Steve Coppell and the FA Cup

[Only one Trevor Morley]

The thing is it's not a simple case of one or the other, both can be achieved.

Not with us it won't.

There will come a time when Reading will have to aim abit higher than simply staying up every season.

.

yes, but surely that time wont be until we have stayed up for at least one season in the Premiership!!

[Huntley & Palmer]

I think Sheff U will be a very tough game, quite possibly a draw. I don't think Colin will let his players go for anything other than a win for 90 minutes so it could be one of our toughest games at home all season. Wigan are under intense pressure and if they lose again to Chelsea and Everton before playing us, then I can see that as a banker.

[alad]

The thing is it's not a simple case of one or the other, both can be achieved.

Not with us it won't.

There will come a time when Reading will have to aim abit higher than simply staying up every season.

30 points by 1st Jan, decent cup draw. I don't see why he doesn't give it ago.

It's our first season in the Prem, there's plenty of time in the future for Cup runs.
Don't you get it?
Staying up is the one and only aim this season.

This time next year Coppell will no doubt be saying the same.

[readingbedding]

Yet again Coppell devalues the cup, shameful.

If he thinks the cup doesn't mean as much as it did then I suggest Coppell takes a look at the last 10 winners. All top 4 clubs. If they take it seriously then so should every other club.

Reading have a good chance to do well in it but yet again the pathetic antics of Coppell have shown the club up. It's insular beyond belief. Just like when England thought they were above entering the early world cups.

Survival is almost assured, so why not take it seriously?

It's only an extra 5 games if you reach the final.

I'm sure players paid stupid wages can play a few more games.

What about when Man Utd pulled out of it altogether to go on holiday in Brazil?

I'd like to see us win, but I'm looking forward to Saturday, looking forward to seeing some of these guys play.

That's when the FA Cup fell on its backside and became devalued.
Weren't they the holders as well?

[readingbedding]

The thing is it's not a simple case of one or the other, both can be achieved.

Not with us it won't.

There will come a time when Reading will have to aim abit higher than simply staying up every season.

30 points by 1st Jan, decent cup draw. I don't see why he doesn't give it ago.

It's our first season in the Prem, there's plenty of time in the future for Cup runs.
Don't you get it?
Staying up is the one and only aim this season.

This time next year Coppell will no doubt be saying the same.

Of course.

[alad]

Yet again Coppell devalues the cup, shameful.

If he thinks the cup doesn't mean as much as it did then I suggest Coppell takes a look at the last 10 winners. All top 4 clubs. If they take it seriously then so should every other club.

Reading have a good chance to do well in it but yet again the pathetic antics of Coppell have shown the club up. It's insular beyond belief. Just like when England thought they were above entering the early world cups.

Survival is almost assured, so why not take it seriously?

It's only an extra 5 games if you reach the final.

I'm sure players paid stupid wages can play a few more games.

What about when Man Utd pulled out of it altogether to go on holiday in Brazil?

I'd like to see us win, but I'm looking forward to Saturday, looking forward to seeing some of these guys play.

That's when the FA Cup fell on its backside and became devalued.
Weren't they the holders as well?

Yes, the 11 times cup winners are at fault for other teams not taking it seriiously 7 years later.

The big clubs take it seriously, as shown by the recent winners, so the 'cup has been devalued by the big sides' arguement holds no water and just shows those up who peddle that view.

[Only one Trevor Morley]

I think Sheff U will be a very tough game, quite possibly a draw. I don't think Colin will let his players go for anything other than a win for 90 minutes so it could be one of our toughest games at home all season. Wigan are under intense pressure and if they lose again to Chelsea and Everton before playing us, then I can see that as a banker.

I dont. Wigan bullied us out of the game at their place - despite a patchy start to the season. We'll beat Sheff Utd because we nearly always do. but I think it wont be until the end of march that we actually get to 40 points

As a side issue I think Coppell has always been scarred by what happened when he managed Crystal palace one year. With 3 games to go they were 8 points clear of Sheffield Wednesday. They lose there last 3 games, Sheff Wednesday won all of them and relegated palace. He always quotes this as an example fo the worst happening.

[alad]

The thing is it's not a simple case of one or the other, both can be achieved.

Not with us it won't.

There will come a time when Reading will have to aim abit higher than simply staying up every season.

30 points by 1st Jan, decent cup draw. I don't see why he doesn't give it ago.

It's our first season in the Prem, there's plenty of time in the future for Cup runs.
Don't you get it?
Staying up is the one and only aim this season.

This time next year Coppell will no doubt be saying the same.

Of course.

We all know he will. Last season when miles clear he didn't take it seriously citing the number of games and promotion being the target. This season with 8 less league games and a brilliant start he still won't take it seriously.

Next season it will be the same, except the excuse will be battling relegation or challenging for a European place. Or whatever excuse he comes up with.

[wehateoxford]

Yet again Coppell devalues the cup, shameful.

If he thinks the cup doesn't mean as much as it did then I suggest Coppell takes a look at the last 10 winners. All top 4 clubs. If they take it seriously then so should every other club.

Reading have a good chance to do well in it but yet again the pathetic antics of Coppell have shown the club up. It's insular beyond belief. Just like when England thought they were above entering the early world cups.

Survival is almost assured, so why not take it seriously?

It's only an extra 5 games if you reach the final.

I'm sure players paid stupid wages can play a few more games.

What about when Man Utd pulled out of it altogether to go on holiday in Brazil?

I'd like to see us win, but I'm looking forward to Saturday, looking forward to seeing some of these guys play.

That's when the FA Cup fell on its backside and became devalued.
Weren't they the holders as well?

Yes, the 11 times cup winners are at fault for other teams not taking it seriiously 7 years later.

The big clubs take it seriously, as shown by the recent winners, so the 'cup has been devalued by the big sides' arguement holds no water and just shows those up who peddle that view.

but a big team can play a youth side and mangle a league one/championship side,and a squad of fringe players with some first eleven can take out a upper championship/lower prem side

so essentially by the time the first team is playing for a team like man u or chelsea, its the final

[readingbedding]

Yet again Coppell devalues the cup, shameful.

If he thinks the cup doesn't mean as much as it did then I suggest Coppell takes a look at the last 10 winners. All top 4 clubs. If they take it seriously then so should every other club.

Reading have a good chance to do well in it but yet again the pathetic antics of Coppell have shown the club up. It's insular beyond belief. Just like when England thought they were above entering the early world cups.

Survival is almost assured, so why not take it seriously?

It's only an extra 5 games if you reach the final.

I'm sure players paid stupid wages can play a few more games.

What about when Man Utd pulled out of it altogether to go on holiday in Brazil?

I'd like to see us win, but I'm looking forward to Saturday, looking forward to seeing some of these guys play.

That's when the FA Cup fell on its backside and became devalued.
Weren't they the holders as well?

Yes, the 11 times cup winners are at fault for other teams not taking it seriiously 7 years later.

The big clubs take it seriously, as shown by the recent winners, so the 'cup has been devalued by the big sides' arguement holds no water and just shows those up who peddle that view.

No, I mean the competition was devalued from that day on, whether the biggest and best clubs continue to win it or not.
Which they usually do.
Wasn't Everton beating Manchester United in 1995 the last 'shock'?
The holders were not able to compete or represent in 'the biggest club competition in the World'. (bbc's words not mine).

Ferguson has said himself that it was a huge mistake - but I guess he was under huge pressure to represent Europe in Blatter's white elephant tourno in Brazil.

[alad]

Agree to an extent but the FA Cup will always be special.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

[We all know he will. Last season when miles clear he didn't take it seriously citing the number of games and promotion being the target. This season with 8 less league games and a brilliant start he still won't take it seriously.

Next season it will be the same, except the excuse will be battling relegation or challenging for a European place. Or whatever excuse he comes up with.

But it is, as I suspect that you know (while coyly refusing to own up), all part of the master plan.

Year One: Do not get distracted by a Cup run, and push on to promotion to the Premier League

Year Two: Consolidation in the Premier League, comfortably mid-table in the end, while eschewing the drain of a Cup run

Year Three: Successfully chasing down a UEFA spot and, in anticipation of the riches that such will bring, bolstering the squad two-deep across the board, continuing to beef up the academy and maintaining a reserve squad that any club in the Championship gladly would employ in pursuit of its own promotion to the Premier League --all the while eschewing the drain and distraction of a Cup run

Year Four: All of the preceding, and --as befits the big club that it now has become, and with the resources at hand that leave it with no convenient excuses-- legitimate challengers for all of the honour and glory of the FA Cup

Simple, really.

[Archie's penalty]

[We all know he will. Last season when miles clear he didn't take it seriously citing the number of games and promotion being the target. This season with 8 less league games and a brilliant start he still won't take it seriously.

Next season it will be the same, except the excuse will be battling relegation or challenging for a European place. Or whatever excuse he comes up with.

But it is, as I suspect that you know (while coyly refusing to own up), all part of the master plan.

Year One: Do not get distracted by a Cup run, and push on to promotion to the Premier League

Year Two: Consolidation in the Premier League, comfortably mid-table in the end, while eschewing the drain of a Cup run

Year Three: Successfully chasing down a UEFA spot and, in anticipation of the riches that such will bring, bolstering the squad two-deep across the board, continuing to beef up the academy and maintaining a reserve squad that any club in the Championship gladly would employ in pursuit of its own promotion to the Premier League --all the while eschewing the drain and distraction of a Cup run

Year Four: All of the preceding, and --as befits the big club that it now has become, and with the resources at hand that leave it with no convenient excuses-- legitimate challengers for all of the honour and glory of the FA Cup

Simple, really.

Great Post Royal Chicago - still a bit of a shame for us fans who seek the limelight now.

[Woodcote Royal]

Where does it stop though

When we're guaranteed a place in next season's Premiership................end of.

I'll be there on Saturday (unlike those who sit next to me for the rest of the season ) and, like AP, I'm looking forward to it.

I also look forward to the day when squad numbers and it's over all strength allow us to take a more take serious tilt at the cups but, right now, any manager who puts a trip to Wembley ahead of a mininum £35m TV money isn't fit to manage the club I invest much of my hard-earned to support.

[The 17 Bus]

How are you investing in the club woody, you are a customer, no more no less.

[Crasher]

I actually look forward to these games, this is a chance to see the likes of Federici, Golbourne, maybe Hayes or a James Henry, some of the fringe players we never see in a competitive match. It shows the strength or lack of depth in the squad.

I'm late to the party as ever, however i fully agree with you on this one.
I'm looking forward to seeing some of the other names that appear on the team list week-in-week-out on the backs of the matchday programs.

I do not get the opportunity to watch reserve matches as i dont live/work near reading, so for me this is a good chance to see some of the lesser known players in the squad.

[Nick Shorey my Lord!]

Premiership is priority. End of story. Anyone who says we're safe need their heads testing.

I couldn't give a 4X about the cups.

[Platypuss]

Where does it stop though

When we're guaranteed a place in next season's Premiership................end of.

I'll be there on Saturday (unlike those who sit next to me for the rest of the season ) and, like AP, I'm looking forward to it.

I also look forward to the day when squad numbers and it's over all strength allow us to take a more take serious tilt at the cups but, right now, any manager who puts a trip to Wembley ahead of a mininum £35m TV money isn't fit to manage the club I invest much of my hard-earned to support.

But you've already said that our Premiership status is guaranteed this season.

So which is it?

[Stranded]

The FA Cup lost a lot of it's appeal and lure to top flight clubs the day it became worth more financially to finish 17th in the top flight than to win the Cup.

[Royal Fleet]

I always used to look forward to the League cup games as a chance to see the other players we have have a run out. I thought it was great to see Hunt and Oster have a full game. It is also good to have a look at the youth players and form an opinion for myself as to whether they are good enough to kick on into the first team.

Last year's League Cup have Coppell the chance to have a look at Hunt in a first team game and gave him the confidence to stick him in when Convey was injured.