Still pretending you didn't send me a PM demanding I block you so you just so you could continue talking bollocks without having somebody point out what complete and utter bollocks you're talking?
Nah, I'm not confident of playing Chelsea. It will be Hazard's last game for them and he will want to leave on a huge high, plus Chelsea's squad have got a plethora of experience of playing in finals. I think there was a stat that said they've reached 19 finals in the last 17 years or something like that, which is incredible when you consider the high turnover of managers Chelsea go through. As good as Aubameyang and Lacazette are, they can't keep bailing us out if we don't defend properly. Especially in a cup final. Based on league position and the quality of their squad, I would say they are favourites. I'm just hoping, like in the 2017 FA Cup final, we can find a way to pull it off.
I think you have done extremely well and defied all odds to reach a Champions League final without your talisman. No-one would have given you a chance in your wildest dreams, but you've found a way to get through each tie. People may say you've been the beneficiary of the away goals rule in the last 4 CL matches, but everyone was well aware of this possibly coming into play before. So there can be no complaints. You just get the feeling the mental fortitude of this current Spurs team is so much stronger than previous Spurs sides who would have crumbled and used injuries as a (valid) excuse. But there seems to be a determination, instilled from Pochettino, to never say die no matter how dire the circumstances. There have been elements of fortune in your CL run as @Roo pointed out, but every team who goes on to win this competition seems to have a bit of luck. And as the saying goes, fortune favours the brave! If this is how well you have done without Kane, there is an argument to be made that you would have won some of these ties more convincingly if he started. Prior to his injury, he still seemed to be carrying a knock, so wasn't 100% fit, but a 100% fit Kane is a huge asset to you. Regardless of whether you win or lose the final, you have launched yourselves onto the grandest stage of them all and have gained a huge global following for this unlikely CL run. It puts you in good stead for the future from a commercial standpoint. I'm obviously very jealous that you are in this position, but at the end of the day, you have earned the right to be where you are. We had 20 stabs at this competition and only reached the final 1 time, which was 13 years ago now, so there's no point getting annoyed about our rivals reaching the CL final when, historically, we had opportunities ourselves and didn't take them.
Just seen your post Martin. I grew up in the 40's & 50's so was an active supporter in the 60's when Spurs were the best team in England. I've been all over the country multiple times supporting them, in fact British Rail used to put notices in the carriage window saying 'Reserved, Spurs Supporters Only'. I've still got one in my scrap book! Anyway, the point being that I met fans from so many different clubs, most of whom were friendly that I just couldn't hate anyone for supporting the club they loved. I do realize that my generation is vastly different to to-days with their social media & wotnots. I'm the most untech person on here! I have known many Liverpudlians over the years, mainly through work and have liked every one. Great sense of humour & pretty self deprecating at times. As for Herr Klopp he comes over to me as a pleasant, competent sort of bloke, certainly not obnoxious. That does not mean I wish him well on June 1st!!! I found the best way to deal with banter was to laugh instead of biting. Took the sting right out. Lets hope & pray we win the final and you can have the last laugh.
Right. And in a similar vein you have taken 5 seasons and compared them to 4 wins out of 8 and come to the conclusion that there is more insight to be gained from those 4 games than the other 200. Has Kane been rushed back too early in the past? Yes. Does that impact the team? Yes. Do we perform better without a fully-fit Kane? No.
Good points there Maggie. I find it completely stupid not to hate a coach when he's at Dortmund and then hate him when he goes to Liverpool. I'd never heard of Unai before he went to Arsenal, I wouldn't have hated him at his previous club so I'm not going to hate him now.
I don’t understand how you had never heard of Unai before if you are interested in football. He won the Europa with Sevilla three consecutive times