Cam

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"Ballack wants to finish his career at Chelsea" That's 3 then, after Johnson and SWP.

Heskey did very very rarely show glimpses of what he could be. Saying he was outstanding for 18 months is hyperbole - he was a little more consistent during that spell, he did play "okay" more often. But it's much like the hype surrounding Kewell & Crouch this season. Harry & Peter had okay seasons, that's it. It really should be the bare minimum, not greeted as footballing genius. Not "if they can give just a little more we'll be Champs" but "is this the best level they can consistently achieve?". Heskey left us with some memories, true. But the fact that we can name them all (or "the Roma game" as it's called) sums his time here up. A legend? For a handful of games! No fecking way. But in all fairness... if Meijer, Camara & Biscan can be considered cult heroes.... He was a moping, soft lump most of the time. Yes, I know he often played with injuries and they'd take their toll. Yes, GH is to blame for that. But he'd still lump around much of the time if given the option. When he's retired I've no doubt he'll spend his days sat on the couch watching daytime telly and balloon to 25 stone. As for Pennant.... as a player I'd prefer him over SWP. But he seems the worst kind of Soccer Superstar. The Honorary President of the new breed of players - party, spend on bling, girls, days on the playstation, and (crucially) see his agent as some sort of guru. The docu with him showed how he sees Andrew as his personal manager, turning to him rather than listen to the manager of the football club. I don't want a "Sky honey, Rafa wants me to play left-mid. What do you think?".

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But think back a year - no way would we let Nunez go without Simao being signed up.....

Any legal and constitutional experts on the board? What would be Gerrard's legal situation if the cup's lid had fallen on Wills and killed him? More to the point - where would the country be now, back to the days of cavemen, no rules & laws, everyone living wild? Should our captain be charged with plotting to murder the King? Or sumfink.

One's an over-rated, self-centred egomaniac intent on screwing a huge pay rise out of his club with a threat to leave. The other is.... erm....

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He was telling Wenger to tell Almudia to kick the ball quicker, get it up to him faster. I thought "you tell him, you're the fecking captain!". He also says he's "going to start thinking tonight" about whether to stay or leave. I'm sure every Arsenal fan will think that's kind of him, it's not like it's rumbled on for months.

Noooooo!!!!!! He's my choice for playing up front next season - him and a new centre-forward. Suffered a touch of 'difficult second album syndrome' this season but is the only forward with speed AND intelligence. A goalscorer on the big occasion. We have problems to address in the team but if Rafa thinks he's one of them and keeps some of the more obvious ones again I'll.... I'll.... I'll be very miffed or something.

Piccies!

Garcia seemed to take the one Wills offered him....

Penalties are the very soul of football - Man, Ball, Keeper. You can't get more basic than that, it takes the games back to a simpler age everyone can identify with - playing the game with your brother against the garage. UEFA has talked off it not being fair - nonsense. What's next - both teams win and share the cup?

I hadn't considered it. Could be a major boost to the start of the season, get us off to a flyer for once. Sheva, Tevez & Ballack versus Bent, Bellamy & Pennant.* *Note: The Anti-mockers pessimism worked well today, just getting it in early for August.

Another awful performance from him today. I tried the Radio 5 coverage on interactive but the combination of dull Chris Waddle and very little crowd noise made me switch back. The Beeb ought to show it's got bo11ocks and dump the fella, bringing in Pearce or Green.

I'm slightly down from it. I was just so tense, nervous, angry and shattered from it all. I couldn't enjoy the end at all. Watching the montage at the end of the Beeb's coverage helped a little and seeing the reports on Sky constantly is making me relax and appreciate it all. I can't even understand how people are saying it's the great Final for 50 years - I thought it was an awful game. Clean and tremendous dedication & commitment by both sets of players, well reffed, players dead on their feet, plus the chance of an upset and a dogged determination to come back - but an awful game. Tecnhnically and in terms of enjoyability. Or am I just a miserable fecker? I think alcohol and MotD is what I need.

During the celebrations, in the run to Reina, Riise stopped and turned round when almost there. But 1 angle shows a player taking 3 steps then turning away and running off at some mad angle. Any clues to who it was? 'Cos if it's Carra (again!) then there's clearly something wrong with his sense of direction.

http://www.legendarytv.com/the_a-team/wall...oup_1_thumb.jpg

At 89 minutes I was preparing a Devil's Advocate-type thread regarding his records in Finals: Played 4, lost 3, fluked 1 with ineptitude dressed-up as tactical genius. I suppose I'm willing to let him have another year.

Feck, Radio 5 Online have pulled their coverage. Off to the telly.... please tell me Wright's finished his stint.

Lesley Garrett with Abide With Me. Would you?

Waddle (yawn) says Etherington looks like he's struggling with his leg but Alonso looks very fit.

YNWA just played in the stadium. A bit early but methinks there'll be a impromptu, unofficial reprise just before kick-off.

Warnock won't be happy. Hislop Scaloni Ferdinand Gabbidon Konchesky Banayoun Reo-Coker Fletcher Etherington Harewood Ashton