EFL Cup Quarter-Final Draw, 10pmish SS1.

[The Emirates Gallactico]

Didn't they knock us out last season?

I'm in two minds. Either go out v Southampton and focus on staying in the top 4 or go through and face a mentally damaging two legged semi against Manchester United or Liverpool

Nah that was the season before.

The squad's a lot deeper and we're *touches wood* seemingly less injury prone right now so I don't think it's a major issue, provided we play the same sort of lineup we've done before (squaddies plus top youngsters). If anything, we need the games to give the likes of Giroud, Perez, Gibbs etc etc game time to keep them reasonably happy.

[Kano]

Nah that was the season before.

The squad's a lot deeper and we're *touches wood* seemingly less injury prone right now so I don't think it's a major issue, provided we play the same sort of lineup we've done before (squaddies plus top youngsters). If anything, we need the games to give the likes of Giroud, Perez, Gibbs etc etc game time to keep them reasonably happy.

New 'softer' training pitch in use apparently, along with the two new fitness gurus, hopefully will ensure we only pick up knocks rather than a list of season ending injuries yet again.

[Goonermerree]

I don't mind paying Southampton, at least when we win the cup they can't accuse us of only playing Championship sides to get to the final.

Just seen the implementation of the Xhaka rule.

https://mobile.twitter.com/XhakaLega...082112/video/1

[GP]

I don't mind paying Southampton, at least when we win the cup they can't accuse us of only playing Championship sides to get to the final.

Just seen the implementation of the Xhaka rule.

https://mobile.twitter.com/XhakaLega...082112/video/1

We've probably seen about 200 identical challenges since Xhaka. None of them punished with a red card.

[Kano]

We've probably seen about 200 identical challenges since Xhaka. None of them punished with a red card.

I think Arseblog gave a good account of what the ref may have been thinking when he showed the red. Rather than punishing him for the just tripping with no chance of winning the ball, he probably thought he saw a more dangerous tackle given his distance and a Swans player in his eyeline. Doesn't excuse how shit the decision was but maybe offers a reason why he is the only that has been pulled up for it.

[Niall_Quinn]

There's another theory going around about Moss being an incredibly incompetent and biased cunt.

[fakeyank]

Would have liked it if Pool and Utd played each other and knocked each other out. Oh well, hopefully West Ham knock the mugs from Manchester out. I can see Pool going all the way to the final.

[Niall_Quinn]

I don't mind paying Southampton, at least when we win the cup they can't accuse us of only playing Championship sides to get to the final.

Just seen the implementation of the Xhaka rule.

https://mobile.twitter.com/XhakaLega...082112/video/1

Very different challenges.

Xhaka lunged in, studs first at head height wheres Pires dived for that penalty to stop Portsmouth being the first team to land on Mars.

[Herbert_Chapman's_Zombie]

wheres Pires dived for that penalty to stop Portsmouth being the first team to land on Mars.

Which of course was a totally different incident from when Wayne Rooney was felled in the box, by a bullet fired by Sol Campbell crouching behind the grassy knoll

[Chippy]

Nah that was the season before.

The squad's a lot deeper and we're *touches wood* seemingly less injury prone right now so I don't think it's a major issue, provided we play the same sort of lineup we've done before (squaddies plus top youngsters). If anything, we need the games to give the likes of Giroud, Perez, Gibbs etc etc game time to keep them reasonably happy.

You jinxed that one!! Perez out for six weeks, no return set for Cazorla, Walcott unwell.