Thanks for the great intro, very much appreciated! I’m a bit surprised to see the humble predictions here – is that what’s called hedging your bets in English? – but, of course, everybody is under a great strain. With all the talk about ML just doing a job in Swansea, I’m still sure he wants it more badly than most – and knows how to get it. He has been there many times before, and as a manager he was only a minute away from it with Getafe, if I remember correctly, he must have learned from that, too. Very painful. The big story in the Copenhagen papers today is that ML’s not preparing his players for a penalty shoot-out. “I don’t believe in it,” he says. That must have raised a few eyebrows here and there
Ref Mr Friend isn't usually a friend to us, maybe with the eyes of the world watching he will be more impartial but my concern is that we might find our skillful players getting clattered early on without any protection. Going be a tough battle especially in the opening half as they'll be fighting for every ball but am trusting we can win this 2-1 and bring the cup back along the M4.
Is this a Swans only board, or can a humble Saint leave a comment? For obvious reasons a Bradford win would be great. It would become one of the fairy tale endings that all football fans love - unless their club is on the wrong end of it. QPR beating West Brom; Swindon beating Arsenal are the stuff of dreams. Problem is that Bradford are not playing one of the big 4, which would have made them find support from the entire country. They're playing Swansea who are themselves a fantastic inspiration to fans of all aspiring clubs. I was as fed up as the rest with the talk of "doing a Swansea" when we came up. However, in terms of a rag to riches story and how a club can be well run and still challenge in the Prem then Swansea are the team to admire. The fact that you have Nathan Dyer, who, bless him, looked quite gutted when he scored against us at SMS is enough to tip it for me. Up the Swans! Hope whoever wins there is no doubt about the value of their win.
Thanks for your good wishes, Channon, (what a player he was!!) I'm sure the lads will be trying their best and, like you, I hope the most deserving team lifts the Cup. Obviously hoping it will be us.
8am here in sunny Colombia but wish I could beam myself up to N. London for the day. Thoughts go out to all the Jacks on their way to Wembley - what a great day in our history - UP THE SWANS!
Well done Scott great thread, thanks for your hard work!!............. I was offered a ticket today, but it was all last minute, shame my stupid brother in-law couldn't have made his decision last night like I asked him, I could have joined my son at Wembley, now there will be an empty seat in block 518, row 5!.......... .....I'm not happy with him, I can tell you, anyway enough of me moaning. I'm going for 4-1 win to the mighty Swans.............
setting off for the boozer, and won't be on here for the game, stomach is full of butterflies, good luck jacks wherever you are!
Solid speculation on the radio that Laudrup is going to start Ki alongside Ash and that worries me. Although a big lad, Ki is not a robust player and neither is he good in the air. He doesn't tackle well and he's got no pace. If he gets exposed to Hansen, I fear for us. Now I've said all that he'll probably be the MOM. If this happens, I can't understand it. Do Bradford possess such a threat that we have to change a line up that has taken us into the top half of the Premier League? Perhaps ML is banking on keeping so much possession that Bradford's goal threat will be almost non existent and Ki can join in the attack. NEWSFLASH: As I write, it has been confirmed. Ian Walsh is being interviewed and his comments mirror mine about possession. Unfortunately, he also agrees with my point about Ki's aerial ability and that we will struggle if Bradford get crosses into our box. It seems that ML is going for a fast start and will aim to starve Bradford of the ball. It is a brave decision and one that I would never have made. But then I'm not Michael Laudrup. I hope to God that this gamble pays off.
Goodluck to all of you jack bastard's. I'm going with a 3-1 win to the Swans. The Danes believe in you according to votes on a news media web site where 95% have voted for a victory for Swansea City. According to estimates 250.000 danes will be watching the final which is around 4,5 percent of the population (that's in the low end of the expectations). Other than that there were more people watching Swansea-Sunderland than Manchester City-Liverpool and fifty percent more people saw Swansea-QPR than Manchester United-Everton. "We have shown premier league for three seasons now and viewing levels increases with an almost vertical upward curve, but when Laudrup came to Swansea we have measured the largest single effect. Viewing figures are almost exploded" Jes Holm Andersen So tonight you will have the support from nearly all danes watching the game. COME ON SWANS! ;-)
As an outsider looking in, it does seem strange to put a midfielder (Ki) at centre-back. Especially with Laudrup having two centre-backs in Monk & Bartley available. Bold move so it will be interesting to see how it plays out. Good luck and here's to a good game!
