Feels like this will be the icing on the cake of a really bad season.

This club and ownership dont deserve a trophy, this season. I doubg we turn up anyway, though.

4 hours ago, Zeta said:

Most likely be the biggest winning margin in a FA cup final in history. I don't know what that is, but I can see us easily shipping 5 or 6.

Could be a repeat of the 2019 FA Cup final when Man City beat Watford 6-0.

12 minutes ago, Jezz said:

Could be a repeat of the 2019 FA Cup final when Man City beat Watford 6-0.

May depend on how long it takes us to concede. We've consistently gone to pieces after conceding in recent months.

This is a chance for personal glory - not just about the club and fans - so I expect the players to be up for this. City will be heavily distracted as well with the run-in in the PL so I think we will run them close.

I think it will be tighter than we think, or at least appear that way till city go up a gear. The league could be lost for them as well by then.

It’s the only game we have left so will be watching it through my fingers. I doubt we get another point in the league and will probably keep spurs up.

It’s a shame cos 6th gets CL if villa win the uefa cup but they blew that by hiring LR. They got what they deserved.

Clearlake may feel this could be the favoured route into Europe, well Europa. Champions league gone. Conference a distant hope.

3 minutes ago, OTL said:

Clearlake may feel this could be the favoured route into Europe, well Europa. Champions league gone. Conference a distant hope.

More a hope not. Europa I don’t mind, a winnable trophy if we get the right manager and signings. Champions league for the winner but I’d rather miss Europe than the conference.

4 hours ago, OTL said:

Clearlake may feel this could be the favoured route into Europe, well Europa. Champions league gone. Conference a distant hope.

Most definitely. A win would allow them to use the media to paper over the sinkholes they have created "Look we won a trophy! What are the fans complaining about? We know what we are doing etc..."

I do think our players will show up for this one, like they did against Leeds. A Wembley showpiece will likely ensure that. However, I don't think that will be enough to get past Man City. While I will always hope we win and will celebrate any trophy, I do wonder if a defeat at Wembley is more likely to lead to a significant and much needed change of strategy from Clearlake? Probably not as they seem blinkered in their ways.

2 minutes ago, forbzy said:

Most definitely. A win would allow them to use the media to paper over the sinkholes they have created "Look we won a trophy! What are the fans complaining about? We know what we are doing etc..."

I do think our players will show up for this one, like they did against Leeds. A Wembley showpiece will likely ensure that. However, I don't think that will be enough to get past Man City. While I will always hope we win and will celebrate any trophy, I do wonder if a defeat at Wembley is more likely to lead to a significant and much needed change of strategy from Clearlake? Probably not as they seem blinkered in their ways.

If they subsequently win the Europa do they then gain access to Champions League ? Maybe the premier league effort is not so critical to them, top 6/7/8 in the premier league is easy enough then hop up from Conference/Europa. European Football every year albeit at a lower financial level but with less effort. eak! what a thought.

5 minutes ago, forbzy said:

Most definitely. A win would allow them to use the media to paper over the sinkholes they have created "Look we won a trophy! What are the fans complaining about? We know what we are doing etc..."

I do think our players will show up for this one, like they did against Leeds. A Wembley showpiece will likely ensure that. However, I don't think that will be enough to get past Man City. While I will always hope we win and will celebrate any trophy, I do wonder if a defeat at Wembley is more likely to lead to a significant and much needed change of strategy from Clearlake? Probably not as they seem blinkered in their ways.

In a one-off game, anything can happen. Look at Palace beating City last season and us beating PSG in CWC Final. But we will need our players to be well up for it and City to have an off day. Can't see it happening but stranger things have happened.

That said, will be the least enthusiastic I have ever been for Chelsea in a final. We don't deserve to win anything this season and as much as I'd love us to win it, I don't want the owners and SD's patting themselves on the back and paying themselves another Bonus!

8 hours ago, Nibs said:

In a one-off game, anything can happen. Look at Palace beating City last season and us beating PSG in CWC Final. But we will need our players to be well up for it and City to have an off day. Can't see it happening but stranger things have happened.

That said, will be the least enthusiastic I have ever been for Chelsea in a final. We don't deserve to win anything this season and as much as I'd love us to win it, I don't want the owners and SD's patting themselves on the back and paying themselves another Bonus!

Totally correct. Although I think it is more likely that we will not surprise City like Palace did. Behind Palace's success was an experienced manager in Glasner and a well drilled team. We certainly have some high profile players who can raise their game for a one-off match, but we will be managed by a team of inexperienced guys who don't have their coaching qualifications and have been fast-tracked into their current positions by their SD mates.

On 05/05/2026 at 23:43, forbzy said:

Totally correct. Although I think it is more likely that we will not surprise City like Palace did. Behind Palace's success was an experienced manager in Glasner and a well drilled team. We certainly have some high profile players who can raise their game for a one-off match, but we will be managed by a team of inexperienced guys who don't have their coaching qualifications and have been fast-tracked into their current positions by their SD mates.

I still can't quite believe, that our hierarchy think it is acceptable to go into such an important game as the FA Cup Final, with interim, Calum McFarlane in charge. No disrespect to the bloke, but who is he to justify this FFS? Is that how far the FA Cup has fallen? At least in the Roman era we would have got someone like Hiddink in, but of course, that's when we were a proper club.

Absolute madness.

The rest of the premier league, the media and anyone else who's watching will not be able to fathom how we are operating with an absolute novice in charge of the team.

Mind blowing, this self reflection bollox isn't working.

Can't the owners/ investors see that these utter cnut SDs are just protecting themselves.?

Edited May 7May 7 by OTL

So then was it trev and tosin were dropped after the Forest horror show against liverpool and we now see a back 3 with Fofana, Hato and colwill vs city?

Not going to the final on Saturday. I've been to every final at Wembley and those in Cardiff since the Full Members Cup Final in 1986. That's a few finals. To be honest I'm not fussed about missing the game. I'm a miserable old bastard. One of my friends is using my ST so he can go with his son. Will watch the match down the pub.

12 hours ago, Boyne said:

Not going to the final on Saturday. I've been to every final at Wembley and those in Cardiff since the Full Members Cup Final in 1986. That's a few finals. To be honest I'm not fussed about missing the game. I'm a miserable old bastard. One of my friends is using my ST so he can go with his son. Will watch the match down the pub.

Let us be the judge of that.

14 hours ago, Boyne said:

Not going to the final on Saturday. I've been to every final at Wembley and those in Cardiff since the Full Members Cup Final in 1986. That's a few finals. To be honest I'm not fussed about missing the game. I'm a miserable old bastard. One of my friends is using my ST so he can go with his son. Will watch the match down the pub.

I understand the feeling. I've got myself a ticket but mostly because of the few pints before the game with the match-going fans. It is a good day out, hopefully a sunny day as well. And it is such a good feeling walking down Olympic way to Wembley. But the prices are quite high and I have paid for a seat in the upper stand the same than a friend with a ST has paid for a lower stand seat. Quite a rip-off for members.

3 minutes ago, RMH said:

I understand the feeling. I've got myself a ticket but mostly because of the few pints before the game with the match-going fans. It is a good day out, hopefully a sunny day as well. And it is such a good feeling walking down Olympic way to Wembley. But the prices are quite high and I have paid for a seat in the upper stand the same than a friend with a ST has paid for a lower stand seat. Quite a rip-off for members.

I wonder how many that is the case for these days?

Used to love going to watch Chelsea, but in recent years, realised it's the meeting up with friends, having a couple of pints and a burger before the game that was more enjoyable than the actual football. It should be the whole experience - attending a game on match days, but I'm not so sure now.

15 minutes ago, Nibs said:

I wonder how many that is the case for these days?

Used to love going to watch Chelsea, but in recent years, realised it's the meeting up with friends, having a couple of pints and a burger before the game that was more enjoyable than the actual football. It should be the whole experience - attending a game on match days, but I'm not so sure now.

Yeah, sometimes I wonder whether shouldn't I just turn up for the pints and not bother paying for the ticket.

6 hours ago, Nibs said:

I wonder how many that is the case for these days?

Used to love going to watch Chelsea, but in recent years, realised it's the meeting up with friends, having a couple of pints and a burger before the game that was more enjoyable than the actual football. It should be the whole experience - attending a game on match days, but I'm not so sure now.

5 hours ago, RMH said:

Yeah, sometimes I wonder whether shouldn't I just turn up for the pints and not bother paying for the ticket.

Yep, the main reason I go to the games nowadays is meeting up with people before and after the match. A few beers, something to eat and a good chat. As we live in different parts of London, Kent and Essex match day is the only time we meet up. Would miss meeting up if I stopped going to the games.

If Colwill does indeed anchor a back 3 we may see James in midfield to support gusto or just have James as the wingback

Bob

Fofana

Colwill

Hato

James/Gusto

James/Santos/Lavia

Caicedo

Cucurella

Palmer

Joao Pedro

Enzo

Neto has to play for me. Otherwise there is no outlet to hit them on the counter and stretch the game.

4 hours ago, STATS said:

Neto has to play for me. Otherwise there is no outlet to hit them on the counter and stretch the game.

Neto and outlet in the same sentence 🤮

5 hours ago, STATS said:

Neto has to play for me. Otherwise there is no outlet to hit them on the counter and stretch the game.

Cucurella as per -v- Liverpool would seem to be the go.