Capital One Cup!

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It's these competitions that keep fringe players up to speed. It's better if they've had a competitive game under they're belt before they replace an injured player for a league match.
 
Taff!
We don't have the strength in depth to be playing in this low key cup competition and would end up risking injuries to key players throughout what is one of the clubs most important season in a generation.
 
A good chance to get the fringe/younger players some game time and then later in the season if the league is looking good you can put more effort into it. A good cup run is good for morale imo and attracting players.
 
As a Premier League side, our "fringe" players should breeze it against League two opposition or they shouldn't be at the club.

With plenty of first team and bench spots still up for grabs so early in the season, they should be more than up for it. Let's face it, our development squad with a sprinkling of more experienced individuals should be good enough.

I know all about Bradford last season and no disrespect to AS, but this should be a non event for a Premier club.
 
Perhaps not ITI but how are the fringe players going to get a competitive match experience and a chance to shine in a competitive match. Of course players will pick up knocks, but unless we buy wholesale before the window shuts we're stuck with players who have to improve the quality of their game, to do this they need a competitive game in front of a hungry crowd. They won't get this in development games. Okay the first game is Accrington Stanley but if we progress so do the players and the higher level of the opposition.
 
The fringe players should be ready to drop into available positions in league games through training methods and development games otherwise why are they at the club and why have we invested so much resources in training facilities?

If being at a club in the Premiership with the chance to play on the big stage isn't enough incentive what is?
 
Not knowing the size of your squad but I would assume you'll have a side competing in the reserve league and at U21's ?.I agree this year for you the C1 cup will be a distraction but it is game time for squad players to get used to playing (perhaps depending on the draw) against better opposition
 
I go with the line of giving fringe players the chance to perform on a bigger stage than just the Development Squad games. Okay it is arguable that Accrington is no bigger than the DS but I'm sure the AS players and fans will relish the opportunity of playing a Prem club at their place and the chance to get a surprise scalp, e.g. Northampton and wherever we lost in the FA Cup last year, Mansfield or Macclesfield (I can never differentiate between the 2).

AS will have some battle hardened players who will give our youngsters a good run for their money so a chance for the likes of Coulson, Healey, O'Sullivan, Harris and others to toughen up and show how they have progressed. DS games do not always allow for that.
 
bonymaenjack said:
Not knowing the size of your squad but I would assume you'll have a side competing in the reserve league and at U21's ?.I agree this year for you the C1 cup will be a distraction but it is game time for squad players to get used to playing (perhaps depending on the draw) against better opposition
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bonymaen!
I don't like seeing city lose obviously but going out first game to Northampton last season was a key factor to our success last year. Don't get me wrong I loved the cup run and final against Liverpool the season before, but have always maintained that because of the timing of the competition you can get sucked into an unnecessary competition taking you eye off the bigger prize, often risking your best players as the seeded teams enter the cup.
 
there should be no such thing as fringe players in the premiership, they should be squad players able to step in at any time. If you have players that dont get a game then you cant blame them when they are forced to play through injuries or players suspended..
 
DaiswanHuwsmate said:
there should be no such thing as fringe players in the premiership, they should be squad players able to step in at any time. If you have players that dont get a game then you cant blame them when they are forced to play through injuries or players suspended..
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So you don't have any on your books at Swansea you would describe as "fringe players" then?
 
Yes we do! Dai.........................<laugh>






I think you should view it as a training competition for your second team to be honest, how big is your Squad? you must have at least 25 players, so think it would be good for the fringe players to get games, it gives the coaching staff food for thought, training only goes so far!................<ok>
 
no we dont. laudrup has selected a squad of players and everyone is a valuable member of the team that can step into the positions they train in. dont listen to dragon ffs you should know him by now....the fringe players we have are not in the squad total for the season that we have submitted to the premiership and the only way they will play first team football is if we lose players for what ever reason and we have no cover for them.
 
Gentlemen, just a note, next year the Europa League has a real prize for the winners... Champions League winners. Best to give the fringe/young players their shot in these games and if they get your through to the Quarters then it might be in the interest of the club to start introducing the 1st team players.
 
ProjectVRD said:
Gentlemen, just a note, next year the Europa League has a real prize for the winners... Champions League winners. Best to give the fringe/young players their shot in these games and if they get your through to the Quarters then it might be in the interest of the club to start introducing the 1st team players.
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Sorry project but I still believe it is a distraction to us in our first season in the Premiership.

As a gesture of good will, is it possible to delete the john hughes quotes on your postings. It seems unfair to ridicule john anyway but especially now that he is banned from our board.
 
I think these cup games early rounds are great for players who don't get to play week in week out, match fitness is a big thing at this level. Its ok bringing in a squad player to replace an injured player, but will he have the match fitness (competitive match fitness here) to come in and crack on, or will it take him a few games to get up to speed. Match fitness and experience are important at this level.

We got lucky with Ben Davies last season, there is a reason he was talked about so much, because he came in and did the job, if it was common place he wouldn't have got the plaudits he did. So giving squad players some competitive match fitness is vital for the good of the team.

Plus as mentioned, wins are going to be few and far between at first, so any win is a morale booster for the whole team, and they are going to need everything they can get. (please dont read this as a dig, its not, same went for us last season and the season before)
 
God save us from a cup run this season.
By all means give some players the chance to stretch their legs, but no risking of the better players.
AS will be up for it and the tackling could be on the strong side, injuries abound from such games.

We have other business to attend to, maybe next season.
 
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