So what are thoughts on how both teams will approach this game.  Will we be looking at a lot of bench type players playing?

I would play bench type players, I'd certainly be resting willian, dave and Pulisic. Maybe also Mount. We want to make ManU work hard. i would pick a back 5 with cho tammy and pedro up front, maybe play Pulisic for 45 minutes only instead of Pedro.

Sit back and try and catch them on the back. Good opportunity to practice defence and fast break.

reece christensen rudiger zouma alonso

  jorginho kovacic

pedro tammy cho

I reckon both teams are going to rest key players unfortunately, it's going to be 2nd string v 2nd string. Emerson, Michy and Pedro should feature.

Getting top 4 is way more important for both clubs than playing in an empty Wembley unfortunately. We're going to see two youth/b-sides playing,

Yeah as an American it’s been fun to follow a team.  I’d watched quite a bit of soccer, but casually, not as an active fan of any team other than the USMNT.  All these in season Cups are very, well foreign to me.  
 

In a normal non COVID year What is the attitude of fans in general in England about this tourney?  Kinda cool but no big deal?  If let’s say the CL places were already determined, would this them be a huge game?  In
 

 

1 hour ago, DumbYank said:

Yeah as an American it’s been fun to follow a team.  I’d watched quite a bit of soccer, but casually, not as an active fan of any team other than the USMNT.  All these in season Cups are very, well foreign to me.  
 

In a normal non COVID year What is the attitude of fans in general in England about this tourney?  Kinda cool but no big deal?  If let’s say the CL places were already determined, would this them be a huge game?  In
 

 

Coming from a more educated Yank (CFC fan since since '05)...Outside of UCL and UEL the FA Cup is probably the third biggest cup an EPL team can acquire.  I'm pretty sure every team under the FA umbrella is entered into this tournament (someone correct me if I am wrong).  It's kinda like the United States' US Open Cup.

If we put in the sort of lazy display we have in the past 2 games we will get slaughtered.

Can we finally beat these lot?

We will certainly need to play a lot better than we have over the last few games. Recently we haven’t looked good at all. 

Edited July 15, 20206 yr by JM7

We've been very good at rising above ourselves this season.....

 

....although not against ManU, but we can do it again. Come on Chelsea!

Normally I would say it’s a semi final and a chance to reach the final and pick up a trophy . But with top4 being so important I think the latter should be prioritized. We need to rest a few players.

caba 

james christensen zouma emerson

barkley kova mount 

CHO Tammy pedro 

I don’t think I could stomach another loss to these lot. We played well every match and came away with nothing so now’s the perfect time to get the result we deserve. 

We’ve got 48 hours rest on them so strong(ish) team, if they rotate they’re weaker if not they may be a bit leggy. 

Some tough decisions for Lamps to make for this game. We have three games in eight days, all against difficult opposition, and all incredibly important. Realistically our first XI (whatever that is) won't be able to start in all three. What to prioritise - an FA Cup semi-final against a serious rival, or the prospect of a Champions League position which might define our summer and short-term future?

What does bring some relief is that Solskjaer actually has it slightly tougher schedule-wise. On Sunday our players will have had two days' extra rest than Man Utd's, before playing on the same days next week.

I think the extent of Kanté's availability in these three games will be key.

Yeah as an American it’s been fun to follow a team.  I’d watched quite a bit of soccer, but casually, not as an active fan of any team other than the USMNT.  All these in season Cups are very, well foreign to me.  
 

In a normal non COVID year What is the attitude of fans in general in England about this tourney?  Kinda cool but no big deal?  If let’s say the CL places were already determined, would this them be a huge game?  In
 

I’ve seen people gripe about Kante’s play, but one things seems clear IMO.  Our midfield really struggles without him.

5 hours ago, TrueBlueSeaFC87 said:

Coming from a more educated Yank (CFC fan since since '05)...Outside of UCL and UEL the FA Cup is probably the third biggest cup an EPL team can acquire.  I'm pretty sure every team under the FA umbrella is entered into this tournament (someone correct me if I am wrong).  It's kinda like the United States' US Open Cup.

But no tennis player or golfer would skip the US open to help ensure that they would finish as the top rated player for the season.

For this semi, its seems a given that both teams are going to be sitting key players.

 

More concerned about champions league atm, but definitely do want us to win this.

God are we becoming Arsenal fans....'a top 4 spot is more important than a trophy'  Let's go and win this thing FFS. 

I just hope Frankie doesn't fall for the same trap for the fourth time this season. They may outplay, outpace and beat us, I don't care, but if they sit back and wait while we concede silly goals again, this would make me furious. 

1 hour ago, CFCCAN said:

God are we becoming Arsenal fans....'a top 4 spot is more important than a trophy'  Let's go and win this thing FFS. 

Yeah for me it’s not an either or thing, we should push for both

Listening to Lampard talk after Norwich my impression is he will play a strong team. Not sure it’s what I’d do but seemed like he wants to win. 

3 hours ago, CFCCAN said:

God are we becoming Arsenal fans....'a top 4 spot is more important than a trophy'  Let's go and win this thing FFS. 

I am sorry but a top 4 spot is more important that a trophy unless it is the Champions league or the Europa league which guarantees you entry to the champions league. If i recall Conte won the Fa cup in his final season and still got the sack because we didnt finish in the top 4. 

      I say lets go for both but if i have to pick 1 it is the top 4 all day buddy

1 hour ago, ozboy said:

Listening to Lampard talk after Norwich my impression is he will play a strong team. Not sure it’s what I’d do but seemed like he wants to win. 

We should play our strongest team. They have won against us this season 3 times with a goal difference 8:1. 

55 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

I am sorry but a top 4 spot is more important that a trophy unless it is the Champions league or the Europa league which guarantees you entry to the champions league. If i recall Conte won the Fa cup in his final season and still got the sack because we didnt finish in the top 4. 

      I say lets go for both but if i have to pick 1 it is the top 4 all day buddy

I don't think he was sacked bc of not finishing 4th more so for his horrible relationship with the board. 

5 hours ago, CFCCAN said:

God are we becoming Arsenal fans....'a top 4 spot is more important than a trophy'  Let's go and win this thing FFS. 

My sentiments exactly. I wish they'd never abolished the ECWC. It devalued the FA Cup which is now pretty much a sideshow unless you're of a certain age. Younger members of my family say it's pointless and that getting into the CL is all that matters. It's a real head-shaker is that.

I get the idea of top 4 offering more money, but what is the point of resting our players when the game we rest them for is Liverpool?

I know you can point out we managed to mostly shut City down. Yes with them playing no striker and Sterling missing a key chance. That was a big slice of luck.

Liverpool are not missing their front 3, they will be rested and rip our defense to shreds. Our chances are not much better against United but liverpool are a few steps better than them.

No idea who we should pick for the game, any of our defensive options are woeful. Maybe we should go 3 -5 - 1 - 1

 

Kepa

 

Rudiger

Zouma

Azpi

 

James

Kovacic

Kante

Barkley

Alonso

 

Mount

 

Giroud

 

Congested the midfield, sit deep to deny space behind to Rashford, Greenwood and Martial, counter with long balls to Giroud. If it works repeat it against Liverpool.

Edited July 15, 20206 yr by axman2526