Pre Match Pre Match - Plymouth (A) - FA Cup - Sun 15:00

[peterhague]

Giving playing significant playing time to Fringe players and youths that wouldn’t normally play keeps they match fit, sharp and in a better shape to come in and influence league and euro games - while also allowing key players to rest - winning, if that’s what happens also keeps momentum going and builds a strong mentality.

We’re in great shape, with almost an entire squad fit, no-one looking fatigued and plants of players without loads of playing time.

Do you know what sets great teams apart from also-rans? It’s the desire to win every game without exception. There’s no fucking chance the great Liverpool, Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal or City teams would ever countenance losing.

And here you are - not advocating for weekend team or even a youths team being sent out … but actively hoping we get beat.

You’d be as well coming clean that you’ve been a Man Utd fan all along.

Tbf he's got a point . Twice in the past few years we've blown big chances of titles and a CL when chasing a quadruple. I'm convinced we'd have won at least one of the big ones in 2022 if we hadn't been so exhausted.

And he was actively warning that it would happen again last year when we were going strong in all 4 - and it did happen.

Personally I'm not worried enough by it to want us to lose, but there's a logic to it.

 

[darkstarexodus]

Tbf he's got a point . Twice in the past few years we've blown big chances of titles and a CL when chasing a quadruple. I'm convinced we'd have won at least one of the big ones in 2022 if we hadn't been so exhausted.

And he was actively warning that it would happen again last year when we were going strong in all 4 - and it did happen.

Personally I'm not worried enough by it to want us to lose, but there's a logic to it.

Yeah, I understand the perspective. And if we go out of the FA Cup in this round or next I won't be heartbroken. But that's a step short of actively wanting to lose.

We have a big enough and healthy enough squad at the moment to rotate but still handily deal with a lower league side.

And, as others have mentioned, we have some players in need of minutes, so we might as well play them.

The signs of exhaustion last year were much more evident than this season. Which isn't to say it can't still happen, but it seems like a less imminent concern

 

[peterhague]

Yeah, I understand the perspective. And if we go out of the FA Cup in this round or next I won't be heartbroken. But that's a step short of actively wanting to lose.

We have a big enough and healthy enough squad at the moment to rotate but still handily deal with a lower league side.

And, as others have mentioned, we have some players in need of minutes, so we might as well play them.

The signs of exhaustion last year were much more evident than this season. Which isn't to say it can't still happen, but it seems like a less imminent concern

Agreed. I really do want us to win the title though. Almost even more so after being robbed of the chance to properly celebrate it cos of coivd. In some ways it almost feels a bit ridiculous to be talking about the quad given all the ways we've found to not win the title in the past.

 

[darkstarexodus]

Agreed. I really do want us to win the title though. Almost even more so after being robbed of the chance to properly celebrate it cos of coivd. In some ways it almost feels a bit ridiculous to be talking about the quad given all the ways we've found to not win the title in the past.

Completely agree. I would heartily trade all three other competitions for the title today if I knew such a trade could be done.

The fear of heartbreak is too great.

But since I can't, we might as well keep trying to win every match between here and the Champions League final.

 

[StevieM]

Tbf he's got a point . Twice in the past few years we've blown big chances of titles and a CL when chasing a quadruple. I'm convinced we'd have won at least one of the big ones in 2022 if we hadn't been so exhausted.

And he was actively warning that it would happen again last year when we were going strong in all 4 - and it did happen.

Personally I'm not worried enough by it to want us to lose, but there's a logic to it.

Then we need to use our squad more effectively. It’s big enough.

I think the “exhausted” line is over used - it was more about players not in form for various reasons at a key point in the season and you could pin losing the league on 4 games in the run - or if you like 2 key periods either where we derailed our season and I don’t blame fatigue for either.

Anyway, my point is, again, if it wasn’t clear - no issue with making sensible changes and lots of them for cup games and all of them if need be - my problem is wanting us to lose and thinking that’s somehow a positive.