The Contenders

[HeCanDoMagic]

Semi-Final draw tonight, the runners and riders;

Sheffield United - in spite of our recent cup successes over the so called bigger teams, all remaining clubs will be hoping they draw us - something that, as last night showed, can work to our advantage.

Chelsea - The opposite end of the spectrum to us - the team no one wants to draw. The only crumb of comfort in drawing them (and I'd hope we played at home first if so) would be that their second string were pushed all the way by Shrewsbury in the early rounds. Would Mourinho play his reserves in a semi though?

Liverpool - Out of the remaining contenders they are currently the lowest on confidence, although as we have seen with Southampton, things can change quickly. They don't scare teams the way they did last season and have a discontented team at present who I don't think would relish playing at BDTBL.

Bournemouth - Another one Id like us to avoid. They are flying, score goals for fun (bit like Southampton at the time the draw was made) and have nous to play against League 1 teams.

Tottenham - My first choice. Not in any sort of form, brittle confidence, playing the right way at their place would get the fans on their back and frustrate. Another team you'd expect wouldn't fancy BDTBL on a Tuesday night. Be good to see the Kyles too - show them what their missing....!!

Newcastle - 50/50 on these. Jekyll and Hyde - which team would show up? The form team that are flying, or the team that are easy to frustrate?

1st Choice - Tottenham
2nd Choice - Liverpool

 

[TarquinDelouche]

Chelsea. I want Chelsea.

 

[SwissBlade]

I think our best chance would be Spurs or Newcastle, I think we'd struggle against Bournemouth or Chelsea.... I doubt Liverpool will win tonight.

Away 1st leg would be better too

 

[ZoneManWilf]

Tottenham - My first choice. Not in any sort of form, brittle confidence, playing the right way at their place would get the fans on their back and frustrate. Another team you'd expect wouldn't fancy BDTBL on a Tuesday night. Be good to see the Kyles too - show them what their missing....!!

1st Choice - Tottenham

Spurs was the thought in the post pub celebrations for us too. Plus they regularly bottle things like this, as I have heard from my couple of Spurs mates over the years,

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Spurs or Newcastle, 2nd leg at home

 

[JJBlade]

The difference between all these teams is that if Liverpool, Bournemouth, Spurs or Newcastle have a bad couple of days we could cause a shock.
Chelsea on the other hand will still do a job on us regardless of how badly they play. They're too strong and too professional.

 

[FTPE]

I think we'd hammer spurs

 

[boo radley]

Not bothered. JUST WIN A FRIGGIN CUP.

 

[Derby_Blade]

Spurs, 0-0 at white heart lane followed by a 1-0 at Bramall lane, Walker OG.

 

[Coily]

Over two legs, Bournemouth would by far be our best chance of going through to the final. A good side no doubt, but beatable. If the Prem sides play as they can, they'd all spank us, but with Bournemouth we'd still have a shot if we played as well as we can.

Also, we've beaten Bournemouth the last 8 times we've played them. The only time they've beaten us was in a god-awful season opener at the Lane in '87.

Whether we draw them or not, I'd like them to paste Liverpool. Can't be doing with that smug twat Rodgers.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

If the Prem sides play as they can, they'd all spank us, but with Bournemouth we'd still have a shot if we played as well as we can.

I hear this a lot but don't get it. Last night Southampton played the best they could against the set up of our team, the conditions, the occasion. We ensured that their best on the night wasn't good enough.

It was down to us that they weren't allowed to play their best. Surely that's the idea. If we get spanked then its not because they have decided to play their best, its because we haven't competed. The way we can play means we can compete with any club left in. We shouldn't fear any team - we should relish it.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Newcastle although at home ideally.

Don't fancy being sat in the rafters at their place.

Its over two legs mate, doubt we'd get away with having them both at the Lane either, although that would be nice!

 

[Bladesman]

Its over two legs mate, doubt we'd get away with having them both at the Lane either, although that would be nice!

How did I forget that.

I swear I am not awake today.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

I swear I am not awake today.

Are you dreaming of a world where we've just beaten to top 5 premier league team, comfortably and in style? A world where a Dutch legend was duly put in his place in true Yorkshire fashion by Chris Morgan? One where the remaining quarter finalists are dreading the prospect of a trip to BDTBL?

You're not dreaming mate, your very much awake in a Clough Wonderland.

 

[Coily]

I hear this a lot but don't get it. Last night Southampton played the best they could against the set up of our team, the conditions, the occasion. We ensured that their best on the night wasn't good enough.

It was down to us that they weren't allowed to play their best. Surely that's the idea. If we get spanked then its not because they have decided to play their best, its because we haven't competed. The way we can play means we can compete with any club left in. We shouldn't fear any team - we should relish it.

I'm sorry, but the part highlighted is nonsense. Do you really think they walked off thinking they'd played the best they could? It was clear to all that they'd played poorly, especially for a team who earlier in the season were not just beating fellow Premier League sides but hammering them. That, allied with our playing well meant we won and won convincingly. Sure we made it difficult for them, but they should have had more than enough to cope.

I've no wish to take anything away from our lads, but if Southampton had played to their potential they would have beaten us.

 

[Trigger Blade]

Chelsea. I want Chelsea.

A caller to Talk Sport last night said the same, but he was being serious. If we get Chelsea, I'd like us to be able to forfeit the second leg if we're more than 5 goals behind after the first leg to keep the humiliation to a minimum

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

I'm sorry, but the part highlighted is nonsense. Do you really think they walked off thinking they'd played the best they could? It was clear to all that they'd played poorly, especially for a team who earlier in the season were not just beating fellow Premier League sides but hammering them. That, allied with our playing well meant we won and won convincingly. Sure we made it difficult for them, but they should have had more than enough to cope.

I've no wish to take anything away from our lads, but if Southampton had played to their potential they would have beaten us.

But what Im saying is that we stopped them from playing their best, they didn't stop themselves.

 

[TarquinDelouche]

A caller to Talk Sport last night said the same, but he was being serious. If we get Chelsea, I'd like us to be able to forfeit the second leg if we're more than 5 goals behind after the first leg to keep the humiliation to a minimum

I'm being entirely serious. I'm not that bothered if we win the cup. I'm genuinely not. But I'd much rather lose against the best team in the land than against some smaller team down on their luck, looking for a victory to kick start their season.

 

[Gavlar]

don't wanna lose to Bournemouth and the smug Eddie Howe, aside from that don't mind really.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

I think our best chance would be Spurs or Newcastle, I think we'd struggle against Bournemouth or Chelsea.... I doubt Liverpool will win tonight.

Away 1st leg would be better too

Don't know Swiss, Newcastle bit of a form team right now, can see you logic though.

 

[UnitedBlade]

don't wanna lose to Bournemouth and the smug Eddie Howe, aside from that don't mind really.

Christ what a "smug off" we've got tonight. Howe v Rogers.

I have to say Howe is an amateur in comparison with Rogers. How lucky was Rogers to have a player like Suarez last season. Would love it if we had a part in him being sacked.

 

[SwissBlade]

Don't know Swiss, Newcastle bit of a form team right now, can see you logic though.

Southampton were bang in form when we drew them, semi final is a month away....

 

[SwissBlade]

don't wanna lose to Bournemouth and the smug Eddie Howe, aside from that don't mind really.

I really like Eddie Howe, he's done a cracking job there!

 

[Gavlar]

I really like Eddie Howe, he's done a cracking job there!

not denying what a job he's done, just don't like him

 

[Gavlar]

Christ what a "smug off" we've got tonight. Howe v Rogers.

I have to say Howe is an amateur in comparison with Rogers. How lucky was Rogers to have a player like Suarez last season. Would love it if we had a part in him being sacked.

Small point but I changed my name from "Christ" a while back, i'm just known as Gavlar now )

 

[Kenilworth]

Small point but I changed my name from "Christ" a while back, i'm just known as Gavlar now )

Why tell us all you have a "small point" though - seems an irrelevant element to your post

 

[Gavlar]

Why tell us all you have a "small point" though - seems an irrelevant element to your post

Joke book for Christmas? )

 

[Kenilworth]

Why tell us all you have a "small point" though - seems an irrelevant element to your post

Joke book for Christmas? )

Nah, Gavlars - just naturally witty

 

[diplomat]

I have a problem with the format of chopping and changing between single leg ties and two leg ties. A two legged semi only favours the premier league teams and reduces any chance of an upset. I know Bradford did it (against a pretty shit Villa - I went to the second leg) but like when we played Liverpool, over two legs it's really hard to come out on top.

Maybe it's the preferred format to ensure a "more attractive" final according to sponsors but the whole reason cups are interesting, and why the FA cup is so much better is the knockout format that attracts the world to watch it rather than something that conspires to give us another premier league game but with a cup at stake.

On a slightly different note, I used to love the cup winners cup. A proper tourney involving European most erratic teams. As opposed to the turd that is what became of the merger of that and the UEFA cup.

 

[Silent Blade]

On a slightly different note, I used to love the cup winners cup. A proper tourney involving European most erratic teams. As opposed to the turd that is what became of the merger of that and the UEFA cup.

Couldnt agree more. I had always thought if one of the three European Cup competitions would be scrapped , it would have been the UEFA (Fairs) Cup