axman2526

Also Ryan starting is a very bold move by Robbie, will see if it pays off. All the "neutrals" have written us off, with the stats shown though can you blame them? In Europe Bayern have won 13 of 14 home games I read on here earlier and we cannot must wins on the road, 1 out of 6 for this season.

Well guys those using that long list of coincidences to boost confidence for this game can cross one of them out, as Blackpool have not won the playoff final. 1-2 Hammers. I know a few on here wanted the "perfect day" of Hammers staying down, us winning the big one knocking Spurs out of the CL for next season. Well first half of that has gone against us. We will soon see on the second half but given what a nice guy Zippy has been on here, would be more irritating the response we will see from Spurs fans if we lose than the Bayern fans.

Word is our plan for that is Bertrand in front of Cole on our left, Kalou in front of Bosingwa on the right. I would say Gomez is their best assest to defend set plays, unless Zippy wants to corret that?

That depends on us Benji, on how many balls in free play we can put on the Drog when he is against the Bayern CBs. No doubt he can get the better of them in that situation for me, however on corners and freekicks have to agree with Lahm because they can put Gomez on the Drog.

Credit to the BBC being fairly pro Chelsea on their website

Think the headline is designed by Sky to piss some people off here: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/7765111/Lahm-writes-off-Chelsea Cannot say Lahm anywhere in the article writes us off.

Got this one for Zippy, give all of the "omens" so far have been ones in our favour: "

I have a lot of negativity ahead of this game, negativity I will keep too myself as my fellow blues are worried enough as is. I'll just say I think Bayern are strong favourite for a number of fair reasons. What I'll add though is I want to enjoy the occasion regardless of the end result. You said earlier Zippy you have seen Bayern play in 4 CL finals in your time supporting them. I am sure there have been many more finals that were ahead of your time. In our clubs over 100 year history we have only ever managed to reach 2 CL finals. So what that means is this is huge for us, not that it is not for Bayern of course. Last time we could not enjoy it, not even able to look back on the campaign with a smile. Why? Because we lost the final? No because we faced weaker sides most of the way through, and our "big achievement" was dumping out Liverpool, before a final with United. Now really in the top European competition your campaign ends in that? How would it feel to end with facing Bayer then Dortmund? Previously we had the great moments, against Barca, then against your Bayern side in the quarters. Our reward? Farkin Liverpool AGAIN! This time around however we got the great occasions, the epic run. Napoli, a side you played in the group stages. A side that knocked out the new English Champions, gave us two amazing games. Then Benfica, the side that knocked out United. Two technical games. Then Barca, the back to back champions of Europe, two more epic games with an amazing climax. This has been a truly amazing CL season, our best ever. A dream in many respects. Maybe it will have a nightmare ending but even if it does I want to enjoy the overall perspective. We went through all that and now face a giant in their own home, are massive underdogs and only the most ardent of our fans (and the odd lama) give us a prayer of returning with the trophy. An epic situation, one for us not to let slip past by focusing on the possible negative.

Latest odds: Bayern Munich 5/6 Draw 14/5 Chelsea 16/5 Very big odds there for a final imo, we are not even as good as 3 to 1. Also heard RDM tried Bertrand out on the left of the 3 in training today, maybe he is going to get the final spot nod?

Team that we expect to see from Bayern Zippy. Cool letter as well, and why the odds are so far in Bayerns favour. Not sure the last time one side has had the odds so far in their favour in a CL final. tbh since seeing that comment from a "Chelsea fan" when he called Lamps "Fat Frank" I have become convinced Bayern will win and that Barca was our big moment to shine, a performance that would be near impossible to repeat or top. Keep your eyes on the touchline guys if Bayern are winning and the final seconds tick down, as Mr. Shreaves will be ready to race on and interview whoever he can and ask them "How does it feel to know you will not be in the CL next season" lol...

With fans like this, who needs enemies?

Watching the game at home In Canada, having missed the FA cup final because I was at work I am now on holiday so can (hopefully) enjoy the occasion at least lol ...

No need to worry, if we lose we wont be in the CL next season so your nerves can have a rest ;)

Do not think you can over-estimate the impact of the final being in Bayerns home. Were it reversed we would not care that half of the Bridge be Bayern fans, the fact it was on our pitch, in our city, with our fans all around the stadium, the ground Barca and Napoli feel at, would be huge boost to us. So given Bayern can draw on the same, it makes the tast facing us possibly the greatest test in our CL final history, even more so than our match in Camp Nou.

""Abramovich has wanted to win the Champions League for so long," said the France international. "If they lose it on Saturday then it will be brutally tough. "It would ruin them in the head and lower morale."" Source: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/7762655/Ribery-warns-of-Chelsea-blow Predicting not only our downfall on Saturday but for a long time after it seems.

You guys do not believe it will be an even split of fans do you? Most of the "neutral tickets" will end up in the hands of Bayern fans imo. Lahm is the Bayern captain not manager coco lol

My dad is a blade so they are my second side, tough game for them hope they pull it off. Evans "off the field" activeties screwed them out of the 2nd place imo. Far as the final goes, read on Sky Lahm was very confident the home field advantage has already proven to be the deciding factor and has a (rightful) pop at JT for how he got sent off in Barca.

Hutch I think so too but Paulo played against Benfica so unless he is injured he can play.

Deary me all this mumbo jumbo for people to crow over if they get the result right. An Arsenal fan posted this on another forum I visited I bet Zippy can find just as much "confidence building" stats on a Bayern site.

Going between optimism, looking forward to the occasion and belief; to a resigned feeling in my core we will end up defeated. So hard to say overall, usually if my gut feeling is a loss I am proved wrong, such as with the FA cup final; whereas when I have confidence we normally lose, most recently Newcastle at home...

Although I'll add I do not believe the heartbreak Zippy would have felt in 1999 to be any more than what we felt in Moscow. I watched the final in the Camp Nou, routing Bayern on. They were the better side, hit the woodwork, wasted other chances to kill the game, got sucker punched at the end and did not recover in time to stop the comeback. Compare it to what we went through, outplayed for 35 mins, 1 down, get an undeserved leveller but then go on to dominate the game, waste chances, hit the bar, have our main striker get himself sent off stupidly. Have everything in hand in the shootout, Ronaldo goofs another pen, all lined up for JT to slid it in and win it, only he slides over instead, not concentrating on his footing and we go from 1 kick away from being European champions to losing to a national rival. Both sides suffered major heartbreak imo. Neither is entitled to the trophy. Is up to ourselves (hopefully) or Bayern to go out and earn it, neither of our sides are owed anything imo.

Think both ourselves and Bayern have had cruel hands given to us in the CL. For one of us that will end on Saturday night, which one? Well most on this site think it will be us, but I wonder if we will be a bit rusty with the lads Robbie has rested for the last 2 games.

lol I have no power, that would be Robbie for the game and Roman for after it :P Torres and Drogba just do not seem to work, and Sturridge is poor at the mo. We basically have noone who can fill in for Ramires, but Essien is the best option we have left. Using Mata wide is just a waste and will leave Cole exposed to Robben.

No to Sturridge, no to Torres on the sides. Is worrying Robbie is trying to think of a way to start with both Torres and Drogba. They cannot play together, that much we have seen. Danny is in rubbish form and should sit this one out, only on the bench because we lack options. Choice for me is any of Bertrand on the left with Kalou right, Essien on one side and Kalou on the other or Boswinga on the right and Kalou on the left; Paulo then at RB. I'd prefer to have it be, from left to right, Kalou - Mata - Essien.

Hmm ok lets give this a go. Too easy to pick Cech or Neuer, whichever side wins I imagine they will play a big part in helping their team win the trophy. In terms of the key goal creator you have a number of options from Bayern, but I'd say Gomez with a knock down looks a good bet. Far as we go you have two options, Mata or Lampard as noone else is likely to lay the ball off in a shooting situation. I'd go for Mata out of the two, partly because I believe our key goal (should we get it) would be Lamps on the end of it. Far as Bayern go, Thomas Muller all the way. Very underrated player who knows where the net is, not sure why Bayern do not give him more game time. If we could sign one player of our choice from Bayern, it would be him I'd pick.