The Cup most people don't care about has been made even more ridiculous with the silliest name yet. However, this is surely one of our best chances of glory this season. The big boys see it as beneath them and the mid range mob use it to rest first teamers. I think it still has a European spot for the winner but frankly I'm not fussed about that if we actually win a proper grown up trophy for the first time in our history. The road to glory begins next week. Marco please put out a strong team, and not the reserves and injured that we have for the past two seasons only to lose at the first hurdle, your chance to be a legend. Premier safety is massive, but hopefully now in yr3 we can have enough confidence to push for the cups as well.
I agree with this, but assuming we play those from last week against Bournemouth tomorrow then I wouldn't complain to see some game time for the following players Pantillimon, DjeDje, Watson, Capoue, Hughes, Success, Deeney. Added to the likes of Prodl, Britos, Cleverley, Richardilson etc that's surely taking it seriously enough and good enough to win?
Changes are fine as long as it is because Marco believes that is the strongest team to suit the game, love to see youngsters coming through but not this time please. Really would like to get a Wembley day out to rid myself of the memory of the last two crap efforts against Palace.
Yeah I agree I don't want to see players not seen as '1st team' standard. We've got a good squad by the looks of it, fresh and fully fit 1st team players desperate to show the new boss what they can do should be enough to get us through to the next round.
I'd be ecstatic to win the Caribbean Cup. An away fixture would be nice for a bit of warmth in my bones. The competition certainly isn't beneath us and I can't understand why the players don't try. If they aren't first teamers they should be looking at it as a route into the first team and an opportunity to play in the next round. Tuesday is my first game this season so I'm hoping that Mr Silva can rouse the team to a good win. I still have bad memories from performances last season so this match needs to erase them. Also past performances in this cup for years and years don't bode well, Ray Lewington's side must be the last decent run in this cup. Oh look at me, a serious post to a football thread. I hope that no cool fans read this especially from other clubs, just imagine, how embarrassing!
Not the tiniest bit worried about this competition, win or lose. Happy for Marco to play whatever team he wishes, provided they intend to compete, and would be as happy to see a mix of youth and experience as a full first team. In many respects, playing a full on team seems like a lost opportunity in a world where few exist to competitively test up and coming players in a competetive first team match. It is possible that there is more to gain from an indifferent run in the cup from a part development team than there is an indifferent run from a full strength first team, and both could lead to something more serious. That said. The squad at the moment could pretty much stretch to two competetive first teams, so the youngsters are more likely to be on the bench than starting I guess.
Come on KVA, that's a whole lot of words and no 'in jokes' that have been repeated over the last 5 seasons, or any puns etc Genuine questions to you in reply to this, what competition are you bothered by? What do you want the team to achieve? How many years from now would you want some success? What would that success be? I used to feel like this when we were a championship team as the goal / success was promotion. You could argue avoiding relegation from the prem counts as some sort of 'success' for a year or two, but beyond that?
Carabao has a soft spot in my heart. On the way back to college after break I was plucked off the highstreet to do market research, it was a toss up between an hour of college work or doing some random taste tester for half an hour. I was brought to St. Marys church where they had me taste test Carabao in comparison to other drinks. (This was when it wasnt out on the shelves yet) Long story short I tasted some energy drink, solid 5/10, and earned a fiver from it. If our club is guaranteed half the success I had on that day, I reckon we should commit. Its a yes from me.
I would take a look at my priorities. Player development, team development, squad management, league focus, injuries, etc. These, to me, would come before any thought of targeting a trophy. Target a trophy early on, and fail to progress, and straight away you've blown a primary target in a way that could have a negative effect on the team/fans (who, as we know on here, can be pretty unforgiving when betrayed by the team). With that in mind, I would field as competitive a team as practical, in terms of achieving my priorities, in any competition match. In the Carabao Cup, judging on the level of opposition, that could, based on priorities, mean a part development team, same with the FA Cup early rounds. It may mean a strong team if my priority was game time for the senior squad (pretty much as I said I expect in the post you replied to). If that part development team advanced in a competition, I would review the priorities. If I got to the Quarter finals, I imagine there would be more of a move towards a strong team, the priorities then changing in the face of more tangible financial and championship opportunities. If a Watford coach prioritised a cup competition in the early rounds to the possible detriment of league position (which seems to me to be what you are saying), I would be pretty livid, as would most fans IMHO. Put out our strongest team in the second round of the Carabao Cup, and push for glory when we are already suffering from a stupid injury list two weeks into the season? I don't think so. Put out a competitive team, absolutely. I wouldn't even think seriously of winning a competition, even as a fan, until the quarters; but I would expect to be competitive in every game.
it will be a mix of youth, experience and those coming back from injury. If we pick up another couple of knows against Bournemouth then expect to see a few more youngsters than experienced players. I would expect to see Bachmann, Mason, Rowan, Elftheriou, Folivi, Stewart, Jakubiak, Deeney, Capoue, Hughes,Success, Sinclair, Watson, Marriappa and maybe Zarate if they think he is ready and could do with some minutes. Fringe players should see it as an opportunity to push for a first team place rather than being rolled out against lower league opposition. Unfortunately a half empty stadium gives it a feeling of being a pre season friendly, against lower league opposition and thats why all the games seem to be drab and pretty boring. I would have been in favour of the club charging £5 for adults and U16's go free. It would be much better having 16,000 in the stadium instead of the 7 or 8,000 that will be there.
After that Gillingham debacle last year they owe us an emphatic win. Full strength team every round for me. This year is the best opportunity we have of winning the first trophy in the entire history of the club in 30 years. Arguably ever. And some whoppers want us to concentrate on the league. Jesus wept.
You've explained your point very well, I agree and understand that if you've got injury concerns, such as we wouldn't want to risk Holebas as he's our only left back. But we must be getting it wrong most years with the amount of changes, the amount of unfit or not ready players we put on, plus lack of motivation etc as we get dumped out year after year to lower league sides without putting up much of a fight. We are home to a champ team, few changes yes, but put out a team that's there to win.
I'm not sure what a carabao is, but it's not only our best chance of a trophy but also an opportunity to fill in those empty Tuesday nights which we enjoyed in the Championship. So I say pick the core of what Silva regards as his best team, play Richie and Gray from the start to help integrate them and maybe Hughes and/or Capoue and Success. Several kids on the bench who could be brought on if it's going well.
Sadly, I could fall out with a beautiful angel who came down from heaven to kiss my knee better, after I hurt it falling over, if they accidently kissed the wrong knee first. Unless it was my middle knee (snigger).
