league cup final

[John]

None of the TV stations hold the rights to show the league cup final.

[Sylvain]

It is  shame because I would bet the FA will film it for educational purpose.

[Dr Gonzo]

I can see this being a problem with more cold weather set for the coming week...they've been very foolish having the game so early in the year I mean whats the rush to get finished the league doesn't start again until 2011..

[Sylvain]

I think it will be a very close game, Everton have a bit more experience and won trophy in recent season.
Leeds have loads of up and coming young players.

[Oldship30]

It's going to be broadcast live on TheFA website.

[OOH Fayefan]

I'm glad I don't have to trek all the way to that football hotbed.....Scunny was bad enough last season...

[Rach_83]

Everton hoping to challenge Arsenal's domination with Cup win

• Merseyside club face Leeds Carnegie in Thursday's final
• Arsenal drawn against Doncaster in the women's FA Cup

Tony Leighton -  guardian.co.uk, Sunday 7 February 2010 18.18 GMT
 

Everton will renew their attempt to take over Arsenal's mantle as the country's top team when they face Leeds Carnegie in Thursday's Premier League Cup final. After the Merseyside club beat the Gunners in the 2008 final the manager, Mo Marley, said her team could follow that success by moving ahead of the club that has dominated the women's scene for the past decade.

Instead Arsenal won the treble for the second time in three years last season. In the process they knocked Everton out of both cup competitions and also beat them on the final day of the league season to pip them to the title.

Marley said: "Arsenal have created an environment of natural born winners and we must achieve that if we're going to get to where we want to be. We just haven't delivered on most of the really big occasions against Arsenal. We beat them in the league halfway through last season but then in the crunch game on the last day too many of our big players didn't perform.

"It was the same against Leeds in the FA Cup semi-final two seasons ago – we'd won the League Cup and were maybe content with one trophy. But our mentality is stronger this season. We showed it by beating Arsenal in the League Cup semi-final and now we've got to show it against Leeds in the final; and if we win, then this time we have to kick on, not sit back."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/feb/07/arsenal-everton-womens-football

[Rach_83]

Jill has Scott the lot

By Glenn Lavery - Tuesday, 09 February, 2010

Everton's all-action midfielder hungry for Cup success.
Everton v Leeds Carnegie  -  The Final - The FA Tesco Women’s Premier League Cup
7pm, Thursday 11 February 2010
Spotland Stadium, Rochdale AFC


Jill Scott knows Everton are potentially only 90 minutes away from their second Premier League Cup crown in three years and she is determined to assist the Toffees in their quest for further glory.

The midfielder was a member of the successful 2008 squad and although she salutes the quality of their Final opponents, Leeds Carnegie, she admits she only has visions of replicating the triumph of two years ago.

“Everyone’s really excited to be in this Final and we are all looking forward to it,” she said. “But I’m really only looking for one outcome and that is us lifting the trophy at the end of the game.

“We know that once you’re in a Final, form just goes out of the window; it’s all about what you do on the day,” she continued, “so we’ll have to make sure we play to the best of our ability. We are probably favourites but we won’t be underestimating Leeds at all, they are a very good side. I’ll be doing everything I can to help us win.”

Despite their lack of matches (Everton have played just seven League matches so far this season), Mo Marley’s side still managed to defeat seven-times winners, Arsenal, in the Semi-Final and Scott wants to use that victory, and possibly the collection of another Cup, as a springboard to get their disrupted League campaign back on track.

“It’s been tough in terms of getting consistency,” admitted the 23-year-old. “We’ve picked up a few points in the League, even though it was disappointing not to beat Chelsea, but they’ve lost points along the way and Sunderland have beaten Arsenal so we’re right back in the mix again. We’ve come back after Christmas and been looking forward to playing because we want to play games, win every game and push ourselves back up the League.”

On Thursday Scott could be lining up in midfield against international team-mates Sue Smith, Steph Houghton and Jess Clarke and she admits she is relishing the challenge.

“It’s always tough coming up against their midfield and there’s always a good battle in the middle of the park. There will be some real quality players on show from both sides but I’m definitely looking to come out on top of whoever I’m up against.”

http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/FACompetitions/TheFAWomensPLCup/NewsandFeatures/2010/FAWPLCFinal_Scott.aspx

[Rach_83]

Couple of radio interviews with Everton players, Fara Williams and Toni Duggan:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/women/8506521.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/women/8506531.stm

[Sylvain]

I hope all the supporters will be well covered for what will be a chilly evening.
Good luck to both teams and come on the referee lol

[Rach_83]

Cup Final Preview
Leeds Carnegie’s players feel they have a date with destiny as they prepare to face Everton in Thursday’s Women’s Premier League Cup final.

A fortnight after learning the club’s Super League bid had been withdrawn, possibly leading to the team folding at the end of the season, the squad is still shell-shocked.


But, says England winger Sue Smith, the devastating news has had a galvanising affect ahead of the Cup final at Rochdale’s Spotland. “When we heard the Super League news we were absolutely distraught,” said Smith, “but we quickly decided to stick together and go out with a bang. “We’ve been in three Cup finals in the last four seasons and lost them all – but we are more determined than ever this time and we’ve got absolute belief that we can win.” Leeds lost all three of their previous finals to Arsenal, but the holders were knocked out by Everton in this season’s semi-final.


And in striker Natasha Dowie the 2008 League Cup winners have the competition’s most potent attacker and potential match-winner. Dowie has scored in every round to date and will be looking to increase her seven-goal League Cup tally on Thursday evening. “I’m really enjoying this season,” said Dowie. “I’m scoring on a consistent basis and getting another goal in the final would complete a great run for me. “But winning the game is the most important thing whoever scores the goals, and as long as we end up with the Cup I’ll be happy.”


Dowie was among the scorers as Everton warmed up for the final with a 7-0 trouncing of Portsmouth in Sunday’s FA Cup fifth round. Leeds were meanwhile going down to Arsenal – again – but it was a narrow 3-2 defeat and Smith said: “We can take real positives from our performance.


“We really pushed Arsenal and although we’ve got total respect for a great Everton team, we are ready for this - we feel our time has come to win a Cup final.” Dowie is equally sure of victory. “Leeds are a very good side,” said the striker, “but we are playing really well at the moment and we’re confident of winning.”

http://www.shekicks.net/flog/blogs/post/23

[Dr Gonzo]

I hope all the supporters will be well covered for what will be a chilly evening.
Good luck to both teams and come on the referee lol

I just hope the game goes ahead its set to be pretty cold overnight...

[Sylvain]

I hope the FA has chosen a quality ground to host the final otherwise fans will be angry if the game is called off.

[Aphrodites Child]

I heard they did consider Emirates Stadium, but it is a bit out of the way for the teams

[twmcat]

I heard they did consider Emirates Stadium, but it is a bit out of the way for the teams

That sort of thing doesn't usually worry the FA