In and Out: The Power of a Semi

Step 1: Celebrate Step 2: Never Look Back

Today’s blog will be brought to you by the letter’s G and T. Captain Morgan sends his regards and apologies for being the main culprit in the tardiness, and in effect, irrelevance of some of the following comments. With buildup like that, how could you not read on?

FA Cup Semis

I would discuss Saturday’s match, but with its insistence upon itself and the date to which it is played, I will bypass it. That, and I neglected to watch the match.

On to the London Derby! Or as I like to call it, El Clasico: London Edition if you will. After a great deal of build up and questions as to whether this set of supporters could remain well behaved after drinking for several hours before heading into Wembley, they seemed to manage. This of course is a broad definition of what one considers good behaviour. There was of course the little matter of the moment of silence - or the moment when Chelsea supporters decided they would ensure the FA would actually hear them. Thankfully, quick thinking television directors thought it would in no way seem suspect to cut away from the stadium to a moody shot of a candle flame. Thankfully, the gem that is YouTube has provided an excellent alternative to viewing the rumblings of thousands and thousands of supporters a ‘handful’ of fans.

And of course, if that wasn’t fun enough, there was of course *that* ‘goal’. Let’s all just pause for a moment and all laugh at Sp*rs. You know you want to. Go on....

Sure, in no way, shape, or form did that ball even touch the line, unless of course that line is John Terry’s arse (more on that to come...). However, what everyone has learned from this is, if you immediately celebrate a goal, it’s a sure way to convince the referee that it is in fact a goal. But can anyone really blame Martin Atkinson? (Spurs fans don’t count - ever). After seeing the joy on little Juan Mata’s face, it’d be impossible to rule his goal out. His little face was lit up, and left Atkinson with no choice. If he taken that away from Mata, it would have been like kicking a puppy.

John Terry’s Defensive Duties

Dear John Terry,

I know you’re all about proving yourself. But it is not YOUR job to defend everyone’s goal. Only Chelsea’s. I know it becomes confusing when you see Cudicini and Gallas, I accept that. But no more. You only have to defend the man in the little hat. That is not a euphemism.

Sincerely,

jb xx

Chelsea v Barca

According to just about everything written in the buildup to this match, Barcelona and their beautiful football should not have had to lower themselves to actually playing this match as they’d already won it, and it was beautiful. Tears were shed. Take a moment here to feel the emotional gravity of the beauty in their beautiful game with their pint size Jesus. Go on. Maybe it would help if I cut to a moody candle? No?

Outraging the press everywhere, Chelsea had the audacity to not allow free flowing attacking football to overpower them. How dare they? I hope that Chelsea are taking a long hard look at themselves right now. The cheek of Ashley Cole actually trying a little back heel pass of his own, and then tracking back to clear a goal of the line. What an absolutely terrible human being. And in other players beating Barcelona at their own game, Drogba utilizing his comedic timing to do his best imitation of most of La Liga - the horror. The irony of Barcelona making complaints about the injustice of it all was arguably one of the best things that has ever happened in the history of time.

What can one take away from all of this?

In football, just like in life, all that matters is if you get it in.

(or not in the case of Mata - but that would just have trampled my own point)

jb xx