FA Cup Final: A Lookback

What a final we had. All that hype and what we got in return was a very poor and dull final. Few chances for both sides and not much to jump off the sofa for. They were really very few highlights to mention. There were more half chances than anything else. The first half was a terrible memory for neutral fans and maybe even for respective fans alike. Both teams didnt have proper periods of control, Chelsea had more half chances than MU but none really forced Van Der Sar to earn his pay. Passes were astray, there was no movement from either sides. There was a lack of urgency in both sides as both of them started the game in safe mode. Both were more concerned about not conceeding than scoring.

What didnt help the preceedings was the fact that MU set out a 4-5-1 with fletcher down the right. Flecther???!!!! No pace, no skills...down the right? So wrong. ronaldo was on the left trying to take advantage of ferreira. Well that didnt quite work out as ronaldo was immediately smothered once he got the ball. He was ineffective through the first half and maybe even the whole game. Maybe the 'high' of so many awards was getting to him.
Chelsea dissapointed as well by not using the flanks. wright phillips was often drifting inwards, compacting MU defence. You would think this allows the fullbacks to foray forward to provide width but they didnt. They were busy watching the centreline paint dry.Playing with a 4-5-1 and not using your wingers baffled us and it is a known fact that heinze is a rash defender who is prone to lapses. Lampard looked ordinary and can someone tell me what obi mikel brings to the team. Makelele was his usually best breaking up MU's move, the only performer for Chelsea.
Simply said, it was a half to forget.

The 2nd half was a slight improvement, only slight. this coincided with fletcher being shifted central, giggs out left and ronaldo switched to the right. Most of the chances came for MU as Chelsea looked more and more tired as the half went on. MU had the better of the half with chances falling to Rooney, Giggs and Ronaldo. For us, Paul Scholes was the only real spark for MU, with his trademark passes behind the defence. All the rest were very off-colour. A very dissapointing fact. ronaldo was again non existent in the 2nd half and rooney was like a headless chicken running directly into chelski's defence everytime he gets the ball. Chelsea looked better attacking with the introduction of arjen robben, with the ducthmen getting better of MU's defenders on a few occasions.

The game only started to pick up with goalmouth action in the extra time period. It is fair to say that coincided with the Chelsea players getting tired and slow. MU controlled both halves of extra time. There was a moment of controversy when camera replays showed that a giggs effort did crossed the line whilst in the arms of Cech. We believed Cech has made the save before crossing the line and giggs momentum was pushing the Czech keeper back into his goal (a foul). Talks about a penaly claiming that Essien had fouled Giggs seemed untrue. Essien was just putting him off with the slide but there was no contact between both players. The introduction of Kalou in the 1st half of extra time was a positive one. He was the only player in a blue shirt who threatened a tired MU defence line during extra time.

4 minutes to go, 3 touches of the ball, 2 players and 1 simple wall pass. That was the ingredients to what was the best piece of football of the game. Quality was rewarded with a goal by Didier Drogba. Drogba received a ball from a toe poke forward by Mikel. On his first touch, he gave it to Lampard, whom with one touch also, floated it back to the forward running Drogba to play it past the onrushing Van Der Sar. The tired minds showed as Rio failed to keep his tabs on Drogba. A simple move, the wall pass aka one-two, won it for Chelsea.

Jose finally gets his cup. All 4 possible English trophies won in 3 seasons. Great feat. Chelsea completes the domestic cup double. Honestly though, it was one of the poorest final in recent memories. We kinda hope it ended with the shoot outs, just to make the whole night more exciting. We reckoned a Watford Balckburn final would be a more exciting affair.