F A Cup

[Wards]

Expect Verrips to play as he needs to see him in a competitive game before we lose Henderson for the game at Old Trafford.

 

[Lane Ender]

Hopefully we rest most of the first team players and focus on the league.

Fuck that I’m going!

 

[Cerberus Blade]

With what wilder has been saying I can’t see anymore than 3/4 changes. Id like to see Berge in the Norwood role, aswell as Freeman playing the Duffy role

Berge has been bought for the Norwood role mainly, imo. Although he could be utilised just about anywhere on the park. It's all about him getting up to speed with the pace of the English game at the moment.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Naaaa we don’t want to go to Wembley, we would only leave on 80 mins , it’s a fucking long way home and all that

Have to try and beat the traffic - it's terrible down there you know - London. And some of us will be working the next day and...

 

[WORKSOPBLADE]

Robinson... ???
Warm up for Villa game ????

What’s happened whilst I’ve been asleep???

 

[elgoog44]

Cant we win the cup with out going to Wembley as its never kind to us.... like ever!

 

[metalblade]

Don't deserve a cup final if we can't stay a few minutes the clap the players parade. It wouldn't look good if the players were collecting winners medals to an empty stadium.

 

[FreePaulRodgers]

Bloke at 2.02

Exactly.

 

[Kenilworth]

You can't remember the County Cup can you?

Seen us win that at the Sty.
Sabella played in that one

 

[tincan]

Of the 10 PL teams left in the cup, only 7 have 40 points so the other 3 may still play weakened teams until they're safe. Also 6 are still involved in Europe so they may also field weakened teams. Along with Leicester we could be considered favourites as we have the option of playing a first team!

 

[SelbyBlade]

To keep both the team with first team players keeping the structure and pace in place as much as possible, but also gives others that need minutes I would go with;
Mousett Sharp
Osborne Besic L Freeman Baldock
Berge
O'Connel Jags Retsos
Verrips
Subs
Basham
McGoldrick (with a plan to play him for 30mins)
McBurnie
Norwood
Henderson
Zivkovic (hopefully play for 30 mins if we are winning by enough i.e. 2 nil (Both Billy Sharp goals))

I would give rests to Fleck, Lunny, Enda and Egan. If Jags is injured or needs to come off try Retsos at CCH and bring Bash on.
Bring Norwood & McBurnie on if we need to rescue it.
Hendo for insurance.

 

[Beans]

Paging LoughboroBlade for thoughts on a left-footer at RCM

 

[SelbyBlade]

In terms of the sudden optimism regarding the cup, should the quarter finals be as per the form book the teams in the next round would be;

Arsenal
Liverpool
Blades
Newcastle
Leicester
Man City
Spurs
Manure

That's 5 of the financial top 6 (Because Liverpool and Chelsea play each other)
That's 5 of the Current top 6 (Because Liverpool and Chelsea play each other)

So it would be a massive ask to get to the semi never mind the final should we get past Reading. The best we could hope for is against Newcastle who have beaten us at home. So I'm still of the opinion that we should go for the league position and maybe squeak into Europe. And I'm a born again optimist.

 

[BushBlade]

In terms of the sudden optimism regarding the cup, should the quarter finals be as per the form book the teams in the next round would be;

Arsenal
Liverpool
Blades
Newcastle
Leicester
Man City
Spurs
Manure

That's 5 of the financial top 6 (Because Liverpool and Chelsea play each other)
That's 5 of the Current top 6 (Because Liverpool and Chelsea play each other)

So it would be a massive ask to get to the semi never mind the final should we get past Reading. The best we could hope for is against Newcastle who have beaten us at home. So I'm still of the opinion that we should go for the league position and maybe squeak into Europe. And I'm a born again optimist.

We’ve got to play four of those in the league. If we can’t beat them in the cup what makes you think we can beat them in the league?

 

[bongleblade]

Mousett Didzy
Osborne Besic L Freeman Baldock
Berge
O'Connell Jags Retsos
Henderson
Subs
Basham
Sharp
K.Freeman
Norwood
Verrips
Zivkovic (hopefully play for 30 mins if we are winning by enough i.e. 2 nil (Both Billy Sharp goals))


Pretty much perfect, although I still think Mousset and Didz are our best performing strike partnership so far and they both need minutes, would be nice to see how they get on again, plus i noticed there was no LWB/RWB cover, I would give McB a day off

[/QUOTE]

 

[bongleblade]

To keep both the team with first team players keeping the structure and pace in place as much as possible, but also gives others that need minutes I would go with;
Mousett Sharp
Osborne Besic L Freeman Baldock
Berge
O'Connel Jags Retsos
Verrips
Subs
Basham
McGoldrick (with a plan to play him for 30mins)
McBurnie
Norwood
Henderson
Zivkovic (hopefully play for 30 mins if we are winning by enough i.e. 2 nil (Both Billy Sharp goals))

I would give rests to Fleck, Lunny, Enda and Egan. If Jags is injured or needs to come off try Retsos at CCH and bring Bash on.
Bring Norwood & McBurnie on if we need to rescue it.
Hendo for insurance.

Pretty much perfect, although I still think Mousset and Didz are our best performing strike partnership so far and they both need minutes, would be nice to see how they get on again, Henderson gives us cover for our slightly weakened CB's plus i noticed there was no LWB/RWB cover, I would give McB a day off and put K.Freeman on the bench

Mousett Didzy
Osborne Besic L Freeman Baldock
Berge
O'Connell Jags Retsos
Henderson​

 

[Fulwood Blade]

Paging LoughboroBlade for thoughts on a left-footer at RCM

I take it from that it's a sore point for LB?

Coincidentally, I was thinking a short while back about when Freeman (on loan from Derby) was played at left back under Clough - and previously when NW played Geary at left back.

It got me thinking as to whether CW has ever played anyone out of position (ie: square peg, round hole) - I can't think of any time at all.

I can remember CW saying he'd never play Done at left wing back for us and I think CW apologised when Done had to play there v Oldham away in L1. At lest Done was left footed on the left but is a similar situation of him being played in an unaccustomed position.

So....has CW ever played a right footer on the left or vice versa?

UTB

 

[SelbyBlade]

We’ve got to play four of those in the league. If we can’t beat them in the cup what makes you think we can beat them in the league?

I think we can get points off them in the league but there are also another 7 teams to get points off also. I said it would be difficult not impossible.

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

How shit would it be when the players come out on the balcony at the town hall to show the cup and everyone's fucked off home to miss the traffic or get to the bar. Chris will be fyooooomin!

 

[Beans]

I take it from that it's a sore point for LB?

Coincidentally, I was thinking a short while back about when Freeman (on loan from Derby) was played at left back under Clough - and previously when NW played Geary at left back.

It got me thinking as to whether CW has ever played anyone out of position (ie: square peg, round hole) - I can't think of any time at all.

I can remember CW saying he'd never play Done at left wing back for us and I think CW apologised when Done had to play there v Oldham away in L1. At lest Done was left footed on the left but is a similar situation of him being played in an unaccustomed position.

So....has CW ever played a right footer on the left or vice versa?

UTB

I don't think so, which is the point LB has made on the odd occasion it's been brought up

Incidentally, I hope we're playing close to our strongest team, although I would like to see Mousset and McGoldrick start (you could make the case that they would be in our strongest team anyway, fitness permitting), with apologies to Besic, Verrips, Jags, L Freeman etc. If we're feeling risque, Berge to play in Norwood's spot. Let's get this game won and get in the QF.

 

[XM657]

Naaaa we don’t want to go to Wembley, we would only leave on 80 mins , it’s a fucking long way home and all that

Na, come on thats owd way o'thinking. Wi'v got Chrissy Wilder and Alanarno Knill naw. So shek thi sen, we're gunna win next time at Wembley just thee see.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I don't think so, which is the point LB has made on the odd occasion it's been brought up

Incidentally, I hope we're playing close to our strongest team, although I would like to see Mousset and McGoldrick start (you could make the case that they would be in our strongest team anyway, fitness permitting), with apologies to Besic, Verrips, Jags, L Freeman etc. If we're feeling risque, Berge to play in Norwood's spot. Let's get this game won and get in the QF.

Agreed - what ever is designated as our A team should play. A Premier league team WILL win the FA Cup - as it does most seasons - why not us?

I'm going down - we better NOT play reserve team players.

No apologies from me......Besic/Verrips/JAGS FFS

UTB

 

[PokerBlade]

If Zivkovic and Retsos aren't good enough to beat Reading then they shouldn't be here. We shouldn't change the whole eleven but three or four players is to be expected.

 

[Balham]

I take it from that it's a sore point for LB?

Coincidentally, I was thinking a short while back about when Freeman (on loan from Derby) was played at left back under Clough - and previously when NW played Geary at left back.

It got me thinking as to whether CW has ever played anyone out of position (ie: square peg, round hole) - I can't think of any time at all.

I can remember CW saying he'd never play Done at left wing back for us and I think CW apologised when Done had to play there v Oldham away in L1. At lest Done was left footed on the left but is a similar situation of him being played in an unaccustomed position.

So....has CW ever played a right footer on the left or vice versa?

UTB

Not in either of the wing back positions*. The closest we've got are Ebanks-Landell (in for O'Connell at LCB vs Shrewsbury, Bradford & MK Dons) and various combinations when Fleck has either been injured (Basham vs Gillingham, Wimbledon & Peterborough in L1; Lundstram vs QPR, Preston & Villa, Lee Evans vs QPR in 17/18; Lundstram vs Bristol C in 18/19). Lundstram isn't far off two footed either so that he's arguably not out of position on the left of the central midfielders.

Left wing backs used in the league (since switching to 3 at the back in the
2016/17: Lafferty, Done
2017/18: Stevens, Lafferty
2018/19: Stevens, Johnson, Dowell
2019/20: Stevens, Osborn

Right wing backs
2016/17: Freeman, Basham
2017/18: Baldock, Freeman, Basham
2018/19: Baldock, Freeman
2019/20: Baldock

FWIW I'd keep a strong XI against Reading but change the bench around:

Henderson

Basham Egan Robinson

Baldock Berge Norwood Fleck Osborn

McGoldrick Mousset

Subs: Verrips, Retsos (for Basham), Jagielka, Lundstram, Rodwell, Sharp, Zivkovic (for Mousset)​

My thinking is that we need to get as much gametime into the triangles between Basham, Baldock and Berge (triple B, if you will) and the midfield three which takes precedence over getting Retsos on the pitch. Osborn and Robinson played together at Forest and that pairing gives O'Connell (arguably our most irreplaceable player) a break and allows Stevens to recover fully from his injury. Up front it's chance to change things around with Zivkovic to come on for a no-dount exhausted Mousset around the hour mark.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Paging LoughboroBlade for thoughts on a left-footer at RCM

What with that, and the spellings, it’s a fantasy lineup disaster.

On the scale of probabilities for this match, playing left-footed players on the right side of the lineup is probably the least likely, with “playing most of the fringe players” at the same end of the scale, just behind “going back to last season’s formation” (or some variant of the simplistic “release the shackles” nonsense). It’ll be likely similar to the Millwall lineup, probably marginally stronger in fact. This should come as no surprise to most people, though surprisingly still is to some.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

So....has CW ever played a right footer on the left or vice versa?

He’s never started any game with such a lineup. As I’ve tried to point out before, it’s why you’ve ended up with decisions like Stevens or Lafferty at LCB (when other right-footed centre-backs were fit), and Lafferty occasionally filling in for Fleck in cups in the past. This isn’t my thing – Wilder’s been explicit in the past that it’s key to how we play, giving us balance, and how we work the channels for to create overloads.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Play our strongest team and leave nothing to chance. Treat the game like it’s a PL fixture and we should be through to the next round.
No one needs resting, if anything they need to get the cobwebs blown away before Villa, they’ve hardly played this month.

This. Absolutely this.

 

[Varkanoid]

Yeah what with missing the Villa game this weekend I wouldnt be surprised if against Reading its a strong lineup with a bit of tweaking.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Cant we win the cup with out going to Wembley as its never kind to us.... like ever!

Don't exaggerate. 1925 worked out fine.

 

[BladesOnToast]

Not in either of the wing back positions*. The closest we've got are Ebanks-Landell (in for O'Connell at LCB vs Shrewsbury, Bradford & MK Dons) and various combinations when Fleck has either been injured (Basham vs Gillingham, Wimbledon & Peterborough in L1; Lundstram vs QPR, Preston & Villa, Lee Evans vs QPR in 17/18; Lundstram vs Bristol C in 18/19). Lundstram isn't far off two footed either so that he's arguably not out of position on the left of the central midfielders.

Please tell me you did all that from memory.