1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

Pep said after their CL shoot out loss vs Real all 3 of Haaland, Akanjie and KDB asked to be subbed as they "could not continue"

See if thar means anything for their ability to play this game.

Also, on the contrary, they may try even harder now that they can only win 2 trophies. Or, with the treble chances gone, they just don't give a sh*t about this game.

2 hours ago, Girish said:

Also, on the contrary, they may try even harder now that they can only win 2 trophies. Or, with the treble chances gone, they just don't give a sh*t about this game.

Helpful 

4 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Pep said after their CL shoot out loss vs Real all 3 of Haaland, Akanjie and KDB asked to be subbed as they "could not continue"

See if thar means anything for their ability to play this game.

Would not be surprised to see one of Haaland or KDB, if not both as a sub on Saturday. That is why the game going ET was perfect for us. They will have tired legs and Pep will know the players will be physically exhausted. Alvarez I expect to lead the line. Hopefully the ET gives us that extra help. Feeling more confident than before, but I remember I said same thing against Liverpool in cup and look how that ended...

Extra time and pens has certainly done us a favour. They will be tired both physically and mentally.

However not sure the loss works in our favour as they will now be desperate to make amends and win the PL & FA Cup double. Could go any way this game - let's hope it goes the way WE want.

 

Also must add that Pep loves using Kyle Walker against teams with pace, however after him playing 120 mins last night after just returning from injury, I doubt Pep starts him on Saturday which if he doesn't that is another bonus for us to really get at them.

I'm hoping pity are tired on Saturday....I'm hoping our next two matches against good teams knocked out of europe doesn't have a backlash....in king cole I must trust...and if Saturday goes to pens woe betide those who may miss one

Nice long outing for these lot last night, looked like some tired legs out there. Although some of the big boys came off at full time.

Realistically, regardless of the mental or physical knock on effects of last night, this is going to be all about which Chelsea turn up on the weekend. 

Our odds of winning will have increased though marginally.

We must be the heavy underdog for this one yet as we know from our last CL win Pep can make weird decisions on his team set up.

 

2 hours ago, strider6004 said:

Our odds of winning will have increased though marginally.

We must be the heavy underdog for this one yet as we know from our last CL win Pep can make weird decisions on his team set up.

 

I agree. No question we are still underdogs but at least we can hope that the game last night took some energy from them both physically and mentally. We have shown in our 2 games against them this season that we are capable of giving them a tough match. Question is whether we can take that a step further and actually beat them? We will need to be at our best, especially defensively, But at least we should go into the game with some improved confidence after the last week.

Rodri, Foden, and B.Silva played 120 minutes. KDB and Haaland requested to be taken off because they were knackered. 

You think with the league as close as it is their minds may not fully be on the FA Cup. Absolutely zero excuses we don't at the very least match their intensity or make more progressive changes when needed. 

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Rodri, Foden, and B.Silva played 120 minutes. KDB and Haaland requested to be taken off because they were knackered. 

You think with the league as close as it is their minds may not fully be on the FA Cup. Absolutely zero excuses we don't at the very least match their intensity or make more progressive changes when needed. 

I still find it incredible that KDB & Haaland wanted to come off in a massive CL 1/4 final against Real Madrid. Games don't come a lot bigger - can you imagine Lampard, Drogba etc asking to come off?

Not gonna diss City too much so close to our game as they are capable of hammering any team on their day and dissing them will come back to bite me on the bum, but something isn't right about them this season and I just hope that extends to Saturday.

 

I'm sick of us losing finals and with the immaturity of our team, I'm not convinced we'll turn up in one. So I won't be that bothered if we miss out, silver lining and all. 

But I definitely want to see a good performance, I'm confident of that, we've gave them two really good games now. 

10 minutes ago, Nibs said:

I still find it incredible that KDB & Haaland wanted to come off in a massive CL 1/4 final against Real Madrid. Games don't come a lot bigger - can you imagine Lampard, Drogba etc asking to come off?

Not gonna diss City too much so close to our game as they are capable of hammering any team on their day and dissing them will come back to bite me on the bum, but something isn't right about them this season and I just hope that extends to Saturday.

KDB I understand as he has hamstring issues, which is no surprise given how much running he's done in his career. Probably felt it niggle and requested to be taken off. Haaland I think is still playing injured. I wouldn't be surprised if neither started Saturday. 

They have no wins against Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, or Spurs this season. I still stand by that losing Gundogan hurt them immensely. 

Yes they have some tired players, but they also have a very deep squad and after losing a game they will be very eager to win.

I personally believe fatigue in big games is more of a mental thing than a physical thing. City aren't a mentally fragile team, they've won everything, they know how to bounce back. We will need to be at our best. If we go into it believing City are tired, we will be caught out.

Edited April 18, 20242 yr by Scott Harris

I thought some of our players were subdued against Liverpool and for several their first final, now that first time nerves are out of the way we should perform better. 

10 hours ago, Nibs said:

I still find it incredible that KDB & Haaland wanted to come off in a massive CL 1/4 final against Real Madrid. Games don't come a lot bigger - can you imagine Lampard, Drogba etc asking to come off?

Not gonna diss City too much so close to our game as they are capable of hammering any team on their day and dissing them will come back to bite me on the bum, but something isn't right about them this season and I just hope that extends to Saturday.

 

Welcome to the world of modern system aka pressing 

 

City lost their chance for treble. They probably want this trophy pretty bad. Even them Premier League is in balance. 

Fatigue is physical but mental side is the side that eventually controls the levels. They are fine coming into the game, I am sure. 

We have a fighters chance. But if Sanchez, Badiashille or Sterling are anywhere near that starting line up, that fighter might as well be a 90 year old bloke with no arms.

20 hours ago, Nibs said:

I still find it incredible that KDB & Haaland wanted to come off in a massive CL 1/4 final against Real Madrid. Games don't come a lot bigger - can you imagine Lampard, Drogba etc asking to come off?

Agreed, loser mentality. Proper footballers always want to be on the pitch:

Here he is....

 

A week with no new injuries, that's progress I suppose.

Haaland a doubt but KDB is fine according to Pep. 

 

 

4 hours ago, Nibs said:

We have a fighters chance. But if Sanchez, Badiashille or Sterling are anywhere near that starting line up, that fighter might as well be a 90 year old bloke with no arms.

 

I hope we break the Wembley hoodoo before we play 3 to 5 years there while The Bridge is being rebuilt.

Citeh haven't beaten us this season, I'm confident we can win this 😜

Come on you BLUES !