It's funny that Leicester fans are telling us we've lost form yet we're 2nd in the form table and Leicester are tenth. http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/CurrentForm/0,,10794~20127,00.html Keep it up lads.
The form table goes back six matches and doesn't include the cup, we've only been the finished article for two matches.
Okay. Blackburn have only been the finished article for the last 3, they've won all 3. Worth noting that the cup is about as relevant to our league form as the results of the reserves, U18's or womens team.
I could tell you a little story about a side at the top of the Prem and a cup match against Wycombe that changed their season, but I can't be arsed. Who have Blackburn signed? Think you've missed the point somewhat. I do actually think Blackburn may still push for the play-offs, they're only five points off.
Good, as it also wouldn't have been relevant. The fact is, we don't care about the cup, if we did, we wouldn't have changed all 10 outfield players. I was surprised our reserves got a draw, Orient have won 6 of the last 8. They have a new man in charge, which has now made them the finished article, it must have, they've won the last 3 ...
Sorry, how am I trying to 'get abite'? Allthe sides in and around us had poor F.A. cup results and have lost momentum because of it. Success breeds success and for that reason i'm confident that (as we're in good form) we can start to regain places. Like Gangsta said, you've drawn 3 on the bounce and have scored 3 in 4 games. Argue all you like, that's a drop in form for a side who think they'll end up 2nd.
It's the FA Cup, we don't give a ****, we played a completely reserve side and it makes absolutely no difference to our league form. And it seems you and Gansta are equally **** at quoting our results, we beat Leeds 2-0 before the game we drew against Blackpool away. Jack, I've no idea who our new striker will be, we tried to get Graham, but we got knocked back and he's on fire at the moment, so that one's a non-starter. Bruce says Campbell is the main target, but O'Neil says Bruce hasn't even spoken to him, despite regular conversations about Meyler and Elmohamady, so it may well be a smokescreen.
Again, I think you're confusing me with someone else. Rosie is a Hull fan as well, so that's doubly offensive.
It wasn't the players that have got us to 2nd though. Jakupovic McShane, Bruce and Dawson Rosenior McKenna Olofinjana Stewart Cairney Simpson Proschwitz There's only really Simpson who's been a regular starter. Rossie is not a winger, Stewart is ****e, Cairney is re-gaining fitness after his lengthy injury, Dawson looks as though he needs a zimmer-frame, McKenna who's usually reliant was rather apalling, Olofinjana was surprisingly good, Bruce cannot play in the middle of the 3 man defence, Simpson was ball greedy and wasteful as usual, Prossie hardly had any service and had to go deep for the ball; the two crosses that fell to him, he forced a great save and scored. Granted he missed a one-on-one opportunity, but L'Orient defended well and had the momentum and belief, whereas our players looked as though they couldn't be arsed. You can't really count this result to our current form because I'm sure if the likes of Aluko, Quinn, Evans, Chester, Hobbs, Elmo, Brady, Meyler etc were playing, it would have been a completely different game.
We've been through all this Amber. But really, as a side looking to get promotion to the Premiership, your reserves should be good enough to beat Orient, surely? Are you lacking in depth?
That's been our problem for the last two Seasons mate, no depth. I honestly thought that our 2nd side would be more than capable of brushing L'Orient aside, but I couldn't have been more wrong. The gulf in class between our first side and our second, is unbelievable. I almost, almost, left the game early, which would have been the first game I'd left before the final whistle in a couple of Seasons I think. None of them looked like they even wanted to fight for a first team spot.
That's the thing though isn't it? Yeah, no-one cares about the cup unless you fluke it until the later stages, but this was a great opportunity for fringe players to fight for a place, which didn't happen. I think purchases are necessary and this is where Bruce needs to come into his own. Otherwise you risk throwing away a great chance for promotion.
In all fairness, I'd love a Cup Run, as we're due one for a reward to those of us who actually turn up to watch the drab affairs we continue to perform in the Competitions. However, I wouldn't be heartbroken if we went out because I'd much rather us prioritise the League. With Barnsley drawn to possibly play us at the KC in the next round, I can't see why we shouldn't go for it. Our fringe players are going to remain fringe players after that performance, but I can't see many more additions as Brucey wants to sign our loanees either to the end of the Season or permanently and then add a striker. If we don't get promoted, it's due to our lack of depth again.