Is it worth having a go in the cup?

[norfolkblade88]

Just thinking to myself earlier, would a run in the cup be a good thing for us? Preston is a winnable fixture, they will rest players and we can still rest a few and win against their second string. However, I think it would be beneficial not to put the entirety of the second string out and just rest 4/5. We may get a big team/ winnable fixture in the next round and before you know it you are getting toward quarter final territory. The FA cup shouldn’t be something to be scoffed at imo. Would love an away day at a big club next round. Plus, monetarily, there is always the extra revenue it would bring.

 

[ForgeBlade]

I love the FA Cup...it's the only "real" cup competition left imo, and I've got some amazing memories of Blades cup matches (Coventry, Fulham away, Forest, Charlton, even Hull at Wembley). I would give all our "big guns" a rest on Saturday, while playing a team that should be enough to see of a PNE 2nd string. As you said, win this and we're 1 win from the QF, and only 2 wins (with a favourable draw) from another day at Wembley.

 

[Tunstall Fred]

Sheffield United FA Cup winners 2018,how good would that be,in the history books forever,golden memories of seeing us win at Wembley,Billy being presented with the Cup and holding it aloft,European football to follow.

 

[hazzasufc_]

Would much rather win Villa Wolves and Leeds at the moment.

 

[PokerBlade]

Rest whoever needs resting. The revenue won't be as big an incentive as in League One but it's not to be sniffed at in our situation either. Simple fact is though that the league comes first. I think if you ask any Championship club whether they'd rather a top six finish or an FA Cup quarter/semi-final they'll take the play-offs all day long.

We've got players who need resting and also, after our early January business, players to rotate. Lee Evans should probably play as he hasn't had much game time with Wolves and would benefit from more game time for us, but the game on Tuesday in the League takes priority for me.

 

[Lower Drop Blade]

Yes

 

[bertieblade]

All four new signings are apparently cup tied, although I was not aware Wilson had played.

 

[dc_blade]

Best case scenario: beat Preston, draw someone else beatable at home in the next round so the second string gets another run out, then draw Man Utd at home for the money and the occasion, suffer glorious defeat and pocket the money, concentrate on successful play-off campaign.

 

[TJB.]

As CW would say, we'll have a right go.

What team ends up going out there and having a right go remains to be seen, but for me personally all eyes should be on that Villa game. It's a very winnable fixture, on telly under the lights and a great opportunity to solidify our position in the play-off mix.

One thing is for sure, we can't play any worse than we did at their place in December. That was a very fucking dull day.

 

[bromtom]

I'd have a good go for this one, with a few players rested, because as you say, could get a big fixture next round and it'd be worthwhile. Say we get Citeh at the Lane, go for it with a full strength squad.

If we win on Saturday and then get another championship club in the next round, then I probably wouldn't play a full strength team because there'll only be about what, 15 games left, we'll need to focus on the league.

 

[s4-blade]

Eastwood
Basham, Wright, O’Connell
Baldock, Fleck, Lundstram, Lafferty
Duffy
Sharp, Evans

With Moore, Leonard, Evans (L), Holmes, Wilson, Stearman, Stevens, Clarke, Donaldson, potentially even Brooks that can come in for Villa we apcan get away with still playing a very strong side.

 

[Gavlar]

Its useful in that it gives other players a chance.

Aside from that its not the cup that it was. Big teams rest players but of course I would LOVE it if we won it again.

League is so much more important though.

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

Eastwood
Basham, Wright, O’Connell
Baldock, Fleck, Lundstram, Lafferty
Duffy
Sharp, Evans

With Moore, Leonard, Evans (L), Holmes, Wilson, Stearman, Stevens, Clarke, Donaldson, potentially even Brooks that can come in for Villa we apcan get away with still playing a very strong side.

I think O`Connell has earned a day off.

 

[s4-blade]

I think O`Connell has earned a day off.

Doesn’t strike me as the type of player who would want/accept a day off

 

[Ricky]

It's definitely worth having a go. We've got a team that could go a long way in it.

Season after season there's always apparently a reason to 'just focus on the league'. Well this season we expected to simply consolidate. We're going to do that comfortably. There's room for a cup run. And there's the depth in the squad to deal with it.

We should rest some players but have a strong bench and go for it. Using it for match fitness or anything like that is completely secondary.

 

[Willie Carlin]

I think we have a good enough squad to give it ago without suffering for it against Villa.

 

[zablade]

The big problem is with Cup competitions these day you get what we saw last night,

Get to semi stage and teams like Man City put their foot down, pick their superstars and rule out any possibility of teams like us winning it.

If we can’t win it what’s the point?

 

[BushBlade]

The big problem is with Cup competitions these day you get what we saw last night,

Get to semi stage and teams like Man City put their foot down, pick their superstars and rule out any possibility of teams like us winning it.

If we can’t win it what’s the point?

Sadly, I tend to agree with that. It's rare these days for a championship club to get anywhere near the final and almost impossible to win it. I'd rather we tried to go up and then, when we've consolidated, go for it. It's still quite unusual for a team outside the top four to win it but I don't think it's impossible, you just need a bit of luck, like Wigan got.

 

[Dkc]

Eastwood
Basham, Wright, O’Connell
Baldock, Fleck, Lundstram, Lafferty
Duffy
Sharp, Evans

With Moore, Leonard, Evans (L), Holmes, Wilson, Stearman, Stevens, Clarke, Donaldson, potentially even Brooks that can come in for Villa we apcan get away with still playing a very strong side.

Wonder if we'll see Ched start? I'd say why not, we can bring another striker on it its obviously not working.

 

[Berlin Blade]

Blackman
Baldock Basham Wright Lafferty Thomas
Lundstram Slater
Carruthers
Sharp Evans

 

[finlaytheblade]

All four new signings are apparently cup tied, although I was not aware Wilson had played.

Wilson isn't cuptie d he has only played for man Utd. 23s so will be available if selected.

 

[YES Blade]

The big problem is with Cup competitions these day you get what we saw last night,

Get to semi stage and teams like Man City put their foot down, pick their superstars and rule out any possibility of teams like us winning it.

If we can’t win it what’s the point?

What’s the point in trying for promotion then? We ain’t going to win the Premier League either.

Just look at the list of finalists and winners in recent years, if Wigan can win it, I don’t see why we can’t at least make a final.

A mix of first team and fringe players can beat Preston, then if the draw can be kind, who knows where we’ll end up?

 

[Damski]

It's always worth having a go in the cup. Whether you're pushing for the title or wallowing in mid table. It's never a bad thing. Last season's utter pissing of the league overshadows it, but that FA Cup semi final run along with the invincible league form from February-April 2014 was the best thing we'd seen them do in years. So Preston on Saturday is a good opportunity to get one game away from the quarter finals, and hopefully get drawn away at a big Premier League club. Or at home to Them Lot.

 

[Tom Bott]

Wilson isn't cuptie d he has only played for man Utd. 23s so will be available if selected.

Yes but the esteemed Sheffield Star says he is, so it must be true, like the January derby being held on a Thursday night at Swillsbrough.

Fake news comic.

 

[RMBlade]

Yes but the esteemed Sheffield Star says he is, so it must be true, like the January derby being held on a Thursday night at Swillsbrough.

Fake news comic.

He wasn't in the match day squad for Man U vs Derby.... silly Star

 

[Feo]

I like the FA cup a lot.
I have a feeling I’m in the minority here but I always want to draw the shittiest team left in it at the Lane.
We’re going to kop for one of the “big guns” somewhere down the line so let’s have a big day out later. Maybe even Wembley who knows.
I’ll be there Saturday with the 14,000 other Blades.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Man Utd may have inserted a clause in the loan contract to prevent us playing Wilson.

 

[BushBlade]

Man Utd may have inserted a clause in the loan contract to prevent us playing Wilson.

Can't see why. It's not like they could recall him and use him in cup games.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Can't see why. It's not like they could recall him and use him in cup games.

I said they might have, probably haven't, but it wouldn't be unusual for the loaning club to do that.

 

[BushBlade]

I said they might have, probably haven't, but it wouldn't be unusual for the loaning club to do that.

I suppose it depends on your definition of unusual. I'm not sure why they'd waste their time putting in a pointless clause when they've loaned a player out so that he can get games. Logic dictates that they'd want him to play as much as possible.
If it were an August-December loan, it would make sense to do so as they could then play him in the 3rd round if they didn't extend the loan.