Closed Sparta Prague v Chelsea

[The only place to be 11,313]

Those European players will rather play in EL, at least that´s what I have read.

Since Chelsea do have plenty of FA Cups, wouldn´t be wiser to win EL ?

FA Cup is like Spengler Cup in Switzerland. The oldest hockey trophy but no one goes there to compete.

I don't care how many FA Cups we have - it's still more meaningful than the Europa League and if you actually think the FA Cup is like some cup in Switzerland then we'll just have to add that to the growing list of things about Chelsea Football Club that you don't have a fucking clue about.

I don't see why we have to roll over just because its the europa league. We should prioritise everything else, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't try and win it, because we are a "champions league" team. Play a weakened team for the early stages and go from there. I don't agree with the whole its more of an embarassment to try in it than get knocked out. Should i remind you that the team that won this last year raped us in the supercup....

So do you want us to have more fixtures in between important league games then?

there is a simple reason why we should try to win this thing: MONEY. so stop with the fucking excuses if you want us to be able to fight in the market any soon

Do you get more money for winning the Europa League or qualifying for the Champions League?

It is just some jerk reaction and pre-fabricated excuses for when we get knocked out...

It's actually a pragmatic reaction to the reality of the situation.

I say we try and win this thing. This still is a European contest and title that is at stake. Uefa cups used to mean something and still does for a lot of us.

If we can't fire up our players for a european competition match, what signal do we give to our young players?

Exactly - this competition used to mean something. Now it's just a placeholder until the CL get's expanded yet further

Look, if we had the players to guarantee top four and win this thing then I'd probably be in favour of it. But we don't. Add to that the future rounds are scheduled around games against teams like Swansea, Man United, Liverpool, Everton and Spurs and you have to weigh up the reward of playing in this competition against the cost of long trips overseas and tired bodies.

[Hutcho 8,443]

I don't care how many FA Cups we have - it's still more meaningful than the Europa League and if you actually think the FA Cup is like some cup in Switzerland then we'll just have to add that to the growing list of things about Chelsea Football Club that you don't have a fucking clue about.

So do you want us to have more fixtures in between important league games then?

Do you get more money for winning the Europa League or qualifying for the Champions League?

It's actually a pragmatic reaction to the reality of the situation.

Exactly - this competition used to mean something. Now it's just a placeholder until the CL get's expanded yet further

Look, if we had the players to guarantee top four and win this thing then I'd probably be in favour of it. But we don't. Add to that the future rounds are scheduled around games against teams like Swansea, Man United, Liverpool, Everton and Spurs and you have to weigh up the reward of playing in this competition against the cost of long trips overseas and tired bodies.

? I said play a weakened team... Which means rest our key players.

Prem is of the hugest importance. But i didn't know that playing a weakened team midweek will mean we can't get top 4, so we should just not bother...

I might as well ask you, are you gonna be cheering for sparta then?

[The only place to be 11,313]

? I said play a weakened team... Which means rest our key players.

Prem is of the hugest importance. But i didn't know that playing a weakened team midweek will mean we can't get top 4, so we should just not bother...

I might as well ask you, are you gonna be cheering for sparta then?

What is a weakened team at the moment? Two of Luiz, Cahill, Terry and Ivanovic would have to play centre-back, two of Mikel, Lamps, Rami or Luiz would have to play midfield and three of Oscar, Mata, Hazard, Marin and Moses would have to play behind Torres. The truth is that we simply don't have that many players at this moment in time and I'd rather we didn't spend any time preparing for a game against foreign opposition when we could spend it preparing for a game against a league rival.

I'm not going to be cheering for Sparta but it would probably be beneficial for our future if we got knocked out ASAP.

[bushman 2,043]

I don't care how many FA Cups we have - it's still more meaningful than the Europa League and if you actually think the FA Cup is like some cup in Switzerland then we'll just have to add that to the growing list of things about Chelsea Football Club that you don't have a fucking clue about.

So do you want us to have more fixtures in between important league games then?

Do you get more money for winning the Europa League or qualifying for the Champions League?

It's actually a pragmatic reaction to the reality of the situation.

Exactly - this competition used to mean something. Now it's just a placeholder until the CL get's expanded yet further

Look, if we had the players to guarantee top four and win this thing then I'd probably be in favour of it. But we don't. Add to that the future rounds are scheduled around games against teams like Swansea, Man United, Liverpool, Everton and Spurs and you have to weigh up the reward of playing in this competition against the cost of long trips overseas and tired bodies.

Whether you care about FA Cup ahead of EL that´s irrelevant to me. Therefore, I must add your name to the list of the clueless ones. As for that hockey tournament, I should have known, you English chaps know nothing about hockey.

[Rmpr 8,977]

@, it is pointless to discuss it with him...

[Ankit 3,176]

Chelsea team for Sparta Prague: Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Bertrand, Lampard, Ramires, Marin, Mata, Hazard, Torres.

[DONI. 1,291]

Chelsea team : Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Bertrand, Lampard, Ramires, Marin, Mata, Hazard, Torres.

[Mr_President 404]

Bloody hell, strong team. Hope we can take mata/hazard off before 60 mins.

[edetarod 2,155]

Lampard :blue scalf:

hopefully number 199 today

[Leif 6,006]

And just like my post in the Marin thread, it looks like he starts on the right

[The only place to be 11,313]

Chelsea team for Sparta Prague: Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Bertrand, Lampard, Ramires, Marin, Mata, Hazard, Torres.

That is a fucking ridiculous team to put out. Every time you think Benitez has reached the zenith of being a cunt, he finds ways to top himself.

Whether you care about FA Cup ahead of EL that´s irrelevant to me. Therefore, I must add your name to the list of the clueless ones. As for that hockey tournament, I should have known, you English chaps know nothing about hockey.

I'll readily admit I know very little about hockey.

You just need to admit the same about football/Chelsea.

[bushman 2,043]

Well, it certainly looks like RAfa´s not resting anybody, is he ?

[Leif 6,006]

It's kind of sickening to me though I must concede that Mata is playing yet again. Poor guy. No reason why Benayoun couldn't play instead IMO.

[Milan 17,958]

Quite strong but great to see Marin on the flank!

[Rambo 1,729]

I'd prefer to win everything.

[bushman 2,043]

That is a fucking ridiculous team to put out. Every time you think Benitez has reached the zenith of being a cunt, he finds ways to top himself.

I'll readily admit I know very little about hockey.

You just need to admit the same about football/Chelsea.

Rafa has put out the team he can win with. Do you think he cares about some plank like...?

Very little about hockey... I know. As for football an old school that fell asleep you are.

[Stingray 9,441]

It looks like we are taking this game seriously. Like it or not.

It IS indeed a huge gamble with our thin squad. Please no injuries for this one.

[Sheva. 5,373]

We have Brentford next so another chance to rotate the squad and use the likes of Ba, Moses, Mikel and Benayoun.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

I'm fine with this for this game. We don't have a league game until the 24th BUT in the Brentford replay and in the home leg against Sparta, many of these players need to be rested.

[Milan 17,958]

Please no injuries for this one.

Right! In this weather it is even easier to get injured.