Today's the day

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fran-MLs little camera

fran-MLs little camera

Well-Known Member
Feb 18, 2011
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newport, isle of wight
Today's the day we have to face the fact that we blew the chance of getting into the semi-final of the League Cup and possibly the Final. We weren't cheated out of it, we blew it. Today we could be facing Spurs in the first of a two legged match. Two-legged matches favour the better side, so of course we would have got to the final :)

However, bearing in mind our injury situation and our league position, this may be a blessing in disguise. Not denying I would love to be in it, but two midweek matches would not have done us much good. Bet Ron is glad of the break.

Final question: do we want United to go through?....hell, they are playing Spurs. Of course we do!!
 
I was thinking this the other day. We could have been in a position of playing three matches a week for most of the next few weeks, and all with a weakened squad. No, I agree, I desperately want Sheffield United to beat Spuds, but I won't lose sleep if they don't. Looking at this another way, the more tournaments Tottenham are involved in, the more chance they'll slip up in the league.
 
I would honestly be scared of us taking on Spurs at the moment...not because I don't think we could take them, but because of possible injuries and how tiring it would be for the team. I have to point out that I am naturally a scaredy cat :) Losing to Sheffield United hit the team hard, they recovered and stormed on....would we really want a possible demoralising loss now.
 
Just thought who do I want to win the League Cup.

1. Chelsea (fed up with Mourinho, but Chelsea haven't actually done anything to us).
2. Sheffield United (usually go for underdog, but their manager is an ass)
.
.
.
99. Spurs
100, Liverpool (close run thing with Spurs, but don't want Lallana holding a cup).
 
I did feel a twinge of regret last night but then I thought of the fixture pile up it would have caused, and the injuries we already have. That made me think of the bigger picture and potentially a much bigger prize.
 
I think it did us a bit of good, in the long run. The Lads tasted defeat in a one-off competition. They really didn't like that, and the penalty was final. It was the 5th match straight that they'd lost, in all competitions, and it was a signal that something had to be done, despite having the injuries starting to pile up. They learned very quickly after that. They've not lost since.

Whilst I feel more favourable towards the FA Cup, I wouldn't want it to compromise a potentially successful run at the Champions League. The bigger picture, as Tom puts it above, is to make the club bigger and better known, and that means the CL. There will be long FA and League Cup runs in the future, when the squad is of higher quality and quantity all-round. And after that, who knows..? Maybe even a regular tilt at the Premier League title. That's the aim.
 
I am not even that disappointed (though I was when it happened). We are on a winning run, but have too many absences to want extra games. Rather go out to Sheffield United than Spurs and risk straining the squad. The two days off and the rest of the week training will have done the team the world of good. And whatever happens on Saturday, another week off before playing Swansea.
 
fran-MLs little camera said:
I am not even that disappointed (though I was when it happened). We are on a winning run, but have too many absences to want extra games. Rather go out to Sheffield United than Spurs and risk straining the squad. The two days off and the rest of the week training will have done the team the world of good. And whatever happens on Saturday, another week off before playing Swansea.
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Yep.
I know some supporters were hugely disappointed, but I think I looked at the result, frowned and did something else. My thoughts were more about potential extra injuries and the players attitude than anything else. This season is not the time to be getting overly caught up in domestic cups, in my opinion. In a couple of seasons time, or next season if we don't qualify for the CL, will be time enough. I know Ronald says he would like to win a trophy, to mark the season, but I bet he would trade one of the cups for CL qualification in 3rd place or higher.
 
TheSecondStain said:
Yep.
I know some supporters were hugely disappointed, but I think I looked at the result, frowned and did something else. My thoughts were more about potential extra injuries and the players attitude than anything else. This season is not the time to be getting overly caught up in domestic cups, in my opinion. In a couple of seasons time, or next season if we don't qualify for the CL, will be time enough. I know Ronald says he would like to win a trophy, to mark the season, but I bet he would trade one of the cups for CL qualification in 3rd place or higher.
Click to expand...
I agree about the League Cup, but the FA Cup is, barring replays, played on otherwise free Saturdays up until the 6th round. So yes, if we got to the Final it would cost us a couple of postponed league games later in the season, but let's be optimistic and assume we have a full squad fit by then.

I have a sneaky suspicion that Ronald shares the taste for silverware with a certain Alan Pardew, so Saturday should be quite a feisty affair!
 
Sat where we are now I am pleased we don't have to play another two games in a week during a period when we are down to the bare bones of the squad
However, walking back to the car in Sheffield in the pouring rain with a long journey home to come, I wasn't that impressed to say the very least
The good thing is that two of our main rivals for for Euro places are involved in playing these additional games before they have to start playing their remaining Euro games plays into our hands
I would love to see a Liverpool v Spurs Final to sap their squads and give them alternative focus
 
Jus seen that the final is the weekend after we play Liverpool, will they have a Europa game in between as well?

EDIT: Just checked, and they travel to Turkey for second leg in the week after we play them
 
Even if we beat Chelsea in the final, we would have to give the Euro spot to the likes of Spurs, Arsenal or Pool when we claim our place in the Champions League. Laugh my arse off if Sheffield get into the Euro cup ahead of that lot
 
ChilcoSaint said:
I was thinking this the other day. We could have been in a position of playing three matches a week for most of the next few weeks, and all with a weakened squad. No, I agree, I desperately want Sheffield United to beat Spuds, but I won't lose sleep if they don't. Looking at this another way, the more tournaments Tottenham are involved in, the more chance they'll slip up in the league.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly.
 
Saint_Ford said:
Jus seen that the final is the weekend after we play Liverpool, will they have a Europa game in between as well?

EDIT: Just checked, and they travel to Turkey for second leg in the week after we play them
Click to expand...

Don't they play the first leg Euro game a few days before playing us too?
 
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Dark Lord SFC said:
Sat where we are now I am pleased we don't have to play another two games in a week during a period when we are down to the bare bones of the squad
However, walking back to the car in Sheffield in the pouring rain with a long journey home to come, I wasn't that impressed to say the very least
The good thing is that two of our main rivals for for Euro places are involved in playing these additional games before they have to start playing their remaining Euro games plays into our hands
I would love to see a Liverpool v Spurs Final to sap their squads and give them alternative focus
Click to expand...

That means one of them would win some silverware! Want Liverpool in there to ruin their focus, but Spurs to be knocked out this round. Though appreciate that is as good as a Liverpool winning the whole thing scenario. Maybe Spurs-Chelsea is best then.
 
I've honestly stopped caring about our ex players and Poch. Tonight I see as win-win; Spurs win, their players become distracted by the final, Sheff Utd win makes for a funny story.

IMO Tottenham will not finish top 4. Simply not good enough. They have three cup competitions and rely too much on just a couple of players. They don't worry me like Arse and Utd.

Would like Liverpool to reach the final, purely because we play them a week before (on Feb 22nd - final is Mar 1st), which should benefit us for obvious reasons.
 
Liverpool are currently planned to pay us before two Europa League games. Not sure when the COC final is, but it best not be on that weekend and delay our game (assuming Liverpool get through) as that'll make us miss the perfect time to play them!
 
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