FA Cup: Team vs Reading

[bongleblade]

Henderson
Retsos - Egan - JOC
Baldock - - - - - - - -Stevens
Lundstram - Berge - Freeman
Didzy - Mousset​

Provides us a chance to build up match fitness of Didz and Mousse, plus gives Berge a chance in the Norwood role, Retsos in the Bash role, but generally keeps the core of the squad together and VERY competitive. Bring on McB/Sharp for the last 30 mins, and then use 3rd sub for tiring legs... Besic for Lunny/Berge?

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

What would you like to see in this one?

Opportunity to put a strong team out.

A few considerations from me:

1. Stick with the regular resting of Baldock and Stevens. Game time for Freeman and Osborn.

2. Give one of the centre backs a rest. Last time it was Egan, this time O'Connell. Bring Robinson into the team who has been with the players a few weeks now and didn't look out of place against Millwall. Plan to potentially give Retsos a run out in the second half for a taster.

3. Play Luke Freeman over Fleck as has been the general approach so far to cup games.

4. Introduce McGoldrick back into the team to get some match fitness back.

With this in mind, I would like to see:

Henderson

Basham Egan Robinson

Freeman Berge Norwood Freeman Osborn

McGoldrick Sharp

Subs: Verrips, Retsos, Jagielka, Lundstram, Besic, Zivkovic, Clarke

Gives Berge more practice at the role he is being currently assigned, keeps a tidy midfield and builds on na already good understanding amongst the forwards. Chance to introduce Zickovic L's pace as an unknown cameo for Billy too.

First choice 2 games from wembley

 

[FallowfieldBlade]

Why do we need to rest places theres three games in 5 weeks resting players would be madness

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Play our strongest team. Anything less would be sheer folly.

 

[wizadry]

It’s staggering how everybody and I mean everybody has suggested we rest Fleck or simply don’t pick him, we barely play any games in 5 weeks, it’s madness to rest players at this stage of a season when we have a chance of silverware, especially players like Fleck.

Every player gets mentioned of a start other than Fleck, I can understand why I few might think it but it’s baffling that everyone on this thread thinks he shouldn’t play and all the others should, he has not fitness issues whatsoever.

 

[BushBlade]

It’s staggering how everybody and I mean everybody has suggested we rest Fleck or simply don’t pick him, we barely play any games in 5 weeks, it’s madness to rest players at this stage of a season when we have a chance of silverware, especially players like Fleck.

Every player gets mentioned of a start other than Fleck, I can understand why I few might think it but it’s baffling that everyone on this thread thinks he shouldn’t play and all the others should, he has not fitness issues whatsoever.

I think a lot of people want to give Freezy a go, he doesn’t get much game time due to Fleck being so good.

I don’t think we’ll need to rest anyone until Easter. CW’s got a job on his hands now trying to keep the ‘reserve’ players happy and trying to integrate Retsos and Ziv into the team.

 

[knowsnowt]

Play our strongest 11.
Alternatively, play our strongest 11 but order them to only run backwards, or receive a hefty fine.
If the second string require fitness training have them run around the ground for 90 minutes whilst the game is on. This would also ensure they're up to speed if needing to be brought on.

 

[BushBlade]

Play our strongest 11.
Alternatively, play our strongest 11 but order them to only run backwards, or receive a hefty fine.
If the second string require fitness training have them run around the ground for 90 minutes whilst the game is on. This would also ensure they're up to speed if needing to be brought on.

What about we play our strongest 11 but all in different positions.

Actually, thinking about it, Hendo apart it wouldn’t make that much difference.

 

[wizadry]

I think a lot of people want to give Freezy a go, he doesn’t get much game time due to Fleck being so good.

I don’t think we’ll need to rest anyone until Easter. CW’s got a job on his hands now trying to keep the ‘reserve’ players happy and trying to integrate Retsos and Ziv into the team.

Whilst we have a chance of realistically winning something then for me you play your strongest team, unfortunately for Freeman that doesn’t involve him right now. Also, we can’t just give players a runout at this stage of the season for the sake of it when all’s to play for.

 

[BushBlade]

Whilst we have a chance of realistically winning something then for me you play your strongest team, unfortunately for Freeman that doesn’t involve him right now. Also, we can’t just give players a runout at this stage of the season for the sake of it when all’s to play for.

I agree. I’m expecting the usual suspects (excluding anyone carrying a knock or slight strain) and three substitutions if we’re a couple in front, using one or two of the new players and maybe someone like Freeman or Osborn.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I'd struggling to get my head round some of these team suggestions, what it the point in making 9, 10 or 11 changes when we've got a great chance to win the cup. Playing in Europe would be nice, but imagine winning the FA Cup! It's about time we had some decent silverware in the trophy cabinet.

We sold the last trophy cabinet on Antiques Roadshow. We’ve got a trophy plinth at the moment. But if we carry on like we are doing we’re going to need a new one!

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I'd struggling to get my head round some of these team suggestions, what it the point in making 9, 10 or 11 changes when we've got a great chance to win the cup. Playing in Europe would be nice, but imagine winning the FA Cup! It's about time we had some decent silverware in the trophy cabinet.

Winning the FA cup or even possibly finishing runners up gets a Euro spot. Not that it will matter as we will finish 4th.

 

[YES Blade]

Winning the FA cup or even possibly finishing runners up gets a Euro spot. Not that it will matter as we will finish 4th.

I know that winning the Cup gets us into Europe, but the point I’m making is that the cup should be the same or even greater importance as than the league.

Finishing 4th would be great, but you don’t get the open top bus out for 4th place. I’d rather finish say 10th and win the cup than finish 4th and get knocked out against Reading.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I know that winning the Cup gets us into Europe, but the point I’m making is that the cup should be the same or even greater importance as than the league.

Finishing 4th would be great, but you don’t get the open top bus out for 4th place. I’d rather finish say 10th and win the cup than finish 4th and get knocked out against Reading.

Oh I don't know we have an open bus event every year now. We could finish 17th and still have one.

 

[Johnnyblade]

I’d play Sharp and Didzy upfront,just like the old days,rest McBurnie,
Berge in midfield with Lundstram and Freeman,rest Norwood and Fleck

 

[Ricky]

Prediction:

Henderson
Retsos Egan O'Connell
_____ _____ Norwood L.Freeman Osborn
Mousset McGoldrick


It's just those two positions I'm not sure about.

Baldock or Freeman?

Berge or Besic or Lunneh?

 

[bartman]

Prediction:

Henderson
Retsos Egan O'Connell
_____ _____ Norwood L.Freeman Osborn
Mousset McGoldrick


It's just those two positions I'm not sure about.

Baldock or Freeman?

Berge or Besic or Lunneh?

I think it will be more or less full strength. Didz and Mousset up front( both need games)Osborn if Ends not fully recovered. Possible Jags for Egan

 

[William]

After spending a long 8 Days thinking about this, I have come down on Retsos in for Bash; McGoldrick in for Sharp; Lundstram in for Berge.

 

[BladeTillIDie]

No way is Stevens worth risking! Osborn is good enough.

 

[S40BLADE]

Henderson
Freeman K., Retsos, Jags, JOC, Osborn
Any RCM, Norwood, Freeman L.
Mousset or Zivkovic, McGoldrick

 

[Iceybabey]

Retsos starts for me, reyt player!

 

[SwissBlade]

Moore
Freeman - Retsos - Jags - JoC - Osborn
Berge
Besic Freeman L
Didsy Mousse

Bench
Hendo, Bash, Norwood, Billy, Zivkovic

 

[SwissBlade]

I think Rodwell will start, but I agree let's have a real go for it

Forgot about Rodders

 

[blade67]

Winning the FA cup or even possibly finishing runners up gets a Euro spot. Not that it will matter as we will finish 4th.

Runners up no longer. If the winner has already qualified via the league, the spare space drops into the league slots these days. Changed in 2015.

 

[blade67]

Given our current status we should try to win the cup. If we reach the final it means 15 games in 11 weeks.

We may well have to use squad players in some of those games but that means giving players like Lundstram, Osborn, L Freeman, Retsos,, Besic etc a bit more game time and none of those players have let us down so far this year. It's probably a natural next step for Wilder anyway as we just about the only team that plays the same back 9 players every week in the Premier League.​

 

[dazzlingblade]

For me I'm sorry but rest no one, it's a chance to reach a quarter final and they haven't played for 10 bloody days, at the most for me 1 or 2 changes but that's it

Hendo

Baldock
Bash
Egan
Joc
Osborn
Berge
Fleck
Norwood
Sharp
Mousset



Verrips
Bash
Lunny
Mcb
Mcg
Zivkovic
Retsos

 

[Champagneblade]

I think there is some merit to picking the best team.

But I'd probably stick with my original, possiblu reenforced with current events:

Henderson
Basham Egan Robinson
Freeman Berge Norwood Freeman Osborn
McGoldrick Sharp

Stevens was withdrawn as a precaution in the last game. I see no need to not let him have the 3 or 4 days extra recovery that missing this game will afford him.

Baldock was very good vs Norwich last time so would like him fresh. What I wouldn't want is him getting injured having been caught up in some weird brother vs brother rivalry. Keep Freeman on watch.

Just change one defender. Unless O'Connell is pedantic about missing any game, in which case rest Basham and bring in Retsos. Otherwise, Robinson has played more recently at this level.

Freeman for Fleck seems the go to option and minimal changes up top. Fine with either Billy and OMB or giving Didzy a run.

Key if going well is to make changes in good time. Either way, Tuesday still gives some recovery time for the weekend.

 

[SUFC Guy]

Unchanged for me please

Reading allow a ridiculous amount of shots at them every game it seems so I say play the best 11 and attack for the full 90

Hopefully we make it through to the quarters

 

[anglian blade]

Forgot about Rodders

I would go with yours with Rodwell in.

More chance of Europe via the League with 2 or 3 places up for grabs than by winning the cup.

 

[DronnieBlade]

Panos R will start. 100%.

Dunno about the rest.

UTB