MATCHWATCH : Leeds United (a) sponsored by Simon Church

[genome]

This thread is making me ill.

[Old Man Andrews]

This thread is making me ill.

We are talking about football in a football thread in a perfectly amicable way. Stop trying to get people in trouble and don't get involved if you don't like it.

[Old Man Andrews]

Lads. We have already played 40 games this season. No way should we look to rest players for a cup competition. The league is our focus. Winning games in the league, finishing as high as possible and playing our key players together where possible to further build on their teamwork and understanding so we go into next season truly settled is what our main focus should be.

So coming 14th in the league is more important than getting to a Cup semi or the final?

[genome]

This thread is making me ill.

We are talking about football in a football thread in a perfectly amicable way. Stop trying to get people in trouble and don't get involved if you don't like it.

[Old Man Andrews]

This thread is making me ill.

We are talking about football in a football thread in a perfectly amicable way. Stop trying to get people in trouble and don't get involved if you don't like it.

You're the one going off topic S.

[Hendo]

Lads. We have already played 40 games this season. No way should we look to rest players for a cup competition. The league is our focus. Winning games in the league, finishing as high as possible and playing our key players together where possible to further build on their teamwork and understanding so we go into next season truly settled is what our main focus should be.

So coming 14th in the league is more important than getting to a Cup semi or the final?

Didn't know we got an automatic bye from the 1/4 final, what a result that is!

[NewCorkSeth]

Lads. We have already played 40 games this season. No way should we look to rest players for a cup competition. The league is our focus. Winning games in the league, finishing as high as possible and playing our key players together where possible to further build on their teamwork and understanding so we go into next season truly settled is what our main focus should be.

So coming 14th in the league is more important than getting to a Cup semi or the final?

Are those our only 2 options?

[Old Man Andrews]

Lads. We have already played 40 games this season. No way should we look to rest players for a cup competition. The league is our focus. Winning games in the league, finishing as high as possible and playing our key players together where possible to further build on their teamwork and understanding so we go into next season truly settled is what our main focus should be.

So coming 14th in the league is more important than getting to a Cup semi or the final?

Didn't know we got an automatic bye from the 1/4 final, what a result that is!

We don't but we could easily get a very winnable tie like we did against Bradford a few years back.

A quarter final is still better than coming 14th in the league btw.

[Old Man Andrews]

Lads. We have already played 40 games this season. No way should we look to rest players for a cup competition. The league is our focus. Winning games in the league, finishing as high as possible and playing our key players together where possible to further build on their teamwork and understanding so we go into next season truly settled is what our main focus should be.

So coming 14th in the league is more important than getting to a Cup semi or the final?

Are those our only 2 options?

We won't be finishing much higher or lower than that in the league and even if by some miracle we finished top 10 we aren't getting in the playoffs so what difference would it really make? The league is done now, we are a midtable Championship side which is fine by me.

[genome]

We are talking about football in a football thread in a perfectly amicable way. Stop trying to get people in trouble and don't get involved if you don't like it.

You're the one going off topic S.

Is it possible at all to have some lighthearted fun with you without you crying about it?

[URZZZZ]

Lads. We have already played 40 games this season. No way should we look to rest players for a cup competition. The league is our focus. Winning games in the league, finishing as high as possible and playing our key players together where possible to further build on their teamwork and understanding so we go into next season truly settled is what our main focus should be.

Unless we get 0 points or 6 from our next two, I’d certainly be looking to rest a few for the Barnsley game just before United

We can focus on developing styles and players once we have nothing to play for but whilst the cup is still a viable option, I think it’s mad to write it off

[Hendo]

So coming 14th in the league is more important than getting to a Cup semi or the final?

Didn't know we got an automatic bye from the 1/4 final, what a result that is!

We don't but we could easily get a very winnable tie like we did against Bradford a few years back.

A quarter final is still better than coming 14th in the league btw.

Highly unlikely. Lowest ranked teams:

Portsmouth - home to Arsenal
Birmingham - away to Leicester
Sheffield Wednesday - home to Man City
Derby - away at Man Utd

Only one out of that lot I could possibly see causing an upset would be Portsmouth. And then that wouldn't be an easily winnable game, the rest of the teams left in the competition would be heavy favourites to beat us.

Also, losing in a 1/4 final is about as meaningless as finishing 14th.

[NewCorkSeth]

So coming 14th in the league is more important than getting to a Cup semi or the final?

Are those our only 2 options?

We won't be finishing much higher or lower than that in the league and even if by some miracle we finished top 10 we aren't getting in the playoffs so what difference would it really make? The league is done now, we are a midtable Championship side which is fine by me.

I dunno. Reckon building a solid base for next season, finishing strong and building a winning mentality would be worth the trade off. I certainly think, even if I agreed we should rest players for the cup, this Saturday is a fair distance from that game so it would be justifiable to play a full strength side regardless of the opponent.

[Old Man Andrews]

Didn't know we got an automatic bye from the 1/4 final, what a result that is!

We don't but we could easily get a very winnable tie like we did against Bradford a few years back.

A quarter final is still better than coming 14th in the league btw.

Highly unlikely. Lowest ranked teams:

Portsmouth - home to Arsenal
Birmingham - away to Leicester
Sheffield Wednesday - home to Man City
Derby - away at Man Utd

Only one out of that lot I could possibly see causing an upset would be Portsmouth. And then that wouldn't be an easily winnable game, the rest of the teams would be heavy favourites to beat us.

Also, losing in a 1/4 final is about as meaningless as finishing 14th.

Out of that selection I would only rule out Sheffield Wednesday getting anything.

It is a one off game now, if any of the lower league sides play out of their skins and get to pens anything can happen.

[Silver Fox]

Anyone who says we definitely can't reach the playoffs is as thick as Tim Dellor (or even worse, is Tim Dellor)

[The Royal Forester]

Don't you get more money the higher you finish in the Division? If so, 13th. is better than 14th. So finishing 7th would be a lot better than 14th. , wouldn't it?

[windermereROYAL]

Needs to be noted that before the end of February we will have played all the current top ten home and away with the exception of Blackburn (A) and Brentford (H), there are certainly enough games after this Saturday to make a late push.

[Old Man Andrews]

Needs to be noted that before the end of February we will have played all the current top ten home and away with the exception of Blackburn (A) and Brentford (H), there are certainly enough games after this Saturday to make a late push.

Can't see it.

Saturday, 22 - Leeds United (a) LOSS

Wednesday, 26 - Wigan Athletic (h) Win

Saturday, 29 - Barnsley (h) Win

March

Saturday, 7 - Birmingham City (a) Loss

Saturday, 14 - Stoke City (h) Loss

Tuesday, 17 - Derby County (a) Loss

Saturday, 21 - Brentford (h) Loss

April

Saturday, 4 - Luton Town (a) Draw

Friday, 10 - Huddersfield Town (h) Win

Monday, 13 - Charlton Athletic (a) Loss

Saturday, 18 - Middlesbrough (h) Draw

Saturday, 25 - Blackburn Rovers (a) Loss

May

Saturday, 2 - Swansea City (h) Loss

[Stranded]

Needs to be noted that before the end of February we will have played all the current top ten home and away with the exception of Blackburn (A) and Brentford (H), there are certainly enough games after this Saturday to make a late push.

Can't see it.

Saturday, 22 - Leeds United (a) LOSS (Draw)

Wednesday, 26 - Wigan Athletic (h) Win

Saturday, 29 - Barnsley (h) Win

March

Saturday, 7 - Birmingham City (a) Loss (Draw)

Saturday, 14 - Stoke City (h) Loss (WIN)

Tuesday, 17 - Derby County (a) Loss (Draw)

Saturday, 21 - Brentford (h) Loss

April

Saturday, 4 - Luton Town (a) Draw (WIN)

Friday, 10 - Huddersfield Town (h) Win

Monday, 13 - Charlton Athletic (a) Loss (WIN)

Saturday, 18 - Middlesbrough (h) Draw (WIN)

Saturday, 25 - Blackburn Rovers (a) Loss

May

Saturday, 2 - Swansea City (h) Loss (WIN)

Or (changes in brakcets) 27 points - probably not quite enough but incredible momentum to take into the new season, Find one more win and who knows.

[marlowuk]

It doesn't work like that. We will be playing hard because there is a chance to reach the play-offs. But so will all the sides above and around us (from Hull upwards?). The other teams will be fighting like tigers (I don't mean Hull!) to avoid relegation (including Hull). The teams we want to play are those with nothing to play for and we won't know who they are until much nearer the end of the season.

Of course, teams with nothing to play for can experiment with their team and play without the expectation of a play-off place or the anxiety of a relegation spot. So they will be able to play freely and spontaneously and - hence - dangerously.

In conclusion - there are no easy games (ask Fulham!) to come - we need to up for another 13 hard scraps!!