Fifa

[SammiValentine]

And it wasn't much of a game either, although most FA Cup finals are anti-climaxes. Last really good one was Liverpool vs West Ham in 2006, when Captain Fantastic Stevie G effectively won it on his own.

IMO we gave arguably the most entertaining finals in the UEFA cup (2001), Champs league (2005) and FA cup (2006)in the previous decade.

All thrillers.

[robertlouis]

IMO we gave arguably the most entertaining finals in the UEFA cup (2001), Champs league (2005) and FA cup (2006)in the previous decade.

All thrillers.

I listened to the 2005 Champions League final on the world service on my laptop in a hotel in Tokyo then persuaded them to open up the bar at 4:30 am!

[SammiValentine]

Crammed into me local with a few hundred scallies. place going mental. happy days

[robertlouis]

Crammed into me local with a few hundred scallies. place going mental. happy days

I reckon I woke up an entire floor whooping at the final whistle!

Yep, Liverpool have given me more excitement over the years than any other English club, although watching Man U's win over Bayern in 1999 in a hotel in Berlin surrounded by pissed-off Germans was pretty sweet too.

I only wish I'd been around to see Celtic break the UK's European duck in Lisbon in 1967. My dad eulogised about that game all his days. Shame that the only recordings are black and white and shit quality.

[Stavros]

My memory of the 1967 game is clouded by the ultra-defensive position Inter took up once they had scored, leaving themselves besieged for the rest of the match, but unable to score on the break: a classic Italian technique that failed, please note Mr Mourinho. It was Stein's early version of 'total football' that gave Celtic the diversity of playmaking to eventually find a way through the locked door and win.

For sheer guts and drive to win, Gerrard against AC Milan must be the greatest individual performance in the history of the tournament, but Manchester United's late late show against Bayern was MU at their murderous best, once Sheringham had scored I felt a winner was inevitable -rather like the days when Cantona would slay the opponents in the last five minutes -I dont think I will ever forget the way MacManaman slumped to the ground at Wembley after Cantona's wining strike.

Unfortunately there is so much money in football, it is hardly surprising that crooked deals are sewn into its fabric, whether its the corrupt neanderthals who run the world game, or the villains with their fingers in the Premiership pie, from Dalglish and his friends in the Adams family to George Graham, Terry Venables and the 'year of the bung'. I am reliably informed that cricket in India puts world football in the shade when it comes to criminality...the best we can do is sit back and watch an entertaining game, and put as little money into it as possible.

[robertlouis]

My memory of the 1967 game is clouded by the ultra-defensive position Inter took up once they had scored, leaving themselves besieged for the rest of the match, but unable to score on the break: a classic Italian technique that failed, please note Mr Mourinho. It was Stein's early version of 'total football' that gave Celtic the diversity of playmaking to eventually find a way through the locked door and win.

For sheer guts and drive to win, Gerrard against AC Milan must be the greatest individual performance in the history of the tournament, but Manchester United's late late show against Bayern was MU at their murderous best, once Sheringham had scored I felt a winner was inevitable -rather like the days when Cantona would slay the opponents in the last five minutes -I dont think I will ever forget the way MacManaman slumped to the ground at Wembley after Cantona's wining strike.

Unfortunately there is so much money in football, it is hardly surprising that crooked deals are sewn into its fabric, whether its the corrupt neanderthals who run the world game, or the villains with their fingers in the Premiership pie, from Dalglish and his friends in the Adams family to George Graham, Terry Venables and the 'year of the bung'. I am reliably informed that cricket in India puts world football in the shade when it comes to criminality...the best we can do is sit back and watch an entertaining game, and put as little money into it as possible.

Very true. The Corinthian spirit is well and truly gone.

But it's equally true to say that football played at its very best can achieve a transcendence and beauty that few other sports can aspire to - I'll make an exception for Roger Federer, I'd willingly have his babies.

Pele, Best, Maradona, Messi, Garrincha, Moore, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Charlton, van Basten, Dalglish (I had to get a Scot in there and a Liverpool player for Sammi )the names trip off the tongue like the finest champagne. In terms of his approach to the sport and his one club career Ryan Giggs may well be the last of an illustrious line.

[SammiValentine]

-rather like the days when Cantona would slay the opponents in the last five minutes -I dont think I will ever forget the way MacManaman slumped to the ground at Wembley after Cantona's wining strike.

slumped at our mickey mouse defending. Not in the wonder of arl big nose

[robertlouis]

slumped at our mickey mouse defending. Not in the wonder of arl big nose

Yep. 3-5-2, with those well-known statues Scales, Wright and Babb at the back, supported by the muppet wingbacks McAteer and Jones. And Roy Evans sat like a terrified dormouse on the bench.

How did United only win 1-0 that day?

But check out my previous post, Sammi m'dear - I've put Dalglish up there with Pele and Best to make you feel better.

[SammiValentine]

Hey not having that rob jones was decent, plauged by injuries hehe

I agree re Evans far to soft... haha I saw re daglish - tbfh to be greatest player ever at anfield is boss, he deserves a mention - if not quite pele..

and well, johnny barnes would of been more of a face had it not been for the obvious issues with not being in europe. I mean that wonder goal v brazil... watch old clips of him for liverpool and its like... omfg. wow - mind blowing.. i had a signed casey off him me dad got me when i was errrr less than 5 years old maybe. I kicked it and it went under a bus when i was 11 - gutted.

[robertlouis]

So many great Liverpool sides over the years. My dad always raved about the great Shankly team of the mid-60s, of which my uncle was a member. When I started watching them on TV it was the team of Souness, Hansen, Lawrenson, Dalglish and Rush. But I'd agree with you that the most watchable was in the late 80s with Barnes, Beardsley, Houghton, McMahon and Aldridge. Back then, under Kenny, they played with the same panache, invention and pace that - sorry - Man U are the best exponents of nowadays.

Here's hoping Kenny is bringing the glory days back.