Thought I'd make a proper thread for it. Anyone seen the provisional squad being reported in the papers? Saying we're taking basically a full strength team which seems confusing to me.
Seems strange to me as well. Maybe Bruce wants the team to get back to winning ways before the Sunderland game? That might explain it.
"Full strength" might be overstating it a bit mate, but given the squad depth we displayed last weekend, I think it's certainly possible for us to take a very competitive team assuming we have players that were missing from the previous game coming back into contention for the Sunderland game. Although I agree the league has to be our main focus, it would be nice to keep progressing in this competition.
Like I said on another thread. The lads will\should be chomping at the bit after Sunday's travesty. I wouldn't be surprised to see a very similar team fielded tonight. ...and then 3 of them get crocked and we all question Bruce's decision to play them lol
Which papers are saying we're taking a full strength squad? I expect a similar side to the one that played on Saturday, though with one or two more rested. Brady and Aluko are definitely still out, they might not be back for Saturday either.
The HDM says Huddlestone and Harper will be rested/protected. I would expect Davies might get the same treatment. Koren may start, and Graham is back in contention.
Seems to be no mention of it. Didn't DC bar him from a previous round? Logically, you would assume Poyet would want him back in January to assess him and his worth to the squad. It's still less than a year since they were (generally) delighted to be signing him for 5 million.
Smoke and mirrors maybe.? I doubt we shall see anyone start tonight who will be starting on saturday. My team based on who is available and what has been said would be:- Jakupovic Topliss McShane Bruce jnr Dudgeon Jahraldo-Martin Meyler Koren OR Boyd Quinn Proschwitz Graham(if allowed to) subs: Harper - Rosenior - Davies - Henderson - Gedo - McLean - Koren OR Boyd Lets just go for it and see what happens. 1-0 or 21-0 it does not matter in a cup game.
How did we do on saturday btw ? As for Spurs tonight, they are expected to play the subs from sunday as well as Adebayor for starters.
Remarkably well, but you can't take Huddlestone, Davies, Harper, Sagbo and Figgy out that squad and expect them to do anywhere near as well.
You could have said you can't take Brady, Faye, McGregor, Graham and Livermore out of a squad, but we did and we were fine.
We went with half a first team squad and as I said, we did remarkably well, but go with none of a first team squad and we're unlikely to pull it off again. Still, we live in hope.
It'll also be interesting to see/hear the Tottenham fans reaction to AVB's criticism of their support after the last game. The longer we can keep a clean sheet and all that.....
They're rotating players too, don't be so depressed. Boyd, Quinn, Gedo, Prozzie, McShane, Bruce, and others will likely play, they aren't push overs.
