WFA Cup Final 25 | United v Chelsea - 1:30pm Sun 18 May

jojojo

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We're the famous Man United
and we're going to Wemberley
Wemberley, Wemberley

Last time United lost in the Cup was two years ago, it was against Chelsea.
Last time Chelsea lost in the Cup was over a year ago, it was against United.

After a session of some ups and some downs, can we end it with a nice shiny trophy? Chelsea haven't had many downs this year despite not having Lauren James fit for most of the season and not having Sam Kerr available at all.

We know we're now always in with a shout against Arsenal and City in a one off match. Chelsea though?

Our head to head record against Chelsea is awful - but the results hide wide differences in the actual matches. We've been embarrassingly hammered by them on our home turf, but we've also had a lot of tight games where the mystery was how did we come out of them with nothing. We've had several where we've come out aggrieved by refs, VAR and the TV commentary teams.

So let's admit it then, even when we look like the better team, they beat us. But not always - we do have that Cup semifinal win on our side. We know it's possible. We also know that we've come close enough times to mean that we can win at Wembley.

Match is live on BBC1.
 
Well, there is one combination of factors in our favor: We're playing at Wembley, and Ella Toone is on our side.
 
Let’s face it, it’s going to be a huge shock if we win. I’d feel more confident if we’d done better in the last three league matches, but one point from 9 was pretty disappointing.

To have a chance of winning, everyone will need to be at their best, and we’ll need a ref who can keep their bias towards Chelsea to a minimum.

MLT helped win us the semi last season with a classic display of shithousery. We’ll need something similar again.
 
I have tickets for this. Not sure if I will go yet, as I have a lot of other things on.

Went to the final two years ago, and it really was a terrible game.

United big underdogs due to our record against them.
 
Eric_the_Red99 said:
Let’s face it, it’s going to be a huge shock if we win. I’d feel more confident if we’d done better in the last three league matches, but one point from 9 was pretty disappointing.
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Agreed, but think about those three matches:

We held Chelsea to a draw for over 90 minutes and could well have won with one lucky bounce (or one fewer unlucky bounce).

We came back from two goals down to earn a draw against City -- in a match in which we only needed a draw.

Against Arsenal, we had to use an unfamiliar formation -- one that nobody would ever try against Arsenal if they had the choice -- because we simply ran out of fullbacks. And even then we managed to come back to make the final score respectable.

So yeah, one point from three matches looks bad on paper, but IMO all three provided strong grounds for optimism as well.
 
Our family is going hoping for the best. At our best we can match anyone. So fingers crossed.
 
Lobster11 said:
Agreed, but think about those three matches:

We held Chelsea to a draw for over 90 minutes and could well have won with one lucky bounce (or one fewer unlucky bounce).

We came back from two goals down to earn a draw against City -- in a match in which we only needed a draw.

Against Arsenal, we had to use an unfamiliar formation -- one that nobody would ever try against Arsenal if they had the choice -- because we simply ran out of fullbacks. And even then we managed to come back to make the final score respectable.

So yeah, one point from three matches looks bad on paper, but IMO all three provided strong grounds for optimism as well.
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I couldn't agree more. The three big spenders in the WSL are there to be beaten by us. Okay, we lost two of the last three games, but we are in the Champions League and in the FA Cup Final against a Chelsea side that we know we can beat.
 
Just a reminder of how good Wembley can look.

GNfQT_4WgAEOoKt
 


I dislike Talksport immensely, but came across this interview with Leah Galton, previewing the Cup Final. It's not a bad piece.

One thing that staggers me, and I didn't know about - in last year's Cup Final Leah says that she broke her leg and damaged her ankle ligaments in the third minute. Katie Zelem told her to run it off! She played on until the 55th minute.

My favourite player just went up in my estimation.
 
Demon Barber said:


I dislike Talksport immensely, but came across this interview with Leah Galton, previewing the Cup Final. It's not a bad piece.

One thing that staggers me, and I didn't know about - in last year's Cup Final Leah says that she broke her leg and damaged her ankle ligaments in the third minute. Katie Zelem told her to run it off! She played on until the 55th minute.

My favourite player just went up in my estimation.
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Broke it? Even Nobby Stiles wouldn’t have done that!
 
Jayde Rivière won't be ready to play the final. A real shame for her and for us.

According to Marc Skinner the rest of the usual squad are available.
 
jojojo said:
Jayde Rivière won't be ready to play the final. A real shame for her and for us.

According to Marc Skinner the rest of the usual squad are available.
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Agreed - a big blow for us and I feel for Jayde. At least we know Mannion will give her all.

The Skinner piece I saw was confusing though. Firstly he said Jayde was out, but he later said that she was unlikely to play.
 
It's only Friday afternoon and I'm already nervous. Is this normal?

On the one hand, I know that we are capable of winning this thing if we play our best, and I fully expect us to do just that. On the other hand, well, it's Chelsea, who (almost) always find a way to win in the end. On the other other hand, Barcelona showed that Chelsea have vulnerabilities there to be exploited, and they've had plenty of draws in the WSL that could have been losses but for a lucky/unlucky bounce here or there. On the other other other hand we're very good, but we're not Barcelona. On the other other othe....

Never mind. I think I'll just go pour myself a glass of tequila.
 
Lobster11 said:
It's only Friday afternoon and I'm already nervous. Is this normal?

On the one hand, I know that we are capable of winning this thing if we play our best, and I fully expect us to do just that. On the other hand, well, it's Chelsea, who (almost) always find a way to win in the end. On the other other hand, Barcelona showed that Chelsea have vulnerabilities there to be exploited, and they've had plenty of draws in the WSL that could have been losses but for a lucky/unlucky bounce here or there. On the other other other hand we're very good, but we're not Barcelona. On the other other othe....

Never mind. I think I'll just go pour myself a glass of tequila.
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You need to hire an octopus so you bring more hands to the problem.
 
Our tickets have sold out.
The evening is warm and the red wine is flowing.
I genuinely think we can do this.
Jayde is a huge miss, however. What a player.
There's plenty in the locker though.
We could have took the lead at LSV, and if we can tomorrow it could be our day.
Heads up reds, loud and proud.
 
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StretfordEnd78 said:
Our tickets have sold out.
The evening is warm and the red wine is flowing.
I genuinely think we can do this.
Jayde is a huge miss, however. What a player.
There's plenty in the locker though.
We could have took the lead at LSV, and if we can tomorrow it could be our day.
Heads up reds, loud and proud.
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Great poem ;)
 
I'm so bad at English it's ridiculous. However, one team needs to knock Chelsea, and their fans, off their royal blue perch.
 
StretfordEnd78 said:
I'm so bad at English it's ridiculous. However, one team needs to knock Chelsea, and their fans, off their royal blue perch.
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There's nothing really wrong with the English, and I genuinely think it is a good accidental poem! I particularly like the subtle internal rhymes of "this & miss" and "Heads & reds."

Anyway, you are right. We beat Chelsea last year, and we can do it again. Keep Lucy Bronze quiet, don't have a small player picking up Millie Bright at set pieces, and give Tooney the ball. Simple really.
 
Last year before I set off I felt Tooney was the United player who could set us apart.
I'm thinking Grace Clinton this year.
Whatever happens tomorrow, the squad has progressed significantly this year.
 
StretfordEnd78 said:
Last year before I set off I felt Tooney was the United player who could set us apart.
I'm thinking Grace Clinton this year.
Whatever happens tomorrow, the squad has progressed significantly this year.
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Agreed that Clinton might hold the key, but in a big match at a sold-out Wembley my money is still on Toone. As @Demon Barber said, we just need to get the ball to her.

The math is simple: Tooney + Wembley = Worldies.
 
United are good value betting wise for this. We are better than what the bookies think imo. 9/2 to win seems very high
 
Redlambs said:
Looking forward to this. Fan zones open 11.30, so me and the Mrs are going to head up there before the trains feck up as per usual :lol:
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I think the Arena zone (with alcohol) opens at 10.00, and the East zone opens at 11.00. Enjoy your day.
 
I'm envious. I'm not able to go to Wembley this time, but I'll heading out to watch it with my family. I'm nervous based on our track record against them but I'm also optimistic because we've often deserved better results. At some point that will level out.

Last year was a different kind of feeling. We were such strong favourites that it made me nervous, especially given our League form. But on the day, the nerves went - the atmosphere at the ground was great, but even so the relief when Ella Toone scored was huge. We all knew it was ours.

I'm not at all sure what will happen today. Could be painful, could be great. Football eh!
 
Just had a panic attack. It's an 8:30 a.m. kickoff over here, so I got up early in order to get some things done before the match. At around 6:30 my internet cut out. Oh god oh god please not today please please not today.... Fortunately, it just came back. Tragedy narrowly averted!
 
Score predictions anyone? I'm calling it, 2-1 United. Basically the same as last year's semi, kacking our pants most of the last twenty minutes as we defend for our lives
 
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