So then, we've sold our 7,000... Lets be more nosier than we were at Tottenham last season. Thinking about the team that we should play. It would be nice to be in the giant killers category this Saturday, but I think, given our two next games are: Sheffield Wednesday Sheffield United We cannot risk any of our key players on this cup match. Think we'd go with a team like (4-5-1 & own the midfield): Sullivan Evina, Taylor, Docherty, Court Wagstaff, Bover-Izquierdo, Hughes, Alonso, Prichard Hayes Subs: Solly Jackson Wright-Phillips Smith Euell
To be honest - I think we should play the first team. I want to see how good some of these individuals are against Premiership quality. I hate the cups and fully understand the problem if a player gets injured, but it's a good test and if we were to cause an upset..
Judging by what has been said on Player, it looks like its going to be effectively the first team, dont think CP would be too highly thought of by nearly 8000 fans if he played the 2nd eleven and got stuffed 5-0 - do you? I cant believe anybody would say 'i hate the cups' - wash your mouth out with soap and water. You wont be saying that if we beat Fulham - because , if we do, it will be the biggest day of the season for those 8000 fans. Cant believe you said it.
Don't think we'd beat them. Reckon we'd come away with a draw. One thing can be certain. We'd definitively give them a run for their money.
Interesting that the first two posters have opted for what I would consider the only two rational options: (1) Effectively to "forfeit" the cup by resting all our "first-choice" players (except poor old Taylor - why did cafc_fan nominate him alone for the stiffs?) (2) Naming the strongest team we can in hopes of getting a result. The third option is to rest only some players as we did against Brentford. I think this is the least accceptable option. The first-teamers playing won't have the incentive to give their all as it is clear that the club views the match as of secondary importance, and those promoted will feel that they haven't been given the chance to show what they can do in a "proper" first team. But against Brentford we had to field six first choices by the rules of the competition. There are no such rules for the FA Cup. (In former times clubs were prosecuted for fielding weakened teams but in recent seasons Man Utd and others have been playing mostly reserves with impunity). I think CP will field our strongest team. Not sure I agree. I think the best we can reasonably hope for would be a draw and this would give an interesting replay at the Valley with a good gate or perhaps TV money. The problem is that it would be immediately before our vital match with Sheffield United. With Hamer's ban we need a substitute keeper. Are we allowed to borrow Pope or Gough to sit on the bench for a single match? Or would we have to terminate their loan deals to acheive that? How about not nominating a keeper on the bench? How often does a keeper need to be replaced during a match? Once in fifty games? We have Taylor who played professionally as a keeper for many years (including winning a Wembley final). I wonder if he still has his gloves? And an extra outfield player on the bench could be useful.
I'm afraid I've lost a great deal of my interest in the cups and the two Sheffield games really are our priority. There are a number of risks in playing our first team: 1. We get damaging injuries; 2. We get stuffed, realise we are not as good as we think we are and morale is damaged before the Sheffield games; 3. We get an honourable draw and end up with a replay that we could do without. Obviously, the potential upside is that we go there and perform brilliantly and, perish the thought, win. Great morale boost and potential money spinner. To me, the risk of any/all of the first three are too great and I'd play the reserves. But I have a funny feeling that CP fancies this and will play the first team. At the very least he'll play the spine of the first team with maybe an appearance by Evina or Cort instead of Solly or Taylor. Just my punt. All a shame really as I used to love the FA cup but now I really couldn't give two hoots and it feels like an unnecessary distraction from the real stuff. I'd have happily had Wednesday this weekend (so to speak).
I said it and I stand by it. When I bought my tickets for Orient, Weds away etc I wasn't interested in a Fulham ticket. I see it as a distraction. Give me Orient away in the league over Fulham (or anyone) in the cup any day of the week!
Hamer only has a one match ban. It's not the be all or end all if he plays in the cup. He is our best keeper, and Sully is good, but I think he does need matches. We got Pope or Gough who can sit on the bench. But I doubt we'd need a backup keeper for this game.
So, 8000 think its less important than the 459 then ??!! A Cup run , or win against Prem opposition would give huge impetus to the club - ok, possibility of picking up injuries, but you cant make decisions based upon that - its a bit like telling your boss you arent coming in to work today because you're afraid of being run over. Also Eddies comment of not needing a keeper on the bench because they are rarely needed, ah hem, when did we last need a sub keeper? Also totally disagree with the view that we cant beat them - why say that ? After all, there is a distinct possibility we could be in the divison next year - and also didnt Fulham get beat by Bristol Rovers in the cup last season or the season before? Also dont forget Fulham will likely put out their 2nd string. Oh,and also, dont forget that our 1st teamers will want to show that they are as good as Prem players , to, maybe even put themselves in the shop window. You can imagine, for example, if Morro snuffs out Zamora and Dempsey, then his profile will go sky high - he's putting himself in the shop window, after all, all footballers are mercenaries. Cant believe some of you lot. !!
I'm not 8000 people. What's more of an impetus for the club - promotion, or a cup run? I don't like the cups, never have. Sorry.
You're in sparkling form, today, Stu. Excellent post! I've tried that. They don't buy it. Last match. That's why we aren't due another instance for 50 matches. And our keepers have now all been instructed never to exit the goal area to avoid another embarrassment. I don't see why, now they are out of Europe and nil chance of attaining a Euro place, the FA Cup is all they have to go for. Jol probably thinks they are too good to go down, and I do too. Very true, but I am not sure that is entirely in Charlton's interest. Do we want them prominent in the shop window before we are are promoted? Having just read the Chairman's report I think the question is academic. He obviously wants to impress at Fulham (whatever CP thinks) so our strongest team it is. Maybe he too would like our players to excel in the shop window?
Why, how nosy were we at Spurs ? - did we really poke our nose in and stick our tongue out too ? - no reference at all, of course, to the Spurs nickname.!
Maybe I come come from a different era - but in 70's and 80's the FA Cup was always the thing that every supporter used to look forward to - and atmosphere was always great - and crowds were always generally bigger too. I remember, prob you do too Eddie, us playing teams in the Div 1 (Prem league to you boys) , and (very) occasionally beating them to only get beat by the likes of Northwich in round 4 - and the buzz was fantastic. I'm sure you will be able to help me out with some memories! We have never had a Cup tradition - but there is time to change that. Lets go for it, lets put our noses in them where they dont like it - and lets beat them, then get back onto the L1 tredmill and go for it all. Dont muck about playing second teamers - go for it - you never know how far we might go - there is normally a thrid tier team that goes a long way, and we are the best in that league this season - lets go for it . I really,really dont understand the concept of playing second string at all. Oh, and Chrissy, are you going to Fulham? - if so, then maybe you might want to give me the ticket, then at least i can cheeer the team along, and not sit all curled up scared of every tackle that goes in wondering if we are going to get an injury- and be concerned should we win.
I remember coming away from that match thinking, all the fans were out in full support & being proud of being a Charlton fan, especially for a team without a manager, and without Paul Benson (as at the time he was our top scorer) & getting beaten 3-0. The only time I could hear the Tottenham fans over us was when we started chanting "Champions Leauge, yer Having a Laugh" and got the response, "Championship, yer Having a Laugh."
I didn't buy a ticket - the office was more than surprised when I ordered Orient and Sheff Weds away, but not Fulham. I put a post up mentioning that I was going to leave the tickets for the fans that really wanted to go. I went to Spurs last year, and did enjoy the game, but overall it's not a competition that I care for. The Champions League on the other hand! (When we get there)
Yes, the biggest crowd I have experienced at the Valley was 45,000 for a Cup Replay against Fulham. And our record crowd of 73,000 was for a Cup match v. Villa. When I was a nipper in the post-war years there was occasionally a debate as to whether winning the League or the Cup was the greater honour. Even then most opted for the League, but that question would never even get asked today. I think that debate dated back to the time when other leagues like the Southern League to some extent rivalled the Football League. That is, not all the best teams were necessarily in the Football League, so only the FA Cup winners could claim to be the true champions of England and Wales. Of course that situation died out in the '20s but the aura of the Cup lingered on until European competitions really took off. Aided a bit by the WWII years when only the Cup existed as a real competition. Yet another factor is that in the old days only one team won anything in the League. There were no consolation prizes (Euro places) for coming 2nd to 7th. And down the bottom only two teams were relegated. Nowadays nearly every team is at least on the fringe of battling for a Euro place or a play-off place or to avoid relegation until the last month of the season. Then, come January, half the teams in the Division had little to play for, so the Cup coming along gave the season a welcome boost. Now it is just a distraction for many.
I vaguely remember a game v QPR when they had Rodney Marsh, and we went 2 up very quickly but eventually lost 3-2. There was a big crowd that day 30,000+. We had a guy at the back called Peter Reeves who had Marsh in his pocket every time.
Why should Fulham field a strong squad, they entered the Europa League back in July have almost played a full season already. I can see there is an argument about fans caring about the FA Cup and the fact that 8,000 can be bothered at least this weekend but why couldnt they be bothered with Halifax was a lot cheaper than Fulham. Let me ask this question for many fans - If we get to the 4th Round, away at Manchester United and lose say 4-0 and then fail in the Playoffs or somehow finish 7th will those 8,000 be happy with our performance this season knowing weve had a good cup run yet will be facing the likes of Crawley rather than Wigan? Or would everyone be demanding Chris Powell be shown the revolving door because weve failed at promotion again
