on February 26, 2004
And I think it my duty, as an Aston Villa fan, to heartily congratulate Sunderland for getting revenge on the team that relegated them.
posted by BigCalm at 07:26 AM on February 26, 2004
the team that relegated them - if we held a grudge against each of them we'd be very bitter by now!
posted by Brettski at 07:34 AM on February 26, 2004
Go Sunderland!
posted by worldcup2002 at 10:03 AM on February 26, 2004
ManU has really been slipping lately and I would not be terribly surprised if Fullham made it past them just on anger over the Saha deal. That loss yesterday in the CL was pretty surprising.
posted by billsaysthis at 10:05 AM on February 26, 2004
ManU has really been slipping lately They may not be losing (at least in the EPL), but they are giving up a lot of goals. I only saw the Leeds match last week, so I am nor sure what the "issue" is. I hope it isn't Howard. As much as I dislike ManU, I want Howard to do well in the EPL (and the 2006 World Cup of course)
posted by scully at 11:12 AM on February 26, 2004
Yes Brettski, I agree, by all accounts you deserved to win both games. Arsenal to win it, if they can be bothered.
posted by squealy at 11:53 AM on February 26, 2004
Tranmere are in Division 2? (Man, that's like an AA-league team trying to qualify for the NL or AL championship playoff, for the benefit of those baseball-inclined onlookers.) Now, that's the team I'd like to see win it.
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:38 PM on February 26, 2004
Here's where all the teams stand in their respective leagues: Premiership 1 Arsenal 2 Man Utd 9 Fulham 17 Portsmouth (Cup ties: Man Utd v Fulham; Portsmouth v Arsenal) Division 1 4 Sheffield 6 Millwall 9 Sunderland Division 2 14 Tranmere (Cup ties: Sunderland v Sheffield Utd; Milwall v Tranmere)
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:48 PM on February 26, 2004
Terrapin, I agree about Howard and actually am wondering why he isn't getting more games with the US squad already. Maybe at this summer's WC06 qualifying matches...
posted by billsaysthis at 01:26 PM on February 26, 2004
I'm sure that the FA's hairdryer will ensure the two Premiership sides are kept apart in the Semis For the uninitiated like myself, if they are going to keep the 2 Premiership sides apart in the Semis, why don't they keep all 4 apart in the Quarters? When was the last time a D1 or D2 team won the whole thing?
posted by smithers at 01:38 PM on February 26, 2004
why don't they keep all 4 apart in the Quarters? Well it's all supposed to be random, there is no seeding in the FA Cup. When was the last time a D1 or D2 team won the whole thing? I'm terrible at football history, but wasn't it Sunderland in 1973?
posted by squealy at 05:50 PM on February 26, 2004
No, West Ham in 1980. I was there.
posted by salmacis at 04:19 AM on February 27, 2004
The most famous underdog was Sunderland in '73 - they were the first in the modern era to do it, had struggled to avoid relegation from the (then) second division, and were playing a Leeds team that were the holders, probably the Arsenal of there day, and would go on to be European Champions two seasons later. Oh and although Sunderland are 9th now, because of the cup run they have a couple of games in hand and would be third if they won them (he keeps telling himself!)
posted by Brettski at 04:52 AM on February 27, 2004
Man Utd will beat Arsenal in the final - mere weeks before finally overtaking them with a last minute surge that will also win them the Premiership. There. Don't say I never do anything for you.
posted by JJ at 09:21 AM on February 27, 2004
True JJ. You made me laugh at least.
posted by squealy at 11:38 AM on February 27, 2004
Can Arsenal go undefeated in the regular season?!?!?!
posted by billsaysthis at 04:25 PM on February 27, 2004
I hope not...i really hate ARSE-nal.... More than i hate Manure... HA!!
posted by StarFucker at 10:54 PM on February 27, 2004
SF, after today's results Arse may not make it to the end without a loss but I don't see how ManUre or Chelski can pass them for the title. Not with nine points differential and only 11 matches to play.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:58 PM on February 28, 2004
Looks like Man U may even lose 2nd spot to Chelski. Wheeeeee. C'mon, Liverpool! We can catch Man U! We're only 17 pts behind!
posted by worldcup2002 at 02:37 PM on February 28, 2004
My prediction: whoever wins the FA Cup, it won't mean as much to them as today's result ;) One hundred and twenty eight years without a proper trophy. The Cubs and Red Sox have nothing on that. So I'm happy to egg on the Mackems this time, while I wait for next season's UEFA Cup draw...
posted by etagloh at 10:32 AM on February 29, 2004
WC, we won't be catching Newcastle for fourth with wasted efforts like today at Leeds. So in the last three matches against English teams, both opponents in the relegation zone, and all we can manage is two draws and a loss. Woohoo!
posted by billsaysthis at 11:30 AM on February 29, 2004
etagloh - we may only be two wins from the UEFA cup ourselves, if we make it past Sheffield, avoid Man U or Arsenal in the semis and play one of them in the final..... Just both our luck I guess would be after all that, the draw would be Sunderland v Boro in the UEFA cup.....
posted by Brettski at 04:18 AM on March 01, 2004
Oh, and congrats to the Smoggies.....
posted by Brettski at 04:18 AM on March 01, 2004
You just had to bring this up didn't you? :-(