Spurs Forget To Practise Their Penalty Taking

Tottenham striker Darren Bent has revealed that he and his team-mates didn't practice penalties before their League Cup final shoot-out defeat against Manchester United.

In my opinion, in these days of tight cup final games where league position doesn't matter a jot, it is vital a team not only prepares the players for a penalty shoot out, but the goalkeepers too watch the oppositions players and study how they take penalties. Spurs seemingly did neither as Fergie got his boys to do both.

Ben Foster was wondering around watching O'Hara and Bentley along with the other Spurs players taking their penalties so he could work out his strategy should a shoot out take place.

Harry Redknapp's side created the better chances at Wembley on Sunday but couldn't beat United keeper Ben Foster. They fared little better against Foster in the shoot-out as Jamie O'Hara's effort was saved before David Bentley shot wide.

In contrast United converted all four of their penalties to win the shoot-out 4-1 and end Tottenham's reign as League Cup holders. Bent was due to take Tottenham's fifth penalty and, although the shoot-out didn't get that far, the England forward insisted he didn't blame Redknapp for not insisting on spot-kick practice in the week before the match.

"For me and the team, we thought there is no point practicing penalties because you can hit it in the same spot 10 times out of 10 and if the keeper saves it you can't really do anything," Bent said. "Sometimes it happens. I've seen the best of them miss penalties. It's an unfortunate way to lose a game. Obviously the lads who missed are going to be down but we got behind them afterwards. We know they are fantastic players and we are not going to hold it against them. When Jamie came on he did really well. . He knows he can put it behind him.".....Back To Home Page...

Let's Win This Carling Cup The Matt Busby Way

I have read the reviews by a few Spurs fans regarding the 49th Carling Cup Final due to be played at Wembley this sunday between Manchester United and Tottenham, Hotspur. They are clinging to a few rather obscure facts to convince themselves they can win this match.

1. Given their glittering first half performance in the San Siro and our gut-wrenching equivalent at the KC it'd be amazing if United weren't feeling cocky and aside from the fact that ref Chris Foy is a Scouser who hopefully hasn't forgotten his roots, that might be our best hope.

2. Still, "it's a two horse race", "anything can happen on the day".

3. Despite being generally crap, in 5 attempts we've not lost to a "big four" side yet this season.

4. United conceded 3 goals to each of Derby and Blackburn in the last two rounds, plus hopefully our lads will be motivated by the desire to put one over on the despised, whining Bulgarian. If that shitey Arsenal team we saw a couple of weeks ago can beat them then why can't we?

5. United actually have a dodgy record in finals, they've been in 6 and lost 4.

6. Our favourite Russian has scored in every round.

7. Redknapp has managed three different sides that have beaten Ferguson teams in cup competitions. So why not a fourth? We're ninety minutes from glory. Come on you Spurs.

That must make grim reading if you're a Spurs fan. Pinning your hopes and dreams on a few stats and things that have happened in the past. Games like this are about the team who turns up on the day, with the ability and desire to win, not the team who turns up with a head full of stats and figures that make them feel like they should win.

I hope with all my heart that Fergie does what Arsene Wenger did and lets the 'kids' have their day at Wembley. The likes of Danny Welbeck, Anderson, Rafael et al. They are the ones who got us to Wembley and they are the ones who deserve their day in the limelight.

It would be easy to put out a team with Ferdinand, Evra, Vidic, Ronaldo, Giggs, Rooney, Berbatov etc etc and try to run right over the top of Spurs and crush them in the first 30 minutes. But to me this competition is all about allowing your youngsters to have their time. In the third and fourth rounds all 'big' teams put out makeshift teams full of young guys waiting for their chance to prove they are good enough for the first team, it's a good chance for a manager to get some experience for his future stars.

Having said that, Manchester United's youngsters have proved time and time again this season they are ready, willing and able to step up to the mark and play with confidence, determination and a cohesion you would only expect from seasoned professionals.

So come on Fergie, let's do this the right way. Wellbeck, Rafael, Fabio, Anderson, O'Shea, Fletcher, Park.......we want to see them all. Some of these guys have stuck with United through thick and thin with never a guarantee of first team football. They have also been there when suddenly they are needed.

They may not be needed now, but more importantly they are deserving. Deserving of a chance for glory in their own right. If they get beaten then so be it. The fact they got United to Wembley in itself is a great, great achievement and the future looks rosy for United.

Let's do this the Matt Busby way, with youngsters who have no fear, who have flair and enthusiasm, who are loyal and who do have the ability if given the chance.....Back To Home Page...

Rooney Claiming Manchester United Can Win It All

Wayne Rooney seems to have a similar mind set as my good self. I have tried to work out reasons why Manchester United can't win every trophy this season. History tells us it is impossible, nobody believes it can be done, just like they said about the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League but guess what......they did it, United actually did it.

Records and impossibilities are there to be broken, without challenges and targets that seem impossible there would be no point in going on.

Rooney, who came off the bench to score against Fulham last night believes Quadruple glory, in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carling Cup, is a real possibility. Yesterday, Sir Alex Ferguson wrote off Chelsea’s hopes of challenging them for the League, saying the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari had played into United’s hands, and Rooney repeated the same bullish message after the 3-0 demolition of Fulham at Old Trafford.

United are about to move into a fixture pile-up of eight games in 25 days — including a Champions League tie next Tuesday against Inter Milan, the Carling Cup Final against Spurs, and the Premier League visit to Old Trafford of Liverpool — and prioritising their trophy targets might have been expected but Rooney, who returned to action after five weeks out with a hamstring injury to score United’s third goal against outclassed Fulham, said:

“We’re delighted we’re still in all these competitions. Our aim at the start of the season was to go as far as we can in all competitions, and to still be in them all in mid-February is great for the team. For me, I want to win all trophies. Everybody speaks about the Champions League and Premier League. But I’ve had some of my biggest heartaches in football in the FA Cup, and the Carling Cup is the first major trophy I ever won. For us to still be in all four competitions means there is a chance we can win them all.'

United’s 10th successive victory, and their 14th successive League clean sheet, leaves them five points above Liverpool at the top of the table. Their goal difference is also nine better than their closest title rivals.

Bookmaker Paddy Power is so convinced of United’s supremacy that it has already decided to pay out to customers who backed a United treble of League, FA Cup and Carling Cup.

Chelsea are now 10 points adrift having played the same number of games, but new manager Guus Hiddink will be determined to prove Ferguson wrong by reviving the Blues' challenge in his first game in charge against Aston Villa this weekend.......is it really all over for everyone but United this season ?.....Back To Home Page...