Match Reaction vs West Bromwich Albion (COC tie).

[Nayan]

The kids will have to play the cup games. The squad just isn't big enough to go for all 4.

spot on. Fuck the league cup

[Marc Overmars]

It's only an extra 3 games before Christmas, games that are separated by a month each and the semi final takes place when there's no CL to worry about.

The FA Cup is probably more of a strain on the squad because the games are more frequent and happen during the business end of the season. Even worse if you get replays.

Seeing as there's hardly much difference in prestige these days, go for the League Cup tbh.

[LDG]

It's only an extra 3 games before Christmas, games that are separated by a month each and the semi final takes place when there's no CL to worry about.

The FA Cup is probably more of a strain on the squad because the games are more frequent and happen during the business end of the season. Even worse if you get replays.

Seeing as there's hardly much difference in prestige these days, go for the League Cup tbh.

I was thinking that.

I know it sounds absurd, but dropping the FA Cup would seem more logical....

February onwards is the time we should be pushing on in the league.....if we're still up there of course. The FA Cup is more of a drain on resources at that point, especially with a light squad.

Go little bit hard on the COC, and fuck off the FA Cup.

Or....win the quadruple....which, let's face it....IS ON!!!

[milla]

win the quadruple....which, let's face it....IS ON!!!

The only way forward tbh.

[I am invisible]

It's only an extra 3 games before Christmas, games that are separated by a month each and the semi final takes place when there's no CL to worry about.

The FA Cup is probably more of a strain on the squad because the games are more frequent and happen during the business end of the season. Even worse if you get replays.

Seeing as there's hardly much difference in prestige these days, go for the League Cup tbh.

I was thinking that.

I know it sounds absurd, but dropping the FA Cup would seem more logical....

February onwards is the time we should be pushing on in the league.....if we're still up there of course. The FA Cup is more of a drain on resources at that point, especially with a light squad.

Go little bit hard on the COC, and fuck off the FA Cup.

Or....win the quadruple....which, let's face it....IS ON!!!

Looks like a few of us were thinking the same thing If you're going to rest / rotate players in one or the other then it probably make more sense to do it in the FA Cup - the big teams will probably going for that one a little harder, whereas we might be able to sneak in and grab the Cocup one a little easier? Gives everyone a little boost as the run-in starts, gets that no-trophy-monkey off our backs, and eases the fixture list a little at the business end of the season, when everyone's running on fumes...

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

There's no guarantee we'll beat Chelsea even if we use our first team. Their players will be much fresher because they have a squad big enough to rotate. Even a player of the quality of Mata is struggling to get games. The other option for us is to rotate a bit in the league, but with only the likes of Ryo, Gnabry and Bendtner to call on it doesn't look too good.

It doesn't make sense to sacrifice the league or CL while we're still in it. What kind of message does that send?

Firstly we're at home, it's a big advantage. If we were away it would be understandable to throw the game.

Secondly Chelsea aren't actually playing that well. They can be easily beaten.

Thirdly we are 8 years without a trophy. Challenge on all 4 fronts and stop pissing around. The two cups are our best chances. Otherwise we'll get to May and we'll have surrendered the league again and lost in the quarters of the CL again.

Fourth it's all about momentum. Keep the winning flow and feeling going, and we'll see positive displays in the league.

You can't tackle everest straight away. You need to build a winning mentality and the best way of doing that is winning the smaller trophies, then going for the big ones next season.

It's our only hope.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Look at our Squad then look at City's and tell me we seriously have a chance of winning the league.... particularly if we don't buy in January which is not impossible. We've pretty much had one first team squad player fall to injury every week so far and it's not even October yet.

It's a little far fetched for us to think a few cup games will actually (in reality) equate to us throwing the league and/or CL away. The league lasts till May as does the CL & FA Cup which doesn't even start for us till January. The Capital One Cup won't. If by December it seriously looks like we might have the cojones and luck to actually win the title or CL then we can sign a few players in January. However we could also get to January be several points off the pace in the league, likely to go out of the CL and out of the Mickey Mouse Cup already which would be a travesty.

It may not be likely but with any number of random injuries that can affect a squad any number of adverse ways and I can't help feeling our lack of options up front is bound to affect us eventually.

[She Wore A Yellow Ribbon]

Look at our Squad then look at City's and tell me we seriously have a chance of winning the league.... particularly if we don't buy in January which is not impossible. We've pretty much had one first team squad player fall to injury every week so far and it's not even October yet.

It's a little far fetched for us to think a few cup games will actually (in reality) equate to us throwing the league and/or CL away. The league lasts till May as does the CL & FA Cup which doesn't even start for us till January. The Capital One Cup won't. If by December it seriously looks like we might have the cojones and luck to actually win the title or CL then we can sign a few players in January. However we could also get to January be several points off the pace in the league, likely to go out of the CL and out of the Mickey Mouse Cup already which would be a travesty.

It may not be likely but with any number of random injuries that can affect a squad any number of adverse ways and I can't help feeling our lack of options up front is bound to affect us eventually.

Stop pissing around. Let's go for them.

[Marc Overmars]

The whole prioritising mentality has amounted to nothing for us, we go out of everything in the same feeble manner anyway.

[Power n Glory]

Look at our Squad then look at City's and tell me we seriously have a chance of winning the league.... particularly if we don't buy in January which is not impossible. We've pretty much had one first team squad player fall to injury every week so far and it's not even October yet.

It's a little far fetched for us to think a few cup games will actually (in reality) equate to us throwing the league and/or CL away. The league lasts till May as does the CL & FA Cup which doesn't even start for us till January. The Capital One Cup won't. If by December it seriously looks like we might have the cojones and luck to actually win the title or CL then we can sign a few players in January. However we could also get to January be several points off the pace in the league, likely to go out of the CL and out of the Mickey Mouse Cup already which would be a travesty.

It may not be likely but with any number of random injuries that can affect a squad any number of adverse ways and I can't help feeling our lack of options up front is bound to affect us eventually.

I'd usually agree but the squad is wafer thin. We play a full strength team in the cup games, we only risk losing them in future cup games because the fatigue will catch up to them in the league. If we play the kids we may unearth so gems that are ready for the first team.

We have a good shot at the title. City look good now but they have a new coach and you just don't know what will happen. I remember when Chelsea looked good when Scolari came in as coach. They were scoring for fun then it all fell apart. After this summer, my expectations have been set a little higher. That desperation for a cup/any cup has gone. For me, that mentality stemmed from this squad needing to believe in themselves and this club. A self esteem boost. But if we continue to spend money on players like Ozil, the team will automatically get that from the sort of players we're bringing in.