Chelsea - FA Cup SF | Pre-Match Thread

Result Prediction

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Akpowell said:
And the league too
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No we have lot of leeway in the league ... lose to villa, lose to palace and we still are in front in the league and in control ... what part of that people don't understand?

Lose to Chelsea or PSG and that Quad becomes a Treble or Double and lose to Spurs and that's that ... just the league would be the only one left in the end ... which pretty much is in the bag anyway ... except for a few on here who just can't stop shitting their pants for no reason (in my very humble opinion) ... same ultra pessimistic views and comments like oh league, but my league, but that's all I care for and I don't care for cups or CL ... going on and on in every single thread, same crying over Leeds loss and worried for the league because of that one game and because Pep changed too many ... c'mon - grow a pair!

Fine you care for the league ... I do too ... but look at the big picture ... and get excited about the possibility of something that's never been done before ... yes everything, the Quad ... we did the domestic treble already ... we can do one better this time ... dream man DREAM!


Have a look at these next six fixtures in 18 days ... and anyone who doesn’t think the lowest priority are the Villa and Palace games need to give their head a wobble.

 
Think Pep will make more changes than people fancy. Not because he underestimates Chelsea or the competition, but because the game with Dortmund was physically quite taxing (113 km distance covered), and most players won't be fresh enough just 68 hours later having travelled back to Manchester and then to London.

Pep is likely to make 6 changes: SteffEn, Laporte, Cancelo, Dinho, Sterling and Jesus will probably start. He can make also 5 subs. So, he will start with, say, Dinho, Gundy and Bernie in midfield, and will sub in Kevin and Phil for Gundy and Bernie after 60 minutes plus Torres for Mahrez, or vice versa. Plus 2 other subs, e.g. Rodri and Walker.
 
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Didsbury Dave said:
We seem to have this weird discussion about back-up keepers every season.

If we have agreed with him in advance that he plays all ties in the domestic cups, then of course we stick to that. And I'd be absolutely stunned if we haven't agreed that with him, because that's the only way you're going to get a decent number 2.

The decision will have been made at the beginning of the season and that's that. Any manager/D of F who went against his original word is a moron, and neither Pep nor Txiki are.
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BoundedCascade said:
Do we play Steffan or Ederson in this competition, I can't remember. I feel like its Eddy
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I can't see why Eddy needs to rotate he does fuck all
 
BlueindianNewcity said:
I can't see how we can afford to not rotate after that energy sapping performance !
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Remember what Gundo said. ”We are professional footballers” and “What else are we going to do ?”

The squad will be ready to go again. I think we have to start with our strongest possible eleven and use the 5 substitutes as required as the inevitable tiredness kicks in.
 
MCFC1993 said:
It's not really for Ederson though, it keeps the morale of the backup keeper high, which is important for a happy squad and important if Ederson ever gets injured.
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I think Steffan deserves to start in the cups, He has been excellent when ever called upon.
If he starts on Saturday which is highly likely then I'm happy.
As you said if anything ever happens Eddie then we have a keeper who gets game time.
 
MCFC1993 said:
It's not really for Ederson though, it keeps the morale of the backup keeper high, which is important for a happy squad and important if Ederson ever gets injured.
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Yeah I'd rather improve the chances of us getting through to an FA Cup final, rather than trying to keep the morale of the backup keeper high thanks.
 
SWPISHOME said:
I think Steffan deserves to start in the cups, He has been excellent when ever called upon.
If he starts on Saturday which is highly likely then I'm happy.
As you said if anything ever happens Eddie then we have a keeper who gets game time.
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Steffan 100% deserves it, it also means we can keep a very good backup keeper happy, as they know they will take part in winning this club trophies and doesn't necessarily have to move to a weaker club just to play more. He has 10 appearances this season and has been solid, which could be 14-16 appearances come the end of the season.

Not bad to know we've got a keeper playing 15 times a season, should our number 1 ever get injured.
 
ws01 said:
Yeah I'd rather improve the chances of us getting through to an FA Cup final, rather than trying to keep the morale of the backup keeper high thanks.
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I suppose I'm struggling to see where he's really weakened us this season:

Steffan's appearances this season:
24th Sept - Bournemouth (H) - LC 3rd Round - Won 2-1
30th Sept - Burnley (A) - LC 4th Round - Won 3-0
9th Dec - Marseille (H) - CL Group Stage - Won 3-0
22nd Dec - Arsenal (H) - LC Qtr Final - Won 4-1
3rd Jan - Chelsea (A) - League - Won 3-1
6th Jan - Man Utd (A) - LC Semi Final - Won 2-0
10th Jan - Birmingham (H) - FA Cup 3rd Round - Won 3-0
23rd Jan - Cheltenham (A) - FA Cup 4th Round - Won 3-1
10th Feb - Swansea (A) - FA Cup 5th Round - Won 3-1
20th March - Everton (A) - FA Cup Qtr Final - Won 2-0

None of the goals were his fault either.

I love Ederson and agree he's better but I don't think Steffan is so much worse that he can't be our cup keeper.


Ultimately I don't mind what Pep does but I'm just justifying why it wouldn't and shouldn't be an issue if Pep goes with Steffan.
 
Millwallawayveteran1988 said:
To be honest it’s almost certain he will mass rotate in the league cup final. He isn’t going to risk Foden and De Bruyne before a CL semi final so they will play against Villa for me. The league cup and Fa cup games will see Sterling, Cancelo, Laporte, Jesus, Fern and probably Steffan. Only Mendy Ake and Torres won’t start any of the next 3/4 for me.
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We have the freshest squad in the league, he's rotated well all season long and kept them all in A1 condition. Now it's crunch time, they're going to have to play two games a week at times as Leeds showed we can't mass rotate and expect the win at this stage. It's causing us to lose rhythm
 
I think the clue to who plays can be inferred from what Pep has said all season all the players are in it together so for me it should be steffan to keep him inclusive. Obviously Pep will be the final arbiter.
 
mdj0520 said:
I take it you weren't paying attention the last decade or so. The only time we dropped the cup keeper for the final (Wigan) we lost.

The umpteen other times we repaid faith in the cup keeper (willy, bravo) they've won us games with crucial saves from open play and in penalties.
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Not just that but there's good reason to believe that against Wigan, the nigh on 8' tall(!) Pantillimon probably would've saved the winning goal... Plus I'm guessing the atmosphere caused by the decision and the uncertainty around the camp fueled the dreadful performance and the aftermath (premath?) on that sodden day. I was watching it at the Etihad. Miserable, miserable day that was
 
I think Pep will play false 9 , the same team against Dortmund but with Steffen over Ederson.
 
scarty10 said:
This is where Pep will hopefully make the most of being able to use 5 substitutes (6 if it goes to extra time)

Game could easily be won or lost from the bench....and our bench will for sure be very strong, as it is every single game, whether we are heavily rotating or not!

Come on City!!
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He doesn't really like making subs tbh. You'd think we'd have made a few last night once Phil scored
 
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