I can ... because I wouldn't have ... not least because 5,000 travelling foxes went there to see the first team play and win. I was brought up in a different era where the FA Cup final was the pinnacle of British footie for both players and fans. Won't be changing my views any time soon I'm afraid. Winning the FA Cup gets you into the history books - getting promoted does not (although I want both admittedly) ...
Back on topic a minute @RobTannerMerc: For those asking about Beckford, I am told the deal is incredibly complicated but City do want a fee.
Not sure what's complicated LOL - greedy underperforming bling ridden excuse for a footballer is taking the **** - I think we should stand our ground and threaten him with a season playing in the development squad - let's see how much interest there is for him after a year out of the game ... scrote.
Porto play 16 league games a season less than us in a league where they face nowhere near the same level of competition as we do!
Maybe so - but the principle still stands - when you're winning keep on winning - morale, resilience, consistency - players that are on a winning run all want to play and will run through walls... and the 'additional' games Porto played in Europe on those runs against opposition far stronger than anything we face supports that view IMHO.
But the three teams who got promoted last season didn't make it past the 2nd round of any cup competition, making mass changes and going out to lower league opposition?
He probably wouldn't give a flying **** if we kept hold of him and let him rot in the reserves to be fair, as long as his money keeps coming in I bet he'd be happy with training with toddlers
... which only proves that they went out of the cup competitions because they played weakened sides - not that they wouldn't have got promoted without doing that and actually enjoying good cup runs. Cardiff got to a cup final not that long back and still made the play-offs - it is possible to find examples to fit any theories. For instance, the incredibly dominant (and rather irritating) Liverpool side of the 70s / 80s involved a first tem squad of around 15 players and they more or less had the same starting XI for every game barring injuries (and were allowed one sub) ... hence David Fairclough earning the legendary tag of 'SuperSub'.. that Liverpool side contested each and every competition, reaching the latter stages almost without exception both domestically and in Europe... Look at the coterminous timeframe of this little lot Champions 1972–73, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90 FA Cup 1974, 1986, 1989, League Cup 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, Charity Shield/FA Community Shield 1974, 1976, 1977*, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986*, 1988, 1989, 1990* (* shared) European Cup/UEFA Champions League 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984 UEFA Cup 1973, 1976, UEFA Super Cup 1977,
Exactly, and they played weakend sides because they couldn't care less about the cup. The first round of the league cup was played before the season even started. Cardiff then made 10 changes for their first league game. Obviously nothing to do with fatigue, or "giving fringe players a chance", they knew where their priorities lay, and obviously didn't want the distraction later on. Yes you can make examples to fit any theory. But your examples are from top flight clubs in the 70's/80's. Mine was from similar clubs to us, just last season. Times they are a'changin
Yes they are (not necessarily for the good of the game) - but that doesn't prove the 'theory' in any way. Who is to say that good cup runs wouldn't have had those 3 promoted clubs pulling further away from the pack? The example I've given may be in the 80s but Man United also did the'treble' in 1999 - Champions, FA Cup and European Cup. The Liverpool example for me (at least) dispells the myth about wear and tear on players for one thing - players got far less protection from officials in those days e.g the pre-season 'friendly' that is the charity (community) shield between Leeds and Liverpool was Xrated viewing For me - the reason that managers now play weakened sides in cup competitions comes down to the 'fear factor' - particularly in the Championship - playing your best team is therefore viewed by some as too big a risk to the holy grail of promotion (or survival) wheras I believe that the chopping and changing is even more counter-productive to the league campaign - as happened to us after the FA Cup games against Huddersfield - just my view but one I believe strongly - Have enjoyed the debate and can appreciate alternative views, but remain convinced by my own conviction at this point.
So because Man Utd won the treble in 1999, you can't possibly think of a reason why us, Leicester City of the Championship, couldn't get promoted while winning the FA cup and League Cup?
I don 't want to tell you how to run a football club, but I think where you have gone wrong here is having a player you don't require with 2 years to run of a contract where he earns £30k a week, so in round terms he stands to ear £3m is he stays put. Do you think, with hindsight, this might have been handled differently?
I personally think that losing any game loses momentum with it. The 'tired' argument doesn't come into it. Oscar and Mata both played something like 60-70 games for Chelsea last season yet both still played well in the Confeds (albeit Mata was ****e in the final).
No, that would be silly - but I recall that the most successful season I've witnessed in over 40 years supporting he club, saw us with a top ten finish, winning the Carling Cup and getting robbed in the FA Cup quarter final by Chelsea's Erlund Johnsson ... because O'Neil played our best team possible each time and the players grew in stature, belief and momentum ... in a nutshell that's what I believe in ... but each to his own.
Totally different circumstances. We play 46 leagues games and we arent in the top divison where a midtable finish is a successful season IMO FF your are just looking for any reason to throw daggers at Nigel Pearson. Had he put in the full team you would have had a pop at him for not resting players like Nugent and Wood and blaming lack of rest for the reason for their loss of form
I've no particular agenda with Nigel Pearson apart from not being convinced with what I've seen from him so far in terms of his ability to manage - as I have consistently maintained throughout his tenure with us (both first spell and second) ... sorry if some people find that upsetting but so far what has he actually achieved? I also firmly believe in not changing a winning team ... if that is bizarre to some then fair enough ... but it was a policy followed by the likes of Shankly, Revie, Clough, Paisley, ***an and many other managerial legends to great success - again if subscribing to that ethos upsets some people, so be it ... but that's what I believe in - apologies to those offended. I find it baffling that you feel there are 'totally different circumstances' - what could be simpler than playing your best available team every game in an attempt to win it and the competition in which it is involved? ... and finally your conjecture that I would have had a go at the manager for not resting players is not only wrong but lacks respect frankly - I would not have - I might have had a go at individual players if they had not performed - but for me players should only be rested if injured.
on this day..Swansea are spending 12 million on one player, historically lesser teams like fulham, hull ,crystal palace, cardiff among others are preparing for top flight football, even wigan are rated higher than us... this club has totally failed to move forward from the O'Neil legacy... its a sad indictment..the miss management from the top over the last few years is disgraceful... the long suffering fans are owed big time..I for one have lost patience with the none delivery... Im not interested in bad luck , players mind sets, circumstances..etc etc.. the fact this clubs record signing is still 5 million is pathetic for the size and stature of LCFC ...A lot of mediocre people have got fat on the back of this club and the supporters ..its time to man up, shut up and deliver, s h i t or get off the pot lads...
