FA Cup Yawn

[Gravymuncher]

There was no way a ref could have made a call, and whether giggs fouled cech is again very debatable as it was through being tripped that he fell into Cech, but he also one the ball then careered into cech. Had cech been an outifeld player I think it wouldn't be a foul, but as it was a keeper I think most refs would give a foul.

Giggs fouled the keeper, no question. He fouled the keeper because he went down trying to put the ball in the net, not because of any contact from Essien. Giggs certainly didn't fall. If Cech had been an out field player he would have been penalised for handling the ball - the rules are different for keepers, precisesly because there are rules in place for when the keeper has control of the ball in his hands.

In my opinion, the Referee made a mistake, because the fact that the ball crossed the line means he can't then play advantage in favour of the keeper because the ball has left the field of play - eg if the foul had been on the touch line between two outfield players he'd have had to give a throw in or a free kick.

However, you can't argue that the referee made the correct decision within the spirit of the game, if not the letter of the law and the referee couldn't be blamed if he said he didn't know if the ball had crossed the line and had then played advantage within the laws of the game. Would be interested to hear the referee's interpretatation of the incident.

[disco stan]

It annoys me when people say that it was the new Wembley's first final....the week before Stevenage came from 2 down to defeat Kidderminster 3-2 and thus win the FA Trophy.....and today mighty Morecambe defeated Exeter 2-1 there to win promotion to the foooootball league.....much better the lower down you go.

Probably better football than saturday too. First FA cup final mate.

[hopey]

Au contraire - we know exactly why, it's a little thing called jealousy.

and maybe thats why you hate Liverpool so much?

[Richard Head]

It annoys me when people say that it was the new Wembley's first final....the week before Stevenage came from 2 down to defeat Kidderminster 3-2 and thus win the FA Trophy.....and today mighty Morecambe defeated Exeter 2-1 there to win promotion to the foooootball league.....much better the lower down you go.

Got to agree Rob. It was an excellent match yesterday with a great atmosphere despite Wembley only being about half full. No sign of the prawn sandwich brigade or any overpaid prima donnas prancing about.

[NotIntaFells]

Q. What's red and white and goes beep beep beep?


A.


The Man Ure Double Winners 2007 open top bus reversing back into the garage!

[Saints Lad]

Q. What's red and white and goes beep beep beep?


A.


The Man Ure Double Winners 2007 open top bus reversing back into the garage!

good one pal

[IainR]

There was contact from Essein. Look at it again, giggs didn't slide in naturally, none of the TV pundits doubted there was contact.

Anyway I agree with you. The ref should have either awarded a penalty, a goal, or a free kick. As the ball went over the line it was therefore out of play so advantage wasn't an option. However there is no way he could of made such a call. It's why there should be video refs, however I think if you had that situation 3 times in a row you are likely to get 3 different decisions. By the way you are the only person I've spoken to or read who has had a concrete view on that situation.

Funny that last week Mourinho was winding Ferguson up about Mendez goal at Old Trafford, saying he wouldn't be happy if that was him. Yet suddently he's all quiet.

[Swoop]

I'm with the ref on this one - for once.
I think he would have given a foul on the goalkeeper but as Cech had the ball he just decided to let him get on with it and not waste time. The ref is being criticised for using some common sense.
(The ball was over the line but that is irrelevant if it was due to Giggs sliding into Cech.)

[IainR]

But there was contact by Essien.

I'm with the ref as any decision he made would have been a guess. I don't think he used common sense, I just think he didn't think the ball had gone over the line. TBF I didn't think so either, but you could see from Giggs reaction he was sure it had, and the replayed showed it had.

All in all it was a prime example of why we need video refs.

If you can watch it again, look out for the wild lunge (words of Jamie Redknapp a chelsea fan) by essein, that trips Giggs feet.

Anyway all academic. I don't think either team deserved to win. Both looked knackered, jaded and mentally spent. It doesn't mean anything bad about the teams, they are still the 2 best teams in England by a long way, but as always when the 2 top teams meet the occassion doesn't live up to the billing.

I thought Rooney came out of the game with a lot of credit. For me, he, not Drogba was man of the match as he tried to force the game in the second half and in ET. If not Essien for some of his tackling.

[Roger Rabbit]

I'm with the ref on this one - for once.
I think he would have given a foul on the goalkeeper but as Cech had the ball he just decided to let him get on with it and not waste time. The ref is being criticised for using some common sense.
(The ball was over the line but that is irrelevant if it was due to Giggs sliding into Cech.)

This decision could of gone anyway so the ref was in the right