05 Apr 2026 08:33:58
Always good to bang 7 and that second half performance was decent but first half we looked so nervous, the boys were lacking confidence and some of the passing was more sunday league than Premier League and the atmosphere was just drained bar the vale supporters who were brilliant.
The decision to give Palmer the captaincy was a bit like being back at school where the best player gets in over others who might just do a better job but that was fine, the stand out players were the 3 boys from Brazil, we must hang on to them next season with others likely on their way, Hato as well looks more and more comfortable on that left side and after a tricky start to his chelsea career is starting to look a real gem of a find.
And then to get home and watch Aresnal do a Spursy was a lovely bonus.
Happy Easter fellow posters, moaners and ED's.
05 Apr 2026 08:50:56
Greenaway, I'm sure this is not a reflection of all fans at the Bridge yesterday. My mate said pre-match, in the surrounding bars, the atmosphere was borderline toxic. At half-time and at full-time, he said that some fans sounded miffed they didn't have anything to moan about, continually saying "it was only Port Vale.".
05 Apr 2026 09:53:35
Yom
That performance yesterday would have meant at best a draw against Premier League opposition.
The few times Vale threatened, our backline looked dodgy.
05 Apr 2026 10:03:03
Bill, I'm sorry, mate, I have no idea what that win equates to in terms of comparison.
We are through to a semi at Wembley, is all I know.
05 Apr 2026 10:27:15
Atmosphere where I was in West Stand Lower Block 4 Row 13 was ok yesterday, mainly as the win looked pretty certain within 2 minutes. Neto was the player who impressed me most in the first half, partly as he was below me, and his performance was skilful and incisive for the most part, though his runs were quite often missed by midfielders. Palmer played one great pass that set him away. I was a bit miffed that Estevao played on the left for the whole of the first half, though his increasingly good performance in the second half was at some distance from me.
Agree about Hato, who is looking more consistent and confident, and has good speed when needed. Santos is also looking good. Pedro's skill set is wonderful, though Delap, when on again as replacement, again failed to impress, likewise much of Garnacho when on for Neto, though he netted that late penalty, but after I'd already headed home cos train to catch.
But yes, our defence still looked fragile in the first half, and we will never be given so much room in the opposition penalty box v EPL opposition as we were yesterday. Port Vale are bottom of League 1 for a reason.
Shame that the Port Vale fans were tremendous and loved their singing after we'd gone 5-0 up of "You're going to Wembley, We're going to York" (reference to a future fixture they have v York City). They also sang "You're nothing special, we lose every week".
All told, a nice enough day out, and one in which some of our players had a reasonable confidence-regaining run out, but hardly a test of how we will perform in the rest of the season's fixtures. But we are going to Wembley, and if we avoid City in the semis - great that Arsenal exited - with a good chance of being in another cup final.
05 Apr 2026 11:03:35
We will take the win, guys, and happily move on. Hopefully a nice confidence booster for the team, and Arsenal dumped out. Beat City is the big task now if we get them in the final or semi.
05 Apr 2026 13:13:29
You can only beat what's in front of you, Bill.
05 Apr 2026 14:21:14
I agree, you can only beat what is in front of you, and yesterday could have been a banana skin.
All I'm saying is that if we played a PL side on that performance, we would struggle.
I liked it when Estavo moved wings, and he made a lot of difference.
Hato, I'm pleased he had another good game, and it just shows what happens when people are given a proper chance, which brings me to Josh. Does the club not want him, because the chances he is getting are slim?
06 Apr 2026 23:15:45
I cannot understand the decision to basically freeze out Josh. He's got everything it takes to make it big, just needs some guidance, experience, and confidence. He isn't getting any of that currently.