Dr Who? Posted 27 December, 2011 Share Posted 27 December, 2011 Now the magic of the FA Cup 3rd round is just around the corner, and no matter how much I would love to see Saints go on a great run, and maybe even get to the final, I also would like to go out of the competition. Realistically we could probably and probably will get through a couple of rounds and go out, now would it not be better this season to put a second team out and maybe exit or go though, but give the FA Cup to these fringe players? I think it is so important that we focus on the league, even more so as we seem to have lost a little bit of momentum. I think a rest over a couple of FA Cup weekends will do us good. How do you think we should approach the FA Cup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatlesaint Posted 27 December, 2011 Share Posted 27 December, 2011 I think it will be a good run out and chance for the new signings to blend into the team in a non League game situation :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicestersaint Posted 27 December, 2011 Share Posted 27 December, 2011 We should approach every game with a 'can win' attitude. I woudl liek to see us get a good FA Cup run - I think it would help us with our league campaign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFC Forever Posted 27 December, 2011 Share Posted 27 December, 2011 That is if we have signed any in time of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted 27 December, 2011 Share Posted 27 December, 2011 As always we should play to win the game. Winning breeds confidence. OK, make a small number of changes to rest some key players/give fringe players a run, but we should not be far short of our strongest team. Having a weekend off never seems to have the positive effect some folks expect, we usually look lethargic when we have not played. Most players prefer to play week in week out. The one thing we could do without would be a replay. Just a shame that the game is not exactly exciting (sorry Coventry). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timb289 Posted 27 December, 2011 Share Posted 27 December, 2011 I think it creates an opportunity to rest some players; Guly will be rested as will Lambert IMHO. I think Connally will start to get him back up to scratch. Also a start for Bart will give him the chance to rebuild his confidence. It will be interesting to see how Coventry approach the game considering their current position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.3 Posted 27 December, 2011 Share Posted 27 December, 2011 This modern attitude of is the Fa cup important is ********, where do we have to be to start taking it seriously? Do Man city give it a miss to make sure they win the prem? Do the top 4 give it a miss to concentrate on the Champions league? Do the rest of the Prem give it a miss to make sure they don't drop out of the league? Move on to the championship do we miss out the top half as they have the possible dream of promotion or a chance of the play offs then forget the bottom half as they don't won't to end up in league 1. Let's just scrap the Fa cup and run the JPT only as everyone entered are keen to win it. The FA cup should remain the best cup competion in the world competed for by the best teams available Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalek2003 Posted 27 December, 2011 Share Posted 27 December, 2011 I think Bart should be given a chance again. I'll say no more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lighthouse Posted 27 December, 2011 Share Posted 27 December, 2011 Rest first team players and give it our absolute 100% best with whoever's left. Bear in mind that pretty much everyone rests a few players for Cup games, so you can go a long way just by turning up and putting a decent shift in, even with a reserve team. If nothing else the prize money isn't bad and when you add the match day sales on top of it, the balance sheets can look all the better for a good cup run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Without a Halo Posted 27 December, 2011 Share Posted 27 December, 2011 A mix of fring players youngsters and ist teamers would be my approach a learning game and if we get through same with the next one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 27 December, 2011 Share Posted 27 December, 2011 Don't really see the point of not trying to win - a nice little cup run is just another thing to help build momentum, and we are capable of going on a nice little cup run. I don't expect us to win it, but a nice jaunt through a few rounds before bowing out to a top six Prem team live on TV doesn't sound too bad to me. And Cardiff played Barnsley in an all CCC (as was) semi final only a few years ago. That said, I'd say we can beat Coventry and rest players, so I think we can please everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 27 December, 2011 Share Posted 27 December, 2011 perfect opportunity for the likes of Harding, Butterfield, Martin and Connelly to keep their eye in. De Ridder needs games and maybe even Lallana too. Hammond/Cork/Morgan can't all play so you have most of the side right there. If we give Holmes and Bart a game,that might be a step too far if we are taking the cup seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 27 December, 2011 Share Posted 27 December, 2011 Don't expect too much magic at the Ricoh, with their boycotting fans and cavernous stadium. For those of us going it will be quiet, erie and a damp squip. A win should be more then possible. But the experience will be extremely flat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SB Posted 27 December, 2011 Share Posted 27 December, 2011 PERFECT game for Bart! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamesaint Posted 27 December, 2011 Share Posted 27 December, 2011 Could this be an opportunity to blood some of our up & coming youngsters? I do not mean that we should do what Red c r a p did a few years ago when he played the youth team in a league cup game but it woud surely help the development of JWP plus say 2 , if they could play at Cov in the cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 27 December, 2011 Share Posted 27 December, 2011 Could this be an opportunity to blood some of our up & coming youngsters? I do not mean that we should do what Red c r a p did a few years ago when he played the youth team in a league cup game but it woud surely help the development of JWP plus say 2 , if they could play at Cov in the cup. Wasn't he pressured into it by Lowe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StDunko Posted 28 December, 2011 Share Posted 28 December, 2011 This season is the first time in all the years I have supported Saints that I feel that we have decent "reserves" for most of the postitions. So a bit of squad rotation should not be seen as devaluing the competition, as many of the replacement players should be totally capable of breaking into the first team anyway. Perhaps dropping three or four "regulars" and replacing them with any of the players listed below, should still result in a competitive side. Bart Butterfield Harding Martin Holmes De Ridder Connolly JWP I would however be unhappy if we sent out a totally different 11, with 3 or 4 youth team players all playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whelk Posted 28 December, 2011 Share Posted 28 December, 2011 There is no correlation to going out of FA Cup early and getting promoted/surviving relegation battles, Winning mentality more than compensates for any player fatigue. I love the FA Cup and depresses me how many of you want to get knocked out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicestersaint Posted 28 December, 2011 Share Posted 28 December, 2011 This season is the first time in all the years I have supported Saints that I feel that we have decent "reserves" for most of the postitions. So a bit of squad rotation should not be seen as devaluing the competition, as many of the replacement players should be totally capable of breaking into the first team anyway. Perhaps dropping three or four "regulars" and replacing them with any of the players listed below, should still result in a competitive side. Bart Butterfield Harding Martin Holmes De Ridder Connolly JWP I would however be unhappy if we sent out a totally different 11, with 3 or 4 youth team players all playing. hear hear - I agree with this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jam Posted 28 December, 2011 Share Posted 28 December, 2011 Wasn't he pressured into it by Lowe? I got the impression it was more Redknapp playing them all at once to send a message to Lowe (who had, apparently, been urging Redknapp to play more youth). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thornhill_saints Posted 28 December, 2011 Share Posted 28 December, 2011 I reckon that Fonte & De Ridder will get booked in the brighton game, so they will then miss the cup game... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 28 December, 2011 Share Posted 28 December, 2011 I got the impression it was more Redknapp playing them all at once to send a message to Lowe (who had, apparently, been urging Redknapp to play more youth). My impression too, a statement of 'No, look, they are not good enough!' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 28 December, 2011 Share Posted 28 December, 2011 My impression too, a statement of 'No, look, they are not good enough!' I mention it because there was a report at the time in the Daily Mail (so it must be true ) that Lowe had sent a text to Clive Woodward along the lines of 'Clive, please ask Harry why he isn't playing the youngsters more' and he had also 'accidentally' also sent it to Redknapp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGTL Posted 28 December, 2011 Share Posted 28 December, 2011 I reckon that Fonte & De Ridder will get booked in the brighton game, so they will then miss the cup game... Don't yellow cards get wiped out from January anyway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 28 December, 2011 Share Posted 28 December, 2011 Don't yellow cards get wiped out from January anyway? Not quite. There is a date after which 5 cards do not give rise to a suspension, but they still count towards the next threshold which is 10 cards before some later date, the details of which escape me at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Cool Posted 28 December, 2011 Share Posted 28 December, 2011 Resting a few and replacing them with fringe players does not mean lack of desire to win the cup, provided the replacement players are a) not crap b) keen to impress We have a strong squad at St. Mary's and thus should see a cup run as a positive, morale-boosting thing rather than a distraction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
up and away Posted 28 December, 2011 Share Posted 28 December, 2011 There is no correlation to going out of FA Cup early and getting promoted/surviving relegation battles, Winning mentality more than compensates for any player fatigue. I love the FA Cup and depresses me how many of you want to get knocked out. It depresses me when you have one competition that will bring you in £90M and the other a fraction of that amount and you want to go **** or broke for the postage stamp? Just where was that winning mentality after winning the paint pot, that soon evaporated into exhaustion on the pitch as we ended the season. Try and find anyone at Birmingham who thinks concentrating on the League cup is now such a good idea, good luck with that. If putting out a weakened team means just one extra league point, one less booking or injury to a key player it will be worth it. That way if we miss out on promotion we know we left no stone unturned. So if we subsequently do miss out on promotion and other teams start tempting our players away, we know we have given it our best shot. You want Cortese to spend £MM's on the team in this window but not sacrifice the cup for the league, you need your bumps felt. Cortese would be well within his rights to stake any manager out and let his pooch chew off their tackle with it's back teeth. But this is Adkins and how ever much i know he would like to, would never jeopardise the ultimate prize. It's not even as if we have a realistic chance of winning the thing, whereas we are in pole position for the big one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 28 December, 2011 Share Posted 28 December, 2011 It depresses me when you have one competition that will bring you in £90M and the other a fraction of that amount and you want to go **** or broke for the postage stamp? Just where was that winning mentality after winning the paint pot, that soon evaporated into exhaustion on the pitch as we ended the season. Try and find anyone at Birmingham who thinks concentrating on the League cup is now such a good idea, good luck with that. If putting out a weakened team means just one extra league point, one less booking or injury to a key player it will be worth it. That way if we miss out on promotion we know we left no stone unturned. So if we subsequently do miss out on promotion and other teams start tempting our players away, we know we have given it our best shot. You want Cortese to spend £MM's on the team in this window but not sacrifice the cup for the league, you need your bumps felt. Cortese would be well within his rights to stake any manager out and let his pooch chew off their tackle with it's back teeth. But this is Adkins and how ever much i know he would like to, would never jeopardise the ultimate prize. It's not even as if we have a realistic chance of winning the thing, whereas we are in pole position for the big one. Did Birmingham "concentrate" on the League Cup at the expense of their league form? Or did they just happen to win it? And the league cup final was at the end of February, with the end of the league season at the end of May, with about ten or eleven league games in that time. City won the cup and got relegated but that does not mean, in any way, that one caused the other. And anyway, most Brum fans I have read or heard have said they wouldn't change it. A day out at Wembley and a trophy or a tedious, forgettable scrimp to 17th. I know what I'd take every single day of the week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 29 December, 2011 Share Posted 29 December, 2011 Now the magic of the FA Cup 3rd round is just around the corner, and no matter how much I would love to see Saints go on a great run, and maybe even get to the final, I also would like to go out of the competition. Realistically we could probably and probably will get through a couple of rounds and go out, now would it not be better this season to put a second team out and maybe exit or go though, but give the FA Cup to these fringe players? I think it is so important that we focus on the league, even more so as we seem to have lost a little bit of momentum. I think a rest over a couple of FA Cup weekends will do us good. How do you think we should approach the FA Cup? Unlike MANY seasons past, we actually have something else to think about, namely promotion..so the real question is can our squad handle 6 or more EXTRA games - without harming promotion chances? well IF ..(as in the past) NA uses FA Cup games to blood youngsters and use "second string" players it won't really affect the first team squad too much. Obviously depends on the opposition, but the 3rd round draw was very interesting; one of the Manchester sides will go out and there are a number of derby games that will take care of some likely challengers...so perhaps it doesn't have to be such a rough ride. I know it was only L1 level, but the JPT sides we put out often had reserve players in them and this is a higher level, BUT if the bench players are up to it, and fancy themselves as potential Prem. players - now is their chance... Of course the chances of getting to Wembley are only a punter's dream, but if we have to go out - I do hope it has to be to stronger opposition than Coventry ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whelk Posted 29 December, 2011 Share Posted 29 December, 2011 It depresses me when you have one competition that will bring you in £90M and the other a fraction of that amount and you want to go **** or broke for the postage stamp? Just where was that winning mentality after winning the paint pot, that soon evaporated into exhaustion on the pitch as we ended the season. Try and find anyone at Birmingham who thinks concentrating on the League cup is now such a good idea, good luck with that. If putting out a weakened team means just one extra league point, one less booking or injury to a key player it will be worth it. That way if we miss out on promotion we know we left no stone unturned. So if we subsequently do miss out on promotion and other teams start tempting our players away, we know we have given it our best shot. You want Cortese to spend £MM's on the team in this window but not sacrifice the cup for the league, you need your bumps felt. Cortese would be well within his rights to stake any manager out and let his pooch chew off their tackle with it's back teeth. But this is Adkins and how ever much i know he would like to, would never jeopardise the ultimate prize. It's not even as if we have a realistic chance of winning the thing, whereas we are in pole position for the big one. People like you should get out of football. Worried about the finances as if you are the Chairman. Why do you support Saints? To exist on the Premier League gravy train? I remember some scousers saying they would rather finish 4th in PL than win Champions League (at time not knowing it would mean qualification for following year). Total joke and what is the point if you don't want to win....oh yes to conolidate balance sheet. We had near on 30 years in top flight and 14 or so in PL. Where was all the benefit of the financial rewards for all that time getting fed the millions? you fckin depress me more than anyone on here and that has some competition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 29 December, 2011 Share Posted 29 December, 2011 (edited) I remember some scousers saying they would rather finish 4th in PL than win Champions League (at time not knowing it would mean qualification for following year). Total joke and what is the point if you don't want to win....oh yes to conolidate balance sheet. We had near on 30 years in top flight and 14 or so in PL. Where was all the benefit of the financial rewards for all that time getting fed the millions? The TV payments to Prem. clubs were proportional to the number of screened games. i.e. not everyone got the same payments - (although it was a lot anyway). The latest figs. quoted (£90 million !! ???)..are almost double what they were when we were last in the Premiership, and I was shocked to see the amount that Saints (under RL) actually paid out in fees and salaries - and you're correct there wasn't much left to show for it..I'm sure Cortese will handle the finances better. HOWEVER - Isn't THIS thread suposed to be about the FA Cup? Edited 29 December, 2011 by david in sweden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 29 December, 2011 Share Posted 29 December, 2011 Resting a few and replacing them with fringe players does not mean lack of desire to win the cup, provided the replacement players are a) not crap b) keen to impress We have a strong squad at St. Mary's and thus should see a cup run as a positive, morale-boosting thing rather than a distraction. Absolutely John Cool! ..and if the "second string / bench players" want to impress and make a claim for a place in our Prem. squad..it's one of the few chances they'll have to do so.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david in sweden Posted 29 December, 2011 Share Posted 29 December, 2011 This season is the first time in all the years I have supported Saints that I feel that we have decent "reserves" for most of the postitions. So a bit of squad rotation should not be seen as devaluing the competition, as many of the replacement players should be totally capable of breaking into the first team anyway. Perhaps dropping three or four "regulars" and replacing them with any of the players listed below, should still result in a competitive side. I would however be unhappy if we sent out a totally different 11, with 3 or 4 youth team players all playing. I think the word should be " rested ", I made the point further on. .it's the one chance for "fringe squad players " to impress, and also put themselves on show (in case they don't make the cut)... in the summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
up and away Posted 29 December, 2011 Share Posted 29 December, 2011 People like you should get out of football. Worried about the finances as if you are the Chairman. Why do you support Saints? To exist on the Premier League gravy train? I remember some scousers saying they would rather finish 4th in PL than win Champions League (at time not knowing it would mean qualification for following year). Total joke and what is the point if you don't want to win....oh yes to conolidate balance sheet. We had near on 30 years in top flight and 14 or so in PL. Where was all the benefit of the financial rewards for all that time getting fed the millions? you fckin depress me more than anyone on here and that has some competition I really enjoy the Championship and would be happy to stay here for a few seasons if we could continue as we are. But it's down right stupid to believe we can keep all of our current players and manager the way things are going. Our top players will go and eventually Adkins will get prised away, because he is that good. We are on the verge of something very special at Saints and I would do everything to maximise that chance. Such is the nature of the Championship that we may never have such a great opportunity for years to come and you go and get a boner for the FA cup. It's not as if we have a reasonable chance of winning the thing, just total idiocy when you look at the rewards and the impact that will have on Saints. I am sure you get depressed a lot, that will always be your burden. So how will you react when Adkins fields a weakened team against Coventry? Further depressed, want the guy sacked? As Holloway so succinctly put it last season, "we have a top game every week in the Premier league, you just can't compare that for a one off". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkie Posted 29 December, 2011 Share Posted 29 December, 2011 In my opinion we should rest key players and bring in other fringe players that need a game and try to progress. The Cup games may give players a chance to get some much needed match time, but also act like a "weekend off" for key squad members and those on bans. Whatever the result at Coventry - I'm sure the team will do us proud whoever plays. I'd give Bart, Butterfield, Martin, Harding a run out at the back. In the middle play De Ridder, Hammond, and two others from Holmes, Cork, Scneiderlin and maybe a fringe midfielder in the middle - rest Rickie and give Guly and Connolly a run together. I'd give Lallana a rest too - on the bench with Rickie. I'm with players getting booked on Monday so they miss the Cup game - who are we talking about? I guess Fonte, Fox, Schneiderlin, Hammond & De Ridder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry the Badger Posted 29 December, 2011 Share Posted 29 December, 2011 . Try and find anyone at Birmingham who thinks concentrating on the League cup is now such a good idea, good luck with that. . http://www.joysandsorrows.co.uk/2011/05/carling-cup-or-premiership-survival/ How about the person who started this PLUS the first 5 to reply and another 3 on there? Must've been that good luck you wished me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketphilly Posted 29 December, 2011 Share Posted 29 December, 2011 Me and most others would take promotion to the PL over the FA cup I reckon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry the Badger Posted 29 December, 2011 Share Posted 29 December, 2011 Me and most others would take promotion to the PL over the FA cup I reckon. I honestly don't know. Promotion would be great, I want to see us in the best league possible, competing with the best teams. But to win the FA Cup from this division would give an absolute lifetime of memories, it would be astonishingly good. I think I might just opt for the trophy. Obviously it's not a choice we can make, and we aren't going to win the cup, so it's a fairly silly argument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whelk Posted 29 December, 2011 Share Posted 29 December, 2011 I really enjoy the Championship and would be happy to stay here for a few seasons if we could continue as we are. But it's down right stupid to believe we can keep all of our current players and manager the way things are going. Our top players will go and eventually Adkins will get prised away, because he is that good. We are on the verge of something very special at Saints and I would do everything to maximise that chance. Such is the nature of the Championship that we may never have such a great opportunity for years to come and you go and get a boner for the FA cup. It's not as if we have a reasonable chance of winning the thing, just total idiocy when you look at the rewards and the impact that will have on Saints. I am sure you get depressed a lot, that will always be your burden. So how will you react when Adkins fields a weakened team against Coventry? Further depressed, want the guy sacked? As Holloway so succinctly put it last season, "we have a top game every week in the Premier league, you just can't compare that for a one off". "such is the nature of the championship" wtf does that mean? It has always been competitive weakened team is to be expected - I am not saying it is the most important but c*nt5 like you actually want us to lose. You are everything that is wrong with supporters these days. Why do you think i get depressed a lot? you know fck all about me And quoting Holloway ffs - was that wise enlightening words to you? wow the scales dropped. NFT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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