Only two hours before kickoff, so I thought I'd start a thread since there are quite a few fans of both squads here. The last chance for either team to win a trophy and United have already beaten Arsenal three times this season. To watch the match online there are a few links here: http://www.football4less.com/internet-schedule.php?weekday=%F9%E1%FA
A couple of questions from a non-soccer fan. So is this final like the Superbowl of Soccer or is it just a smaller regional final. And are these two teams like the Yankees/Red Sox or something, because along with Real Madrid, these are these teams are the only ones that I keep hearing about.
The Super Bowl of soccer would be the Champion's League final, which is a competition that involves the best club teams from throughout Europe. The FA Cup is a nine round tournament in which every professional team in England compete, despite what division they play (thing how baseball has the majors, AAA etc). Arsenal and Manchester United have been the Yankees/Red Sox of the English football until this season in which Chelsea blew them both out of the water, thanks to one of the richest men in the world buying them and spending close to $400 million on players the last two seasons.
Even Arsenal's manager pretty much admitted they didn't deserve it, however. Quite frankly, I thought Arsenal would win this game. Man Utd just make too many r****ded mistakes. But what actually happened was completely unexpected...probably by everyone. Arsenal failed to muster a single shot on target for all of regular time. Man Utd managed quite a few, hitting the post a couple of times, and forcing Lehman (a ****ty keeper, normally) into a # of great saves. Soccer's like that. The table seldom lies at the end of the season...but in any single game...the better team doesn't always win. Man Utd kicked the living crap out of Arsenal...and lost. If Lehman's leaving Arsenal, that's a great way to go out. If Ferguson is leaving Man Utd, I feel bad for the guy. He should have retired years ago...but what a crappy way to lose...after your team completely roasts the opposition but still manages to lose.
No way, World Cup is of much greater importance. Happens only once every 4 years and involves every country in the world. Super Bowl, on the other hand, is every year (right?).
World Cup...or CL. And the FA Cup isn't really even similar to the Super Bowl, because it's not the championship. It's a glorified exhibition match, especially ever since Man Utd pulled out of it in 2000 to participate in the World Club Championship instead. Still a fun game. Didn't feel like spending the $25 bucks to watch it on pay per view, though, which I would on the super bowl...or another real championship.
How can these two teams be like the Yankees/Red Sox or even "something"? They don't play baseball. C'mon, now, get up to date on your sports, Mr. m_cable, these are teams that play soccer!!!! sheesh... but seriously, folks, we futbol (soccer for you Americans) fans like to call the FIFA World Cup championship the Super Bowl. You know what, the ENTIRE World Cup is the whole Super Bowl. I piss on the Super Bowl... filled with commercials and what not.
Arsenal kept a clean sheet so I'm not sure what's so bad about that. Absent their world class striker they went a little more conservative, certainly not what we're used to, but they provided a gutsy performance that ultimately brought the Cup back to Highbury. From what I recall Van Nistelroy's header was the only shot close to going in for ManU, so while they spent most of the time on attack, that's a little misleading.
