Ginola14

exactly, also didn't affect MU in the slightest when they played Barca in midweek before beating us in our 2023 final, if anything it buoyed them and they were sharper as a result

a lot more worried about this game after today's complete no-show something about this club, whenever we get to a cup final everyone is just overcome with excitement/emotion and league form nosedives I wouldn't mind except the last 4 finals going back to 98, we've failed to really turn up in any of them Howe is still doing great with this group of players imo but until we actually win something, I think it'll be like this every time If everyone is fit and 100% on it for the final I think we've got a good shot, but I doubt that will happen as very few teams can just turn it on when needed Liverpool also the worst team we could play as they're super consistent and have the best squad by far on the other hand maybe today's result will focus the minds for the next 4 weeks and also help to manage expectations (felt some were getting a bit carried away after the 9 game winning streak)

worrying league form but at least Chelsea and Forest lost while Villa dropped more points

Liverpool could be out of sight in the league by the time we play them in the final (fully expecting Arsenal to fall off now) not ideal really

sounds like a storm in a teacup only worry is the Villa players and staff will be extra motivated when we're playing at Villa Park

just realised we've won the last 6 away games including 4 in the league some records here to be broken

refs allowing this shit means certain injuries fuvk this game and competition

hope to fuck we don't have to bring Isak on these lot would try to snap his leg off

I always think the timing of games is so important so much can change between now and 16 March for both teams just have to hope we don't pick up any injuries or suspensions and keep the form relatively steady it was really bad timing for us last time against MU with Pope being suspended while they were on a high after knocking Barca out of the EL a few days prior. they also had Rashford, Cas, Shaw and Martinez in peak form and we had just lost to Liverpool (only team to beat us up to that point), goals dried up without Bruno for 3 games etc they'll be fully expecting to win unlike us, but we can beat them with a bit of luck

brilliant set up from Howe, executed brilliantly by the players so much for that 'no plan b' some here were throwing at him absolutely delighted with that, even if it means our league form will likely dip again before the final

any chance of them rotating for this? apart from the odd draw/defeat they've been quite consistent on all fronts this season I suppose it's a semi, they'll be happy to take risks given their position, if they go through it'll be some comeback for them and they'll have loads of momentum for rest of season, if they go out they won't be too bothered need our defence to be fully switched on for the full 90+, no sloppy passing and gifts please

the only consolation of getting eliminated now would be not having another heartbreaking final loss, most likely against Liverpool a final loss against Spurs would be unbearable

I feel like it's written in the stars now Liverpool win league Arsenal win CL Man U win Europa League Spurs win League Cup City win FA Cup Chelsea win Conference League another fine season for the Cartel 6

we've been such a soft touch at home this season I think Arsenal will be quite confident our lot won't know whether to stick or twist whereas they'll just go for it hope the crowd can help lift the team but suspect they'll he nervy as fuck like me

so much for City giving Arsenal good workout before Wednesday Arsenal players taking the piss out of them now for all the stick Havertz gets he's still a good player and that was a great finish last thing we needed

these outgoings will probably just enable the club to tie Isak down with a lucrative new deal - probably the most important thing for the club to do this summer

wow

I was a little sceptical of the new format at the start but it's clearly miles better the groups were so tedious, with so many occasions where the likes of Bayern and Liverpool would smash smaller clubs 5-0 away and then they have to play a return game to do it all over again - so no more of that thank fuck there's also a kind of randomness to the fixtures that makes this format far more interesting there's probably been less rotation as so many clubs are jostling for position, rather than having the group won after 4 games and obviously means loads to fans of historically massive clubs like Celtic, Brugge, Benfica, Feyenoord etc so many cracking games already and the final league round next week will no doubt be great fun there were some interesting group stages previously to be fair, like ours last season, but generally found the whole thing was quite boring until the knockouts

not sure selling Kelly in January is a good idea while we're still fighting on three fronts unless they can get an amazing fee for him now with one or two incomings lined up there'll be more offers for him in the summer and more opportunity to adequately replace him then

any concrete links with DCL or is this just idle speculation? I wouldn't mind him as a back up akin to Chris Wood his confidence must be in tatters after failing to score for so long but if he can get his confidence back he could be a v useful player

I think Howe is the perfect manager for us at the moment for so many reasons and hope he's here for many more years it's nice to see him getting a few more plaudits but if form dips much then loads will be questioning him again, I'm sure it's just the nature of football fans he could win us the league this year and there would still be people calling for his head next season if we were having a Spurs/MU type year near the relegation zone sure if Ranieri can win the league with Leicester of all teams and then be sacked the following year, I don't think anyone is safe for long

this is the last of this crazy 3 games per week period since Mid December and when this amazing run began would be great to cap it with a 10th win in a row hopefully all their injuries will start to catch up with them and we can end their impressive unbeaten run seems like a good time to play them but will probably need to play very well to get the job done

we should be all over that, only worry would be his injury record, and probably he'll be looking fot more first team football than he'd get here

he came off the bench last season to win us the game with 2 goals against Wham won us the game at Wolves loads of other important goal contributions he's lethal and not having this option off the bench or to rotate is a big blow, no doubt

shite news we've been on such a good run, I kept thinking we just need to avoid injuries to key players so long as Gordon stays fit we're still okay here, fingers crossed always feel a lot more confident seeing a strong bench though