Look out for our number in tomorrow night’s draw (BBC1 at 7.20ish) please log in to view this image ....14....14.....14.....14.....
I'm torn. On one hand, I'm worried the FA Cup competition is a distraction we don't need, and that a string of back-to-back wins might get us within shouting distance of a playoff spot by April. On the other hand, with so many big clubs having fallen out of the FA Cup at this point, perhaps this is our best chance for silverware.
Even before the serial giantkilling, I wanted us to take the cup seriously. I don't think we need to be worried about fixture pile-up, and I don't think we're going to find ourselves in relegation trouble come the end of the season. Winning the cup is unlikely, but not impossible. Even without the prospect of winning, I think a cup run could be good for our youngsters' development, particularly as it could include a bigger game than most of them have encountered so far. The one downside is that if we actually did go and win the thing, it would mean proper fixture pile up next season, with the Europa League getting in the way of (hopefully) a proper chase for promotion. I don't mind Kit resting the odd older player for the cup games, but the bulk of the first choice team should play each round.
Don't worry Johnson, Cattermole and Geccherini will back for us for the replay and we are better away this season so you can concentrate on making the top 6 instead. You should have beaten us up here when you had the chance.
At this stage you'd be happy getting lower league opposition so it's a good draw, regardless of Bradford's exploits in the last round. Now we just have the small matter of beating Sunderland,
We've got to fancy it now!!! By all accounts we should've beat Sunderland at the weekend, let's do the job right this time in the replay. No disrespect to Bradford after their win at Chelsea but I'm guessing they were one of the teams that most of us wanted to draw, we've got a brilliant chance of going far in this cup now so I hope we take it seriously.
