ToffeeWeb - Season 2008-09

The Mail Bag

The hard way, again?

Congratulations to Moyes and our threadbare squad on reaching the semis. Given last year's semis included Barnsley, Cardiff, West Brom and Portsmouth, isn't it typical we'd make the semis against Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd?

If we are to go all the way, the route would be via a string of impressive wins over strong Premier League opponents. But we have done it before; in 1995 we had to get past Derby, Norwich, Newcastle, Spurs and Man Utd to lift the trophy. Fingers crossed for the same result!
John Pendleton, Wetherby Posted 08/03/2009 at 16:25:48

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Jim Slade
1 Posted 08/03/2009 at 19:47:52

Bring on UTD!

Brendan George
2 Posted 08/03/2009 at 19:52:14

We’ve beaten Man United in ’95 when we were written off by everybody. We can sure do it again in ’09!

COYB!!!

Brian Williams
3 Posted 08/03/2009 at 20:12:34

The good thing about getting Manure in the semi?s (if there IS one) is that nobody gives us a cat-in-hell's chance and there should therefore be no pressure on us. The form books say we?ll be lucky to get another kick after we kick off but form goes for nothing in one-off knock-out games.

I just intend to enjoy the visit to Wembley, enjoy the weekend away with the lads and pray that we can pull off what everyone has to admit would be a huge upset... just like ruining the Sky Four?s perfect semi line up in the first place...

I just hope Captain Pip has a chance to throw in a tackle on Ronaldo like the one he did against the Boro today coz if he does he?ll snap Ronaldo in half!!!

Chris Marston
4 Posted 08/03/2009 at 20:15:30

The game will take place on the weekend of the 18th April. Agggghhhh!!!!!! I'm in Malaga that day coming back to Blighty after sunning myself for a week.

Is it definitley on on the Saturday or is it on the Sunday? Please be the Sunday!!! I?m sooo proud and don?t wanna miss my beloved Blues stepping out onto that hallowed turf to fuck up the fat Shrek twat! Grrrrrr!!!

Also, how do you reckon a non-season-ticket-holder will be able to get tickets?

Peter Pridgeon
5 Posted 08/03/2009 at 20:14:43

We sure do get the hard draws, yes we can beat them but it won't be easy and playing like we are won't make it any easier.

This is probably the worst-case scenario, Arsenal would have been preferable and Chelsea at a pinch but FFS, Man United ? though if we beat them we don?t have to face them in the final.

Will Leaf
6 Posted 08/03/2009 at 20:21:40

If we can get by Man U and play Chelsea in the final we will have played the entire top 4 teams... that would have to be, at the least, unusual in the annals of the FA Cup.

Lee Rogers
7 Posted 08/03/2009 at 20:29:04

When we beat Manure, that guarantees a place in Europe, does it?

Steve Flaherty
8 Posted 08/03/2009 at 20:11:19

We will be massive underdogs against United at Wembley and that will suit us just fine! This team have shown remarkable spirit throughout this cup run, similar to the spirit of ?95. Despite having a threadbare squad through injury and suspension they have battled through the toughest route to the semis and I think the boys believe they will win this cup now.

I think if Moysey can get it right tactically against United we will beat them. Let's pray that Saha can stay fit, he gives us that touch of class up front and how fitting it would be for him to net the winner against his old club.

Fellaini was a massive improvement today from his last couple of games and showed what he can do when he is fully fit. Bainsey has been a revelation since he got into the team, so assured on the ball. We?ve got to get Jags and Lescott back together in centre defence though and hope Hibbo can return from and show the form that he had being before the injury. Pienaar and Cahill will annoy any team, utd included. Let's believe! COYB!

Paul Lambert
9 Posted 08/03/2009 at 20:46:06

Fellow Blues

Lets not forget that the mighty EFC is the first team in merseyside to reach the new Wembly. (Take that Red Shit and Biased Media...)

PS how are we all getting, just curious.

COYB

Carl Knight
10 Posted 08/03/2009 at 21:05:32

No season ticket but 3 stubs: Liverpool, Villa and today. Anyone know how tickets work? Will I get one with 3 stubs?? How many seats can season tickets holders claim??

Anyone selling theirs??

Please help... COYB

Tim Kells
11 Posted 08/03/2009 at 21:07:25

Let’s hope they can do it again, like 1995. Just looked at the fixtures, we have Villa the weekend before. Man ure play Sunderland, then will be playing in the Champions League (presuming they go through) on the Tuesday or Wednesday and have a game in the Premiership on the Wednesday after. So who knows what side they will put out.

Liz Annable
12 Posted 08/03/2009 at 21:09:32

Great win and I?m looking forward to seeing the blues at Wembley. Though I hope Moyes shows the lads the Man Utd v Newcastle match from last week, as Newcastle showed the rest of the Premier League how to upset Man Utd. Run at them, run at them, run at them.

Ian Doyle
13 Posted 08/03/2009 at 22:24:11

I'm obviously delighted at getting the semi-final, but why play at Wembley? They obviously have to pay for it somehow... why not Cardiff semi and Wembley final.?

Anyone know what happens if the semi is a draw ? replay at Wembley or what????

Clive Lewis
14 Posted 08/03/2009 at 22:25:33

Do we have a striker for this game considering Louis Saha is on Loan?

Ralph Wetzels
15 Posted 08/03/2009 at 22:32:39

Clive, what the hell are you talking about?

Tony Williams
16 Posted 08/03/2009 at 22:34:37

Get back on the ale Clive, this ere internet is doing you no good at all!!

Clive Lewis
17 Posted 08/03/2009 at 22:39:36

There is definitely no gentlemen's agreement between Moyes and Alec Ferguson over Saha for major FA Cup fixtures? He did play in the league game but you never know...

Sean McNally
18 Posted 08/03/2009 at 22:52:45

Clive, are you serious mate?

Saha is OUR player.... surely every Evertonian knows that.....

Phil Roberts
19 Posted 08/03/2009 at 22:53:57

Saha is not a LOAN signing. He signed a 2-year deal at the start of the season.

Come on guys, we should at least know about our own team or are we just always looking for the negative. If Sir Alex tells Davey that Saha can?t play, then he would have to include Pip and Timmy Howard ? and get the hairdryer treatment from our Red Haired Genius. And in return Shrek can?t play for them!

Clive Lewis
20 Posted 08/03/2009 at 23:06:11

Yes, well, that was a fantastic bit of buisiness Moyes did getting Saha signed. I really thought that such a good player must be on some kind of loan deal. Especially when you consider he is only 30.

Antony Matthews
21 Posted 08/03/2009 at 23:30:25

Lee, I think if Arsenal beat Hull then another European place opens up, wether we get to the final or not.... I think. Complicated, isn't it?

James Boden
22 Posted 09/03/2009 at 00:11:33

As everyone, I'm absolutely over the moon. Isn't it fantastic knowing our team is going to Wembley ? hopefully twice. But still it feels great knowing that Everton are back in the semis, incredibly for the 24th time. No-one on the earth will give us a hope in hell so maybe being massive underdogs might do us the power of good. Maybe... just maybe, a one-off game we can beat these. We owe United big time.

If ? and it's a big if ? we beat them, then surely it's got to be our year. Hopefully I'll be at Wembley but if not then good luck to whoever gets a ticket. Oh and one final thing: would anybody be able to tell me when the last time that The Great Liverpool Football Club (Aka The Red Shite) played at Wembley?
COYB FTRS - Why worry about them gobshites? We got to Wembley 1st.
WE?RE GOING TO WEMBELEE, SO TELL ME MA, ME MA.

Tim Wardrop
23 Posted 09/03/2009 at 09:54:10

Antony Matthews - incorrect. A European place is only opened up through the cup for finalists. I.e. if we somehow finish 8th in the league but lose the cup final to someone who has already qualified for Europe then we will go in to the UEFA as cup runners up. If, however, we finish 8th, but go out in the semis then the UEFA place goes to the next league position down (7th, being as Utd won the Carling Cup).

Ian Doyle - come on mate: have you been living in a cave! They got rid of FA Cup semi replays 10 years ago - the last one was Utd v Arsenal with the Giggs wonder goal!

3 stubs, but no STH? You’ve got half a chance I’d say, but you really wanna have some away games in there to be sure!

Patty Beesley
24 Posted 09/03/2009 at 10:05:00

I can?t believe that Wheater got off with man-handling Fellaini so much. For once, the big fella kept his cool.

I would like to say a word about Gareth Southgate... a gentleman in defeat - never moaned, never whined and wished us well.

Tom Edwards
25 Posted 09/03/2009 at 11:20:14

Paul Lambert above-
Good point mate. I had completely forgotten that the RS have not made it to the new Wembley yet. It may only be a semi, but at least we have beaten them to it.

Great 2nd half yesterday. God knows what Moyes and Round must have said to them, but it certainly did the job! More of the same, and I will see you all down there if I can get a ticket!

Alan Clarke
26 Posted 09/03/2009 at 11:52:14

This year doesn?t the Uefa Cup spot got only to the winner otherwise it goes to the next league spot?

That was my understanding. It doesn?t matter anyway cause we?ll finish 4th.

Kevin Jones
27 Posted 09/03/2009 at 13:26:38

Don?t you just love Sky. 7 O?clock Sky Sports News headline. MAN UNITED & CHELSA DRAWN APART IN SEMI?S. So Everton, Arsenal or Hull might as well not turn up. What did Joe Royle say to the media after walloping Spurs in 95 "Bollocks to your dream final, that?s bollocks with two L?s gentleman". Let's do it again. Man U then Chelski in the Final. Bring it on.

COYB

Trevor Powell
28 Posted 09/03/2009 at 08:18:21

How much more watering down of football institutions can we expect: The Europeans Champions league of non-champions? Leagues One and Two instead of Divisions Three and Four? FA Cup Semi-Finals at Wembley?

What next..... all 24 real division two clubs in the promotion play offs?? 160 national teams at the World Cup Finals???

Paul Lally
29 Posted 09/03/2009 at 14:24:43

Basically, if Arsenal win their quarter final against Hull, we can only miss Europe by finishing 8th and losing the semi to the Mancs. If we win the semi and Arsenal get past Hull, we will qualify for Europe, as winners or losers, as we will have to play either Chelski or the Arse in the final and they will have already qualified for Champs League or Uefa. (The winners place in Europe does go to the losers in the FA Cup final unlike the Carling Cup)

If we fail to make the final, the finalists will already have qualified for Champs League or Uefa so the place will drop to 7th. Only by beating Arsenal then Chelski in the semi can Hull stop the above scenario happening.

Anyway, hopefully we can cement our place in Europe ourselves over the next 4 games before the semi. What a season. We have overcome every obstacle put in our way so far. Long may it continue. COYB

Ian Doyle
30 Posted 09/03/2009 at 15:07:28

Of course I knew we stopped replays 10 years ago. I've been praying for a semi for 14 years. It was a just a joke meaning they would probably try to get as much money out of you to pay for Wembley, again and again.