Stoke game - play a full strength side?

[Icy Gull]

Given that the priority is the League and it looks like we will be playing Stoke on Saturday and Plymouth on Monday, should we incur the wrath of some fans and the FA by playing a weakened side?

I'd prefer us to field the weakest team we can in the Cup

I know it goes against the spirit of the cup and I imagine the players would rather we played a full strength team as well.

What do you think?

 

[Mellotron]

Where did you hear we're playing it on the Friday?

 

[Gritt23]

Ooh tricky. Nearly voted wrong there, as you switched the question from "play a full strength side?" to "should we play a weakened side and concentrate on the League?"

 

[Icy Gull]

Where did you hear we're playing it on the Friday?

Made it up, edited now which gives even more strength to play a weakened side argument imo

 

[Icy Gull]

Ooh tricky. Nearly voted wrong there, as you switched the question from "play a full strength side?" to "should we play a weakened side and concentrate on the League?"

Sorry, cocked this up a bit haven't I ?

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

Really was starting to look forward to the Stoke game but if it does indeed go ahead on Saturday and Plymouth on Monday, then I think we need to make some changes. Would love us to go full pelt at Stoke and give them a decent game, but 3 points against Plymouth could be VITAL.

Saying that we could play the full strength 11 in both and still win, but it's a risk I don't think we should be taking.

A lot could depend on the results between now and then though, if everyone else loses a couple we could still be sitting pretty at the top with games in hand, in which case Plymouth isn't quite so crucial. If we have dropped a place or two by then, then beating Plymouth must be a priority.

All it's and but's!

 

[Brovion]

Taken as individual matches the Stoke game is far more important because if we lose that then we're out of the Cup, whereas the Plymouth game is just one out of 46. In other words we can afford to lose to Plymouth and still get promoted. All the while we're still in the Cup then the Cup games are the most important and yes I know I'm the only one who thinks like this.

 

[drew]

According to FA website, the date is shown as one of the Saturday games. Not sure why we couldn't have an early kick off though bearing in mind the Monday game and that it doesn't take too long to get to stoke.

 

[Simster]

The evidence suggests that form will slump by dicking around with the team for the FAC.

In addition, we're two games from Wembley in a tie we might actually win if we play to our capability and theoretically just three games from Europe. He has to play his favoured team at this stage, surely?

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Stoke Game:

Brez

Calde Elphick Dunk Painter

Bridcutt Sparrow Bennett

Wood Murray Barnes


Plymouth

Ankergren

Calde Greer ElAbd Painter

Noone Kish Dicker Bennett

Barnes Murray

 

[Da Man Clay]

Reserves. Promotion is by far and away the most important. It's not so much that we've got a game on the Monday as i'd advocate a reserve side if we weren't playing for another week after. Stoke are a aggricultural side who like to 'get stuck in'. I don't want to risk any of our key players getting injured. Even if we play our full strength side we're big underdogs anyway and I don't think it's worth taking the chance.

 

[BensGrandad]

Given that the priority is the League and it looks like we will be playing Stoke on Saturday and Plymouth on Monday,

Isnt the Plymouth game postponed as it shows on our and bbc fixture list, or did when I last looked. Hasnt it also been taken off of the Sky TV list.

 

[Gritt23]

Stoke are a aggricultural side who like to 'get stuck in'. I don't want to risk any of our key players getting injured.

Can we please stop with all this "those big boys tackle too hard, it's not nice, and it's not fair" attitude? It's just all a bit, well, gay!

 

[GYM]

FFS i voted wrong can we move one from no to yes please.

Id much rather get 3 points on the monday and not have a shattered 1st XI for the game

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

Can we please stop with all this "those big boys tackle too hard, it's not nice, and it's not fair" attitude? It's just all a bit, well, gay!

Agree with this. It sounds like bloody Arsenal fans talking.

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

The evidence suggests that form will slump by dicking around with the team for the FAC.

In addition, we're two games from Wembley in a tie we might actually win if we play to our capability and theoretically just three games from Europe. He has to play his favoured team at this stage, surely?

Not sure Europe would be a good thing next year! I'd be really gutted to almost lay down and wait to get beaten at Stoke, but if, as I think we will, we have dropped a place or two the pressure really will be on in the League games.

Also, IF we do get promoted this year, remember we will enter the FA Cup at Round 3 and so only be two games away from where we are now. With the team we are building here now I don't see this season's FA Cup as our last chance for years and years to get the team to this stage again.

 

[Ding Dong !]

Rest 4 or 5 players......would rather take 3 point from Plymouth without a shadow of a doubt.

 

[severnside gull]

Stoke Game:

Brez

Calde Elphick Dunk Painter

Bridcutt Sparrow Bennett

Wood Murray Barnes


Plymouth

Ankergren

Calde Greer ElAbd Painter

Noone Kish Dicker Bennett

Barnes Murray

I will be going to Stoke and I would be very happy with that side

 

[Gritt23]

Are we HONESTLY debating whether "playing in Europe next season" is a good thing or not?

The gettingcarriedawaywithourselves monitor is about to explode.

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

Are we HONESTLY debating whether "playing in Europe next season" is a good thing or not?

The gettingcarriedawaywithourselves monitor is about to explode.

Haha It's time to dream....