[Albion] Should we be playing our best team tonight?

[Stuart Munday]

There is only one important game this week and it isn't tonight.

 

[Icy Gull]

There is only one important game this week and it isn't tonight.

Might not be for you but it will be important for those that turn up to watch and for the players and CH I imagine. It will be a war of attrition out there’s and I doubt it will be an exciting spectacle though.

 

[hart's shirt]

Interested not so much in the team as the style of football that we should be playing in a 'free hit' televised Cup game.

An attacking mindset from the outset should create a great game for supporters of both teams.

And if we win playing this football, it'll be one of those 'I was there' moments.

(Or 'I wasn't there, but with the benefit of hindsight wish I had been'.)

 

[GT49er]

They have an equal chance of that happening in any fixture. One of them will have to play tonight either way.

Not necessarily. Kayal could play with either Hutchinson or Molumbey beside him (I think one of those two is injured (?) but I'm not sure which one). But otherwise I agree with you - I'd like to see our strongest team out there trying to get to the 4th. round. Won't happen though.
Let's just hope our youngsters and reserves play out of their skin tonight. If one or two of them could actually do enough to give CH a slight selection problem for West Brom. that would be a huge bonus.

 

[Giraffe]

Just did a quick review of the last few seasons to see what our result was immediately after a cup exit after we rested players to see if it helped resting those players:

17th Feb 2014 Hull (H) which we drew 1-1 - Then lost at home on 22nd Feb 2-1
24th Feb 2014 Hull (A) replay lost 2-1 - Then won at Millwall on 1st March 1-0
9th Jan 2016 Hull (A) lost 1-0 - Then lost 2-0 at Rotherham on 12th Jan
28th January 2017 Lincoln (A) lost 3-1 - Then lost 3-1 away to Huddersfield on 2nd February.

So out of the last 4 times we have rested players and gone out of the cup as a result we have only won one of the next league game. Not exactly conclusive proof that resting players in the cup helps you in the league is it?

 

[GT49er]

Just did a quick review of the last few seasons to see what our result was immediately after a cup exit after we rested players to see if it helped resting those players:

17th Feb 2014 Hull (H) which we drew 1-1 - Then lost at home on 22nd Feb 2-1
24th Feb 2014 Hull (A) replay lost 2-1 - Then won at Millwall on 1st March 1-0
9th Jan 2016 Hull (A) lost 1-0 - Then lost 2-0 at Rotherham on 12th Jan
28th January 2017 Lincoln (A) lost 3-1 - Then lost 3-1 away to Huddersfield on 2nd February.

So out of the last 4 times we have rested players and gone out of the cup as a result we have only won one of the next league game. Not exactly conclusive proof that resting players in the cup helps you in the league is it?

What about 2015?

 

[Giraffe]

What about 2015?

As I recall we put out a decent team but lost 3-2 to Arsenal.

ps) in front of crowd of 30,278 (clearly cared about the cup more when Arsenal were in town!)

 

[Bwian]

there are at least 4 or 5 worse teams than us in the league.

Not so sure about that!

 

[Springal]

4 less games than last season so no excuse not to play a largely 'best' team. I'll accept players like Krul, Goldson, Kayal, Baldock starting but don't want to see any youth players or anyone that is not pushing for a place week in week out.

 

[Giraffe]

My issue with not playing the best team is if not now when will we ever take the FA Cup seriously?

We are sat mid table in the Premier League, how much higher can we go? So are we actually saying we will never again take the FA Cup seriously? That is pretty sad if that is the case.

 

[GT49er]

As I recall we put out a decent team but lost 3-2 to Arsenal.

ps) in front of crowd of 30,278 (clearly cared about the cup more when Arsenal were in town!)

Fair enough. I wonder if they recovered in time to face the rigours of the next game.

 

[OSRGull]

It's as if the club and management want us to go out the cup. What happens if we reach the quarters/semi final? I'm sure a quick change of mind and that they'll be thinking of the money then

 

[Is it PotG?]

It's as if the club and management want us to go out the cup. What happens if we reach the quarters/semi final? I'm sure a quick change of mind and that they'll be thinking of the money then

What money, about £30 isn't it?

We are not good enough to get that far anyhow, even at full strength.

 

[Mackenzie]

We should try and be a little pragmatic, obviously rest any players who have knocks, but if they’re fit they should be considered for selection.

A win against palace would be a boost for the fans and lift us, a loss would be gloomy and counterproductive. Plenty of recovery time before WBA, so I really hope he chooses a strong team.

 

[Marshy]

11 changes and rightly so

 

[Mike Small]

Stephens and Propper need a rest/break big time. I'd play Hemed and Baldock up front and try going with a 2 for a change.

 

[Dougie]

Both teams won’t be at full strength , I’d suggest half will be squad players .

 

[Is it PotG?]

Both teams won’t be at full strength , I’d suggest half will be squad players .

What time are you heading down Dougie?

 

[GT49er]

It's as if the club and management want us to go out the cup. What happens if we reach the quarters/semi final? I'm sure a quick change of mind and that they'll be thinking of the money then

.........................................or maybe they'll be thinking, "Bollox, where did we go wrong?"

 

[Giraffe]

Fair enough. I wonder if they recovered in time to face the rigours of the next game.

They lost six days later away to Blackpool 1-0.