So what do we really want to happen tonight? Chelsea well and truly thrashed, with the possibility that they will come at us like maniacs in order to restore their pride? A comprehensive win, making them superconfident, or maybe over confident? A few not too serious, but nevertheless sidelining, knocks? Super-bad behaviour from the team/fans resulting in an immediate ban from all competitions, ever!?

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

Answers

Personally I want a hard/fast/tiring game for them, as much as I like him, I'd like Poyet to be injured cos we just can't cope with him...

Also I want Barca to win by 1 clear goal, I think 2-1 would suit me so that Chelsea know that they have it ALL to do in the return leg a few days after Wembley ;)

To be honest, I think that on our day we can take them apart whatever state they are in.....just leaves me wondering whether it's our day or not....are we gonna be nervous, give them too much respect, try to stop their game instead of play ours, run around like headless chickens like we usually do at Wembley...

I can't remember who mentioned it yesterday but there was a comment that the players who've failed us so badly twice before are AGAIN talking about doing it for the fans....this does nothing but leave a bad taste in my mouth....

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

The Barce v Chelsea second leg is in 2 weeks time. Chelsea hava a league game next Wed, just like us.

I'll settle for a tiring game with several muscle strains for the blues.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

Let them worry about us man!
We have good players, good sprit, good tactics, good manager, We've been here before. NO FEAR!
GGEEERRRRRAAHHHH. I feel a little better now.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

I would suggest it about time we forgot about the past two finals, AND blaming the players who played in those games.

Let's remember that we had cr@p seasons both times, flirting with relegation both times, under two different cr@p managers who were entirely incapable of getting the best out of their playing staff, and of adequately organising them to nullify the obvious strengths of the opposition.

Lets also remember that we played by far the best team in the PL on each occasion, and while we were certainly second best over the entire game, we could conceivably have even won the first one with a little luck.

In addition, it is the same core of players have got us to the FAC Semi Final in three consecutive seasons - which IMHO is a fantastic achievement, and one that should be loudly applauded, not derided.

Come on, give credit where credits due. IMO we have a core of players - including AS, WB, GS, RL, ND - who have stuck with us through what has been a traumatic period for them as well as the supporters. I for one believe they DO care, and don't deserve this kind of unthinking criticism.

This time around we are again playing against a very good side, indeed one with CL pretensions. However, this time we have a Manager who I believe will have his players properly prepared, AND equipped with a clear game plan. I believe this time they will give it real go, and if we do go out it will not be with a wimper, but with our heads held high.Personally, I've had a feeling from the start that this is our year, and I happen to believe we will win through in a very tight game.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

. Who put that Bold tag on? Me, I guess!

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

Unthinking criticism??

I think not.....

I agree with what your saying, unfortunately it still hurts the way the sound bites were wheeled out last year only for us to fold as completely as we did....

As for it being our year.....sorry I believed it the first time round, tried to make myself believe it the second time round but am afraid to even think it this time around...

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

Reasons we will win

We are playing better than we have been in the last two years, we're not making excuses for defeats.

We never lose semi finals (Jonno will argue about 1947 and some other one that only Buff remembers), but we have had winning FA semis in 99, 98, 74, 55, 52, 51 ' League Cup 76, Fairs Cup 69 (Texaco Cup 74,76).

Our manager is a superb tactician who understands big game needs.

Chelsea will be distracted by the CL games.

The players are used to being at Wembley and will not freeze, and are desperate to give us something back

We have competition for places which will be keeping them all sharp.

Ben is going.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

I want to see Chelsea well and truly knackered after tonight's game. A hard fought draw. Maybe 1-1..with Barcelona taking the lead and Chelsea having to fight for a late draw. Then again would it deflate them more to take the lead, then have Barca coming at them the rest of the game and grabbing a late goal for the draw? Players I won't cry for if they pick up enough of a knock to keep them out on Sunday(but not so much they can't play next Weds): Poyet, DeGoey, Wise. Not that I think Wise is a threat to us, I just can't stand the ferret faced little weasel and don't want to see him on Sunday ;-)

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

>>....this does nothing but leave a bad taste in my mouth....<<

Wor lass says you need to spit then thoroughly use Listerine ;-)

In my heart I want to see nothing but carnage tonight, and Barca just go out, take lumps out of all of Chelsea's players leaving Vialli with that dirty little Morris character and the U-17s.

In my head (and my other heart, much in the same way as Dr Who has / had 2 hearts) I don't care. In fact, I'd want Chelsea to be at their best on Sunday and still lose - just increases the glory for us should be beat them. If we lose (nahhh) then we'll have the consolation of losing to the better side.

That was 2 'heart' comments - hmmmm. Where's my tardis?

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

Bah! Poyet's on the bench tonight. How's he gonna pick up a 5 day niggle sitting on the bench?! ;-)

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

By gathering splinters, with a bit of luck :-)

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000

Right - if they beat Barca 6-0, they probably won't score more than 1 on Sunday (history backs up that statement). However, they don't really need to get more than one.

-- Anonymous, April 05, 2000