CUP ROMANCE NEEDS HAMMERS VICTORY

[Guest ivabigun]

For a competition so cloaked in romance as the FA Cup every neutral should be backing West Ham. Liverpool had their day a year ago in Istanbul, now is the time to let some of the others take their place at the table of success and enjoy the feast.

 

 

 

Full Story here

Edited May 8, 2006 by ivabigun

[Guz]

Probably true. The underdog always gets the nation's support.

[Nebraska Red]

they always say that when a team from a lower division meets a team from the top league in a final.

 

if you listen to the press and the mangers of teams outside the top 4, you would swear we had a Premier League division 2.

 

i watched Fat Sam on the EPL review show saying how 8th , and an Inter Toto spot, was a fantastic achievement for a club like Bolton with the little that they have. they all get a big fat check for their share of the TV.

[Billy Dane]

Yeah, but Bolton have got an English manager, so 8th is a good result for them.

[Guest JimmyJames]

Is anyone else a bit concerned like what I am? The last several finals we have been in we have definitely been seen as the underdogs (Alaves/Birmingham apart) but we go into this one as clear favourites. Is that a bad thing in terms of expectations?

 

For this team? No. For GH's team? Yes. Simple really.

[Extraordinary Swindle]

Is anyone else a bit concerned like what I am? The last several finals we have been in we have definitely been seen as the underdogs (Alaves/Birmingham apart) but we go into this one as clear favourites. Is that a bad thing in terms of expectations?

Our ambition is to steamroll Chelsea, Man Utd and Arsenal on the way to dominating the league again. With Benitez in charge, the underdog tag is a thing of the past for our club.

 

Semi Finals

Middlesbrough 0-1 West Ham

Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool

 

Quarter Finals

Man City 1-2 West Ham

Birmingham 0-7 Liverpool

 

5th Round

Bolton 0-0 West Ham

West Ham 2-1 Bolton (aet)

Liverpool 1-0 Man Utd

 

They have struggled against the dregs of the league. We have beaten Man Utd and Chelsea on the way to the final and trounced Birmingham 7-0. Nothing to be concerned about, if the players maintain a professional attitude and there isn't a serious drop in form we should beat them and beat them well.

[Guest fender_rhodes]

Biggest factor is the state of mind of our players when on the pitch. Do we shut up shop after going a goal up, or do we play for the killer goal? What if we go down to a shock goal against the run of play? What happens if we have a relapse of our barren run in February?

 

If the past weeks are anything to go by, we should be confident of a great day out at Cardiff...

[Dule]

The magic has already happened, United and Chelski, enough said.

[Paul B]

I am a bit worried, I've not been this confident since wimbledon, I'm trying not to be but it's hard after 11 straight victories, Rafa's just so damn effective

 

That's what I'm saying. Overconfidence might scupper the plans.

[Extraordinary Swindle]

It doesn't matter who the country supports and this is West Ham we're facing not the huff n'hope, kick the man man not the ball merchants that were Wimbledon. West Ham play football, Liverpool play football. Liverpool are managed by Rafael Benitez - there is no contest when it comes to tactics/preparation we have the best man in the world at the helm. If we get turned over in the final, it won't be the tactics/preparation that let us down.

 

That's what I'm saying. Overconfidence might scupper the plans.

Overconfidence on who's part? Rafa will keep the team focussed during the preparation for the game.

[fyds]

Top dogs or underdogs it doesn't matter - arrogance can cost you finals, genuine belief and confidence can win them.

 

What is important is that we very rarely lose finals.

[_00_deathscar]

Also, just a point. Gerrard has scored in the League, UEFA, and CL finals. Has anyone ever scored in all four major finals for the same club?

 

 

Wow....

[Paul B]

Top dogs or underdogs it doesn't matter - arrogance can cost you finals, genuine belief and confidence can win them.

 

What is important is that we very rarely lose finals.

 

 

We've won six and lost six FA Cup finals though.

[Extraordinary Swindle]

What will it be then? If we play to our potential it will not matter what west ham do, it won't be motivation as it is a cup final, so it will either be overconfidence or a wide spread lack of form. Even one or two players out of form we should be able to cope with against west ham, four or five we will be fecked - but we have subs.

Agreed - See my first post : "if the players maintain a professional attitude and there isn't a serious drop in form we should beat them and beat them well".

 

I see two ways we are more likely to be beaten:

 

1 - Decisions going against us.

 

2 - One of those days where we batter a team's goal and the ball just won't go in the net and when it does the goal is disallowed.

 

We had one of those games in the World Club Final this season.

[fyds]

We've won six and lost six FA Cup finals though.

Over a very long period of time, yes - but if you don't count the world club thingy, this group - in part or whole - has lost one out of the last six - and that also doesn't count Super Cups (won two) or Charity Shields (won one, lost one).

[Guz]

The fans.

 

How does that affect the preparations of Benitez and the team though? He should get them thoroughly prepared whether we're playing Chelsea or Southend United in the final. It's what he's paid to do. Fans always get excited and a bit light headed before cup finals, that's what makes them so great. West Ham are a good side and play some nice football but hopefully we'll have too much for them.

[Jonesy]

We've won six and lost six FA Cup finals though.

 

 

ah the dreaded 13th cup final on the 13th of May. Where's Danny Murphy when you need him?

[Guest Red Mist]

There are rarely any upsets in FA Cup finals. It's why everyone still keeps on talking about the Crazy Gang and their victory over us, it was so unexpected. Yet how often have the favourites lost? Not very often.

History is on our side. We will win, mainly because we happen to far superior to West Ham. No need to panic, to me this is a foregone conclusion, we ARE the FA Cup winners for 2005/6. They might as well engrave our name on the trophy already, no need to wait until the end of the game.

[_00_deathscar]

We're going to lose.

 

Red Mist just set the mockers loose....

[Extraordinary Swindle]

Also, just a point. Gerrard has scored in the League, UEFA, and CL finals. Has anyone ever scored in all four major finals for the same club?

Steven Gerrard has!