Cup vs League

[trousers]

Ok, I know, I know......new season - same old chestnut debate.....

 

But, in the context of last season where there was (allegedly) some 'difference of opinion' between our chairman and manager as to the importance of our cup run(s), I'm convinced that we shouldn't play the same full strength team 3 times in an 8 day period - case in point being:

 

Saturday 7th Aug - Plymouth (league)

Tuesday 9th Aug - Bournemouth (cup)

Saturday 14th Aug - MK Dons (league)

 

Pardew's hand was forced somewhat last season in that some players were cup tied so it will be interesting to see what he does this season with a fresh deck of cards.

 

I've actually switched sides on this argument over the years as I've historically been in the "they're fit professional footballers so they should be able to play more than one game a week without any trouble" camp but this season it is paramount we channel every single ounce of effort into a push for the league title.

 

And, yes, I'm also mindful of the other-side-of-the-coin logic which ventures that success in one tournament breeds success in another, and, yes, that can be true. But absolute concentration on one tournament at the expense of the others can also pay dividends too.

 

So, start with Rickie on the 7th August v Plymouth and pop him on the bench on the 9th August v Bournemouth?

 

IMHO.....yes.

Edited 17 June, 2010 by trousers

[John B]

Ok, I know, I know......new season - same old chestnut debate.....

 

But, in the context of last season where there was (allegedly) some 'difference of opinion' between our chairman and manager as to the importance of our cup run(s), I'm convinced that we shouldn't play the same full strength team 3 times in an 8 day period - case in point being:

 

Saturday 7th Aug - Plymouth (league)

Tuesday 9th Aug - Bournemouth (cup)

Saturday 14th Aug - MK Dons (league)

 

Pardew's hand was forced somewhat last season in that some players were cup tied so it will be interesting to see what he does this season with a fresh deck of cards.

 

I've actually switched sides on this argument over the years as I've historically been in the "they're fit professional footballers so they should be able to play more than one game a week without any trouble" camp but this season it is paramount we channel every single ounze of effort into a push for the league title.

 

And, yes, I'm also mindful of the other-side-of-the-coin logic which ventures that success in one tournament breeds success in another, and, yes, that can be true. But absolute concentration on one tournament at the expense of the others can also pay dividends too.

 

So, start with Rickie on the 7th August v Plymouth and pop him on the bench on the 9th August v Bournemouth?

 

IMHO.....yes.

 

Depends how we play in the first game I would have thought

 

 

Early season perhaps as many games as possible to get fit and keep momentum going

[Panda]

I have to disagree! Start of the season, players fresh and raring to go, new players needing to 'gel'; play the best team possible against Bournemouth. In any event, we do not want any slip ups against our neighbours and 'rivals'! And we want to start winning from the off and keep it that way.

[saints_is_the_south]

Why would Rickie need resting after playing 1 game?! He's had the whole summer to rest, and the same goes for the rest of the squad. Full strength team in both games, lets start the season off by getting a winning mentality.

[NickG]

players will want the reward of at least one trip to Wembley - as promotion will be as champions will need to really go for one or two or three of the cups!

[trousers]

Why would Rickie need resting after playing 1 game?! He's had the whole summer to rest, and the same goes for the rest of the squad. Full strength team in both games, lets start the season off by getting a winning mentality.

 

I'm not advocating it from a 'rest' perspective per se, well not this early in the season. I'm more coming from a 'protect our best players' angle....statistically, the probability of a player getting injured increases linearly (I'd have thought) with the number of games they play.

 

All I'm advocating is the minimising of risk in our league campaign.

[SNSUN]

Unlike last season, when it's fair to say the cups got in the way, we'll have a much more complete team at the start of the season.

 

I can't see the cups being too much of a distraction this season, though of course, if I were the manager, I may just tell the players to run on 80% effort.

[saint_stevo]

League rules all. end of

[Wycombe Saint]

Ok, I know, I know......new season - same old chestnut debate.....

 

But, in the context of last season where there was (allegedly) some 'difference of opinion' between our chairman and manager as to the importance of our cup run(s), I'm convinced that we shouldn't play the same full strength team 3 times in an 8 day period - case in point being:

 

Saturday 7th Aug - Plymouth (league)

Tuesday 9th Aug - Bournemouth (cup)

Saturday 14th Aug - MK Dons (league)

 

Pardew's hand was forced somewhat last season in that some players were cup tied so it will be interesting to see what he does this season with a fresh deck of cards.

 

I've actually switched sides on this argument over the years as I've historically been in the "they're fit professional footballers so they should be able to play more than one game a week without any trouble" camp but this season it is paramount we channel every single ounce of effort into a push for the league title.

 

And, yes, I'm also mindful of the other-side-of-the-coin logic which ventures that success in one tournament breeds success in another, and, yes, that can be true. But absolute concentration on one tournament at the expense of the others can also pay dividends too.

 

So, start with Rickie on the 7th August v Plymouth and pop him on the bench on the 9th August v Bournemouth?

 

IMHO.....yes.

 

Where has the monday gone. Saturday 7th - Sunday 8th - Monday ? Tuesday 9th

[trousers]

Where has the monday gone. Saturday 7th - Sunday 8th - Monday ? Tuesday 9th

 

Ah, good spot....that officially makes me a.......

 

[Matthew Le God]

I'd rest at most three players for the Bournemouth cup game. Maybe give Bialkowski a game and try a different partner from the first League game (Barnard or Connolly) with Lambert and a different winger on one of the flanks. Important the team get used to playing with each other and winning together so you don't want to disrupt it too much.

[Village Saint]

You would be entirely wrong of course. Indeed not only are players proven to be more likely to be injured in training - I know they shouldn't but they do in reality relax a little in training which increases the likelihood of injury - but it is dangerous for players to not fully concentrate/not put in full effort etc as that also puts them at greater risk. If the game against Bournemouth is to go ahead (and we have after all entered the competition) we should demonstrate to all the players that it needs to be taken seriously and played at full out effort (thus lessening the chance of injury) by playing as full a side as possible.

[for_heaven's_Saint]

If we're making sure we have at least two equally competent players in each position (think Harding and Dickson) then we should have no problem playing equally competent teams in all competitions IMO.

[trousers]

Seeing the news update about the U21 set-up recently got me thinking.....is there anything in the rules stopping Saints putting out the U21 side in any of the cup competitions? (JPT, League or FA)

[SuperMikey]

League is obviously the priority, but wouldn't mind a nice little cup run again. Was nice to have Saints in the QF of the FA Cup (even if we did get thrashed by the Skates....again), and the JPT final day at Wembley was fantastic!

My target would be:

 

League - Title challenge

JPT - Winners

FA Cup - Quarter Finals

League Cup - 3rd Round

[alpine_saint]

This season is all about promotion - f**k the cup competitions. You had your day out at Wemberlee last season.

[Saint in Paradise]

League all the way, forget Cup games until next season.

[aintforever]

I think the cup runs last year definitely cost us a few points so I would put the youth team out for the JPT.

[Saint Fan CaM]

League is everything this season. However, there is no reason whatsoever why we cannot win every competition we're entered into. Because we are The Saints.

[Appy]

There is a rule in the JPT i think about having to play at least 6 or 7 regulars.

[hutch]

Give some of the better "fringe" players and perennial bench-sitters a run out in the cup games (Mills, Seabourne, Bart, O-C, Holmes, Martin, maybe Holder-Spooner, etc.) but keep the first team on the bench to keep your options open, and keep the whole squad "involved" in every game.

[trousers]

Give some of the better "fringe" players and perennial bench-sitters a run out in the cup games (Mills, Seabourne, Bart, O-C, Holmes, Martin, maybe Holder-Spooner, etc.) but keep the first team on the bench to keep your options open, and keep the whole squad "involved" in every game.

 

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