2012 Championship Playoff Final - Wembley Stadium
Well, this is it. 12 months languishing in the doldrums of the Championship, formerly known as Division 2.... 90 Minutes away from a meteoric rise back into the Premier League, formerly known as Division 1. Sidebar - I'm sad Div 3 & 4 only got a useless 'League 1 / 2' tag. Less impressive than Galactic Empire Conglomerate 1...... Ok, West Ham..........
2 Hours from kick off. Sitting with Lexi outside. She is wearing her blue England shirt - (thanks Uncle Kyle & Aunty Rachel) and watching Baby Einstein. Clearly she is a Hammers fan judging by the bubbles she likes to blow. I'll be updating as the morning goes along - so refresh the page as the drama unfolds. All will be commented on without use of colorful language. OK - 8:04 out here in Indianapolis. You can pick up what the BBC Football Live report is saying here... I'd post a link to the West Ham website too - but let's face it, no one associated with the club is working today. They are all getting off the train at Wembley Park and entering into a little pre-match banter with the Tangerine Army........
9:10 Lexi still sleeping - congrats to Chris and Amy on the birth of their new son, Michael. Hopefully a future hammers fan. Talked to Dad. Trying to avoid the elephant in the room. General family opinion is:
a) West Ham will win based on Big Sam's experience and the fact a lot of the Hammers players have been in these situations.
b) But if it's 0-0 at half time or heaven forbid, Blackpool score we'll be right back on the bummer bus heading for downtown depression. Let's face it, us Hammers Fans are the masters of assuming the worse. My dad and I have seen it all - he certainly has. Now, the BBC are experiencing technical issues with their live updates. Is that a sign? More worried now... Trying to see if the teams have been announced. Glad Collison is fit for selection. Lexi is waking and is starting to cry. Must have had a bad dream about Millwall......
Team - Collison is in. Good Feeding Lexi while typing. BBC Football page has the cheek to have a Lampard link ahead of West Ham's game. Suck it up Chelsea - we all know who made him the player he is - another product of 'The Academy of Football'....
- 01 Green
- 02 Reid
- 05 Tomkins
- 20 Demel
- 04 Nolan
- 10 Collison
- 14 Taylor
- 16 Noble
- 32 O'Neil
- 09 Cole
- 12 Vaz Te
- 13 Henderson
- 03 McCartney
- 18 Faubert
- 22 Lansbury
- 08 Maynard
Updated pics on the video required please!
Cheesy Fox Soccer + doesn't give me the prematch build up - so I have to switch it on at 10 and jump right into the game. That sucks. Still nerves are less raw. 5 to go.....
Kick off - Come on you irons..!!!
TAYLOR YOU MUPPET....Green saves the day. Blimey - nearly a heart attack...
As usual the Wembley turf looks dodgy - players slipping. Blackpool fans didn't get the memo - rumor is half their fans stayed at home and those there are Spurs fans wearing their 'I drank 3 tangos' t-shirt...
Should be 2-0 down......
Settle down boys - the Hammers are looking shaky right now. Middle of the park looks mad - possible chance there for us....
Getting a little better - still looks like the middle is busy.
Corner 1 close - 2 was poor. 3 better - West Ham talking control now.....COYI...!!!
1-0 COLE - LOVE IT.....!!!!!
VAZ TE - I could have stuck that in.....
Half time - we need another goal to make sure. Blackpool look dangerous but just haven't taken their chances. Gotta stick the ball in the old onion bag if you want to get the job done. Only $140,000,000 at stake over this game. I'm happy with a cuppa and a biscuit - chatting with Scot, who took up the offer to come over. GOOD MAN...!!!!
Latest news - Jesus may have been a West Ham supporter. We all know BARACK OBAMA is a fan...
Second Half - let's go boys....
1-1 Goal scored by Paul Ince's son. West Ham's fans will be spitting blood....
Classic - here we go. Roller coaster ride.
The back line is all over the place - George is coming on.
Blackpool are up for it right now - hoping West Ham can put their foot on the ball and take control.
Lexi sleeping - that might be the reason Blackpool scored.
Are we coming back into it? Great turn an shot by Cole.... should have scored 2 mins ago.
Take it back. Blackpool should be 4-1 up.
I was at Upton Park when Paul Ince returned with Manchester United. The fans crucified him for 90 minutes - he then scored a last minute goal in a 2-2 draw. We went mental....
Nolan - crossbar. Come on boys - get it going.
Howard Webb is the man. Great ref.
2-1 Vaz Te - 4 minutes to go. Madness.....
3 minute to glory. Hold on boys. Stressed out - heart rate up - sweating. lexi sleeping. Forget previous note re her sleep as a factor in West Ham's results.
Done. We are back.
COYI....!!!!!!
next season
Hey man. Brian Power turned me onto your blog. Congratulations and welcome back to the EPL!!!
ReplyDelete"...Forever blowing bubbles..."