Inch High aka Inchy.. 412 Posted August 29, 2023 Looking at the strength of the Championship this year do we really need the distraction of the EFL cup? The FA cup is worth a go but I always feel the EFL cup is a cup too far. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TIL 1010 4,828 Posted August 29, 2023 I felt that way about the QPR game but we came through it and i must say tonight we stand a good chance again of progressing but once the big guns show up and field their U23 sides sides it makes a mockery of the competition so it does indeed become a distraction. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cambridgeshire canary 6,894 Posted August 29, 2023 Does always feel like we should be focusing on the league. The so called "magic of the cup" only really exists when it's a top six Prem side getting drawn against a dog and duck pub 11. Guess it also feels a little meh for us as we always seem to get the most boring draws possible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
It's Character Forming 1,167 Posted August 29, 2023 For me, we've a lot of players who could do with game time and I'm very comfortable with us fielding a starting 11 made up from them, I think even in the Champs that's pretty normal nowadays. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigFish 1,997 Posted August 29, 2023 (edited) I suspect that Wagner & co aren't very distracted by it beyond the day it takes from training - pretty much a practice match that gets minutes into the legs of fringe players. Edited August 29, 2023 by BigFish 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Right Winger 13 Posted August 29, 2023 Hate these posts, guess you didn’t stand on the terraces of Wembley in 85 or batter Ipswich in the pioneer stand in the semi either, nah thought not 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wcorkcanary 4,355 Posted August 29, 2023 Yup, play the second string , it's a good run out, try to Win the game, but dont risk any crucial players in a competition we are very unlikely to win. There is not a championship game that I feel we cannot win, therefore it takes priority. If we get to the Semis ... at which point the other three teams are likely to be top six prem, and us the surprise package, then yeah , go for it. It's a sideshow, even the FA Cup has lost its magic for me. 3rd and sometimes 4th round can be fun though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BigFish 1,997 Posted August 29, 2023 2 minutes ago, The Right Winger said: Hate these posts, guess you didn’t stand on the terraces of Wembley in 85 or batter Ipswich in the pioneer stand in the semi either, nah thought not I was there, for both and the Hillsborough & Villa Park semis. But great though they were those days are gone and they are never coming back. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
glory.win or die. 270 Posted August 29, 2023 It's like a competitive reserve game so worth staying in to get minutes and confidence in players to keep them ready for the league Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BroadstairsR 2,236 Posted August 29, 2023 It's Tuesday nights for goodness’s sake what else is there to excite interest in the middle of Winter? Television is poor, not even Coronation Street ☹️ (wink, wink.) Quiz night at the local, if we get knocked out, it is then. More City games the better for me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Conrad 179 Posted August 29, 2023 The Cups provide a good opportunity for squad players to get match practice in a semi-competitive environment. Oh for the days when reserve team football used to provide this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jersey Canary 153 Posted August 29, 2023 1 hour ago, It's Character Forming said: For me, we've a lot of players who could do with game time and I'm very comfortable with us fielding a starting 11 made up from them, I think even in the Champs that's pretty normal nowadays. Exactly. When the fringe players are needed for The Championship they won’t be so rusty so I see a decent cup run as essential. Plus we can blood some young players. It worked wonders for Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FenwayFrank 2,475 Posted August 29, 2023 18 minutes ago, Conrad said: The Cups provide a good opportunity for squad players to get match practice in a semi-competitive environment. Oh for the days when reserve team football used to provide this. Beat me to it, it's game time for the fringe players Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dylanisabaddog 5,087 Posted August 29, 2023 1 hour ago, The Right Winger said: batter Ipswich in the pioneer stand in the semi Really? Extraordinary first post 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ian 1,141 Posted August 29, 2023 Given our current good run, I think it can only be a good thing to keep the positive mentality going. Unless we lose and get injuries, Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AJ 1,238 Posted August 29, 2023 Cups can be both a good and bad thing. Now reserves leagues don't exist it's a great opportunity to get fringe players valuable playing time as well as build some momentum. That winning feeling goes a long way. I won't feel hugely fussed if we don't progress but we definitely should. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shefcanary 2,504 Posted August 29, 2023 Wonder what Pearson is thinking though, that is a big part of the issue. He's the sort of leftfield thinking manager who probably could field all reserves, but just as easily field his strongest team, dependent on what side of the bed he got out of this morning. So we could believe he is going with his reserves and field ours accordingly, then he plays his strongest 11 and annihilates us leaving the confidence of our lot shredded with recriminations aplenty behind the scenes. Confidence and trust in the project counts a lot here against the risk of an injury to a star player. So far Wagner has talked publicly about "going for it" and with the international break only a few days away, I see only a couple of fringe players starting with a loaded bench (Sara, Rowe, McLean, Duffy, Stacey) as per QPR. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LaUnionCanary 87 Posted August 29, 2023 1 hour ago, The Right Winger said: Hate these posts, guess you didn’t stand on the terraces of Wembley in 85 or batter Ipswich in the pioneer stand in the semi either, nah thought not I sat in the stands, not stood. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NewNestCarrow 207 Posted August 29, 2023 2 hours ago, Inch High aka Inchy.. said: Looking at the strength of the Championship this year do we really need the distraction of the EFL cup? The FA cup is worth a go but I always feel the EFL cup is a cup too far. We have eight or ten squad players who need minutes in their legs and who also need the opportunity to put presure on those getting into the first-team ahead of them. Would you rather they got these minutes: a) against the Chelsea U21s, in a stadium that is 90% empty (or played at a training complex). in a competition where there is no jeopardy of relegation / promotion? OR b) in the LC, where it's win or go home (metaphorically) and playing in a stadium that might be 50% full? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sufyellow 246 Posted August 29, 2023 2 hours ago, The Right Winger said: Hate these posts, guess you didn’t stand on the terraces of Wembley in 85 or batter Ipswich in the pioneer stand in the semi either, nah thought not Were you on the last train in that day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Inch High aka Inchy.. 412 Posted August 29, 2023 5 hours ago, The Right Winger said: Hate these posts, guess you didn’t stand on the terraces of Wembley in 85 or batter Ipswich in the pioneer stand in the semi either, nah thought not You suppose wrong on your first point and on your own on the second. what a strange old man you must be. Very odd. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gordon Bennett 796 Posted August 29, 2023 6 hours ago, It's Character Forming said: For me, we've a lot of players who could do with game time and I'm very comfortable with us fielding a starting 11 made up from them, I think even in the Champs that's pretty normal nowadays. Completely agree with this. Important minutes for those not starting on Saturdays. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duncan Edwards 2,274 Posted August 30, 2023 We didn’t batter anyone in the first leg. Pitch was sh1te and Mich D’Avray scored for the filth. Steve Bruce’s header on the other hand was a bullet but, for me, pales into the memory of John Deehan’s ballooning shot off Ian Cranson. Binner Harrison: “Poor old Ian Cranson. What dreadful luck for Ipswich…” Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sufyellow 246 Posted August 30, 2023 18 hours ago, Duncan Edwards said: We didn’t batter anyone in the first leg. Pitch was sh1te and Mich D’Avray scored for the filth. Steve Bruce’s header on the other hand was a bullet but, for me, pales into the memory of John Deehan’s ballooning shot off Ian Cranson. Binner Harrison: “Poor old Ian Cranson. What dreadful luck for Ipswich…” Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha He didn't mean on the pitch . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Midlands Yellow 4,126 Posted August 30, 2023 (edited) On 29/08/2023 at 12:31, Inch High aka Inchy.. said: Looking at the strength of the Championship this year do we really need the distraction of the EFL cup? The FA cup is worth a go but I always feel the EFL cup is a cup too far. We certainly do. Feel good factor, fringe players getting match time and excelling. More money in the coffers for a self financing club and the dream of a Wembley final once again. Edited August 30, 2023 by Midlands Yellow Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Satriales 714 Posted August 30, 2023 Avoided the binners at least. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duncan Edwards 2,274 Posted August 30, 2023 1 hour ago, Sufyellow said: He didn't mean on the pitch . I was 6. Ran the gauntlet at the Drum and Monkey, picked up the pool table and threw it through the window before dropping their top boy “Track Suited Tractor Boy” with a Bruce Lee style one inch punch. The good old days… It has brought to mind a weird day at Southampton away. A little bloke turned up in his casual gear with leather gloves rummaged in his pocket and handed me an “NHS” calling card. He disappeared after about half an hour and never returned. Maybe my aftershave WAS that bad or perhaps the Southampton Assault Squad (or some such b0ll0cks) got a right hiding… All a bit pathetic but a wonderful insight into 80s “football”. Despite that and having attended since the early/mid 80s, home and away, I’ve never seen much trouble. I did look proper hard when I was 6 mind… (laughing face) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Right Winger 13 Posted August 31, 2023 On 29/08/2023 at 18:29, Inch High aka Inchy.. said: You suppose wrong on your first point and on your own on the second. what a strange old man you must be. Very odd. I find it very odd the only comp we ever won you think is a distraction in the hope of making it to a league we’re never going to win, bravo.what a strange old women you are. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ulfotto 669 Posted August 31, 2023 Given you can make 5 subs now or is it 6. Basically there is no reason not to field a decent team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Capt. Pants 4,336 Posted August 31, 2023 Plus Placheta will be buzzing and Sam did well too. Keeps everyone interested and everyone on their toes. No more complacency. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites