Firstly guys after a very traumatic season for all of us,I congratulate you on getting 4th spot and tbh through gritted teeth I have to say you deserve it so well done. BUT, as the title says,it must be a little like being on death row not knowing whats going to happen next Saturday,so wondered what your thoughts are? I understand and expect the ol you aint got a cat in hells chance etc etc but after what happened in Barca you must be concerned,and I for one would hate to be in this position if the tables were turned,lets face it UEFA have fuked right up with this stupid ruling as well as not rescinding all bookings so the fans can see 2 sides with their best teams out.Anyways not here for a ruck,just a bit of debate.
If we had finished 3rd and the goons 4th I'd be cheering for your lot this weekend but due to our own short comings I'll be screeming for Bayern. People forget that Bayern have players out as well and I expect the final to be close. If it goes to penalties I will not be able to watch.
Listen guys,I dont blame you for 1 minute sreaming for the Germans cos we would have done the same and yes if it had been the Goons we would all be cheering ! Scary tho....very Scary.
The CL is a very contrived tournament anyway. If, as it should be IMO, a competition for the champions of each league only, then we would have a proper Euro comp., as we used to (Euefa Cup) which would be taken seriously as most of the top teams would be in it, as they used to be. Money makes the decisions now rather then football.
On principal I'd never begrudge the winner of the CL getting a place in next years and especially since I've always said that I think the FA Cup winner should get the 4th spot, not the team that finishes 4th. That said, we need the CL football more than you guys do and given that the 4th placed team has, I think, always got a CL spot since it was rebranded I'd consider it very harsh on us. Needless to say I'd be totally gutted too. You're in the final so of course you've got a chance, I just hope you get 2 players sent off and Robben scores a hattrick in the first 10 minutes so I can relax a bit and not sit through 90+mins of torture
what's the latest on player availability? I swear I've heard that Luiz and Cahill could be out? and the banned players are: Terry Ivanovic Miereles Ramires is that right? anyone else ruled out for any reason??
Chelsea are on this Death Row too don't forget. They lose this game and for Chelsea the real failure of this season (by their standards) will become very apparent.
Even if we had finished 3rd I would still be cheering on Munich. I can't bear the thought of Terry and Abramovich getting their hands on that majestic trophy.
As profound a statement we shall not see. I agree, it is disheartening when we all know that money rules the roost in football now. Not the old days of piss poor stadia, piss poor weather soggying your pie and topping up your cardboard cup of hot bovril. Wet days, beer and football. I ****ing loved it. I digress. The problem as I have come to accept it is not that the blame can be placed with money grabbers but more the decisions that the policy makers make at UEFA. Who would have thought that we would feel this way about the UEFA cup (I refuse to call it the Europa league) and the likelihood of our appearing in it next season. Who would have thought (and I remember Anderlecht '84) that we would feel so much derision at our appearance in a European competition. I blame those policy makers, I blame the chairmen who allow such policies to prevail and I blame football managers and their chairmen too for not respecting the competition. Guys, I will be gutted if we don't make it to the UCL play off but I will cheer them on (again) in Europe next year and hope that we take it seriously because, I want Spurs to win a European trophy. And I couldn't give a **** if it's not the Champions league.
Naturally like you say Kerry I want Bayern to win as it keeps us in the Champions League (or play offs at least!), had it of been us in 3rd place I wouldn't have minded who wins as long as I watched a good game. If I'm honest, I do think Bayern will come out on top. I think their front 3 of Robben, Ribery and Gomez, SHOULD be too much for a make shift back four that I presume will consist of Bosingwa, Luiz, Cahill, Cole? Cole is without a doubt the best LB in the world for me and has been for years, yet I think Bayern will toy with Bosingwa (IF he plays that is) by switching Robben and Ribery to attack him, I've never really seen a good solid performance from Bosingwa as you usually do with Cole/ Ivanovic. Cahill, brilliant young(ish) centre back but is he ready for a Champions League final vs Bayern Munich after usually being involved in a relegation scrap? I'm not sure, especially as he won't be alongside someone like Terry/ Ivanovic. As for Luiz, I've never been a fan, he seems to be a bit of a cult hero with you lot as he's got some important goals but for me, similar to Bosingwa, I've never seen a solid defensive game from him, you always feel there's a mistake to come and against the likes of Robben, Ribery and Gomez, you just can't afford that. To also add, Luiz and Cahill seem to be recovering from injuries, hardly the best game to come back into which could prove a problem. Also think the loss of Ramires, who in my opinion is your best player, will be a crucial loss for the midfield battle, especially as Essien doesn't seem to be the same player that was once regarded as the best in his position. I know Bayern have Gustavo out too but I presume Tymoschuk (sp?) will play who can do a job at sitting in front of the back four. Hoping for an attacking and entertaining game but can't deny I want Bayern to come out winners.
It's a tough one. If either of them are out, you could be scraping the barrel defensively. However, I actually think Ramires and Miereles being banned is a bonus to you. It's a 2 horse race, you've beaten Barca, so anything could happen! anyone ruling chelsea out and saying you're going to get "thumped" is a complete idiot. It will certainly be a huge test though. Playing Bayern on their own ground, in a final with very hostile fans and winning, is going to be some challenge. If you can do it, congratulations. After beating barca as well, you'll certainly derserve a place in the CL. However, it shouldn't be at the expense of us, and it could well be! Therefore Im a German for the night
Wether we got 3rd or 4th, would not influence me one bit in the sense that I would never support any other English club in europe....day in day out we laugh at each others downfalls, but all of a sudden we are all patriotic, or should I say nationalists and support Chelsea...even if wehad finished 3rd and Arsenal 4th... I would not want chelsea to win..come on Bayern!
