Good afternoon and welcome to coverage of Louis van Gaal’s last game in charge of Manchester United. Reportedly.
The 11-time winners take on a side who’ve never won a major trophy in their long history in Crystal Palace.
The game, of course, is a repeat of the 1990 decider in which Eagles boss Alan Pardew lined out. After a thrilling six-goal draw, United won a drab replay under floodlights.
How do you see this one playing out?
““It would be nice to say ‘fuck you’ to a few people, people who never believed in me. I believed in myself. But we’ll only cherish it if we win it. We had a meeting earlier this week and spoke as a group about what the Palace team did back in 1990. I have huge respect for what they achieved, getting to that final and then to the replay against United, but they didn’t win it. It’s important to remember that. They’re still talking about that team after 26 years, so imagine if they’d actually won it.”
Looking for some before-kick-off reading? This Dominic Fifield interview with Corkman Damien Delaney is excellent. Let’s hope he does himself justice this evening.
Oh no!
Former Manchester United winger Wilfriend Zaha is rumoured to be out of the game because of an injury picked up in the warm-up. He left the pitch in tears.
Ooof! Fellaini starts. Here’s the United team:
And Zaha will, in fact, start. He’s been named in the XI despite that injury rumour. The Guardian report that he was crying because of emotional messages he received.
Crystal Palace: Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; Zaha, Cabaye, McArthur, Jedinak, Bolasie; Wickham. Subs: Speroni, Mariappa, Sako, Puncheon, Gayle, Adebayor.
Fergie and Steve Coppell have arrived, continuing the 1990 nostalgia.
Scholesey looks in good form already.
LVG is talking about the decision to drop Jesse Lingard on BT. It is very, very tough, he admits.
We’re about to start the 10-minute pre-game stuff. Steve Coppell and Fergie are about to walk out with the cup and the volume is getting cranked up by the supporters, with the Palace end impressively coordinated as always.
Alex Ferguson’s advice to the players? “Go out there and enjoy it… but you can only enjoy it if you win.”
Somewhere in the east midlands, John Giles is spitting his tea across his living room. Tinie Tempah emerges from the tunnel in a nice spaceman bomber jacket to perform an atmosphere-killing medley of his hits.
The singer who was to perform the British national anthem missed her cue and joined in halfway through like fellas on the Hill with Amhrán na bhFiann.
And, at last, we’re up in and running in the 2016 FA Cup final.
First corner ball of the afternoon goes to Palace, who’ve started well.
Cabaye plays it to the near post and it’s too close to De Gea.
Fellaini could well be the key to success and failure this evening.
The Belgian was lurking with intent on the back post there and was found with a diagonal ball from Blind but his header was tame enough.
Rashford tests Damien Delaney by playing the ball past the Corkman and challenging him to a foot race.
The Turner’s Cross man launched a vital last-ditch tackle and conceded a corner. It’s been an open start to the game.
Chance! Another Man Utd corner and Fellaini is again the target. The Belgian gets a good header on it, after getting in front of his man marker Jedinak, but it goes wide again.
Rojo has a shot on target but he might have done better putting it across the six-yard box. Wayne Rooney picked him out with a lovely ball from deep.
What have you made of this first 15 minutes or so?
Palace have the ball in the net but it’s ruled out!
Conor Wickham gets past Chris Smalling who falls. Wickham drives into the box and tucks it away but Mark Clattenburg calls it back for a free in. Weird one.
Howard Webb says the ref should well have played advantage there and he’ll be disappointed.
Big save! Juan Mata pops up for the first time to shoot after a poor clearance from inside the box. Hennessy got down to get a strong hand to it and the danger is gone.
Fellaini again comes close! He’s the target for another corner after getting in front of Jedinak, put he can’t steer it home. Another corner.
Palace get two shots off in successive attacks; first from Bolaise and then Wickham. We’re half an hour in and it’s still scoreless, but there’s goals here.
Who had 32 minutes in the Giggsy-off-the-bench pool? Collect your prize at the back of the hall.
Great chance for United! Damien Dempsey dives in a little and is done by Rashford out wide.
He heads goalwards squares for Martial and the French forward’s shot is blocked.
Penalty shout!
Daley Blind loses the ball in a bad position and Zaha is in on goal. Rooney slides in and doesn’t seem to make any contact with the ball as his former teammate hits the deck. Clattenburg waves play on.
Rojo’s booked for a tussle with Zaha, and he’ll have to be very careful if he doesn’t want to pull a Kevin Moran.
Alan Pardew is furious the ref didn’t leave them play on again, meanwhile.
Juan Mata’s booked now too to become the third United player in the ref’s book after Snalling and Rojo. We’re into injury time.
Half-time! Man Utd 0 Crystal Palace 0
What have you made of that?
Mark Clattenburg — who officiates the Champions League final next week — is getting dog’s abuse on social media. The consensus on BBC is that he’s not had a good first period.
Finish those drinks and get back to your seat. The second half has kicked off.
Scott Dann’s booked for taking out Rashford, who’s been United’s brightest player if you ask me.
Fellaini hits the post!
The Big Belgian Battering Ram is getting closer.
Rashford again is the key. He’s been brilliant and again he picks out a teammate — this time with a flick. Fellaini takes it early but his shot canons off the woodwork.
The game is frantic enough now.
Martial headed goalwards from 15 yards or so out after a Valencia cross but it came off the post again.
Meanwhile, Damien Delaney’s been booked. He went through Marcos Rojo after a heavy touch and the Argentine is still on the ground.
Matteo Darmian is introduced in place of Rojo who leaves the fray with Damien Delaney’s stud-prints as a souvenir.
Jason Puncheon is preparing to come on for Palace. From the shadows will come heroes as Sam Torrance was wont to say in his Ryder Cup pomp.
Ashley Young is togging out as Rashford leaves the dray with a knock. That’s a blow for United’s chances.
It’s Cabaye who trots off to make way for Puncheon. Young goes into Rashford’s central role rather than Martial.
LVG loves to play people in the wrong places doesn’t he?
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1 Man Utd 0, Puncheon 78′
What a goal from the south London favourite.
After a Palace corner is cleared, Delaney lofts it back in to Puncehon. The sub takes one touch and blasts it past De Gea.
They’re level. Wayne Rooney beat three Palace players at least before cutting the ball back. It falls to Mata via Fellaini’s chest and the Spaniard drills it home.
I’ve been trying to find a gif of Alan Pardew’s dad-dancing which clearly angered the football gods. United equalised three minutes later.
He’s gonna look pretty stupid if he ends up on the losing side.
Mata’s off in place of Lingard, meanwhile.
A downcast and apparently injured Scott Dann’s been replaced by Adrian Mariappa.
Wilf Zaha’s had a pop at goal under pressure from Valencia, meanwhile, but it fizzes wide.
Full-time: Manchester United 1 Crystal Palace 1
Extra time!
Both sides have made all their changes and we’re set for another half hour of this.
Palace get their first sight of goal in extra time.
Bolaise plays a lovely ball to Zaha on the half turn. The United defence get back in numbers and sniff out the danger.
Bobby won’t be hugely impressed by the fare in extra time so far. It look like both sides have their eyes on penalties already.
Rooney leaves his foot in on Puncheon to prompt calls of ‘off’ from the Palace fans. He’s already been booked and Mark Clattenburg looks in no mood to dismiss the England skipper.
Moments later Fellaini has his name taken for one of those elbow-first aerial challenges. Had to happen.
Save from De Gea! Bolaise volleys a ball goalwards and the Spaniard has to get down to the corner and palm it behind. Great effort too.
RED CARD! Chris Smalling picks up his second yellow card for dragging down Bolaise. Stupid stuff.
What do these managers say to their teams now?
Rio Ferdinand on BT says Pardew needs to gamble on the win in his period.
Is this the last quarter of an hour of Van Gaal’s tenure?
We’re off in the second period of ET.
De Gea save again! Gayle was played in and should have scored but the legs of the Spaniard are in the way. Massive let off.
Michael Carrick — who’s never won the FA Cup — arrives late in the box to meet a cross but he heads wide!
GOAL! Man Utd 2 Crystal Palace 1, Lingard
What a volley! Another sub gets his name on the scoresheet. Valencia plays a ball across the face of goal, it’s half cleared but pops up for the young winger and he lashes it home first time.
Van Gaal goes nuts on the sideline.
Damien Delaney’s playing at centre forward now. It’d be some story if he got an equaliser.
The Selhurst Road brains trust are looking pretty downbeat now with a couple of minutes left.
MAN UNITED WIN THE 2016 FA CUP!
Louis van Gaal has led United to their first trophy in the post-Fergie era while Palace lose another FA Cup final. Their wait for a major trophy goes on.
With the Galzer family looking on, will this this victory be enough to save LVG at Old Trafford?
Wayne Rooney’s actually speaking really well to Des Kelly about this — his first FA Cup final — and what it means to him.
The Palace fans are traipsing up the famous Wembley steps to collect their medals.
As the Stone Roses’ This Is The One comes on the PA, Carrick and Rooney lift the cup.
Thanks for your company. We’re off to do the Pardew.
He sounds like a man who’s lost his dressing room, so he does.
Davy is still A huge hurling hero!. maybe a little less tactics yesterday would have won the game, Shane O’Donnell and Tony Kelly were required to run for most of 70 minutes and why were Darach Honan and Seadna Morey let on the line when Conor McGrath wasn’t fit. The selectors have questions answer! and what are the other management members doing about bringing back Nicky O’ Connell and Davy O’Halloran? Davy Fitzgerald can’t carry all the the responsibility all the time.
And his marbles
He sounds hilarious so he does. He can’t finish a sentence without a derivative of ‘so they do’ so he doesn’t. He’s your archetypal angry little man so he is. He lets his emotions get the better of him so he does. He spouts nonsense so he does, but by using ‘so they do’ at the end of every sentence he sounds like a comic character so he does…so he does.
Well played!
The group is so tightly bound that several fell out.
He should make the whole team stand in different corners of the park and think about what they have not done. In civilian clothing.
Delusional.. Teams deserve their divisional status based on how they perform..
Sorry for Clare.. Delighted for Davy, so I am.
Clearly clare aren’t too good to go down. They may well come straight back up as Waterford did but Limerick will be gung Ho to get promoted next year. As will an emerging Wexford side.
Jaysus I’d love to choke that little ferret, so I would!
Claw have also been won 4 u21s in their history with 3 in the last three years. Clare supporters have every right to demand better than what they are seeing. This current group of Clare players could be their best ever but I can’t see them fulfilling their potential with Fitzie in charge. He’s too much of a hot head that brings too much negativity to the camp.
Clare not claw
so clare didn’t win enough games in the league but according to davy they don’t deserve to get relegated,that’s a hard one to figure out,no wonder the boys went on the piss,imagine his team talks.
What annoys me about this guy is that generally talk sense after games but acts like such a C*** on the sideline.
I admire his drive and passion but I just can’t respect this guy, his conduct is not what kids should see on an intercounty sideline.
I had the unpleasant experience of being near him before during a water crystal game and I couldn’t believe the tripe and abuse that flowed from his mouth and if I’m shocked by that, then its bad in the extreme.
You could hear him screeching on the sidelines watching the game on the TV yesterday – when the camera wasn’t even on him. He’s an embarrassment. I’m disappointed for Clare, they’re a great bunch of hurlers but I’m glad we won’t have to meet Clare next year (in the regulation games away) and have his sideline antics inflicted on us.
Aideen you’re an embarrassment with a statement like that. He’s got 2 all Ireland’s, 3 all stars, 3 munsters as a player. Has won a Munster championship and an all Ireland as a manager. Yeah he’s an embarrassment. Why don’t you come back to me when you have one of your own on the line. What’s more embarrassing is continually having to go outside your county to get a manager in.
Did i mention anywhere that he hasn’t won all you’ve mentioned above?? No i didn’t. I mentioned his antics, which are embarrassing. If you think how he behaves on the sideline is fitting of a county manager and a good example to kids watching the game well then more fool you.
I say he’s an embarrassment on the sideline and you take offence yet you have no response to the person who says he ‘acts like such a C*** on the sideline.’ Seems it’s ok to be a c*** so? That’s good to know.
And ‘yeah he is an embarrassment’. Thanks for agreeing with me.
You must be leading a sheltered life Aideen. I know Dubs never use foul language during games and the fans are incredibly respectful especially on the hill. If you couldn’t handle Ennis a couple of weeks ago you’d be better off sitting in when there’s a match on and watching Mary poppins.
Ha ha What are you on about?! Did i say i couldn’t handle bad language?? I was questioning why you took such offence to me calling him an ‘embarrassment’ yet seemed to have no issue with someone calling him a ‘C***.’
Also not sure where I said I couldn’t handle Ennis a few weeks ago?? Did I mention Ennis?? Nope.. I didn’t. You seem to enjoy responding to comments that weren’t actually made.
As for telling me i need to sit in and watch Mary Poppins how incredibly sexist of you. I’m a dual season ticket holder and spend most of my weekends supporting my county. Have far too much going on to be sitting in watching musicals, you however have a nice 10 week break ahead. Plenty of time for you to continue with your one man defence of Davy Fitz… or hey, how about taking up your own advice and sticking on Mary Poppins.
In fairness I do think that being called an embarrassment is more insulting considering what he’s achieved in the game to date. I wouldn’t consider myself to be sexist either, if a bloke started whining about a few swear words at a game I’d tell him to go home and watch Mary P too, and no bother Aideen I will continue to support Davy considering half the country seem to be having a constant go at him. What I won’t do is attack any amateur players or managers through social media
Once again, I will repeat I DID NOT ‘whine about a few swear words at a game’ so I’d appreciate if you stop saying I did.
I will however be sure to call him a ‘C***’ or say ‘I’d love to choke that little ferret’ next time. You obviously see no issue with people expressing those kind of opinions and don’t consider that an attack of a manager through social media.
Also If he behaves like a child who’s not getting his way on the sideline he’ll be ridiculed for it. If he wants people to remember ‘what he’s achieved to date’ and respect him for it maybe he should reconsider how he acts and people might be more inclined to do so.
I’d expect as much from you.
Awh… I’d be hurt if i was as sensitive as you are about people slagging your Davy. Thankfully I have thicker skin :)
Hahaha what can I say I’m a modern man!
Bet your a little fella too. Small man syndrome is an awful afliction
No I’m quite tall actually
Hey Tom for someone that likes to make comments about people’s appearances can I ask you what you are? Man, woman or both???
Yep. If the money is right i’m all of the above
I cannot make head nor tail of that title.
….so I can’t
He can forget about the League Structure Review, that would only have happened if Kilkenny lost.
Ooooh miaoow. Bit catty there dont you think. I cant ever recall Kk seeking any rule or system changes, they just seem to adapt to the changes foisted on them and carry on with the minimum of fuss and bother, so your comment only deserves reply in the educational sense as obviously you are quite new to the game, btw davy in his assertion that clare were too good for relegation might just consider the strength and level ofpreparedness of the kk team,
I reading with interest all these anti Davy and Clare based comments. As an individual from another Munster County not too far from Clare, I’d love to have Davy and the current crop of players to pick from. Just a few things I want to comment on:
1) Winning 3 Under 21 All Ireland’s guarantees you nothing at senior level. Supporters who truly know their hurling would know that only a handful of good under 21′s will be ever be good enough play senior Hurling not to mention win senior All Ireland’s, trust me, ask anyone in Limerick about that.
2) it’s exceptionally hard to win one All Ireland, not to mention multple ones. Hence, since 1999 only 4 counties have won an All Ireland. Again, in Limerick we’d be damn glad of just one!
3) any of ye wonder why the GPA, who love jumping to the Defence of their players and have no issue having a go at management have quietly pulled away from the Clare situation having found nothing worth investigating???
4) like him or not, hard to argue with his record as one poster said.
5) despite the result, it was a very impressive performance from the Banner yesterday
That’s my two cents worth!!!!!
Well said, you’re my new hero!
We didn’t forget in Tipperary Davey. Keep up the good work!
What did you not forget? When fitzy buried that penalty against yee in 99 or was it his save from Leahy in 1997???
Stick with it Davy.
F&#k the critics.
Up the banner……
It’s a bit silly if the team in division 1b tops the group and goes up, that’s deserved but if the 2nd place team in division 1b goes on to win the national league but can’t get promoted to division 1A where as the top team in the group goes up.. Might never happen… Just saying
Good observation actually
Tipperary have 26 Clare 3. That speaks for itself Paul. So go outside pick up a hurl and practice a bit and come back to me in roughly 700-800 years when Clare reach that point. Which is how long it’s taking at 4 championships per 130 years.
Good one David so your saying Tipp won’t win another all Ireland for 7-800 years? You thought that out well. I’d expect as much from a Tipp person.
Hey Paul Kelly here is a good one for ya. If Clare beat limerick in mumster yee will get a craic at Tipp….expect a beating.
Clare have three tipp have only two won in the last 30 years what have cork and kk won in that time? Maybe I can ask tipps record since since 1971 against cork and kk and Clare aren’t far off!!
I’d love to row in with you spoddgy but just the facts Jack. I think tipp have four in my lifetime anyway. 89, 91,01 and 10.
Kenobi if tipp get to the all Ireland final this year expect to be beaten twice in the Championship. It will be like 97 all over again.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha paul kelly I can’t wait for muster to hammer clare…Ai final? Sure ye won’t be there
Forgive me Paul it was 20 years I was going for Clare won in there second all ireland 20 years ago. Still tipp haven’t been as successfull as they probably should have been since the early 70s!
2 attempts at trying to spell MUNSTER and you still haven’t been able to do it!!
Munster. Where Klare will be beaten.
Good lad. Well done. You are a quick learner. Just the 3 attempts.
Go back to your soccer deccy….roll on Munster
Go back to school Kenobi…… learn how to spell.
Lol. Well I missed alot of Mondays as a teen..ya know after munster finals and A.i. etc..that’s why your all such good spellers in Klare…
Lol. Judging by recent years results it’ll have been drowning your sorrows on the Mondays after been beaten by Kilkenny.
Rowl on muster wear Klare will play Tipp. See what then (“,)
Ah Obi you had made such progress on the spelling!! :-)
Can’t believe he didn’t go on about being small fish.
He’s a muppet and most of Clare hurling fans have lost confidence in him.
Davy says they’ve no questions to answer when they’ve won a single competitive game (against Laois) in over a year losing 8 and drawing 1. That’s an 80% loss rate and 10% won rate. Plus 5 players don’t just walk off the panel with another on his way to America. He’s clearly bringing morale down and seems to have lost the dressing room. It was a great achievement to win the all ireland with clare but there’s no point in sitting at home staring at that medal when that’s in the past and with the crop of players he has they’ve a great chance of winning another couple but if things stay the way they are they won’t fulfill their potential.
Expand 1a by two teams with the team finishing bottom relegated and second bottom playing off against second place in 1b perhaps?
Regardless of any changes the league needs to get proper coverage. Keep it on tg4 with Irish commentary by all means but show as many games live as possible. I’ve no interest in watching the club semi final from 09 and waiting for deferred coverage thanks…
Expand 1a by two teams and where would that leave say a Wxford or offaly if they got relegated? In complete wilderness playing the likes of kerry and down. No the current system is by far and away the best. In 2013 the two teams that competed for relegation made the all Ireland final, while Limerick have been in 1b for a while it hasn’t stopped them building for some very impressive championship campaigns.
So many clowns here dissing Davy, he and the backroom team still got us promoted out of 1b in 2012 and managed to win the final in 2013. Or does all that mean anything anymore? Give the guys a break for god sake, I’m pretty sure that case with o Halloran was just blown way out of proportion so get over yerselves people!