Steve Coppell and the FA Cup

[Alan Partridge]

The article is a bit long and indepth for a misquotation AP. Even SC could not talk his way out of that one.

Interesting that he mentions the 'question marks over quite a few players' He must be looking to remove any deadwood from within the squad. Be it youth or senior in age

Exactly, so how can he find out? Unless he ships them all out on loan? But even so we want to see how these guys can perform for Reading.

What I mean is he said the exact same thing last season, but when we Got Arsenal away, aroun 7 of the side were 'first teamers' I expect the exact same this season if we got a top side. Our 'reserves' did alright at Liverpool didn't they? Much better than the 'first team' that turned up a week later.

[Platypuss]

If that was the case then why didn't he play reserves sides against the top 4 in the league? If he believes Reading don't have a chance of beating them why risk first team players.

Games against them have shown Reading can compete and in a cup game stand a decent chance of beating them.

But thats the point - he wants to save his best players so they they are able to play against the big four - in the league. All he is focused on is 40 points and 35 million. I agree with him. Lets focus on getting those ten points and then think about the cup.

Lets say Doyle and Lita got badly injured after starting the match. Suddenly those 10 points wouldnt seem so near. yes thats unlikely - but surely no more likely than us getting to the final. Its our first season - lets get the points....

Why would next year be any different?

[Alan Partridge]

If that was the case then why didn't he play reserves sides against the top 4 in the league? If he believes Reading don't have a chance of beating them why risk first team players.

Games against them have shown Reading can compete and in a cup game stand a decent chance of beating them.

But thats the point - he wants to save his best players so they they are able to play against the big four - in the league. All he is focused on is 40 points and 35 million. I agree with him. Lets focus on getting those ten points and then think about the cup.

Lets say Doyle and Lita got badly injured after starting the match. Suddenly those 10 points wouldnt seem so near. yes thats unlikely - but surely no more likely than us getting to the final. Its our first season - lets get the points....

Why would next year be any different?

It wouldn't. Until we can get a bigger and better squad we will put out 'understrength' teams. Don't blame Coppell, blame the people ruining the game with money. The Premiership rewards are so much greater than FA Cup rewards. Not to the fans, to the fans it's still about the glory, but to clubs it could make a difference of £50million this season. Unimaginable. From a financial view.

[Platypuss]

The article is a bit long and indepth for a misquotation AP. Even SC could not talk his way out of that one.

Interesting that he mentions the 'question marks over quite a few players' He must be looking to remove any deadwood from within the squad. Be it youth or senior in age

Exactly, so how can he find out? Unless he ships them all out on loan? But even so we want to see how these guys can perform for Reading.

What I mean is he said the exact same thing last season, but when we Got Arsenal away, aroun 7 of the side were 'first teamers' I expect the exact same this season if we got a top side. Our 'reserves' did alright at Liverpool didn't they? Much better than the 'first team' that turned up a week later.

And of course the Liverpool teams were exactly the same in both....

Please don't compare the importance of the League Cup wth the FA Cup - they are miles apart.

[Alan Partridge]

The article is a bit long and indepth for a misquotation AP. Even SC could not talk his way out of that one.

Interesting that he mentions the 'question marks over quite a few players' He must be looking to remove any deadwood from within the squad. Be it youth or senior in age

Exactly, so how can he find out? Unless he ships them all out on loan? But even so we want to see how these guys can perform for Reading.

What I mean is he said the exact same thing last season, but when we Got Arsenal away, aroun 7 of the side were 'first teamers' I expect the exact same this season if we got a top side. Our 'reserves' did alright at Liverpool didn't they? Much better than the 'first team' that turned up a week later.

And of course the Liverpool teams were exactly the same in both....

Please don't compare the importance of the League Cup wth the FA Cup - they are miles apart.

Not at this club they aren't.

[Huntley & Palmer]

The article is a bit long and indepth for a misquotation AP. Even SC could not talk his way out of that one.

Interesting that he mentions the 'question marks over quite a few players' He must be looking to remove any deadwood from within the squad. Be it youth or senior in age

Exactly, so how can he find out? Unless he ships them all out on loan? But even so we want to see how these guys can perform for Reading.

What I mean is he said the exact same thing last season, but when we Got Arsenal away, aroun 7 of the side were 'first teamers' I expect the exact same this season if we got a top side. Our 'reserves' did alright at Liverpool didn't they? Much better than the 'first team' that turned up a week later.

Certainly a loan move would be better than playing reserve matches, unless the Premier League website has it wrong then we haven't played one since the 20th of November and won't until next Tuesday.

I understand what you are saying about playing starting eleven players in the latter rounds, but why come out publicly and state what he has?

This is the comment that rankles with me

"I admit, quite frankly, that my priority is the Premiership. If our team of fringe players progress on Saturday, they will carry on. And if they did make it to the Final? They would play, 100 per cent."

[Only one Trevor Morley]

If that was the case then why didn't he play reserves sides against the top 4 in the league? If he believes Reading don't have a chance of beating them why risk first team players.

Games against them have shown Reading can compete and in a cup game stand a decent chance of beating them.

But thats the point - he wants to save his best players so they they are able to play against the big four - in the league. All he is focused on is 40 points and 35 million. I agree with him. Lets focus on getting those ten points and then think about the cup.

Lets say Doyle and Lita got badly injured after starting the match. Suddenly those 10 points wouldnt seem so near. yes thats unlikely - but surely no more likely than us getting to the final. Its our first season - lets get the points....

Why would next year be any different?

what a shame that would be - another year consolidating our Premiership status early.......

[Platypuss]

If that was the case then why didn't he play reserves sides against the top 4 in the league? If he believes Reading don't have a chance of beating them why risk first team players.

Games against them have shown Reading can compete and in a cup game stand a decent chance of beating them.

But thats the point - he wants to save his best players so they they are able to play against the big four - in the league. All he is focused on is 40 points and 35 million. I agree with him. Lets focus on getting those ten points and then think about the cup.

Lets say Doyle and Lita got badly injured after starting the match. Suddenly those 10 points wouldnt seem so near. yes thats unlikely - but surely no more likely than us getting to the final. Its our first season - lets get the points....

Why would next year be any different?

what a shame that would be - another year consolidating our Premiership status early.......

To what end? Playing for 17th every year? Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[Huntley & Palmer]

Spot on PP.

[readingbedding]

Liverpool: Carson, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Kewell, Gerrard, Sissoko (Sinama Pongolle 57), Alonso, Crouch (Kromkamp 79), Cisse (Warnock 89).
Subs Not Used: Hamann, Reina.

I'd call that their strongest side with the exception of Carson.

Benitez did that because they crashed in the 3rd round the year before.
Against Burnley I think it was.

Lesson learnt and he realised what the FA Cup means.

Coppell just seems to treat it as a distraction.

Liverpool will always be in the mix, if they play their strongest side.

[alad]

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

[Only one Trevor Morley]

The article is a bit long and indepth for a misquotation AP. Even SC could not talk his way out of that one.

Interesting that he mentions the 'question marks over quite a few players' He must be looking to remove any deadwood from within the squad. Be it youth or senior in age

Exactly, so how can he find out? Unless he ships them all out on loan? But even so we want to see how these guys can perform for Reading.

What I mean is he said the exact same thing last season, but when we Got Arsenal away, aroun 7 of the side were 'first teamers' I expect the exact same this season if we got a top side. Our 'reserves' did alright at Liverpool didn't they? Much better than the 'first team' that turned up a week later.

Certainly a loan move would be better than playing reserve matches, unless the Premier League website has it wrong then we haven't played one since the 20th of November and won't until next Tuesday.

I understand what you are saying about playing starting eleven players in the latter rounds, but why come out publicly and state what he has?

This is the comment that rankles with me

"I admit, quite frankly, that my priority is the Premiership. If our team of fringe players progress on Saturday, they will carry on. And if they did make it to the Final? They would play, 100 per cent."

But that comments suits his position at present. It explains why he is not putting a first team out and gives a reasonable excuse if we lose. If we're still there come 5th round time and we have 40 points on the board he'll play the best team, and not worry too much about quotes in the daily mail - sometimes we forget he is a native scouser.....

[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.

[Huntley & Palmer]

With all due respect to Sheff U and Wigan, we should have 36 points by the end of January. Are we still at threat of relegation then? So why not play as many first teamers as possible this weekend, it's 8 days until the next game and there is a reserve fixture on Tuesday for those that didn't play.

[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.

[Alan Partridge]

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.

Maybe he might.

[Captain Sinbad]

Copps is much too honest. Sets himself up for criticism instead of debate.

The journo (I've already forgotten his name) - I don;t care if he ever watches any Reading game. He can get stuffed.

What I do care about is the academy - it must cost millions and from what I've seen, produces some damn good talent. We could deffo do with seeing some of it on Saturday. Spine of first/second eleven with a peppering of the kids and on the bench too. To be honest, I've been waiting to see them in a real game that does matter since we moved to the Mad.

Final point; Wouldn't it be good if our fringe players got to the final and O*ford won it? That'd shut them all up. Unlikely I know but I do the lottery every week too

[Only one Trevor Morley]

If that was the case then why didn't he play reserves sides against the top 4 in the league? If he believes Reading don't have a chance of beating them why risk first team players.

Games against them have shown Reading can compete and in a cup game stand a decent chance of beating them.

But thats the point - he wants to save his best players so they they are able to play against the big four - in the league. All he is focused on is 40 points and 35 million. I agree with him. Lets focus on getting those ten points and then think about the cup.

Lets say Doyle and Lita got badly injured after starting the match. Suddenly those 10 points wouldnt seem so near. yes thats unlikely - but surely no more likely than us getting to the final. Its our first season - lets get the points....

Why would next year be any different?

what a shame that would be - another year consolidating our Premiership status early.......

To what end? Playing for 17th every year? Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

but you're seeing this as an approach that will last perpetually; it depends what you want - West ham have had an exciting time over the last 18 months. I would rather have reading consolidate themselves over the first two year period than get relegated. If after 2-3 years we consistently finish mid table then yes we should focus on the cup. Or perhaps the excitement of the championship scrap is something that is missing.....

[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.

[RoyalChicagoFC]

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

Certainly, if you're Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal --as the recent roll of winners bears out.

With all due respect to Sheff U and Wigan, we should have 36 points by the end of January. Are we still at threat of relegation then?

I expected something better than a goose egg from Blackburn and Everton at home; something closer to 36 points than 30 --that's for sure.

I'm extremely jittery about back-side pressure from Wigan, West Ham, and even Sheff Y'all in a year as wild and wacky as this one appears to me. Two wins and a draw from their next two, and the Yammers (and lord knows who else) are right on our tail lights if we don't make hay between here and the end of the month.