I sincerely believe that we can turn it around tonight. If nothing else, we have a cup final on Sunday and anyone playing tonight will want to ensure that harry sits up and takes notice of them - Gio is one of those who, at the very least, could ensure a place on the bench for the final.
An early goal will give us a decent chance and, even then, they scored very late on so it's always possible. I really fancy it tonight - no real expectations, a youthful and exuberant side and the home crowd behind us!
COYS

Oh so its a 'big' game as far as some of the players are concerned huh?


Who knew??????

Can anyone honestly say that our chance on Sunday would be diminished if we played this tonight? Are we not used to playing on Sunday after the UEFA on thursday? - even after 'away' UEFA games? Are we not expected to be 100% on premiership sunday games?

Gomes
Chimbo Daws Woody Bale
Bentley Palacious hudd O'Hara
Bent Campbell

I think its a strong team and with GDS, Jenas, Zokora, Modric, Ekotto, Gunter on the bench we could change it to suit us? I suspect Redknapp will field a strong team in the end and is just talking shit to the media but if its true Bentley is not even in the squad then I'm seriously puzzled cos I don't expect him to start Sunday.

Our season will be over on Monday folks..... get used to the idea.... and its 5 months to August....

:sad: (there are no 'smilies' available with a noose)

Jenko, for those who are playing it is most probably a very big game. Bostock and Parrett will be making full home debut's. It does not get bigger than that. Same for Obika, Mason, Smith, Townsend etc if they come on. For Chimbonda, Dawson, Giovani, Bale, Huddlestone it is an opportunity to secure a bigger part in our managers plans. For Gomes, it is a chance to get confidence ahead of Sunday, much like with Robinson last year.

Just because the manager see's the game as a burden, doesn't mean the players or, more importantly, the fans, do.

Massive game tonight,for some players ! (its their chance to gatecrash the final).

No I agree with you but to read the media up until this article it was all about rotating and playing kids and you would not have gotten the impression it was important. I know we have a good group of kids but I think next years Carling cup should be dedicated to them and the UEFA should be played by the senior squad (when we're in it).

As a fan of the club over 25 yrs if you hadda asked me to choose one cup competition to do well in at the start of this season I would have jumped at the UEFA. We would love the club to have a bigger name in europe and it would be great to do well and get used to winning in europe in the hope someday we'd be in the champions league.... That reads like more of a dream nowadays though....

Don't see why we can't win. Shakthar can't defend and it's just whether the lads turn up and score some goals.

Good attitude from the little guy. Just hope its true.

Come on Gio. We know you're good, and you know you're good. Go out there and embarass Harry.

I really think we can over turn this deficit and go on to win! COYS!

Gio to score one, Bostock to score a scorcher and Campbell to score the winner!

Lets be the first and last name on this cups roll of honour.

An early goal could be crucial, either way to be honest. If they get it it's more or less game over, but if we do the atmosphere will completely change and I could see us going on to win the tie.

really feel sorry for gio, he deserves more first team opportunities than he actually gets.. lets hope he can finally convince harry to start playing him regularly with a exemplary performance tonight.

I'm not sure that he does deserve more first team opportunities than he's getting, at least not based on what we have seen. He's been pretty good and I was impressed with his understanding of his defensive responsibilities last week, but he's not done anything exciting, except for a few attacking runs that fizzled out against Man U in the FA Cup, since pre-season. He's been OK and he looks like he's going to be a classy player when he matures a bit, but I wouldn't select him ahead of (for instance) O'Hara, who makes things happen and scores goals.

O'Hara made things happen and scored goals NOT when he played as a left midfielder, but when he played in central midfield. He has largely disappointed when he was given a left wing position - where Gio has been more effective than either Bentley or O'Hara so far. Gio's pace combined with skill allows him to use the ball more incisively, and also helps him retrieve a situation better than slow paced Bentley or O'Hara on the wing.