Sunday, May 14, 2006
So many emotions...
I honestly don't know where to start. An incredible, unforgettable night, one of the great finals in history, and I'm bursting with pride of the boys in claret & blue... But at the same time absolutely gutted to lose on penalties.
We were heading for a glorious victory as the clock ticked down. We (in the pub) had just finished a song - honestly, I can't recall what it was for certain but I think it was "Bubbles" - a moment of silence followed, and then Gerrard scored his cracking equaliser. You can't buy that sort of thing. Gerrard is the model professional and a true club player, few of whom any club can boast, but West Ham and Liverpool both can point out a number of greats in their illustrious history. If anyone was going to score in the 90th minute to deny West Ham their glory, then I'm glad it was Steven Gerrard.
To see so many players (on both sides) go down with cramp or injury, and especially to see Marlon Harewood attempt to shoot at goal with his injured foot, was gut-wrenching.
That save by Reina is indelibly etched into my memory as the moment when West Ham United came within a hair's breadth of lifting the FA Cup at the finale of a fantastic season.
Our goals may be partially attributed to luck, but West Ham showed the sort of guts and honour worthy of the scoreline. A proud day, indeed.
As for our little gathering at midnight in Brisbane, the atmosphere was incredible. The Liverpool fans showed up in droves and I think outnumbered the Hammers, but not by much. They sang well, and we matched them. There were moments when the hair stood up on the back of my neck as the fans sang "Come on you Irons" - the determination and love for the club that the fans showed was second to none. And the mood between both opposing sets of fans was that of friendly rivalry and good sportsmanship. Both sets of fans were superb. It was a fabulous, unforgettable night, despite the result.
I still don't really know what to think of it - gutted, but proud, I guess to sum it up.
Congratulations to Liverpool and their amazing fans.
Thank you so much to Alan Pardew, all the players, and all the West Ham United fans who have made this season such a great one.
Let's do it again.
We were heading for a glorious victory as the clock ticked down. We (in the pub) had just finished a song - honestly, I can't recall what it was for certain but I think it was "Bubbles" - a moment of silence followed, and then Gerrard scored his cracking equaliser. You can't buy that sort of thing. Gerrard is the model professional and a true club player, few of whom any club can boast, but West Ham and Liverpool both can point out a number of greats in their illustrious history. If anyone was going to score in the 90th minute to deny West Ham their glory, then I'm glad it was Steven Gerrard.
To see so many players (on both sides) go down with cramp or injury, and especially to see Marlon Harewood attempt to shoot at goal with his injured foot, was gut-wrenching.
That save by Reina is indelibly etched into my memory as the moment when West Ham United came within a hair's breadth of lifting the FA Cup at the finale of a fantastic season.
Our goals may be partially attributed to luck, but West Ham showed the sort of guts and honour worthy of the scoreline. A proud day, indeed.
As for our little gathering at midnight in Brisbane, the atmosphere was incredible. The Liverpool fans showed up in droves and I think outnumbered the Hammers, but not by much. They sang well, and we matched them. There were moments when the hair stood up on the back of my neck as the fans sang "Come on you Irons" - the determination and love for the club that the fans showed was second to none. And the mood between both opposing sets of fans was that of friendly rivalry and good sportsmanship. Both sets of fans were superb. It was a fabulous, unforgettable night, despite the result.
I still don't really know what to think of it - gutted, but proud, I guess to sum it up.
Congratulations to Liverpool and their amazing fans.
Thank you so much to Alan Pardew, all the players, and all the West Ham United fans who have made this season such a great one.
Let's do it again.
Posted by whubris at 11:18 am
whubris said...
This is a good article. Final recalls Cup's magic days
I'll post player ratings later.
said...
Your right full-back, Scaloni, was appalling. He looked like an amateur plucked from the second division and was directly responsible for the first (ball watching) and third (couldn’t clear it properly and Gerrard hit a cracker) goals. Also, nearly all of West Ham’s corners and set piece deliveries were shit. Still, they were brave, played some cavalier football and really just went for it, unlike Arsenal last year. Gerrard’s first was a typical Gerrard goal – the result of ball watching again.
There was plenty to be pleased with and they will be better for the experience. Next year should be even better.
And thank God Middlesbrough didn’t make the final.
Allan.
(Liverpool - jammy fcuking bastards)
beggers said...
What a game, felt sick watching the last 20mins , was so nervous. We had it, we had it. We were not beaten in 120 mins of football, on the contrary I think their keeper was busier than ours. Penalties, well!!! Can anybody say were we truly beaten, don't think so. Shed a tear, couldn't believe we lost it in the 92min and still can't but what can you do. After a display like that I reckon other clubs will be circling for some of our lads.
Anyway it was a great game, truly superb.
whubris, any trouble at the Pig?
said...
Good to catch up with you Dave and lead the singing. We were unlucky. Their keeper was moving off the line for the penalties and should have been pulled up.
As for the mickey's post here, which game were you watching? West Ham were the better side and that's what I'll take away from the game. Up until the penalties, at no stage in teh game were you winning.
As for the average Liverpool fan here in Brisbane, most of them seem to be people that jumped on the red bandwagon in the 80s. Most West Ham fans here seem to be ex poms who actually used to go to games when they lived in London.
Brisbane Hammer
whubris said...
beggers, no, no trouble at the p&w that I'm aware of, although there was a couple of dickheads (among both sets of supporters). The Scousers expressed their commiserations genuinely and without being patronising. A good night, except the result of course, which as Dave said is quite sickening.
London Hammer.... well said.
whubris said...
Am I the only one who thinks NRC should have taken that last penalty? I thought that as a captain it should be up to him to shoulder the responsibility, unless there was some good reason why he couldn't take it.
beggers said...
Gald there was no trouble, no need for it.
NRC taking a penalty, probably but, to me, it really didn't matter we were never gonna win a shootout. Reina is a penalty specialist and they had loads of internationals with heaps of big game experience who can all score. We had Teddy, then a bunch of young lads who had the weight of the world on their shoulders. Couldn't imagine stepping up to take a penalty in an FA Cup final, sphincter would be well and truly puckered.
I mentioned other clubs circling after our performance, I see on the KUMB site that Liverpool apparently are interested in Yossi. And didn't that boy have a monster game, he was frightning! Peter Crouch looks like he's England hope, you're having a laugh! You would never now he even played. He will always be a very average striker. Now Ashton and Harewood! Bet Sven's giving himself an uppercut as we speak. If he isn't I'd gladly do it for him.
said...
joke from a GU article.
"If the Scousers had lost like that, they would already have opened a book of condolence."
said...
West Ham were brilliant - but man we were unlucky. *sobs*
I'm so proud of my team and Alan Pardew.
Off topic, is it just me, or is Alan Pardew the best looking man in the world??
said...
Its moments like these that makes you mighty proud to be a Hammer Fan.
WestHam showed on Saturday what I hold dear to my heart in life, Passion commitment and respect.
Come on You Hammers
whubris said...
Player ratings: I haven't watched it again yet but from memory...
Shaka Hislop 7 not much to do, possibly could have gotten to the third but you could hardly blame him.
Paul Konchesky 7 Excellent, balanced play.
Danny Gabbidon 8 Superb.
Anton Ferdinand 7 Very good. Gutted for him.
Lionel Scaloni 7 Solid.
Yossi Benayoun 8 Creative.
Matty Etherington 7 Excellent.
Nigel Reo-Coker 8 Worked hard.
Marlon Harewood 7 Unlucky.
Dean Ashton 8 Influential.
Carl Fletcher 7 Reliable.
Christian Dailly 7 Good.
Bobby Zamora 8 Went on a brilliant run that nearly ended in a penalty.
Teddy Sheringham 7 Good.
whubris said...
The Mirror
15 May 2006
BEATEN ONLY ON PENALTIES, DON'T EVER SAY THESE HEROIC HAMMERS ARE JUST LOSERS
THE GERRARD FINAL 2006
Oliver Holt
SINCE his missed penalty was West Ham's final contribution to an FA Cup Final that was one for the ages, let's start with Anton Ferdinand.
Anton Ferdinand, who booted the ball away in disgust when Pepe Reina saved it and then sank to his knees in despair in front of his own fans.
A man who epitomised the tenacity and the brilliance of West Ham on Saturday, a defender who made one superb intervention after another to deny Liverpool.
A player who thwarted Fernando Morientes with a last-ditch tackle late in the game when so many of his team-mates had already succumbed to fatigue.
And more than all that, a player who has fought to emerge from the shadow of a lavishly gifted elder brother.
On Saturday, he achieved that. On Saturday, he was not a loser.
Then there was Yossi Benayoun. How good was he in the 125th Final? One dummy he sold Xabi Alonso will live long in the memory.
He held everything together in midfield. He ran the game for West Ham. In his own way, he was a match for the superhuman Steven Gerrard.
On Saturday, he was not a loser. And how about Lionel Scaloni. I heard West Ham fans groan when they saw his name on the teamsheet. But he was an inspiration.
His run for the first goal was beautifully timed, his cross so venomous and well placed that Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher tripped over it and diverted it into his own net.
Later in the first half, Scaloni produced a cruncher of a tackle on Gerrard. He was a constant danger on the overlap. On Saturday, he played better than I've seen him play before. He was not a loser.
Paul Konchesky was a dynamo at left-back. And he came within a couple of minutes of winning the Final for his club.
His goal may have been meant as a cross but he deserved that moment. After an early foul on Gerrard, he didn't put a foot wrong.
He is a player who has grown up very, very quickly since he left Charlton.
He was not a loser at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Dean Ashton played like a striker who should have been in Sven Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad.
Even though he wasn't fully fit, he was the best striker on the pitch. His pass to release Scaloni for the first goal was sublime.
He was intuitive enough and brave enough to suggest he can become as influential a player as Teddy Sheringham once was. Ashton was not a loser on Saturday.
Matthew Etherington was carrying an injury, too, but you would not have known it. He was a constant threat on the left.
He eluded three Liverpool defenders to set up the second West Ham goal for Ashton. He's unlucky not to be going to Germany, too. He was not a loser on Saturday.
On a day when many men ran themselves into the ground, Nigel Reo-Coker ran further and worked harder than any of them. He was absolutely magnificent in the heart of Alan Pardew's team.
No wonder he's club captain at 21. He's a player and a man to be admired. He was not a loser on Saturday.
Then there was Marlon Harewood, heroic in his attempt to defy the pain from a foot injury that hobbled him in extra-time.
He was a hell of a handful on Saturday afternoon. He made Carragher look uncomfortable. It takes a world-class centre-forward to do that these days.
There was no shame for him in missing a late, late chance, slicing it wide with his left foot. It was a wonder he was still standing. He was not a loser on Saturday.
Danny Gabbidon was cool and meticulous at the back. He was defiant to the end. He was not a loser. Carl Fletcher did his utmost to contain Gerrard, Teddy Sheringham scored his penalty in the shoot-out and did all he could to rally the troops for one last effort.
As for Shaka Hislop, there was nothing any goalkeeper could have done to stop any of the three goals that whistled past him. None of them were losers on Saturday.
There are two final citations, too. Roy Carroll, the goalkeeper who missed out through injury, raced on to the pitch in his suit and dragged Ferdinand to his feet.
It was an act of compassion and camaraderie that said everything about the spirit Pardew has built at Upton Park.
And last of all, there was Pardew himself. The West Ham boss must have been bitterly disappointed but he hid it beautifully.
He did not cast around for people to blame.
He did not criticise the referee or attack any of the Liverpool players.
He just said it had been a great Final and that he was proud of his team for the part they had played in it.
His dignity in that moment and the heroic performance he had brought from his team suggested he is a manager destined for big things.
I hope none of them, manager or players, discard their losers' medals from the 125th FA Cup Final.
On this occasion, those shining pieces of metal were not mementoes of failure but tributes to the spirit of men who reminded us of something we thought we had lost.
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whubris said...This is a good article. Final recalls Cup's magic days
I'll post player ratings later.
said...Your right full-back, Scaloni, was appalling. He looked like an amateur plucked from the second division and was directly responsible for the first (ball watching) and third (couldn’t clear it properly and Gerrard hit a cracker) goals. Also, nearly all of West Ham’s corners and set piece deliveries were shit. Still, they were brave, played some cavalier football and really just went for it, unlike Arsenal last year. Gerrard’s first was a typical Gerrard goal – the result of ball watching again.
There was plenty to be pleased with and they will be better for the experience. Next year should be even better.
And thank God Middlesbrough didn’t make the final.
Allan.
(Liverpool - jammy fcuking bastards)
beggers said...What a game, felt sick watching the last 20mins , was so nervous. We had it, we had it. We were not beaten in 120 mins of football, on the contrary I think their keeper was busier than ours. Penalties, well!!! Can anybody say were we truly beaten, don't think so. Shed a tear, couldn't believe we lost it in the 92min and still can't but what can you do. After a display like that I reckon other clubs will be circling for some of our lads.
Anyway it was a great game, truly superb.
whubris, any trouble at the Pig?
said...Good to catch up with you Dave and lead the singing. We were unlucky. Their keeper was moving off the line for the penalties and should have been pulled up.
As for the mickey's post here, which game were you watching? West Ham were the better side and that's what I'll take away from the game. Up until the penalties, at no stage in teh game were you winning.
As for the average Liverpool fan here in Brisbane, most of them seem to be people that jumped on the red bandwagon in the 80s. Most West Ham fans here seem to be ex poms who actually used to go to games when they lived in London.
Brisbane Hammer
whubris said...beggers, no, no trouble at the p&w that I'm aware of, although there was a couple of dickheads (among both sets of supporters). The Scousers expressed their commiserations genuinely and without being patronising. A good night, except the result of course, which as Dave said is quite sickening.
London Hammer.... well said.
whubris said...Am I the only one who thinks NRC should have taken that last penalty? I thought that as a captain it should be up to him to shoulder the responsibility, unless there was some good reason why he couldn't take it.
beggers said...Gald there was no trouble, no need for it.
NRC taking a penalty, probably but, to me, it really didn't matter we were never gonna win a shootout. Reina is a penalty specialist and they had loads of internationals with heaps of big game experience who can all score. We had Teddy, then a bunch of young lads who had the weight of the world on their shoulders. Couldn't imagine stepping up to take a penalty in an FA Cup final, sphincter would be well and truly puckered.
I mentioned other clubs circling after our performance, I see on the KUMB site that Liverpool apparently are interested in Yossi. And didn't that boy have a monster game, he was frightning! Peter Crouch looks like he's England hope, you're having a laugh! You would never now he even played. He will always be a very average striker. Now Ashton and Harewood! Bet Sven's giving himself an uppercut as we speak. If he isn't I'd gladly do it for him.
said...joke from a GU article.
"If the Scousers had lost like that, they would already have opened a book of condolence."
said...West Ham were brilliant - but man we were unlucky. *sobs*
I'm so proud of my team and Alan Pardew.
Off topic, is it just me, or is Alan Pardew the best looking man in the world??
said...Its moments like these that makes you mighty proud to be a Hammer Fan.
WestHam showed on Saturday what I hold dear to my heart in life, Passion commitment and respect.
Come on You Hammers
whubris said...Player ratings: I haven't watched it again yet but from memory...
Shaka Hislop 7 not much to do, possibly could have gotten to the third but you could hardly blame him.
Paul Konchesky 7 Excellent, balanced play.
Danny Gabbidon 8 Superb.
Anton Ferdinand 7 Very good. Gutted for him.
Lionel Scaloni 7 Solid.
Yossi Benayoun 8 Creative.
Matty Etherington 7 Excellent.
Nigel Reo-Coker 8 Worked hard.
Marlon Harewood 7 Unlucky.
Dean Ashton 8 Influential.
Carl Fletcher 7 Reliable.
Christian Dailly 7 Good.
Bobby Zamora 8 Went on a brilliant run that nearly ended in a penalty.
Teddy Sheringham 7 Good.
whubris said...The Mirror
15 May 2006
BEATEN ONLY ON PENALTIES, DON'T EVER SAY THESE HEROIC HAMMERS ARE JUST LOSERS
THE GERRARD FINAL 2006
Oliver Holt
SINCE his missed penalty was West Ham's final contribution to an FA Cup Final that was one for the ages, let's start with Anton Ferdinand.
Anton Ferdinand, who booted the ball away in disgust when Pepe Reina saved it and then sank to his knees in despair in front of his own fans.
A man who epitomised the tenacity and the brilliance of West Ham on Saturday, a defender who made one superb intervention after another to deny Liverpool.
A player who thwarted Fernando Morientes with a last-ditch tackle late in the game when so many of his team-mates had already succumbed to fatigue.
And more than all that, a player who has fought to emerge from the shadow of a lavishly gifted elder brother.
On Saturday, he achieved that. On Saturday, he was not a loser.
Then there was Yossi Benayoun. How good was he in the 125th Final? One dummy he sold Xabi Alonso will live long in the memory.
He held everything together in midfield. He ran the game for West Ham. In his own way, he was a match for the superhuman Steven Gerrard.
On Saturday, he was not a loser. And how about Lionel Scaloni. I heard West Ham fans groan when they saw his name on the teamsheet. But he was an inspiration.
His run for the first goal was beautifully timed, his cross so venomous and well placed that Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher tripped over it and diverted it into his own net.
Later in the first half, Scaloni produced a cruncher of a tackle on Gerrard. He was a constant danger on the overlap. On Saturday, he played better than I've seen him play before. He was not a loser.
Paul Konchesky was a dynamo at left-back. And he came within a couple of minutes of winning the Final for his club.
His goal may have been meant as a cross but he deserved that moment. After an early foul on Gerrard, he didn't put a foot wrong.
He is a player who has grown up very, very quickly since he left Charlton.
He was not a loser at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Dean Ashton played like a striker who should have been in Sven Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad.
Even though he wasn't fully fit, he was the best striker on the pitch. His pass to release Scaloni for the first goal was sublime.
He was intuitive enough and brave enough to suggest he can become as influential a player as Teddy Sheringham once was. Ashton was not a loser on Saturday.
Matthew Etherington was carrying an injury, too, but you would not have known it. He was a constant threat on the left.
He eluded three Liverpool defenders to set up the second West Ham goal for Ashton. He's unlucky not to be going to Germany, too. He was not a loser on Saturday.
On a day when many men ran themselves into the ground, Nigel Reo-Coker ran further and worked harder than any of them. He was absolutely magnificent in the heart of Alan Pardew's team.
No wonder he's club captain at 21. He's a player and a man to be admired. He was not a loser on Saturday.
Then there was Marlon Harewood, heroic in his attempt to defy the pain from a foot injury that hobbled him in extra-time.
He was a hell of a handful on Saturday afternoon. He made Carragher look uncomfortable. It takes a world-class centre-forward to do that these days.
There was no shame for him in missing a late, late chance, slicing it wide with his left foot. It was a wonder he was still standing. He was not a loser on Saturday.
Danny Gabbidon was cool and meticulous at the back. He was defiant to the end. He was not a loser. Carl Fletcher did his utmost to contain Gerrard, Teddy Sheringham scored his penalty in the shoot-out and did all he could to rally the troops for one last effort.
As for Shaka Hislop, there was nothing any goalkeeper could have done to stop any of the three goals that whistled past him. None of them were losers on Saturday.
There are two final citations, too. Roy Carroll, the goalkeeper who missed out through injury, raced on to the pitch in his suit and dragged Ferdinand to his feet.
It was an act of compassion and camaraderie that said everything about the spirit Pardew has built at Upton Park.
And last of all, there was Pardew himself. The West Ham boss must have been bitterly disappointed but he hid it beautifully.
He did not cast around for people to blame.
He did not criticise the referee or attack any of the Liverpool players.
He just said it had been a great Final and that he was proud of his team for the part they had played in it.
His dignity in that moment and the heroic performance he had brought from his team suggested he is a manager destined for big things.
I hope none of them, manager or players, discard their losers' medals from the 125th FA Cup Final.
On this occasion, those shining pieces of metal were not mementoes of failure but tributes to the spirit of men who reminded us of something we thought we had lost.
