Hopefully we play a strongish team, as we have a good chance of making quarter finals. Shame Jelavic and Long can't play but Aluko should be up and running by then.
tricky tie - Brighton might rest a few depending on their play off chances and we might do the same depending on our league position. Good chance of avoiding the remaining big teams if progress though.
Steve Clarridge is absolutely the worst commentator I have ever heard, I had to listen to him the other night commentating on 5live - absolutely terrible.
Don't think we'll rest anyone for this one, if we play a full strength team combined with home advantage and a little luck we'll fancy our chances. Should be a good tie!
Great draw. Brighton are a good team for us to play and decent fans so should be a great atmosphere. My son lives nearby in Arundel so if he can get a ticket he'll give me a first hand account. Also a brilliant draw in that the big clubs will be knocking each other off. I fancy our chances of making the semis. Lets just put our strongest available team out!!
Given 2 of the strongest teams left are guaranteed to get knocked out, guaranteed at least 1 championship team in the next round, there should be a massive incentive to put out our strongest team and make it to the quarters. Avoid Man C / Chelsea and Arsenal / Liverpool in the quarters and we could be on our way to Wembley
That will be one hell of a week for Man City. Chelsea on the 15th/16th, then Barcelona on the 18th... same for Arsenal, they play Bayern midweek.
Now monday 17th February thanks to that awful sports station BT Sport. Bring back ESPN ffs. The only good thing to come out of the game date is that City get an extra 2 days between games. In saying that I only expect to see Paul McShane start @ Brighton from the starting XI against Southampton on tuesday night. The FAC team looks a whole lot stronger now. Aluko and Brady on the wings - Fryatt and Sagbo up front with Koren - Quinn and Boyd in midfield. The defence i expect to be McShane - Faye and Bruce jnr. Harper in goal again. Whilst we can rest the rest i would like a mixed bench. Have Jahraldo-Martin and Henderson as subs at least. imo. Looking forward to it and this time next week i shall be Brighton bound already. Get in.
The team is likely to be dictated by the draw the day before. If we get a Arsenal/chelsea away draw for the quarters we may put out a weaker team. Draw a easier team at home, it may well include brady\aluko vs brighton. It is odd that the draw will be played before some teams have even kicked off.
Atleast we know whats on offer in the next round if we get through. I'm hoping we get an easier game, save the big boys for later on when we'll be higher on confidence that we can actually do it.
Aye. As I said on another thread, if we get someone like Sheff Wed in the QFs, play a stronger side than normal vs Brighton. If we get one of the big sides, play the same cup side as normal.
Bollocks to that. Rightly or wrongly we set out in the Cup with a second team playing in it, it's not fair to cast those players aside now and put the first team in just because we've got further. Those players have earnt the right to play out the competition, it's also their only real chance of making an impression on Bruce to get into the League side or to earn themselves a move to another (Championship) club in the summer. We are pretty limited by injuries/suspensions though. Harper, Figgy, Davies, Bruce, and Elmo will be the back 5 because there's nobody else to pick (unless we want McGregor to get his eye back in before the league). Similarly up front we've only got Fryatt, Sagbo and Aluko eligible so they'll all play some part. Brady will be on the left for 70 minutes to give him more of a run out, so I'd say Koren on the right. Aluko therefore on the bench as well (doubt he'll want to start 2 players coming back from injuries and risk 2 forced subs and Aluko is looking more ready than Brady). Central midfield is then Quinn plus one of the normal 3, probably Meyler.
For once Ricardo speaks sense. Bruce will play his normal cup team but it is actually now stronger with Aluko and Brady ready for a start. Ok the defence has taken a big hit of late (hence why Davies wont start) but we can still put out Bruce jnr - Faye - Figueroa in a back 3. Five in midfield of Koren - Aluko - Boyd - Quinn and Brady with Fryatt and Sagbo up front and that should be more than good enough to beat Brighton.
To be honest, I'm struggling... Harper Elmo Bruce Faye Brady Aluko Koren Quinn Boyd Fryatt Sagbo Will we see any of the younger lads? CJM?
