Good point on Gallagher. I knew I'd include someone who was on loan. Personally I wouldn't choose to play the diamond at all but it's what Puel seems to want and if we're rotating players for Premier League and Europa games then we should be playing the kids in this competition. Can't agree this would be a bad time to introduce them to it. Unless the Academy is going to start playing the diamond (and you'd think that would already have happened if it was going to) then they will have to learn to play it in the first team and as these games are the least important of our season I'd say it's the perfect time to introduce them to it.
I'm going to leave it to our manager to select the team and not worry my confused little head about it one jot. Why waste time discussing something over which I have no control or influence whatsoever.
What's happened to the kid we signed from Dundee? Did we loan him out? Thought he was supposed to be really promising.
I thought Gape had gone on loan too?? I would play a mix of senior players with some youngsters. Pair them up in areas of the pitch and then they can learn from the older pro. A young striker with a senior striker, a young midfielder with a senior one, same at CB etc.
The last two results mean we can do what ever in this game. It will more likely come down to Pards selection than ours.
Blend of youth and experience. I think SFCF will still be doing the West Ham thread, but I think his clean sheet record will go. 3-2 Saints.
Expect AP to put out a strong team against us. Nevertheless, we need to give some first-teamers a rest as the fixtures are coming now thick and fast - so we should let some of the youth have a run-out. Winning is a good habit to have, but we also need to prioritise and this cup competition is the least critical.
The U23s are playing tonight ... could give us a bit of an indication if any of them will be starting Wednesday, as doubt they'd play tonight otherwise!
Yes I agree with all of these "rest the first team" comments. We've simply been winning far too many trophies over the last couple of decades. Who needs yet another League Cup, particularly when we've already had a bye and are only potentially four games away from being back in Europe without having kicked a ball yet? Really? Puel has already stated that rotation is now policy in order to cope with a demanding fixture list but I for one hope that he rotates within our first team squad exclusively. I want to win something.
So when do the youth get a go? Edit - Normally you won't find a bigger advocate of cups over league than me but being in Europe changes it for me and our 'first team squad' (could you define that?) isn't big enough to deal with 2 games a week right up until December. Plus we'll never get past the qfs of LC seems like destiny
I agree this is the time to introduce some of the youth, but it shouldn't be a wholesale introduction, especially as they aren't used to playing the diamond. I would probably bring in Reed in the Davis role (not as the sole DM), and Hesketh and Sims to replace Long and Redmond. Possibly bring on Alfie Jones instead of Fonte, if we are comfortably ahead (haha!).
We have a bare minimum of 46 matches this year. That's plenty of opportunities to utilise youth in a sensible fashion. Changing a team wholesale in one particular competition is something that I have found stupid and borderline offensive ever since Wenger "introduced" it all those years ago. It's certainly not something that SFC should be party to in my humble opinion.
Once where he stuck with the youth and once where he disregarded them and played the first team in the final I think (although am not entirely sure). That's irrelevant though. It was and remains a snub to an elite competition for professional teams. No wonder they can't find a sponsor.
I've not said anywhere that I would make wholesale changes and play an entire youth side. Just that people like Virgil, Romeu, Tadic and Austin shouldn't be risked. Also I'm certain McCarthy will start too. Agree with Chilco and would give games to Reed, Targett, Hesketh & possibly Sims. I'm particuarly interested to see how Hesketh would get on. I'd play Gardos if he's fit too. That's still a strongish team though, enough room for Cuco, JWP, Long, Redmond and Davis/Piere etc.
Sorry LL I'm not singling anyone out here at all (despite quoting you in a reply) but the general consensus on the thread is one of accepting that we will and should field a team that isn't our strongest. I wholly disagree is all. What better chance of silverware do we have? Shouldn't winning something be at the top of every season's "to do" list?
