Owen Wants To be The New Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

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Michael Owen joined Manchester United in the knowledge that a starting place would be very rare. At 31, he has come to accept this, and the cameo role he plays in certain matches often prove absolutely vital in games, especially when you consider he was a free signing for United. But the main reason the former Liverpool fan favourite joined United was to do something that his previous teams rarely did in his time there - win trophies.

He came to no better place, and this season, he has the chance to help United to win both the Premier League trophy, and the Champions League trophy, both of which would be the first of his long, goal filled career. In a recent interview, Owen put his lack of pitch time down to the quality and depth of the squad at United. He said:

"Even if it is just one goal or one good performance, everyone is going to play their part."

"I was in the stand on Tuesday against Schalke. You are feeling sorry for yourself thinking I would like to be on the pitch or on the bench.

"Next to you is Wes Brown, who has dozens of England caps and John O'Shea, who has got even more for the Republic of Ireland. Darron Gibson is also an international.

"They are not even getting stripped. That tells you everything about the squad of player we have got.

The majority of Manchester Untied fans see Owen's best position as on the bench, and coming on late in the game when a goal is needed - a "super-sub" if you like, and it the interview, he said something quite interesting considering United's history:

"I suppose I am dreaming of coming off the bench and scoring the stoppage-time winner in the Champions League final.

"That is the motivation that drives me on. Every day I have to be ready and prepared to come in and do something."

Sound familiar? Cast your minds back to the 1999 Champions League final, and who came on in a Champions League final to score the winner? Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of course, and what was he genreally known as? A "super-sub". Scoring a late winner in the Champions League final must be a dream come true for any player, and every time I watch Solskjaer's winner in that final, goosebumps run fiercely all over my skin, so what it must be like for a player only they will know.

Michael Owen has done it before in his time at United - not in a Champions League final - but in the Manchester derby last season, when a draw seemed certain late on. His 96th minute goal is typical of United's never say die attitude, and there is no doubt, that if United make this years European Cup final, and they need a goal, Michael Owen will surely be sent on to find one. Like Solskjaer, his finishing and eye for goal are deadly. Who knows, perhaps late in May, Owen's dream may become a reality. Lets hope so.

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Watch: Arsenal 3 - 0 Ipswich

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In the end, Arsenal cruised to victory to reach the Carling Cup final. Ipswich, under new manager Paul Jewell, held on for as long as they could to their impressive one goal lead that they brought from the first leg, but the quality of Arsenal was all too much for the Championship side who could do nothing as Arsenal scored three, gliding to the final as strong favourites to win their first trophy sine 2005.

Ipswich gave a very good account of themselves, with Arsenal captain Fabregas conceding that it was a tough two legs for them to play in, and despite the Gunners usual defence cutting quality play, struggled against Jewell's side. Ipswich got numbers behind the ball, had their attacking players tracking back and were very resilient in defence, whilst they sometimes tried to break out of their defensive play under enormous Arsenal pressure to venture on a couple of attacks themselves, unfortunately proving fruitless for them.

Arsenal grabbed their first goal through Nicklas Bendtner - a fantastic individual goal, as you can see below.
The two other goals, including a Koscielny header from a corner and a captains goal from Cesc Fabregas, you can watch here.

FA Cup Final - Is a Shock Result On the Cards?

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This truly is going to be an interesting game. The clash between the top team in the Premier League against the bottom team. One team having arguably their best season for three years, the other in financial meltdown and relegation to the Championship confirmed. But both are fighting for one thing in this match. The FA Cup.

If Portsmouth aren't on their game, they could be in for a complete whitewash. It was only last week that Chelsea beat Wigan by eight, whose to say they can't do it again?

Portsmouth have shown tremendous fight this season, with everything going on around them, they have fought so hard. The club, however has been as stable as an eight year old with matches in a firework factory. Players being paid late, worries over finances and eventual administration have ruined the clubs Premier League status and caused chaos.

But, despite this, anything can happen in football.
A lucky bounce, an awkward deflection, or even a beach ball could decide this matches out-come, not to mention a dodgy Wembley pitch!

I'm not going to make a prediction, because I will probably get it horribly wrong. It always depends on who turns up playing the best. In the FA Cup, as it has proved over the years, it isn't about the quality of the individual players necessarily, but the quality of the team as a whole.

Brave Fulham Lose out in Final

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A heart thumping final.

Fulham have achieved a massive feat to reach the final. But their hearts were broken by a Diego Forlan goal late in extra time. A cruel blow to a brave, passionate team punching well above their weight.

I don't think Fulham will be able to achieve a final again for a while. Nor do I think Roy Hodgson will stay on as manager. He can do no more. He has taken them as far as a small club can go.

Their excellent performances this season especially in Europe has made teams think very hard about how to win and their amazing fight has feared teams into defeat. But to win a final was too much.

It could have gone either way in the match, and it was very close, reflected in the tight scoreline. But the lucky Madrid took the trophy, and the Fulham fans, players and team were distraught.