I think the point made on the quick take and the pod and was evident even from the ridiculous distance from the pitch on Wednesday evening is that their bench was light years ahead of ours. AFCON is not exactly an unknown and should have been planned for, one of the two strikers being injury prone and the other being 34 should have been planned for but we didn’t. I share your frustration Sammy that we have been so near but yet so far with Marco and he will go and do it with another team. They will dick around in January and he will not sign the extension because of it and be gone in the summer; and I for one will not begrudge his leaving. Newcastle were fragile, ready for the taking and we out sung them even after they scored to go into a shock lead out of nowhere “No noise from the Saudi Boys”. But as we faded after Raul was dead on his feet we bring on Reed, Josh and Adama. They bring on Tonali, Gordon and Murphy, and Tonali schooled Josh King while Adama ambled around.
I’m 66 and I’ve seen one cup final. Late father, the same. My grandfather was still around to watch the 75 final too. Since he started going to the Cottage in about 1914 that’s a grand total of easily more than a century of following the Whites for one losing FA Cup final. It must be love. Or madness.
I feel your sentiments but can assure you that getting to Wembley is one thing, winning it is another. I was there in 1975 when we fought our way through many rounds/replays before reaching the FA Cup Final. We had a fantastic seat near the halfway line and felt buzzing with the atmosphere. Mullery, Moore etc strutting their stuff on the Wembley turf felt fantastic.
The truth however, was very disappointing, with our lads not performing as they done throughout the earlier rounds, and were quite easily beaten 2-0 by West Ham (Brooking and all).
It left us in tears at the final whistle and all the way home. Cup Finals are for winners. To get all the way and lose is devastating, specially when you never know if you will live to see another one.
You’re right to question whether it’s healthy to allow the sparkle of silver to feed our envy and create a yearning for the tangible trophy to reward our persistence and passion. But I’d like to put Wednesday’s result aside for a moment to celebrate the Fulhamish team’s work and our passion for our club. I think the thing we appreciate the most about you and your team is the professional, polished, informed, product from a loyal supporter’s perspective. Right or wrong, it’s always honest and perhaps appropriately tempered. We can tell you’re often suppressing your emotions for the sake of the objective analysis we do appreciate, but we also love the un-suppressable views we can all relate to. Thank you for your endeavor as you nearly always seem to get it just right. So, well done to the team and stay positive good man - perhaps not about our chances this year, or next, or the one after that. Coveting the desired outcome is not the way. If it were then we’d all be plastics like that lot down the lane yammering on about how much we’ve won and remaining abjectly hollow inside. Admiring the collaborative beauty of football at the highest level and reaping joy from the shared passion for our club - this is the way. If we do win one, when it happens, it will have all been worth it. If we don’t may we truly relish the journey.
I think the point made on the quick take and the pod and was evident even from the ridiculous distance from the pitch on Wednesday evening is that their bench was light years ahead of ours. AFCON is not exactly an unknown and should have been planned for, one of the two strikers being injury prone and the other being 34 should have been planned for but we didn’t. I share your frustration Sammy that we have been so near but yet so far with Marco and he will go and do it with another team. They will dick around in January and he will not sign the extension because of it and be gone in the summer; and I for one will not begrudge his leaving. Newcastle were fragile, ready for the taking and we out sung them even after they scored to go into a shock lead out of nowhere “No noise from the Saudi Boys”. But as we faded after Raul was dead on his feet we bring on Reed, Josh and Adama. They bring on Tonali, Gordon and Murphy, and Tonali schooled Josh King while Adama ambled around.
I’m 66 and I’ve seen one cup final. Late father, the same. My grandfather was still around to watch the 75 final too. Since he started going to the Cottage in about 1914 that’s a grand total of easily more than a century of following the Whites for one losing FA Cup final. It must be love. Or madness.
I feel your sentiments but can assure you that getting to Wembley is one thing, winning it is another. I was there in 1975 when we fought our way through many rounds/replays before reaching the FA Cup Final. We had a fantastic seat near the halfway line and felt buzzing with the atmosphere. Mullery, Moore etc strutting their stuff on the Wembley turf felt fantastic.
The truth however, was very disappointing, with our lads not performing as they done throughout the earlier rounds, and were quite easily beaten 2-0 by West Ham (Brooking and all).
It left us in tears at the final whistle and all the way home. Cup Finals are for winners. To get all the way and lose is devastating, specially when you never know if you will live to see another one.
Dear Sammy,
You’re right to question whether it’s healthy to allow the sparkle of silver to feed our envy and create a yearning for the tangible trophy to reward our persistence and passion. But I’d like to put Wednesday’s result aside for a moment to celebrate the Fulhamish team’s work and our passion for our club. I think the thing we appreciate the most about you and your team is the professional, polished, informed, product from a loyal supporter’s perspective. Right or wrong, it’s always honest and perhaps appropriately tempered. We can tell you’re often suppressing your emotions for the sake of the objective analysis we do appreciate, but we also love the un-suppressable views we can all relate to. Thank you for your endeavor as you nearly always seem to get it just right. So, well done to the team and stay positive good man - perhaps not about our chances this year, or next, or the one after that. Coveting the desired outcome is not the way. If it were then we’d all be plastics like that lot down the lane yammering on about how much we’ve won and remaining abjectly hollow inside. Admiring the collaborative beauty of football at the highest level and reaping joy from the shared passion for our club - this is the way. If we do win one, when it happens, it will have all been worth it. If we don’t may we truly relish the journey.
-Cheers & COYW