FA Cup Semi Finals.

This topic contains 20 replies, has 8 voices, and was last updated by Shedend Shedend 3 years, 8 months ago.

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  • #1852550

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    What a shame I was hoping for two derbies.

    Both Semi Finals will be interesting Chelsea will have to play a lot better than they did v Leicester although the 6 changes probably contributed to that and Chelsea do owe United one.

    Pleased to avoid City.

    #1852611
    aindro
    aindro
    Participant
    • :

    4 big teams in the semi final. No suprise in the FA Cup this time. Man Utd & Solskjaer already beat Chelsea & Frank Lampard 3 times. Hopefully this time it will be our luck. We need to play way better against United. They are good. Bruno Fernandes, what a player. I think Man Utd are the strongest amongst this lot considering Aguero’s injury for City. FL avoided the worst yesterday by those early substitutions, but I am afraid we need better performance if we want to win against United. They have players who can score: Martial, Rashford, Fernandes, Pogba …

    #1852632

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    Be a different team v United Aindro difficult game to call but we’re due a win.

    Fingers crossed.🤞🤞🤞

    #1852661
    aindro
    aindro
    Participant
    • :

    I agree that Man City were the team to avoid. So not too bad to face Man Utd in the semi. I am not optimist though, Man Utd are really dangerous in front of goal. Their defense is a bit suspect however.
    Before that, 5 important matches in the league against teams facing relegation battle (WHU, WAT, NOR). It will be really tough IMO. One match at a time. Hopefully Pulisic’s injury is not bad, he really starts to impress.

    #1854947
    chelsea1967
    chelsea1967
    Participant
    • :

    Probably the toughest draw of the lot for us as United have had our measure for a while now. Add in Fernandes and I am even less confident. Love to be proven wrong mind. Harry Maguire has looked a bit dodgy for them of late so maybe we can expose him. Having said that our defence will be under plenty of pressure dealing with what artillery they can throw at us. They are on fire at the moment.

    #1855114

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    It’s a big task 67.

    United are the form team in the PL but we owe them one and whoever we drew would have been tough even Arsenal on their day are a match for anyone.

    We’ll have to be at our very best though and not make any silly mistake especially defensively.

    The SkyBet FA Cup winners odds are interesting.

    City odds on favourites but Chelsea and United are neck and neck.

    Manchester City
    8/13
    Chelsea
    4/1
    Manchester Utd
    4/1
    Arsenal
    10/1

    #1855333
    Chelsea.man
    Chelsea.man
    Participant
    • :

    At the minute, i would flag off this match, let United and City play their final. i would concentrate on the Sheffield game. because that is more important than this. i would rest Giroud, Willian, Pulisic, Mount, Azpi as they have played a lot of football since the resumption of the league. and more so to protect them from injury. if we can win 3 games and get a draw from Liverpool, it will be enough I think considering the Spuds get something from their Leicester game. and two of our rivals will be going head to head for the last day of the season. so why waste this golden opportunity? at this minute finishing in the top four is our priority than winning a cup for me. although I wouldn’t mind if we win one, our priority is not there.

    #1855445

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    Chelseaman, there is no way that Frank “will flag off this match” he’s a multiple FA Cup winner himself and his Dad’s an FA Cup winner too and Frank retains the highest respect for the FA Cup as s competition.

    Frank will treat the Semi Final as another important match to try and win and if he thinks one or two need resting that’s what he’ll do but he will go into the game with a strong team and hoping to win it.

    #1855501
    Shedend
    Shedend
    Participant
    • :

    I think Frank will go for it because it’s United. Based on our game with them this season he will be going for a psychological win.

    #1858579

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    No Kante for this game is a massive miss considering United’s attacking potential and our defensive frailties. The team will be interesting.

    #1858581
    aindro
    aindro
    Participant
    • :

    I think Frank Lampard will go full team, no doubt about it. Himself won 4 FA Cup, he knows how important the competition is. Bummer that Kanté cannot recover. I reckon if United aren’t tired they will create havoc in our midfield + defense with Fernandes, Pogba, Rashford, Greenwood and Martial.

    I am far from optimist for this match, but it’s important that we try to win the Cup. Show respect to the competition.
    Willian looked very tired last time, Hudson-Odoi may give a better impact for this match as he is hungry and eager

    My team: Kepa – Azpi,Rudiger,Zouma,Alonso – Jorginho,Kovacic – Pulisic,Mount,Hudson-Odoi – Abraham

    #1858662

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    United are good but they’re not unbeatable Southampton pushed them hard at OT and with a bit more luck Palace could have got something from the mid week game too despite no Cahill or Benteke.

    We have to be careful we don’t beat ourselves with any of our Kamakaze defending and we don’t give them any soft penalties and watch out for Fernandes in that situation and his Villa tricks then if we can take our chances rather than spurn them we will be in with a shout. 🤞🤞🤞

    #1858842
    aindro
    aindro
    Participant
    • :

    Arsenal beat City. So the final won’t be disputed between 2 Manchester teams. Hope we can make the final to be disputed between 2 London teams. Aubameyang, what a striker. I think if we can defend tight like Arsenal today: we stand a chance as we have players who can score like Willian, Giroud, Mount or Pulisic. But we should avoid at all cost playing too openly. Man Utd have very good passers and runners and our defending is not top notch yet so far we’ ve seen

    #1858882

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    If Frank goes too open today United will pick us off we certainly can’t afford another midfield of Jorginho, Barkley and Mount as per Sheffield United

    I might even be tempted to play Christensen in the holding role in front of the back 4.

    Kepa has to have a good game and there mustn’t be any silly defensive errors if that happens we’ll make chances and there’s every chance of an all London Final.

    But it’s going to be tough against an in form United and much depends on Chelsea not making any defensive howlers which wont be easy against a very fluid and fast front 3 and somehow the effectiveness of Fernandes needs to be nullified.

    United maybe looked a bit jaded v Palace and there’s been little rotation from Ole since the restart if he selects a similar team to Palace that could be to our favour.

    3/4/3 anyone?😊

    #1858928
    srilankanlion
    srilankanlion
    Participant
    • :

    United are a fast attacking team. Any pressure on our defence and we crumble.
    Sad to say i have no confidence in Kepa!
    4/5/1 or 3/5/2 for me.

    They have beaten us 3 times this season but we have to be positive.

    #1858931
    Chelsea.man
    Chelsea.man
    Participant
    • :

    I’m more worried about our game on Wednesday, that is the game I think which will give us £50m extra war-chest to rebuild our defence. I still think full-back and holding midfield is our biggest weakness and not centre back as people are leading to believe us. every time Zouma and Rudiger play together in recent times they kept a clean sheet. but both of our full-backs are not up to the level required to play at this level.

    We also need an out and out holding midfielder who can hold and sit next to Kante and who is physically astute. if we can get a left-back who can defend plus Reece James in his second season to improve, and a holding midfielder who will sit there and protect the back four. our attack is very good with the addition of Ziyech and Werner. plus Pulisic, Mount, CHO, Barkley and Abraham that is if we can persuade Willian to extend his contract.

    Our worst-case scenario could be a blessing in disguise at the same time. if God forbid we miss CL and we get the Europa, it could give us a platform to test our young and fringe players and another avenue back to the CL.

    #1858951

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    S.Lion, yes 3/5/2 might be an interesting way to go.

    Re Kepa Willie has played in the FA Cup games and Frank might go that way again?

    #1859199
    Blueowner
    Blueowner
    Participant
    • :

    Must admit was surprised how easy we won today plus with Spurs beating Leicester a good day for us.

    #1859211
    aindro
    aindro
    Participant
    • :

    A great day indeed for Chelsea fans. Leicester dropped points and Chelsea go to the final. Did not think a second when the season started that we would play a final under a very inexperienced manager and a transfer ban.

    I think the strategy was the key and Lampard did it right by opting to play 3-4-3. Jorginho needs Kovacic and those 2 players performed admirably today. Kovacic, what a signing. Outplayed Matic, Fred and then Pogba. Willy Caballero is far from perfect but I have an impression that our defenders are more confident with him on the goal than with Kepa. A solid performance from our defense apart that stupid penalty from CHO. Giroud is my MoM. He schooled the 85m defender Maguire. Hopefully Bailly will be all right though, a very bad injury it seems.

    Liverpool away next. It’s not impossible to win there

    #1859216

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    If we had played that every week we would have already qualified for the CL.😊

    Frank set the team up perfectly with the right tactics and every player played their part today.

    United have been brilliant for a while now but Chelsea all over the pitch knocked them completely out of their stride almost from the first minute.

    I know De Gea is getting some stick but he made a couple of good saves too.

    Frank said he was proud of his players today and I think he had every right to be proud of the players today after a couple of iffy performances in the last two games.

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