Fielding "weakened" teams in the FA Cup

[philM]

Whilst it may not be a 'weakened' side that we field in these games, I think there is very little doubt that it is not our strongest.

If it's not our strongest then its weakened surely?

A real hunger to perform exceptionally well in a cup game probably comes easier to players not in the 1st team squad as the 1st teamers already have their own targets eg maintaining their team place, winning the division, become a prem player etc.

In a cup game what seems to be a weakened team when looking simply at form may prove on the day to be a much hungrier, and stronger, bunch of players desperate to shine and be noticed. The cup is the only other route to glory for them if they aren't making the 1st team and therefore they'll give 110%.

[Victor Meldrew]

Whilst it may not be a 'weakened' side that we field in these games, I think there is very little doubt that it is not our strongest.

If it's not our strongest then its weakened surely?

A real hunger to perform exceptionally well in a cup game probably comes easier to players not in the 1st team squad as the 1st teamers already have their own targets eg maintaining their team place, winning the division, become a prem player etc.

In a cup game what seems to be a weakened team when looking simply at form may prove on the day to be a much hungrier, and stronger, bunch of players desperate to shine and be noticed. The cup is the only other route to glory for them if they aren't making the 1st team and therefore they'll give 110%.

In theory I think you are right but in practice it doesn't tend to happen mainly because of the disjointed set-up of a side that won't have played together.

[Southbank Old Boy]

Whilst it may not be a 'weakened' side that we field in these games, I think there is very little doubt that it is not our strongest.

If it's not our strongest then its weakened surely?

A real hunger to perform exceptionally well in a cup game probably comes easier to players not in the 1st team squad as the 1st teamers already have their own targets eg maintaining their team place, winning the division, become a prem player etc.

In a cup game what seems to be a weakened team when looking simply at form may prove on the day to be a much hungrier, and stronger, bunch of players desperate to shine and be noticed. The cup is the only other route to glory for them if they aren't making the 1st team and therefore they'll give 110%.

Thats purely the modern fashion though. There is no real reason why the first teamers should treat the game any differently to league game if the manager puts the same importance on it

[SpaceCruiser]

There's only one twat here Spacey, Arsenal are oxf*rd for doing it, but Reading aren't.

You are a complete joke of a specimin.

Spacey's point is that Arsenal field "youth" players wheras Reading field those directly on the fringes, those on the bench or contesting for a space on it.

Wrong, Spacey's point is that Arsenal are French which he hates. Reading can never do any wrong in his eyes and anyone that say's anything bad against them means they're pcunts.

You are an utter moron. I never once mentioned the French.

[mini _dariusz]

but you hate arsenal cos they had a strong french contingent.

spacey, admit it, you're a racist.

[SpaceCruiser]

I hated Arsenal long before the French came to them. Oh, and hating the French is not racist. Xenophobic, maybe, but Francophobic, yes.

[cmonurz]

So, Reading field a significantly weakened side, hardly threaten, and tumble out of the cup at the first hurdle. Great.

[Jimbo]

The way the 'first' team have been playing recently, the likes of Karacan, Convey, Lita, Long and Henry could force their way into the that team if they play really well, and they know it.

I think we could see a cracking performance against Cardiff.

Thank you, and goodnight.

[Platypuss]

Fair play to Cardiff - played their strongest side and got their just desserts.

[Dirk Gently]

Fair play to Cardiff - played their strongest side and got their just desserts.

Indeed - and last season their players and supporters had the experience of a lifetime because they take the competition seriously.

[FiNeRaIn]

So, Reading field a significantly weakened side, hardly threaten, and tumble out of the cup at the first hurdle. Great.

To be expected under this management, its why coppell will never be a top manager. He's done a great job for reading and I don't deny him that, but he never learns from his mistakes he lacks the ambition to manage a big club. EngLOLand manager.

[mini _dariusz]

I hated Arsenal long before the French came to them. Oh, and hating the French is not racist. Xenophobic, maybe, but Francophobic, yes.

racist.

[SpaceCruiser]

I hated Arsenal long before the French came to them. Oh, and hating the French is not racist. Xenophobic, maybe, but Francophobic, yes.

racist.

I can't be bothered to argue with an unintelligent mong.

[Platypuss]

I hated Arsenal long before the French came to them. Oh, and hating the French is not racist. Xenophobic, maybe, but Francophobic, yes.

racist.

I can't be bothered to argue with an unintelligent mong.

Because you hate losing?

[SpaceCruiser]

I can't be bothered to argue with an unintelligent mong.

Because you hate losing?

I was winning.

[Don Finch]

Do you get intelligent mongs? Just wondering.

[papereyes]

Just answering my own question:

Since 2000 4 teams outside the "big" 4 have won an English competition.

Pompey - FA Cup
Spurs - League Cup
'Boro - League Cup
Blackburn - League Cup

So we should all give up?

On one level, I have. I accept that I am incredibly unlikely to see Reading win the league whereas it was possibly more likely 20 years ago that we could (or rather, the set of circumstances required to turn us into possible contenders then was less extraordinary than it would be now.) However, there is also a beauty in the road less travelled.

I don't really care whether our team is 1st string, 2nd string, reserves, kids, Doris the tea lady or whatever, as long as it tries when on the pitch. Of the last few seasons, some of my favourite games were the cup games. United, home and away, being a prime example but I also liked Arsenal away as a taster of the Prem back in '05 and us almost giving Liverpool a game last season. I've never watched one of these games and thought that we were taking the piss with our selections - every player involved either was a prospect or had played a part in the season beforehand.

I'd love to see Reading at a major final, I'd love to see Reading in Europe. These aren't going to happen until we've further established ourselves in the Championship let alone the level above.

I was winning

Unlike Reading today.

[mini _dariusz]

I can't be bothered to argue with an unintelligent mong.

Because you hate losing?

I was winning.

you hate henry, veira, and gallas. They're all black and they're all french. That makes you racist.

FACT

[Southbank Old Boy]

I'd love to see Reading at a major final, I'd love to see Reading in Europe. These aren't going to happen until we've further established ourselves in the Championship let alone the level above.

We were very close to qualifing by rights for European competition just a season and a half ago. We even turned down the opportunity to get in through the back door with the Inter-toto

It's the giving up of these opportunites and the way we treat the Cup which grates on me, just for the sake of resting a few players etc

[1960]

I am now officially bored with going out of the cup early every season. Against top four prem teams we are always going to struggle, but we play a strong Championship team and put out our reserves and I'm fed up. And don't let Coppell fool you that the whole squad plays at the same level - if he really believed that he would play these players week in week out in the league.

So, we're trying to consolidate in the premier league - mustn't tire our players and must focus on the league - play the reserves.
In danger of relegation - mustn't tire our players and must focus on the league - play the reserves. (And a fat lot of good it did).
Fighting for auto promotion into the prem - mustn't tire our players and must focus on the league - play the reserves.

Is Coppell ever going to want us to do something in the cup? I fully agree with the Daily Mirror man.

PS I don't think Forest put out a weakened team today. Let's see whether they suffer from it in the long run. I would wager that a handsome 3-0 away to Citeh will motivate them rather than go the other way.