So much to talk about...what a day. Let's start with a 'contentious issue. Ever since the passing of George Best, the minute's silence seems to have been replaced by the minute's applause or in this case, the minute's chanting. Is this a good thing? Do people want their lives mourned or celebrated? It's not my job to act as judge and jury here, my gut feeling is that for a man like John, a dignified minute's silence is what he would have wanted, but hearing that chant that I used to sing like so many others, well, I like to think he allowed himself a wry smile up there in Heaven....
Onwards to the match, I felt quite comfortable with Boro coming out and pressing us like they did. i wanted them to run themsleves ragged for a bit and then allow us to come back at them, like a boxer looking set to be knocked out and suddenly fighting back with a whirlwind of punches. I'm not sure that was pards game plan, in fact we were simply out thought with a 3 5 2 formation and some of our players on their way to Tenerife rather than Cardiff. But what a difference a half makes...
Suddenly, Yossi remembered he was a creative genius, Mattie recalled running down a wing and crossing and even Hayden realised I was watching and wouldn't be able to make my mind up about him again. The midfield was transformed and we were much stronger for it and more convincing coming forward. I admired Deano's work rate and even though Marlon looked off boil for most of the day, his finish was fantastic.
Boro for their part contributed to an interesting game and I'm suddenly going to be finding myself rooting for them against Steaua (apologies to our recently delcared Romanian cousins who have now ceased to be useful to us). I hope Boro realise the injury to Schwarzer was an accidental one and though Deano likes to put himself about, he ain't John Fashanu.
Liverpool in the final, and if Pards positioning of us as underdogs was tenuous in the Semi, it will be clear to all and sundry in the final. Liverpool are strong and it's going to be a tough day, make no mistake. But for now, we can look forward to European football again at the academy next season and if someone would have offered that to me at the start of the season, I would have taken it any day of the week....