FA Cup Final...really?

Is there something happening tonight? Some game between Cardiff and…Pompey? Can’t be that important a game, so I’ll probably give it a miss. Oh yeah, right, it’s the FA Cup. I remember the FA Cup. It used to a be a vaguely interesting Cup competition. Don’t think anybody gives it a flying F anymore. Wonder why. Maybe it’s because the total prize money for the winners won’t be enough to pay for Ronaldo’s hair cuts over his career. (Speaking of Ronaldo, methinks he’ll leave. Man U will win the Champions League, and having done everything with the team, needing a new challenge, new pads for his new woman, he’ll probably leave for Real. And that, my friends, will be the end of Man U. I don’t think it was a coincidence that Man U had a slow start to the season precisely because Ronaldo was having a slow start, and when he decided to show up, well, the rest is history).

Looks like Cesc is going to make up to £100,000 a week with a new contract. Actually, I suppose that means in ten weeks, he makes as much as Cardiff will get as a team as FA Cup winners. I’m sure they’ll have fun in the UEFA Cup too. So, congratulations to all the New Deal recipients. Franklin Roosevelt would have been proud of our NewDeals.

Flamini’s given a little bit of an interview about his leaving and his pain at Arsene’s suggestions. He says he did not leave for money. While it is possible to be sympathetic to his claims – that he would have stayed if offered a new deal last summer – there are still a few logical gaps in his story. Yes, Le Boss declined to give him a new deal, saying he had to prove himself. And so he did, and with that, he was offered a new and better deal. The crux then, must be that this new deal was not anywhere near what Milan were offering. I don’t see how it can not be a money issue. If Arse had offered him £100,000 a week (like Cesc), he would’ve stayed, no? So…it’s money. As I’ve said before. Say it, move on, nobody will think any less of you.

One of his funnier comments though: “But I will say I’m leaving for Milan because it’s one of the biggest clubs in the world…Milan are in the Champions League final every couple of years.” Er, okay. Let’s see after this weekend whether they’re even in the Champions League next season, let alone the final.

Blah blah blah, let’s move on….to nothing much actually. Accept that for some reason, there’s more play on Vieira’s comments on Arse developments. I wonder why. I think they’ve got more pressing concerns at Inter. He says Mohawk Billy may not take the psychological blow of having the captain’s arm band taken away from him. Well, to that I first say, Paddy, shuddup. Secondly, what would Kolo and Gilberto say to that – the so-called psychological blow? Again, just admit you didn’t do that well, keep your chin up, play for the team, and support your new captain. If you can’t hack it then, well, there’s always Pompey. What’s with all these women these days. (No disrespect to women, who probably have to deal with greater pain in their lifetimes). I can't deal with this, I can't deal with that, I don't get enough respect, enough money, enough playing time, blah blah blah. F it. Must be these new organic diets that Arsene must've put them on. Give me Steve Bould, Tony Adams, Nigel Winterburn and Lee Dixon any time.

Okay then, enough for now. Cardiff all the way!!

[Trivia: why do I have two extra Panini EURO 2008 Thierry Henry stickers? Is he really so out of favour?]