[Albion] So .... Any chance we can take the FA Cup seriously this year?

[BensGrandad]

Ideal opportunity to give the fringe players game time. Given that we can win 1 game and lose the other I would sooner that we won the league game.

 

[Kalimantan Gull]

Judging by the other day, our reserve side could include Bong, Bruno, Stephens, Knockaert, Jahanbahksh, Andone, Balogun - i.e., not that shabby

 

[Reddleman]

We reached the quarter finals last year and put in a highly creditable performance away to Manchester United. We also beat Palace and won away at Middlesbrough to reach that stage so I don't know what more we could hope for. Murray scored in both games albeit off the bench so I think just more of the same.

 

[Brovion]

We reached the quarter finals last year and put in a highly creditable performance away to Manchester United. We also beat Palace and won away at Middlesbrough to reach that stage so I don't know what more we could hope for. Murray scored in both games albeit off the bench so I think just more of the same.

Yes, I accept that (and other posters who've made similar points). But you never got the feeling that we (club and fans) were 100% committed to it as the team selection showed. Maybe more committed than in previous, lower league seasons; but Cup progress was always very much seen as being of secondary importance.
"Well it was our first season in the PL", I hear you say, "Winning League games and staying up was more important." Ok, to a large extent I'll accept that, hence my view that this season could we look to actually trying to make Cup games on a par with League ones?

 

[Blue Valkyrie]

Well we'll certainly have Button or Steele in the side, but other than that there is no reason not to field a first XI, as we have a good haul of league points in the bag already.

And the fixtures fall kindly after the cup game with a week until Liverpool then another week until Man Utd - not exactly *must win* 6-pointers.

 

[A1X]

By my reckoning we now have two very decent XIs when everyone's available;

Ryan, Bruno, Dunk, Duffy, Bong, Knockaert, Stephens, Propper, Izquierdo, Gross, Murray

Steele / Button, Montoya, Balogan, Burn / White, Bernardo, March, Bissouma, Kayal, Jahanbakhsh, Locadia, Andone

Might mix and match what would be first choice and what second, but neither looks considerably weaker than the other. By my reckoning we could change the entire team and still have a good chance against even those around us.

 

[portlock seagull]

Every year since I first started posting on NSC (1999) come January the cry has gone up: "Forget the Cup, the League is far more important this year. It's vital we get promoted / avoid relegation this season. Next season we can take the Cup seriously, but not this." And like tomorrow, 'next season' never comes.

So how about it? Full-strength team at Bournemouth and give it a go? After all the "We're never going to win it so why bother?" argument can't be made any more, and as we're mid-table at Christmas we're pretty much as 'safe' as we're ever going to be. I'm hoping to find support especially amongst those who moan about the 'negativity' of our approach to League games and moan that the limit of our ambitions is to only lose narrowly at the likes of Man City whilst we chase that all-important 17th place. Let's give it a go this year..


EDIT: Of course in earlier years the 'Forget the Cup' cry went up a lot earlier than January ...

Sadly, I think Big Chris and Barber may have already read your plea. And deleted...

 

[rippleman]

Forget the Cup, the League is far more important!!

Injuries and suspensions are already putting the squeeze on the squad so ideal opportunity to play the young 'uns and give then some experience.

 

[Arkwright]

Go for it. One game at a time. I always think you can get injured in training so why not give them a rest day during the week and a cup game at the weekend.


You never know we might even get a trip to Wembley.

 

[AZ Gull]

Can imagine a team line along the lines of this for 3rd round game

Steele
Bruno Balogun Burn Bong
Ali J Kayal Bissouma Gyokeres
Locadia Connolly

Iran's first match in the AFC Asian Cup is on Monday January 7, so I imagine Ali J will not be available.

Viktor Gyokeres has been invited to a Sweden full national team training camp in Qatar from January 3 - 13 2019.

 

[fleet]

Only if we have 40 points before we get knocked out, and even then it will be the decent thing to give the players that got us that far a chance to carry on.... Nah going out at Bournemouth.

 

[oldboyroy]

Only 3points off a European spot at moment think the boys would like to go for that

 

[DavePage]

Steele will be our first choice at the time of the 3rd round surely?
so does he continue his mini run or get dropped?

 

[OzMike]

Give to the second string, they did alright last season and it only stuffed up when first team players had to get involved, when it was getting to the pointy end.

 

[Return of the Rev]

It's all about cash.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Give to the second string, they did alright last season and it only stuffed up when first team players had to get involved, when it was getting to the pointy end.

Has the 1st string / 2nd string got a bit blurred over the last couple of games?

 

[neilbard]

Every year since I first started posting on NSC (1999) come January the cry has gone up: "Forget the Cup, the League is far more important this year. It's vital we get promoted / avoid relegation this season. Next season we can take the Cup seriously, but not this." And like tomorrow, 'next season' never comes.

So how about it? Full-strength team at Bournemouth and give it a go? After all the "We're never going to win it so why bother?" argument can't be made any more, and as we're mid-table at Christmas we're pretty much as 'safe' as we're ever going to be. I'm hoping to find support especially amongst those who moan about the 'negativity' of our approach to League games and moan that the limit of our ambitions is to only lose narrowly at the likes of Man City whilst we chase that all-important 17th place. Let's give it a go this year..

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Has the 1st string / 2nd string got a bit blurred over the last couple of games?

Exactly.. We may end up giving Bruno, Murray, Stephens, Kayal and Bong a run out in the cup. how times have changed

 

[Bold Seagull]

It's all about cash.

Do you ever remember when it wasn't?

 

[Peter Grummit]

By my reckoning we now have two very decent XIs when everyone's available;

Ryan, Bruno, Dunk, Duffy, Bong, Knockaert, Stephens, Propper, Izquierdo, Gross, Murray

Steele / Button, Montoya, Balogan, Burn / White, Bernardo, March, Bissouma, Kayal, Jahanbakhsh, Locadia, Andone

Might mix and match what would be first choice and what second, but neither looks considerably weaker than the other. By my reckoning we could change the entire team and still have a good chance against even those around us.

This is dead right.

I would add: let's wait and see who's still standing after the next 6 games (in 4 weeks) before the Cup. Suspensions/injuries/Asia cup may well disrupt best laid plans.

PG