Re: Season 22-23
 

I think they are allowed to rotate provided they pick a side which is capable of winning the match.



Though Steve Cooper did make 11 changes from the Southampton starting line up all but 1 of the players who did (who was a 19 yr old lad making his debut) have played for us in the league this season. The back 4 I think started matches as a unit. But then there's always the issue of the players playing together anyway when you do that, change 1 or 2 usually doesn't disrupt the flow of the team as much as 11.


Given that we played Chelsea on Sunday, then Southampton the Weds after, then Blackpool, we have a LC QF with Wolves tomorrow, and then again in the league vs Leicester on Saturday (with both league matches around the cup ties then it does make sense to give players a break as there are a lot of fixtures together. There are also a few knocks (Lingard is out for a few weeks, Mangala has missed most of the season, Niakhate hasn't played since August, Richards hasn't even played for us yet) and other injuries (Awoniyi went off vs Southampton but that didn't look too serious) so they could probably just argue the other players were too tired or not fit enough to play 90 minutes or something.


As for kicking a team out of the cup who's already lost (and is not likely to qualify for Europe) this seems a bit silly. I think Liverpool actually played the kids in a league cup semi a few years back because the first team was off somewhere else in another competition. I do agree using the squad can devalue the team out there but that really is ultimately the club's decision.

Re: Season 22-23
 

Strong rumours Qatar are looking at buying a minority shareholding of Spurs...

Re: Season 22-23
 

You make teams have a squad of 25 it stands to reason they can pick from those 25

Re: Season 22-23
 

I think it's actually 25 plus under-21s.


From recollection last season's top scorer and a player who cost us 17m in the summer aren't in our 25 because they're only 20, or were at the cut off date (Johnson and Williams).

---------- Post added at 13:02 ---------- Previous post was at 13:02 ----------

of course, the PL 25 man squads don't apply to the FA Cup anyway

Re: Season 22-23
 

It is plus under 21s but pick to many of them and you'd fall foul of the weakened team rules

Re: Season 22-23
 

Brilliant result for the Saints, hopefully they can kick on from here.

Re: Season 22-23
 

Good result for Forest as well, even if it took penalties in the end. :)

Re: Season 22-23
 

Two brilliant goals!

Re: Season 22-23
 

Just got back from the Emirates. Football good

Re: Season 22-23
 

Still can't believe it's Jan and we're 13th.


Getting 12 points would have done me fine...

Re: Season 22-23
 

Was a good watch, two cracking goals from England forwards Rashford and Sako, a pity we couldn’t hang on but overall I think Arsenal deserved the win.

Re: Season 22-23
 

..and 3 points clear of 14th. I'm well pleased atm. :)

Re: Season 22-23
 

I'll be waiting until we're a bit more clear, but it looks good as they're just getting better and better. Everton might get a new manager bounce now Fat toff has gone and there's always the chance Jones will click at Southampton (given they seem to have signed a tennis player and also Orsic who is decent) and Wolves seem threatening to do so under their new manager like Villa did with Emery. It wouldn't take more than us losing a few on the spin and 2 or 3 below us winning to pop us back at the bottom again.


But considering the last few times we went down without much of a fight at all at least they're making the effort this time.

Re: Season 22-23
 

Just do the decent thing and concentrate on the League, forget the League Cup .;)

Re: Season 22-23
 

I think all the players who aren't broken will play :dozey: