Just got back from singing my bleedin' heart out at the game.
Before the game our usual announcer bloke did his usual description of the opponents. Normally it's "Today we welcome Forest Green Rovers - they're 15th in the Conference having lost two out of their last three". This evening it was "Today we welcome Manchester United, semi-finals of the Carling Cup, through to the knock-out stages of the European Champions League, third in the Premiership and since playing Exeter at Old Trafford secured a 0-0 draw against Chelsea and won 1-0 against Liverpool at Anfield". Everyone knew that of course, but it kinda hit home, and then when the teams were read out there's not much you can say when the names "Giggs, Ronaldo, Scholes, Rooney..." are being read out except "Who???" and "Who are ya, Who are ya?" x100.
First half we looked overawed - we froze a little and were like statues. After their first goal went in it there were a few anxious faces in the Big Bank behind the goal (mine was one of 'em). With the team they put out tonight it could have been a cricket score.
Second half we got at them a bit and rattled them - Fergie had a strop on the touchline after Amps went into a 50-50 with a bit of gusto. Cue chants of "There's only one Arsene Wenger". First 20 minutes of second half we were the better team I thought - certainly had more posession than we did in the first half. Our keeper's kicking was poor on occasions - if it wasn't though then I guess he wouldn't be playing for us for nothing (he's on 'work experience'😉, on loan from Leyton Orient. Last chunk of the game they started peppering our goal - not before we had a goal disallowed for off-side. Couldn't tell from where I was behind the goal that it was scored in but I'm guessing he was well off.
How did it come across on TV? Could you hear us singing? The atmosphere was immense inside the ground. Anyone see our veteran right-back ghost past Ronaldo in the first half? Superb.
City till I die
T1000
Originally posted by T1000lol loving the guy who nutmegged ronaldo..motty commented that he should retire on that lol!we all heard the "who are ya"LMFAO at "there's only one arsene wenger"...i almost started singing along to it. your keeper was actually surprising good...especially that left handed save from a ronaldo shot. rooney was in a class of his own with that goal...
Just got back from singing my bleedin' heart out at the game.
Before the game our usual announcer bloke did his usual description of the opponents. Normally it's "Today we welcome Forest Green Rovers - they're 15th in the Conference having lost two out of their last three". This evening it was "Today we welcome Manchester United, semi-finals of the C ...[text shortened]... our veteran right-back ghost past Ronaldo in the first half? Superb.
City till I die
T1000
fred
Originally posted by T1000Glad you enjoyed your day T1000, you'll be outclassed by Barnet on saturday though
Just got back from singing my bleedin' heart out at the game.
Before the game our usual announcer bloke did his usual description of the opponents. Normally it's "Today we welcome Forest Green Rovers - they're 15th in the Conference having lost two out of their last three". This evening it was "Today we welcome Manchester United, semi-finals of the C ...[text shortened]... our veteran right-back ghost past Ronaldo in the first half? Superb.
City till I die
T1000
Originally posted by T1000Premiership? You're having a larf!
Just got back from singing my bleedin' heart out at the game.
Before the game our usual announcer bloke did his usual description of the opponents. Normally it's "Today we welcome Forest Green Rovers - they're 15th in the Conference having lost two out of their last three". This evening it was "Today we welcome Manchester United, semi-finals of the C ...[text shortened]... our veteran right-back ghost past Ronaldo in the first half? Superb.
City till I die
T1000
United were awesome in the first 30 minutes. After that Exeter gave them a good aul battle. The pitch seemed very soft, highlighted by Howard's hames of an attempt to catch a high cross in the first half. If only Ronaldo could ghost past players like that every match.
I thought it was bad form all the booing of United players that was going on though.
: D
Originally posted by Ragnorak"Bad form" ol' bean? Jolly sorry, what what? Is that not the behaviour prawn sandwich munchers are used to? 😉
Premiership? You're having a larf!
United were awesome in the first 30 minutes. After that Exeter gave them a good aul battle. The pitch seemed very soft, highlighted by Howard's hames of an attempt to catch a high cross in the firs ...[text shortened]... all the booing of United players that was going on though.
: D
Only joking mate - Manchester United have been, on the whole, first class towards us in both matches.
A word about Phil 'Ugly Brother the Second' Neville. Never been, erm, fond of him, but after the tie at Old Trafford in the interview on Match of the Day he said it "would have been a tragedy had we beaten Exeter today". That wasn't him being charitable or patronising or glib - he was being honest. A lot of respect for that. Then at full time today he was the only United player that came over to applaud the home fans behind the goal. He was received with very warm, very sincere applause. Top bloke.
Mind you, after Ugly Brother Number 1 sliced one in to touch I think we were fair in singing "If the Nevilles can play for England so can I" to the tune of she'll be coming round the mountain.
You're right - first 30 minutes, as much as we froze it still takes a class team to do something about it - and the team from a small town near Preston had class in spades. Scholes's distribution was world class. We don't have anybody who can even begin to ping a ball 40 yards cross-field onto someone's toe.
We tried to have two players up against Ronaldo in the opening period but all that happened was that neither got close enough and he ran us ragged. He was much quieter in the second half. John O'Shea's one of the best ball-playing centre-halves I've seen in a while too.
So proud though of the performance by us in both matches. On the ECFC message boards we've had posts from fans from Doncaster, Swansea, Port Vale, Billericay, Cardiff, Stafford Rangers, Wigan and many others all wishing us well.
180 minutes of football and we were knocked out only by a tidy effort from a player that cost £12-£13 million and a quality goal by a player that cost £25 million. Exeter's biggest signing in the last 18 months? A free transfer. So proud.
Good luck in the next round against 'Boro!
Originally posted by invigorateI fear you might be right! Home game against Barnet earlier in the season and we were well and truly tonked 3-0. Our Conference form though recently has been the best in the league, winning five of our last six - including 4-0 at home and 2-1 away against Hereford, as well as a 2-1 win away at Tamworth...one of the teams who I believe beat Barnet just recently...😉
Glad you enjoyed your day T1000, you'll be outclassed by Barnet on saturday though