UEFA Europa League: February 14, 2013 - AC Sparta Praha v. Chelsea FC - [R]

Lets win this cup !

Have we played Sparta Prague before? Champions League group stage?

Im sorry dont mean to be spoiled, disrespectful or a downer, but i have no interest in this cup, and i think its kinda shameful that were in it really. Again not dogging on anyone who thinks otherwise.

Seeing as we only have 4 trophies from European play in the Club's history, I am all for winning it. We aren't exactly Real Madrid

Even if nobody cares about the Europa League. It will be good to see if Chelsea can play well. Maybe they can win the Europa League championship.

With FSW at the helm I have no realistic hope of winning this league. Still, if the players on the field can overcome the incompetence from our manager, winning the Europa cup would be pretty cool. How many Champions League winners have also won the Europa Cup?

very mixed feeling about this. on one hand I'd love for us to actually push for this trophy. Then again, i'd rather get knocked out and focus on the league and make sure we're in the CL next season.

If we win then we get another crack at the SuperCup!

One of my all time favorite players

As long as players arent run into the ground with no subs and then asked to play 3 days later, i'm all for this CUP. I know its always too much to wish for youngsters to get some starts here, but we do have Moses and Mikel back for the more "serious" EPL weekend games.

All of our good young players are out on loan lol. Our squad depth is shite.

I am no fan of this cup either, I honestly believe that it is VITAL that we finsish top 4 this year, if we do then I feel we can attract a good manager and good players - if we don't I can only see mid table mediocraty from here on in. I really believe that this is a crossroads for the club, Abramovich should go on bended knees and 'beg' Mourninho to come back - the biggest gripe of the Mourninho years was the style of play but how many of us would gladly have the same situation at the club again now! Do you remember the days when the club would only lose 3 or 4 times a season, not 3 or 4 times a month! I remember when letting in more than a goal during a game was shocking and not the norm!

Did not realize that Ba is cup-tied for this. Well, pack it in boys. There's no chance of going far in this now.

I always thought this was overplayed. When we had Robben, Duff and a younger Joe Cole coming off the bench, we played some really terrific stuff. The problem was that Robben was always hurt, ditto Cole and Duff's legs lasted about two years... then we started playing with four CMs and Shevchenko.

With players like Mata, Hazard, Oscar in the side, put a structure in place at the back and they will do what they do up the other end. Madrid aren't Barcelona (because no one else is, and I think/hope Roman is starting to realize this finally), but they play some really nice stuff a lot of the time. I'm probably biased though because I much prefer quick, direct, incisive attacking play over tiki-taka sideways passing.

Don't want to derail the thread, but I hate the notion that Chelsea played Stoke-like football under Jose all the time.

It's times like the Europa League when I wish we would've kept just 1 or 2 youngsters from going on loan. Anyone think any of the U21s will be able to have a go? Toddy Kane maybe now that he's back?

It's Rafa we're talking about, so no.

Playing both Mata & Hazard against a rather weak opposition(I know Rafa will make Prague look like Bayern/Barca anyway), not my cup of tea, plus starting Lampard could easily have started Saville.

This fat waiter is a plague in our club.

Line-up doesn't suggest we're taking this cup super seriously.

I dont know why but I dont like anything about this game and would rather it wasnt taking place, still I guess I ought to rush off home to watch it! I wont be able to help myself! what dyer do!