5string

Goal should have stood.

Sorry, mate. This time paid for Sky day pass.

Commentary team on Sky: Martin Tyler and..... Gary Neville. That'll be balanced and fair, then.

Good stuff. Now, is he fit to play?

I've never had the chance to watch Saints much (except for '85-'86 season, went a few times). Went to ZDS final at Wembley in '92. Gemmill broke my heart, the barsteward. Was still a great day out. BUT... ... aged 5, I was one of the multitude by the Civic Centre welcoming the '76 heroes back to the city. Dad said I was 'too young' to go to the final, yet we were part of that chaotic throng! Still remember it. Fantastic! I've definitely got a buzz for this final - even though I can't be there.

No worries. Re: Romeu - some players raise their games for better opposition. I think many professional players do that (in other sports, too). Didn't Fergie often complain that every ManUtd game was like a cup final because other teams always tried harder against them? I think the first 20 was all about confidence - we were coming off the WHam shocker, they were bouncing after a 4-0 away win. The rest of the game (after we scored, especially) more than adequately demonstrated how good we actually are, and how bad they actually are. If only a match was 100 or 120 minutes long... Nevertheless, "you can only play the opposition on the day" as an old coach used to say.

Don't knock Zoltar!

NOT Brighton. Would rather they lost every game from now on & got relegated or out of business, or shut down for tax reasons or something. Just, not (though I suspect they will, dammit). Don't care who else. Sorry, not constructive I know. Oh, go on then: Newcastle, Huddersfield, Sheff Wed... ... because I'm not a great fan of Reading or Leeds and I don't like Brighton (you may have picked up on this).

I don't hate Man Utd. Plastic fans of any club only ever deserve scorn. They're just following success (funny how many Chelsea 'fans' appeared when they started winning a lot). Here's a classic example: In the early 90s I taught a kid who supported Liverpool. Then Blackburn won the PL. Suddenly he came back to school declaring he was a Blackburn fan. I think I asked him most weeks which team he was supporting now (especially if his 'previous' team had lost). The only club I actively dislike (and properly wish them relegation every year then go out of business) is Brighton & Hove Albion. It's a historical thing, you understand.

Thanks. You could be right. I probably scored him on the low side because I was frustrated seeing him go backwards from attacking positions. Without that, maybe a 6 (maximum)? Maybe I was affected by the '0' rating by the original poster, not wanting to take the pee by being over-generous.

A Wembley Final build-up thread. Feels more real now, our next game is a Wembley Final. That's 'Wembley Final'. I'm getting excited!

Here are my opinions. Please forgive me for using your original post to add my own opinions - might seem rude, but absolutely not intended that way, nor am I being sarcastic (maybe except the final line?). I merely wanted to avoid lots of 'type-look-type-look' activity. And I agreed with a lot of your points (though not the ratings - sorry): Sunderland. I've seen better Championship teams. I feel we made them look bad - well, after the first 20 mins anyway... Maybe we were 'working them out'? Marks based on the fact that the opposition looked like they'd forgotten last week's Palace mauling. If they do not finish bottom of the pile then I will be surprised. Forster. 5. Punched away the first half from a corner. Saved what was hit at him. Still a bit immobile, so he'd have been glad of a quiet game. Clean sheet: he'll be happy, as I am. Cedric. 6 Ok. Shouldn't ever shoot. Can't beat a man every time. Had to play against the paper-thin and lightweight Januzai who also pushed JWP around. Made some marauding runs up the flank, but needs to improve his crossing. Stephens. 6. Defending is the main part of his game. I'd have loaned him out, but for VvD's injury & sale of Fonte. Kept Defoe quiet, while laughing at him - worth an extra mark just for that! Yoshida. 6. Decent enough. More solid alongside Stephens this time. Clean sheet? I'll take that, whatever the opposition. Bertrand. 8. Reasonable game but he's a damn good player so I expect him to be very good as a minimum so I'm giving him credit for playing his normal game. Romeu. 7. Not one of his poorer games, but he didn't rule the midfield like he has recently - maybe Davis alongside took some pressure off him? Davis. 7. No opposition to trouble him, but provided a good foil for Romeu in DM, keeping their attacks increasingly quiet. He's actually played a lot better in his main CM position. JWP 4 (four). He is a professional footballer, but too easily brushed off the ball by Januzai. Tried a Lallana turn and couldn't execute it and didn't know what to do. Kills open play because all he can do is pass sideways or backwards. Didn't score when he hit that shot in the second half. Played too much slow-down football. Assume he has something on the club as I'd have sold him a year ago. Redmond. 7. One of his usual games. Bit like Bertrand but as he can do so much more. Liked the fact that he was shouting at players to give him an option and they were static when he had the ball. Liked the fact that he drove into the box, went for goal and had a shot with his left foot. Reasonable effort, too. Tadic. 8. Reasonably talented. Too one-footed, but so was Puskas. Hasn't donea lot in recent games, but this was much better and he seemed happier with someone (Gabba) moving more incisively ahead of him. I would definitely not get rid of him in the summer. Barry/Gabby/Manny. 8. Makes a load of good runs that are ignored because the crab pass is on too often. Touch looks ok but not great. You can see his mind is working all the time: proper footballer. 2 goals took the wind out of Sunderland's sails. Long. 5. Scored. Maybe should have got another with his header but played his usual game, chasing everything that moved. Hojbjerg. 3. Not on long enough to earn a higher rating. As it's a cup final and so on I expect based on that performance which wasn't dissimilar to many of our others, in fact we've played better and lost, that Utd will not beat us convincingly at Wembley.

It's a shame JRod is acting this way. After a fantastic performance at Bournemouth, he's kept his name in the frame - can't expect to be selected all the time, especially as his other performances have left a bit to be desired. This is when Puel needs to have a reassuring chat, to keep him happy at least til season's end (when he'll likely go elsewhere - (JRod, not Puel)).

Sunderland might feel hard done by; he gave us more of the benefit of the doubt. He kept his card in his pocket, which is good to see, though there wasn't much fire to cause booking opportunities. Just the handball. Overall, pretty decent I'd say.

Very good result, making me happy. Gabba providing the striking options we've needed for a while. Yes, Sunderland were poor for most of the game, but they had chances early on and didn't take them. We grew into the game and played confidently.

First 20 we weren't great - under the cosh for a while, kept going backwards... ...ooh 4-0... ... anyway, since then we've got better (genuinely useful, actually), Sunderland have got worse. [sshh, we don't call him 'Barry' any more - 'Gabba' is the preferred nomenclature]

3-0!! OG! Needed that! Well done today, boys.

Seems to be the former at the moment. I hope he shows better attitude from here on.

That's an incorrect stat. They've had one this half, from distance, which Forster saved.

JRod not happy.

How is that not a yellow?! He was so late, he was challenging a pass made in the first half ffs! Tadic off, Hoj on.

Another good ball from Tadic. Redmond shoots straight at the keeper.

Defoe giving Stephens a mouthful after being fouled. Stephens laughing back at him. Haha.

Header from 12 yards, with a defender & keeper in the way, so aiming for bottom left post? 'Absolute', means he was unmarked?