If we are serious about promotion, resting around 5 or 6 players saturday is a must.

[LamieRobertson]

The players will have a whole weeks rest after Saturday, and then another week after that before their next match. Apart from the fact the the cup is still a big deal, players are as likely to pick up a knock in a cup match as a league match. So no, resting players is not essential.

And Ulloa is the last player that needs a rest, given that he's hardly played since mid-September.

thought he took a rest in the second half yesterday

 

[nwgull]

thought he took a rest in the second half yesterday

Coz he was knackered and in need of game time to get back to being able to be at his best for 90 minutes. He'll get there quicker if he starts in the cup match.

 

[KZNSeagull]

Reading are decimated by injuries, particularly in the centre of defence. Their league form has suffered as a result and this is a decent time to play them.
Bridders will not play to avoid being cup-tied. As for the rest, you could make a case for Dunk replacing Upson and Chicksen coming in for Ward. Brez will be in goal. Andrews will play in front of the back four and the midfield will revolve around JFC, Agustien, Ince, Crofts, Orlandi and Lopez.
Ulloa needs game-time and must start and you'll have no width without KLL....so.....
Brez
Calde
ElAbd
Dunk
Chicksen
Andrews
Agustien
Ince
JFC
KLL
Ulloa

I would play Bridcutt just so that he IS cup tied. Not that Sunderland are going to get far in the cup, but just to pee them off a bit.

 

[Machiavelli]

The players will have a whole weeks rest after Saturday, and then another week after that before their next match. Apart from the fact the the cup is still a big deal, players are as likely to pick up a knock in a cup match as a league match. So no, resting players is not essential.

And Ulloa is the last player that needs a rest, given that he's hardly played since mid-September.

That rest won't apply if we draw the match -- unless the FA Cup has changed so much that Saturday will go to extra-time, then penalties, if the score is still level, and my mind hasn't caught up with such developments -- which only goes to prove that we need to put out a strong team, perhaps not our first choice one, but a strong one nevertheless.

 

[Mellotron]

If someone is an unused sub in the FA Cup, does that still cuptie him? Could be interesting to see if Brids is in the squad...

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Walton
Rea
Dunk
Maksimenko
Chicksen
Orlandi
Ince
JFC
March
Dickenson
Barnes

 

[B.W.]

I would play Bridcutt just so that he IS cup tied. Not that Sunderland are going to get far in the cup, but just to pee them off a bit.

Seconded. Just what I was thinking.

 

[MICK PATCHAM]

Brighton too big a club for the f.a cup ?

 

[The Large One]

Brighton too big a club for the f.a cup ?

Do you EVER have anything intelligent and worthwhile to post?

 

[portslade seagull]

A cup run doesn't affect the transfer budget, TB said this himself.

This

 

[withdeanwombat]

Listen to the wise words of Norman Wisdom

We're going up, and we'll win the Cup

For Sussex by the sea.

Strongest available team, por favor, Mr Oscar. Let the Reading manager boob with HIS team selection. He is quite good at it.

 

[Stat Brother]

The FA Cup is worth serious £££, we should be looking to progress as far as we can - besides, it's not as if it's unheard of for Championship sides to reach the final.

Full strength team please.

Is it? (sorry I accidentally click post when before proving the point I was trying to make).

FA Cup Prize Money For Season 2013-14
Rounds Points Prize money
Extra Preliminary Round winners (185) £1,500
Preliminary Round winners (160) £1,925
First Round Qualifying winners (116) £3,000
Second Round Qualifying winners (80) £4,500
Third Round Qualifying winners (40) £7,500
Fourth Round Qualifying winners (32) £12,500
First Round Proper winners (40) £18,000
Second Round Proper winners (20) £27,000
Third Round Proper winners (32) £67,500
Fourth Round Proper winners (16) £90,000
Fifth Round Proper winners (8) £180,000
Sixth Round Proper winners (4) £360,000
Semi-Final winners (2) £900,000
Semi-Final losers (2) £450,000
Final runners-up (1) £900,000
Final winners (1) £1,800,000






http://swissramble.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/in-premier-league-sun-always-shines-on.html

 

[Luke93]

This game is a great opportunity for our players coming back from injuries (Ulloa, Orlandi, etc) and it would also get done younger lads involved (Dunk, JFK, Chicksen and March).

 

[Spun Cuppa]

Putting anything other than a full strength team only puts out ONE message, to the team, fans and oppo, which is 'we don't mind losing.' Any sportsperson/team with that mindset will lose

 

[Giraffe]

In past seasons we have put out a weakened team and ended up with replays. Just put out the best team and go for a win.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Listen to the wise words of Norman Wisdom

We're going up, and we'll win the Cup

For Sussex by the sea.

Strongest available team, por favor, Mr Oscar. Let the Reading manager boob with HIS team selection. He is quite good at it.

Personally, I agree, I'd go all out for a confidence lifting home win. We only have 1 game per week now until the Burnley game on Tues 28th Jan, so don't see a real reason to be resting players unless they are carrying knocks.

One thing I'd like to see from the team is a faster start to a home game. Too often we allow teams to settle as we start too cautiously ourselves. We went for Leicester from the kick off, but against H'Field and B'mouth we appeared to start far slower and less decisively. Lets start strong and get at Reading from the off.

 

[Soulman]

Personally, I agree, I'd go all out for a confidence lifting home win. We only have 1 game per week now until the Burnley game on Tues 28th Jan, so don't see a real reason to be resting players unless they are carrying knocks.

One thing I'd like to see from the team is a faster start to a home game. Too often we allow teams to settle as we start too cautiously ourselves. We went for Leicester from the kick off, but against H'Field and B'mouth we appeared to start far slower and less decisively. Lets start strong and get at Reading from the off.

Yep, and seeing as our injury list has diminished, and it is the FA Cup, just go for it.

 

[Grombleton]

This game is a great opportunity for our players coming back from injuries (Ulloa, Orlandi, etc) and it would also get done younger lads involved (Dunk, JFK, Chicksen and March).

He'd be useless if it went to a shoot out.

 

[HawkTheSeagull]

Away draws at the likes of Man Utd are worth around a million just for turning up.

Id say home draws against the big teams are the real money earners. Club can charge full price for tickets and its all but certain the Amex would sell out. Not to mention the teams "followers" which will come to Brighton anyway along with those who have tickets who will stay in local hotels - boosting the local economy a bit. Then there is the TV money, which if its a big club, means you could earn hundreds of thousands as it may be shown worldwide.

We are going to be taking the FA Cup seriously and I think we are foolish if we dont. Oscar may look a bit stupid if he "Did a Gus" with the cups by turning round and saying "We never wanted to do well in them anyway" and then miss out on the play-offs. Also, we are risking needing a replay when playing a weaker team, which we really dont need.

 

[Stat Brother]

Away draws at the likes of Man Utd are worth around a million just for turning up.

That changes it then, I hadn't realised we were guaranteed Utd away.

It sure as hell beats Middlesborough away 3 days before we play Burnley then onto Watford.