We have a wee break from the League and play Huddersfield in the FA Cup on Saturday. With them at the bottom of the Premiership and us at least faintly in the playoff hunt, I would expect both sides to field somewhat 2nd string teams - with that in mind, what would your line-up be? I'm thinking something like: Fielding (if Fit, otherwise give O'Leary another game) Da Silva Baker Wright Pisano Adelakun/Eliasson Walsh Pack/Brownhill Watkins Taylor Eisa Also, a view to bring on Morrell at some point.
I don't think Huddersfield will field a weak team, they are more likely to try and get a win to bolster confidence
I hope we put up a really competitive game, but really don't mind if we lose it.....distractions cost us last season IMO..
Not unless we’ve slept through January and February. I think the expected date to be back is early March
Good shout Nick , barring Morrell for the still injured Walsh , can’t see Lee going along with it though, expect some fringe players , but mostly an unchanged team .
From Lee's point of view I suppose it boils down to his interest in the F.A. Cup and if he considers it an distraction from our league business then this would be a perfect time to try some new blood. Is it worth upsetting the roll that we are on for potential cup glory and possibly return to the day to day business on a possible downer?
It's a no-win situation for LJ - people will criticise him for wearing out his players if he plays first teamers & for disrupting a good run of form if he plays squad/youth players. If he loses then obviously losing is s**t, win and we have fixture congestion when we should be focusing on the league & we get to go through the whole thing all over again. My opinion with Cups is pretty much always start off with your fringe players & then if you make it through a couple of rounds start to take it more seriously, unless you draw a box office fixture (such as Man Utd) earlier on, in which case play your strongest side to honour the fans & maybe get a historic win. I'd respect the criticism of others if they at least nailed their colours to the mast beforehand.
the beauty of the FA cup it is lucrative each round pays far more than the other cups as you progress .. besides gates tending to be higher! so a couple of rounds with home or at good grounds even if you go out would pay a couple of players wages for the season …. especially if drawn away to somewhere like the top 6 or 7 of the prem! in rounds 5 or 6! City's reality is will we qualify for top 6? lets be brutally honest here … usually by now, historically, at least 4 of the top 6 are decided so 2 places to fight for... it is anyones chance if you are in that 4 to get to the prem .. so looking at 2 places …. and it does look a bit open as to who will get them ….. I think there 8 teams scrapping to replace 2 of the 4 in top 6 so 10 teams involved ….. strongest contenders has to be [ in order of preference ] Midds Derby Hull Florest Vila ...maybe 2nd or 3rd if keeping Tammy ………... Swansea CITY . think we will be happy to finish top 12 ! QPR Stoke Brum I have put bottom as they are in the s**** over FFP even losing just 10 points will sort them out! SO Lee, will you play the strongest team with the prospect of one or 2 "juniors / fringe players being on the subs bench! or the other way round?
Whatever choices were made we are now in the next round and perhaps we can have another top team at Ashton Gate. Wait for it - I am starting to warm to Lee and I wish him and his players all success in 2019, and perhaps they can even give me a 75th birthday present.
