The Mail Bag
Semi Final : Manc's Due A Defeat ?
Comments (11)
I was looking up on our recent FA Cup Semi-Finals record and thought. "Oh no, we're due a defeat, we have not lost one since 1980 (1-2 to West Ham at Elland Road) and have won the last 5 in a row:
1984 won 1-0 v Southampton 1985 won 2-1 v Luton Town 1986 won 2-1 v Sheff Wed 1989 won 1-0 v Norwich City 1995 won 4-1 v TottenhamNow I know most of you are aware of Alex Ferguson's unbeaten record in domestic cup semi-finals, but thought I would dig a bit deeper, and the results are quite remarkable. Man Utd have not lost an FA Cup semi-final for 39 years since they lost to Leeds Utd 0-1 in a 2nd replay in 1970. In total, they have played 13 semi-final ties since, and are unbeaten in a staggering 19 matches which includes 6 replays:
1976 won 1-0 v Derby County 1977 won 2-1 v Leeds Utd 1979 won 2-1 v Liverpool (rep) 1983 won 2-1 v Arsenal 1985 won 2-1 v Liverpool (rep) 1990 won 2-1 v Oldham (rep) 1994 won 4-1 v Oldham ( rep) 1995 won 2-0 v Crystal Pal (rep) 1996 won 2-1 v Chelsea 1999 won 2-1 v Arsenal (rep) 2004 won 1-0 v Arsenal 2005 won 4-1 v Newcastle Utd 2007 won 4-1 v WatfordI Hope these stats don't worry you fellow blues too much. Look on the bright side... I think it's the Mancs who are due ? or should I say overdue a defeat in a FA Cup Semi Final, and not us!
See you at Wembley.
David Lawless, Posted 31/03/2009 at 21:54:38
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If Fulham can turn them over there is absolutely no reason we should approach this game defensively. Go at them from the off as Paul says and let's see what happens. If we give them space and time they will be getting fitted for their Cup final suits at half time. This is Moyes's chance to go gung ho and seek glory through adventure, if it doesn't work at least we will have faced up and gone for it. COYB.
Chris, I know what you’re saying but I can’t help feeling there’s a contradiction in there.
You say: "If we give them space and time they will be getting fitted for their Cup final suits at half time".
But you also say: "This is Moyes chance to go gung ho and seek glory through adventure."
In my opinion, going gung ho is exactly how we’ll give Utd the space and time you talk about.
Personally, I have no problem with Moyes employing the kind of tactics that allowed us to control the Liverpool FA Cup tie. There’s no need to go gung ho to beat Utd.
You say: "If we give them space and time they will be getting fitted for their Cup final suits at half time".
But you also say: "This is Moyes chance to go gung ho and seek glory through adventure."
In my opinion, going gung ho is exactly how we’ll give Utd the space and time you talk about.
Personally, I have no problem with Moyes employing the kind of tactics that allowed us to control the Liverpool FA Cup tie. There’s no need to go gung ho to beat Utd.
Brian, I take your point however I would rather we pressured them up the park rather than let them come on to us and hope we dont let one in. We can only speculate how Moyes will approach this one and given his past history I’m sure he will take your suggested approach, i just hope we dont go out without a fight, if we do go out that is!
Where we?ve always struggled, and where we actually improved during the second half at GP was in the race to the second ball.
We always seem to back off against the ?big 4? and when the ball goes loose, we would traditionally look to cover rather than compete for it. We changed that in the second half at GP, we competed for the second ball and for the loose ball, and added to a little more bite in the tackle (thanks for that abiding memory, young Philip!) we had them well and truly rattled and were unlucky not to take all 3 points.
It doesn?t necessarily matter what formation we play, or even how far up the pitch we play, as long as we compete. The one thing the last couple of weeks (and the second half at GP) has confirmed is "they don?t like it up ?em". If you compete physically with this current Man Utd team, they get flustered and make mistakes.
We CAN do it, but I don?t know if we will.
We always seem to back off against the ?big 4? and when the ball goes loose, we would traditionally look to cover rather than compete for it. We changed that in the second half at GP, we competed for the second ball and for the loose ball, and added to a little more bite in the tackle (thanks for that abiding memory, young Philip!) we had them well and truly rattled and were unlucky not to take all 3 points.
It doesn?t necessarily matter what formation we play, or even how far up the pitch we play, as long as we compete. The one thing the last couple of weeks (and the second half at GP) has confirmed is "they don?t like it up ?em". If you compete physically with this current Man Utd team, they get flustered and make mistakes.
We CAN do it, but I don?t know if we will.
Oh please not let's have every man and his dog coming on to the site, with how Moyes should approach the semi. We have two tough league games before our trip to Wembley. Lets get them out the way first. And let Moysie get on with his job as he knows best.
Er Norman isnt this what open forums are designed for? How long has it been since our last FA Cup semi?? Allow us mere mortals to enjoy our time in the sun mate.
Ok then lets shut down the site Norman shall we?
Why the hell not discuss it? We have two big games first yes - but are we the players or manager? No!! It not like we have to keep our focus - we are the fans. Big games like this are the best bit of supporting football FFS.
Stop telling people what do do!!
Why the hell not discuss it? We have two big games first yes - but are we the players or manager? No!! It not like we have to keep our focus - we are the fans. Big games like this are the best bit of supporting football FFS.
Stop telling people what do do!!
Ok, Chris & Seamus, point taken, as long as the dogs dont have their say.
I was already aware that Everton have not tasted defeat at this stage since Devonshire and Lampard proved the difference on that night in Leeds some 29 years ago now, just a month after the departure of one William Ralph Dean.
I was in Birmingham in 1989 for the Norwich game, but as news filtered through from Sheffield, the result became somewhat irrelevant. It was only that it was an all-Merseyside final that it went ahead.
I was in Birmingham in 1989 for the Norwich game, but as news filtered through from Sheffield, the result became somewhat irrelevant. It was only that it was an all-Merseyside final that it went ahead.
I was just wondering to myself why the Mighty Blues don't have a themed FA Cup song ? like we did when we won the cup? I think 'I get knocked down and i get up again' by Chumbawamba would be a good one. COYB... tonk them Mancs.
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1 Posted 01/04/2009 at 10:53:37
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