As we will be in the draw we may as well have a thread for it. Assuming we beat Sunderland a home draw would be nice. The draw takes place after tonight's games, live on Sky. Numbers: 1. Chelsea 2. Leicester City 3. Manchester United 4. Stoke City 5. West Ham United 6. Newcastle United / Manchester City 7. Sunderland / Southampton 8. Tottenham Hotspur / Hull City
Blimey, pretty strong last 8 (for the "League Cup") whatever pans out. Fancy Chelsea at St Marys if we are able to see off Sunderland.
Didn't realise there were that many good teams left in the mix. Thoughts for Sunderland pre match thread?
I'd fancy us against any of those left at home. Having said that Sunderland won't be a pushover, and it will be interesting to see how seriously Mauricio is taking this competition.
The good thing about not playing until next week is knowing who we will potentially face. If we or Sunderland get Leicester, Stoke, West Ham at home Pochettino will probably put out a near full strength side against Sunderland, knowing we have a great chance of reaching the semis.
The thing is, the big teams will have other commitments so will very likely play weakened teams in this competition, so it isn't quite as strong a line-up as it looks.
I said on another thread that this is what I would do...if we can see a pathway to the semis we should play a strong team next week. I also added that I doubt that Mauricio would agree. He will give a run out to our usual subs bench...on paper, this would still be a strong team, but you can't beat playing together. More than a couple of changes and I wouldn't be so confident against a Sunderland team (unless their manager does the same thing).
Yes and No. Of the big teams, I'd argue that only Arsenal's usual league cup XIs are substantially weaker than their usual XIs. To the extent that you can forget calling them a big club, in the league cup. And of course, they are out now. Chelsea, City and Spurs all have big enough squads to be able to still put out strong teams in the league cup, Liverpool don't tend to rest players (not that they are still in, of course), and Man Utd often cobble together a half decent league cup XI. If we were to be drawn against any of those sides, then, even playing our main XI, I would still put us as second favourites to win the tie. But yes, of course, it's clearly not as strong a line-up as it would be if they all played a regular XI.
This is true. But given their commitments in Europe, as well as going all guns blazing for the premier league title, the side they field in the middle stages of the league cup might not even be a recognisable second XI, and it doesn't take many changes to really unsettle a team.
Would love to see Chelski and Man U drawn against each other. For me Tottenhman is the big challenge and it would be great to play them. But as others have said, we really just need to focus on the next game as Sunderland are a bit resurgent under the new manager. they will bo no pushovers (and have already held us at SMS of course).
Had the tie been played this week, as previously arranged, then I was certain that Sunderland would field an almost entirely different XI. Would give Poyet the opportunity to assess his whole squad, without directly impacting on their survival chances. There was also the fact that, if played yesterday, they'd have had just 48 hours rest since the Newcastle game. But I do wonder now, if they were to draw or beat Hull this weekend, might he be inclined to pretty much keep with the same XI to try and keep that momentum going. Plus they'll be playing on the Sunday after our game, rather than the Saturday, so they'd be less of a need about worrying about keeping players fresh for the next PL game.
Wow, can't believe we're at this stage already. If we beat Sunderland it might actually be time to start caring.
I like the idea of having a habit of winning instilled throughout the whole squad, so although likely not a full-strength team, I'd like to see a strong team that's capable of continuing the momentum we've built to this point.
I would love to play Manu against just so we can enjoy the friendly banter again! Feel we could give them at good thrashing at home
We got to the FA Cup final a few years back because we had some incredibly lucky draws (as well as playing well). Let ManU play Chelsea and get rid of at least one of the favourites. The League Cup is the easier of the 2 cups as teams don't always take it seriously (though I don't agree with that) and the quickest to get. It is just the Cup we should go for...it is made for a decent PL side to snatch it whilst the big 4 are looking elsewhere.
Wierd, I had a dream last night that we won a game 8-0. In the dream I couldn't remember who we had played until someone in the dream told me it was Sunderland....eek. So 1-0 written all over it. lol
Ideally, we'd avoid Chelsea. I can see them gaining even more momentum and their squad is bloody good; any team that plays Mata and Luiz in their 2nd XI must be considered favourites! I'd apply to same logic to Manchester City, although they've been inconsistent. Apart from that, we've got a real chance. Now's the time to take an interest!
Will you pit out a fill stronth sood against the muckems or will you filed the cods so as nit to rosk onjury to the fist tomb ploo-ers?
Baring in mind the Sunderland game is by no means a guaranteed advance to the QF stage.... id like to see any team at home in the next round I believe that we would be more inclined to put out a stronger side against Sunderland if we are drawn a favourable QF game, but then this will be said for them too? Or will they be 1000% focused on the lague only. Will we? Also, suggesting that the big teams will all be non concerned about this competition is perhaps a little mis judged. Spurs would love a trophy as they are rare to come by. Mourinho again would see this as a chance of an early trophy and history suggests he will also be wanting to win this. Man Citys failiure to produce last season will mean they also want silverware and Moyes poor start to this season means the risk of a lower league position could be slightly overlooked with a trophy also. The teams 'bigger' teams have been using have also only been slightly lower styrength in a couple of areas. I have checked the teams that have been selected from the last game in this competition and looking at them i would say United at home i would fancy most. But as the rounds progress, teams normally tend to get stronger (Other than Arsenal who normally use a good policy of the same squad) CHELSEA : Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Bertrand, Cahill, David Luiz, Mikel, De Bruyne, Essien, Mata, Willian, Eto'o UNITED : Lindegaard, Rafael, Büttner, Jones, Ferdinand, Vidic, Zaha, Cleverley, Januzaj, Young, Hernández, CITY : Pantilimon, Richards, Lescott, Clichy, Boyata, Milner, Garcia, Fernandinho, Lopes, Dzeko, Jovetic SPURS : Friedel, Walker, Vertonghen, Chiriches, Fryers, Paulinho, Lamela, Holtby, Defoe, Sandro, Kane COYRS!
