Alexikokopops Posted 30 January 2012 Posted 30 January 2012 2) Beckford loves the FA Cup Although he scored once for Everton in four appearances in the FA Cup last year, Jermaine Beckford's late arrival for the fifth-round defeat by Reading, after being delayed by an accident on the M62, overshadowed the contribution he had made earlier in the competition with his goal against Scunthorpe United. This season, though, with five goals in two ties following his £3m transfer to Leicester, he has rediscovered the knack that first brought him to prominence with Leeds United, then a League One side, for whom he netted the winner against Manchester United and both goals in the 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in 2010. In total he has now scored 14 goals in 16 FA Cup games, or 13 in 12 if we exclude last season's blip, and his two finishes against Swindon Town, first with his right foot then with his left on the half-volley, were the kind of cool, instinctive finishes in the penalty box that he has frequently fluffed in the past. His particular strength during his three years in the first team at Elland Road was his ability to lurk in the inside-left channel, where he exploited the space to escape from the full-back before opening his body to curl a shot around the covering central defender and in at the far post. His tendency, however, to miss easier chances than the ones he carved out for himself left him with a reputation for exasperating as much as he delighted. The stunning goal he scored for Everton against Chelsea on the last day of the 2010-11 season, where he raced from his own half and beat four defenders before finishing, demonstrated his flair for the spectacular. Yet when it came to quick-thinking in the opposition's area, scavenging for the kind of chances that a more orthodox poacher would consider routine, he tended to snatch at them. At times he looked the opposite of the stereotype – the more time he had to think the better he was. That was what was so encouraging in his performance for Leicester against Swindon. Jon Culley in the Independent on Sunday wrote that the second goal was one "he could not miss". But in the past it is precisely those chances that he has missed. This time, from a cross and a rebound he swept the ball into the net. Admittedly the opposition were a League Two side but they played very well, kept Leicester's keeper Kasper Schmeichel on his mettle all game and would have benefitted had the referee, Darren Drysdale, not been so lenient when he gave City's Paul Konchesky a yellow card for a wild, high, scything foul on Simon Ferry in the dying minutes of the first half when a red would have been more just. Last week the Leeds chairman, Ken Bates, discussed Beckford's decision to leave his club on a free transfer for Everton and claimed with some disdain: "For those interested, he was offered back to us last month." On the evidence of Beckford's form in the FA Cup at least, Bates's mockery is once again as ungracious as it is untimely. RB http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/jan/30/five-things-fa-cup-weekend
JohnnyB Posted 30 January 2012 Posted 30 January 2012 This from The Guardian. Makes a few interesting points about Beckford. ) Beckford loves the FA Cup Although he scored once for Everton in four appearances in the FA Cup last year, Jermaine Beckford's late arrival for the fifth-round defeat by Reading, after being delayed by an accident on the M62, overshadowed the contribution he had made earlier in the competition with his goal against Scunthorpe United. This season, though, with five goals in two ties following his £3m transfer to Leicester, he has rediscovered the knack that first brought him to prominence with Leeds United, then a League One side, for whom he netted the winner against Manchester United and both goals in the 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in 2010. In total he has now scored 14 goals in 16 FA Cup games, or 13 in 12 if we exclude last season's blip, and his two finishes against Swindon Town, first with his right foot then with his left on the half-volley, were the kind of cool, instinctive finishes in the penalty box that he has frequently fluffed in the past. His particular strength during his three years in the first team at Elland Road was his ability to lurk in the inside-left channel, where he exploited the space to escape from the full-back before opening his body to curl a shot around the covering central defender and in at the far post. His tendency, however, to miss easier chances than the ones he carved out for himself left him with a reputation for exasperating as much as he delighted. The stunning goal he scored for Everton against Chelsea on the last day of the 2010-11 season, where he raced from his own half and beat four defenders before finishing, demonstrated his flair for the spectacular. Yet when it came to quick-thinking in the opposition's area, scavenging for the kind of chances that a more orthodox poacher would consider routine, he tended to snatch at them. At times he looked the opposite of the stereotype – the more time he had to think the better he was. That was what was so encouraging in his performance for Leicester against Swindon. Jon Culley in the Independent on Sunday wrote that the second goal was one "he could not miss". But in the past it is precisely those chances that he has missed. This time, from a cross and a rebound he swept the ball into the net. Admittedly the opposition were a League Two side but they played very well, kept Leicester's keeper Kasper Schmeichel on his mettle all game and would have benefitted had the referee, Darren Drysdale, not been so lenient when he gave City's Paul Konchesky a yellow card for a wild, high, scything foul on Simon Ferry in the dying minutes of the first half when a red would have been more just. Last week the Leeds chairman, Ken Bates, discussed Beckford's decision to leave his club on a free transfer for Everton and claimed with some disdain: "For those interested, he was offered back to us last month." On the evidence of Beckford's form in the FA Cup at least, Bates's mockery is once again as ungracious as it is untimely. RB
flowwolf Posted 30 January 2012 Posted 30 January 2012 Think we have a parrot in the room Think we have a parrot in the room
The Doctor Posted 31 January 2012 Posted 31 January 2012 This thread is going to be rather amusing No it isn't.
Asha Posted 31 January 2012 Posted 31 January 2012 Point one was rather interesting, I thought. But what can you do? Reducing ticket prices is a nice thought but then there would arguably be less financial benefit for the small teams who draw Manchester United, or Manchester City, etc. I too am of the thought that playing semi-finals at Wembley is not a great thing, and that it takes something away from reaching the final - but again I'm sure most teams and fans would rather have it at Wembley.
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