Boro vs Chelsea - Talksport

TeaCider said:
We've had the easiest run to the semis you could imagine, to be fair, I'm not surprised neutrals aren't giving us a huge amount of credit for it.

Struggling Championship Huddersfield.
League One Bolton
Struggling League Two Bradford.
Struggling League One Exeter.
Struggling League One Port Vale.

It's only the match against Bolton where we were playing a team that weren't in bad form in the league, and they're still in the league below us.

It's still great to reach it, and we've slipped up against similar opposition before, but let's not pretend there was anything tricky about the run.

Chelsea will be overwhelming favourites, and understandably so.
Hopefully they slip up.
Click to expand...

5 away games, 5 potential banana skins, 5 games where players could have been complacent, 5 of the kind of games where we‘ve seen many previous Boro teams lose. We’re in the Semi Finals not because we’re lucky but because we’ve consistently shown the right attitude and application.
 
The Card Cheat said:
5 away games, 5 potential banana skins, 5 games where players could have been complacent, 5 of the kind of games where we‘ve seen many previous Boro teams lose. We’re in the Semi Finals not because we’re lucky but because we’ve consistently shown the right attitude and application.
Click to expand...

I didn't say we were lucky.

But that's not a challenging run of games, and neutrals obviously aren't going to pretend it is just to make Boro fans feels good about themselves.
 
While we did have a generally fortunate set of draws, there was probably at least a 20% chance of losing each one, especially given they were all away from home and the opposition would be up for playing a bigger club than they are used to week in week out.

So while it's not of the level of Bradford (who I think were League Two when some years ago they knocked out Liverpool and Arsenal on the way to the final) it's still an achievement to reach the semi, and we were relatively comfortable in all the games (Exeter arguably the exception) which says a lot about the squad.

Hopefully as well, three guaranteed games in January against Premier League teams will be an incentive for players to sign for us early in the window and help with our injury hit squad
 
Cosmonaut said:
.. they've been absolute doyles tonight discussing this draw .. laughing us off, no credit at all for reaching the semis, as fortunate as our draws may have seemed, can only beat what is in front of you as they say ...

They've already decided Chelsea are finalists as will most I would imagine ... but Chelsea have been inconsistent this season. Though I admire Poch, here's to a Matt Crooks Maccarone-style diving header in the second leg sending us into the final to shut all the doyles up

Looking forward to it, shame we're plagued with injuries but we've got some time until, and won't the window be open before we face Chelsea?? Be nice to get some reinforcements in, in time and try and get the ground packed the night it kicks off

Would love us to make a final against all odds under Carrick, would certainly lighten up what has been a frustrating season so far

Though he has not been deemed a success, I must admit I am worried about facing the likes of Mudryk - I think he is a fantastic player, just not at the right club. Shame he was poached last minute instead of moving to Arsenal where I think it would have worked out better than at the shambles under l
Click to expand...
In all honesty, they are right we're nothing but fodder. Our squad is decimated, we've got 3 games in 7 days. Just enjoy the occasion.
 
The Card Cheat said:
5 away games, 5 potential banana skins, 5 games where players could have been complacent, 5 of the kind of games where we‘ve seen many previous Boro teams lose. We’re in the Semi Finals not because we’re lucky but because we’ve consistently shown the right attitude and application.
Click to expand...

We got to the FA Cup final in 1997 by beating Chester, Hednesford, Man City(2nd tier), Derby (who we beat 6-1 in the league) and Chesterfield you could say we got the luck of the draw that season too, especially the goal that never was!
 
The Card Cheat said:
5 away games, 5 potential banana skins, 5 games where players could have been complacent, 5 of the kind of games where we‘ve seen many previous Boro teams lose. We’re in the Semi Finals not because we’re lucky but because we’ve consistently shown the right attitude and application.
Click to expand...
We were lucky to get the draws that we have but we weren't lucky to win the matches. We should have won all of those matches comfortably and we did. It's far easier to get to the latter stages of the cups via lucky draws than it is beating teams much stronger than you.

Chelsea, and neutrals, will see the draw as very favourable for Chelsea and it undeniably is. We have a very small chance of progressing, not impossible, but very small. 2 legged ties are very difficult for the underdog to win. You need the stronger team to have 2 poor matches and you need the weaker team to have two good matches. You almost need the 1st leg to not go too well either otherwise they can put a stringer team out in the second. Ideally you want to get to the 2nd leg level and with them feeling complacent. Realistically they can still beat us if we are at our best and they are not. It's going to be very tough. Will make it all the more enjoyable if we do win though.
 
Davey_C said:
We got to the FA Cup final in 1997 by beating Chester, Hednesford, Man City(2nd tier), Derby (who we beat 6-1 in the league) and Chesterfield you could say we got the luck of the draw that season too, especially the goal that never was!
Click to expand...

Good point 👍
Then we got beat by..oh b***r.🤦
 
TeaCider said:
We've had the easiest run to the semis you could imagine, to be fair, I'm not surprised neutrals aren't giving us a huge amount of credit for it.

Struggling Championship Huddersfield.
League One Bolton
Struggling League Two Bradford.
Struggling League One Exeter.
Struggling League One Port Vale.

It's only the match against Bolton where we were playing a team that weren't in bad form in the league, and they're still in the league below us.

It's still great to reach it, and we've slipped up against similar opposition before, but let's not pretend there was anything tricky about the run.

Chelsea will be overwhelming favourites, and understandably so.
Hopefully they slip up.
Click to expand...
I disagree that it hasn't been tricky - all the ties have been away from home and we've had to earn the right to win the matches. Chelsea is obviously a different level for players like Silvera Bangura and our deputy keepers, but there hasn't been a better time to play Chelsea and over two legs you'd hope we can give ourselves a chance.
 
Quite the opposite. The two leg format hugely favours the better team and is a big advantage to Chelsea not to mention the second leg being at Stamford Bridge.
 
Chelsea obviously strong favourites, doesn't mean we can't enjoy the occassion. Just booked annual leave for the first leg so ticket availability depending I'll be there. Never seen us lose a home leg semi final :)
 
Humpty said:
Quite the opposite. The two leg format hugely favours the better team and is a big advantage to Chelsea not to mention the second leg being at Stamford Bridge.
Click to expand...
1988 Chelsea playoff finals, Chelsea strong favorites to win over the two legs.... and with them at Stamford Bridge for the 2nd leg....didn't happen UTB.... It can happen again...

Chelsea fans didn't take it well :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:

1703156062309.png
 
Alwaysaborolad said:
1988 Chelsea playoff finals, Chelsea strong favorites to win over the two legs.... and with them at Stamford Bridge for the 2nd leg....didn't happen UTB.... It can happen again...

Chelsea fans didn't take it well :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:

View attachment 69123
Click to expand...
They were favorite's but there was a much more level playing field back then, than there is now. It's not even comparable now.
 
Humpty said:
They were favorite's but there was a much more level playing field back then, than there is now. It's not even comparable now.
Click to expand...
Of course we knocked out Man Utd recently, but that was a single legged tie and we had a very considerable amount of luck (Ronaldo missing a pen, clear cut chances going wide, Watmore's handball being deemed accidental etc) before the brilliant pens. And still only drew over 90 mins. But put ourselves in with a chance after one leg (i.e. don't lose by more than a goal) and it essentially becomes a one legged tie and anything can happen!

Edit: we knocked out Spurs in the next round too, and thoroughly deserved to.
 
With a better team, without a lot of injuries and without the same kind of fixture congestion.
 
Winning our five away ties in 90 minutes would be decent odds - 25/1

Which are also our odds to win the League Cup.

Semi finals are no extra time and no away goals rules.

Potentially we are able to strengthen our team in the January window, which no one has mentioned.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top