I read Sam Allardyces notes in the programme yesterday and reading between the lines, he is moreorless saying that with the Swansea and Tottenham games following, he won't be playing a strong team against Arsenal, as the league is his number one focus. Pickford will be starting. What do people think the team will be? Is Larsson fit? Pickford and Beadling should get their first starts, Gooch could well be on the bench. Brown will almost certainly come out of the team and one of Jones and PVA will make way for Yedlin. Cattermole should be rested, IMO. He's coming back from a back injury and he's unbelievably important to us. Defoe will make way for Fletcher, Borini or Watmore will probably make way for Danny Graham. Toivenon will play in place of Johnson or M'Vila.
That`s a shocking indictment on the shallowness of quality in the squad. According to the physio room Larsson due back on the 12th, Kaboul on the 23rd. Seems to me like an opportunity to let the young `uns have a go. Let the buggers loose. Tell them to get out there and enjoy themselves. They just might spring a few surprises.
Sam can`t go too overboard though mate. Not sure but can`t he get into trouble if he deliberately weakens it too much?
Not sure tbh but Arsenal used to play a second team in the cups a year or two back, and they did OK if I remember.
He's got form for playing a weakened team. Remember Forest thrashing West Ham 5-0? That's fine by me. The squads threadbare and the league is the priority? Can you imagine if Defoe and Catts were both badly injured, or sent off next week?
Didn't Mick Mack get fined 10 grand when he,fielded a weakened side whilst at Wolves, also Holloway got in bother doing the same at Blackpool, then I think the FA had a change of heart as the likes of Arsenal were doing the dame and nowt ever happened to them, does the team have to be made up from the 25 man squad?.
Didn't Holloway play a weakened team against a top PL side in the league so he could rest his players for the more winnable PL game afterwards? No wonder he's unemployable nowadays, absolute idiot of a bloke. To think so many labelled him a breath of fresh air that season is beyond belief.
Tell wenger we will play the reserves next Saturday, but really play the first team at the last minute ! and catch him out. Liverpool in the 1970's never fielded weakened teams and look what they won and on rubbish pitches. You have to play the strongest team possible in EVERY game in my book.
nah you have a squad of 25 where does it say the fa have to pick them its the manager choice, due to form injuries resting players ect
-------------------- Pickford ----------------- Yedlin -- Beadling -- Coates -- PVA Watmore -- Gomez -- Toivonen -- Lens ------------ Fletcher -- Graham ------------ The team could look something like that
Play the u21s the fa wouldn't care. The other instances mentioned were in the league where such a thing could cost another or even several teams directly in that competition. With the one off nature of the cup this doesn't happen and is probably why it's not as frowned upon.
Think he might go 343 again after it worked so well in the league game there. -----Coates OShea Beadling Yeddy Gomez Cattermole PVA ----Watmore Fletcher Lens Gooners will weaken but play same shape as usual.
Tell the pups to go out and kick anything that moves, if you ask me. That said, if the mags can give them a game, perhaps we really should have a go?
This is a real dilemma for me. I love the FA Cup and hate the way it has been undermined in recent years. On the other hand we have three away games in seven days, with the midweek league game against Swansea particularly important. I will leave this one to the manager's judgement and will not condemn him if we play a weakened side and get a trouncing against Arsenal.
The oldest most famous cup competition in the world! It looks like the Murdoch's promotion of the Premier League being the be all and end all have done their job..
