Max's Blog
Bring on Wembley!
Cambridge fans have something to celebrate
Last updated: 06th May 2009
Max & Helen: Cambridge v Torquay!
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Right, I'll get onto the important stuff in a second, i.e. Cambridge United getting to the play-off final after one of the best games I've seen for years at the Abbey on Monday, but first off the Arsenal - Man Utd match has just finished and I have two things I want to say.
1. Darren Fletcher's sending off. Clearly a terrible decision - and for some unknown reason UEFA has no appeal system except for mistaken identity. As a result, Fletcher will miss the Champions League final. That is patently unfair, and ridiculous.
Why is there no appeal system? I don't think there's anyone in football, not even Barcelona and Chelsea fans or players who would bemoan the red card being overturned and letting him play in the final. I reckon the ref, having seen it again, would want to change it. Rules are rules, but that doesn't mean they can't be changed if injustices have occurred.
That's how laws, not just in football, evolve and change. I guess by tomorrow morning, there'll be a campaign somewhere to change the rules, and I'll be the first to support it. UEFA and FIFA are notoriously bad at doing anything useful, and certainly not doing anything useful quickly, but perhaps Michel Platini could watch that game, and realise, as a fellow footballer that Fletcher deserves to be on that pitch.
2. A lot of Arsenal fans decided to leave after an hour of that game. Two thirds of the way through. In the semi final of the Champions League. Arsene Wenger has done amazingly with a young group of players, and they've done very well to get into that stage of the competition.
As a Cambridge fan, I'd dream of being in Europe (we were in the Anglo-Italian Cup once!) but sometimes it's worth having a bit of perspective - how about applauding and congratulating your team for getting that far. Don't the players deserve that? Credit to the gooners who watched until the end and applauded the efforts of a side that, on the night, just weren't good enough.
Play-off
Now to the game of the week: Cambridge United v Stevenage, Conference play-off semi-final second leg. Monday afternoon, midday kick off. Fraser was late, so we didn't get into the Newmarket Road end until 10 minutes before kick off.
We had to stand a little further to the left than I would have liked, but the atmosphere was better than I've seen for ages. Stevenage were 3-1 up going into the game, we needed to win 2-0 to get into extra time (no away goals for some reason). Half-time 0-0. A real uphill struggle. But first 1, then 2. Full Time. I'd only had a bowl of Alpen, and I was starting to feel a little faint. It was the first game I've sung and shouted myself hoarse at for years.
The tannoy announcer at the Abbey has been there since time began. It's one of the many things that stay constant there. A bit like the guys who stand in front of us - a group of about six very skinny blokes in leather jackets, who would fit much better as Fox Mulder's geeky mates in the X-Files than on the terraces at Cambridge United.
Anyway, two minutes before the end, the tannoy man announced that the man of the match was "the whole team". Such a brilliantly quaint moment during such a tense game that was still going on. In fact, Stevenage almost nicked it seconds later - it looked like every single one of our back four had cleared the ball off the line in the same moment.
We managed to get through that, and won it with a minute of injury time left. Clearly Cambridge fans aren't used to pitch invasions. We've never had much need to do it. The barriers aren't that high. Perhaps our fans aren't that supple. Anyway it seemed to take each fan half an hour to get over them. But we got on the pitch and jumped around for a bit - deciding whether it was a good idea to hug people you'd didn't know, or maybe just stick with a high five.
Credit
Credit the Stevenage fans - there was one of those moments where fans forget they don't get on, forget they've been at each other all game, and realise they have some mutual bond for supporting the same type of team, and level of football. We applauded each other for a half a minute or so. As U's fans - we could definitely empathise with how the Borough lot must have been feeling. In both games they had players sent off for basically nothing, and they must feel sick right now. I wish them luck next year
Sadly I can't care too much about that though. Our players were magnificent. I'm so pleased for the manager Gary Brabin, and the staff, and everyone there. I've been really lucky with my job to get to know people who work at the club, and I just pray we can do it at Wembley. And of course we're playing Torquay.
Couldn't have worked out better for the show I suppose. But all I care about now is success on May 17th - and League 2, the promised land, where dreams are made, or at least, where we get to hear our football results on the radio.
Have a good week...
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Comments
Ritchie Irwin (Manchester United fan) says...
I completely agree with Max about the red cards should be over-turned. I also believe that if a player gets a booking or a red card in the semi-final of a champions league game and it means they become unavailable for the final, then the bans should not apply until the next game they feature in after the final, as no player should miss the final, i find it a disgrace, and i feel very sorry for Fletch and Abidal. They should both be playing in the final, but as usual UEFA havent got a clue!! Platini out...
Posted 11:09 13th May 2009
Ine O'kane (Manchester United fan) says...
I must say i completely agree with Max, UEFA have not got a clue!!! I mean WHY is it that you can only appeal if it's a mistaken identity!!! i just can't believe we haven't got Darren in the final!!! He was by far the best player between both legsof the semi final!!! But anyways WERE GOING 2 ITALY!!!
Posted 23:48 10th May 2009
Tom Churches (Bristol City fan) says...
true stuff
Posted 14:03 9th May 2009
Natalie Boyd (Reading fan) says...
I WANT TO TAKE IT TO THE MAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!! X
Posted 11:21 9th May 2009
Nicki Copson (Aston Villa fan) says...
Agree on the fletcher comments. defo unfair, hopefully it will be recinded as they are appealing from what i have read. I hate it when fans leave half way through the game, i really dont see the point, you pay all that money to watch the game and then leave maddness (we all know the gooners tix are expensive), makes me sick. be supportive, show encouragment and maybe jusy maybe the team will pick up their performance.
Posted 22:38 8th May 2009
Alex Kirkhouse (Swansea City fan) says...
You're right Max! The Cambridge vs Stevenage game was a cracking advert for the Blue Square Premier. But as a neutral I did feel for Stevenage, never mind the two sendings off, but the 2nd and 3rd goals in that game were both offside in my opinion. But, just like the Chelsea vs Barcelona game last night, when luck is on your side, you have to make the most of it! Let's just hope the Play-Off final will produce a contest like we've already seen in the semi's, may the best team win!
Posted 14:12 7th May 2009
Ali Hunter (Cambridge United fan) says...
I completley agree with the bit about Fletcher, if you find a petiton let me know! I too was at the U's big game and found it so funny that they opened a one man wide gate at the front of the hoardings, which for some reason all the Newmarket Road enders lined up to go through!! As you've said, we're not used to pitch invasions. Good blog
Posted 20:33 6th May 2009
Adam Gannon (Leeds United fan) says...
I must say that i completely agree with Max, when any team makes the semi final of the champions league their fans should be supportive and not leave while the match is still on because as we all know anything can happen in football and they all missed the penalty.
Posted 13:14 6th May 2009
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