Warnock on the FA Cup

18MFC76

18MFC76

Well-known member
Basically said in his press conference that he will rest players in the FA Cup as in his words "we're not going to win the FA Cup".

He had a similar attitude towards the League Cup as well if I remember rightly. Is this always his attitude when it comes to cup competitions? Or do we think it's due to our lack of squad numbers?
 
I don't blame him. Let's be honest the majority of prem and champo clubs chin the FA Cup off. It's almost become a 'hassle'. I guess he's at least honest.

We have a small squad and with no fans making the journey it's understandable. Also covid restrictions means its a nightmare traveling away and testing etc. It's also a bit of a duff tie.

I'm still a bit of an FA Cup purist but teams simply don't care. How many times you been to a 3rd round tie and seen 8-11 changes for both sides? I'd love to win it.

That said it's like he says 'we ain't gonna win it' so why have an extra 5 games (or whatever it is) and traveling. I think more so this year with no fans. Its almost irrelevant who you draw as part of the 'magic' is to travel to weird and wonderful away games.

I'm not sure how seriously Brentford will take it. I imagine 5-6 changes minimum. I guess it's a runout for any of these 3 players he's already chatted too if we get them in early👍
 
Some good points. Like you say the fans not being in may play a part in his decision. He's probably correct in saying we're not going to win the FA Cup and history backs up that theory as we've never won the bloody thing!

Personally, I love a good cup run. I think if anything we are more likely to do well in the FA Cup these days as a lot of the bigger clubs do tend to rest a lot of players, especially in the early rounds of the competition. Before you know it you can get to the quarter finals etc and anything can happen.

This isn't a criticism of Warnock mind. The bloke is 72 years of age and he will be absolutely determined to get us in the play offs this season to give us a shot at promotion. That will be his sole focus so that's understandable.

I just think the FA Cup is in danger of becoming like the League Cup where manager's just see it as an inconvenience. That would be a real shame.

One of my favourite ever FA Cup games was the 3-3 game against Chesterfield in 97. When i watch Festa's goal to make it 3-2 it still gives me goosebumps now! Ok we beat them comfortably in the replay but that first game summed up the magic of the FA Cup. If that Chesterfield side could reach a semi final then anything is possible in football.
 
I'd honestly sooner not be in it this season with the fixture build up.

A top 6 side playing 3rd string players will get to the final as always.

I usually enjoy the cup matches but they really do feel like an inconvenience this season, when we've got a small squad and are walking a tight rope with fatigue and injuries.
 
We'll get a weekend off when Norwich reach Round 4 (usually end of Jan?) and miss out on TV money
 
Agree with NW on this. The question was put to him in the context of opportunities to rest overworked players. After Birmingham one week and FA Cup week the next.
 
It’s not really true what’s stated above about top 6 teams playing their 3rd string teams, maybe in round 3 etc but by round 6 most teams are playing near enough their first teams with possibly only the reserve keeper as a non regular starter.
 
Expect to see Folarin, Coulson, Isaiah Jones, Hayden Hackney and Nathan Wood. Apart from that we haven't really got many U23s that have been touted as ready to step up. So it'll probably be half a mature team and half youngsters.
 
Its extra games that we could really do without, if we can get a full 2 weeks between games on 4th round weekend that will be a huge benefit.

Looking forward to seeing a very different squad for the Brentford game though, great chance for some of the lads
 
BoroMart said:
Expect to see Folarin, Coulson, Isaiah Jones, Hayden Hackney and Nathan Wood. Apart from that we haven't really got many U23s that have been touted as ready to step up. So it'll probably be half a mature team and half youngsters.
Click to expand...
And Roberts.. If still here
 
Love the FA Cup and who would have thought we would have got there under Robbo but we did. Playing a weakened side is wrong. I have slagged of your Man Ures etc over the years for doing self same thing. Don't see why we should jump on the bandwagon. Always play your strongest team.
 
I dont believe hes not interested in the F.A Cup.
Its a throw - away - like giving a dog a biscuit to keep it quiet - knowing it will come back and beg for more.
Crafty old owl [or should that be "crafty old Blade]?
 
He is taking the pressure off the players. Why risk injuries and travelling with such a small squad.
I would rather he gives game time to the subs and fringe players. This gives more encouragement to progress and breakthrough.
He is also managing the fans expectations, so we dont slag off his selection when he drops some of the established names.
 
He actually said 'it's a chance to give the lads a rest'. You can't get much more honesty.

That said it's not like we can make 9-11 changes and have a full bench. The majority will still have to travel.

He did actually said on the 12th man podcast that he would play an all Boro academy 11 at Brentford. He was laughing but maybe he had some level of seriousness 😂
 
Agree with Neil, we don’t need to be in it this year, use it to get game time for any new signings for fitness, fringe players and a little look at any u/23’s.
 
With a new strain of Coronavirus around it's very likely that more fixtures will have to be postponed. We can do without a fixture backlog.
 
It's unique circumstances this season. No full pre-season, the smallest squad we've had in years and games coming thick and fast.

A lot of our players have had to play 90 mins twice a week because we don't have that strength in depth to rest them and the injuries we've picked up seem to be largely as a result of that.

Madness not to take the opportunity to give the first team players a break. There's a few like Britt, Wing, Coulsen and Roberts who haven't played as much recently and I'm sure they'll feature.

Anyone carrying even the slightest of knocks though will surely be rested. Suspect a lot of them will be carrying minor strains etc.
 
Stojanovic
Spence Wood Hall Coulson
Wing Jones Howson/Saville/Morsy
Folarin Assombalonga Browne.

There's an 11 with most of the regular starters rested, though I'm not sure he'd play Coulson as left back.

That's not even including a bunch of academy players he's name checked lately.

Win and there's valuable game time for a bunch of rusty players, lose and our play-off rival has an extra game to contend with whilst we've not risked much.
 
I support Warnock on this one but I'd be interested to know Gibsons' thoughts.

Didn't he once pull McClaren up for fielding a weakened side in a cup game, basically telling him the clubs' number one priority is to win cups.
 
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