Someone has to stop this. Chelsea are two points clear at the top of the Premier League and in the final of the FA Cup. If we’re not careful this tinpot club could add their name to the illustrious list of proper clubs that have won the Double.
I’m sorry Pompey, but there’s only one team capable of beating them in the final and it aint you. It’s surely time for the neutrals to reevaluate their position and cheer on Spurs tomorrow. Otherwise it’s quite conceivable that Chelsea could beat Portsmouth by an embarrassing margin and we will have to witness the repellent sight of John Terry parading around Wembley with the league in one hand and the cup in the other.
Until they were randomly selected to be a Russian billionaire’s plaything and started buying success, Chelsea thought themselves lucky to have the likes of John Bumstead playing for them. Their idea of a ‘double’ in those days was winning the second division title and the Simod Cup. I’m all for progress and people bettering themselves, but I just can’t get my head around the Chavs joining English football’s most elite club.
So it’s up to Manchester United to pull their fingers out and for us to dispose of Portsmouth, to provide Chelsea with some proper opposition in the final. Lord Kitchener is beckoning his finger towards us and it is our civic duty to respond.
On the surface it seems quite straightforwards, but scratch that surface and you’ll find that one-off games like FA Cup semi-finals can inspire teams to hitherto unreached heights. Then there’s the injuries, Portsmouth have got plenty, but so have we and they’re nearly all defenders.
Dawson, Corluka and King are all doubts. With Kaboul and Walker cup-tied, combined with the stupid decision to loan out eligible defenders, we could be forced to play BAE at right back. Harry has also speculated that he might have to play Jake Livermore in central defence, despite the fact that he’s never played in the position. This surely poses the following question; exactly how shit is Dorian Dervitte?
I hope we don’t see Livermore in central defence. If Harry isn’t willing to give him a chance in midfield given the selection problems we’ve had there, then it’s a bit much to expect him to play in a foreign position in a cup semi final.
There will be late tests on our wounded defenders, but it’s going to be difficult to take a chance on anyone that’s half-fit considering the state of the Wembley pitch today. No one could keep their footing and it’s likely to be worse tomorrow. We could be playing five a side by the end of this game.
To put things into perspective though, Portsmouth have also got loads of injuries and have Ricardo Rocha in defence. We have enough attacking talent to cause them real problems and make our defensive woes immaterial. We have to be very un-Tottenham-like and do exactly what’s expected of us, which is to beat them comfortably. Defeat is not an option and would very likely derail our entire season.
It’s been 19 years since our last FA Cup final. We cheered this semi final draw for a reason; this is our best chance in years to get back where we belong. Come on you Spurs!
An excellent summation!
Tricky game tomorrow. I think we need to go into the game with the mindset of utterly battering them from the off. Press, press, press and pepper their 6-yard box.
As you were saying…
OOOOPPPPPSSSSSSS,
arrogance, the last nail in every coffin. I am so proud of the lads, and before we hear the excuses, the slippery pitch saw as many Pompey players fall to their bums as spurs. We just reciovered better. We shoudl have had a penalty in the first half which we were not awarded, so that cancels out your argument about Crouch’s foul on the keeper.
Bottom Line, Pompey are up for their 5th Visit to Wembley in Three Years, and if Chelsea win the league I guess it will be 6 in three years for the Charity shield?
PUP,