FA Cup Semi Final v Reading

[augie]

In the cup final in a few weeks time we might just need chesney or wilshere or any of the so called back up players, so it makes perfect sense to play them today because they need to get some match sharpness under their belt.

I cannot understand the outcry against playing a non first choice team today - I would start chesney, chambers, gabriel, wilshere and wally for this game and blend them in with some of the first choice players. If a line up containing those players cant beat a shit reading side, then we have no place being in the premier league - there is a world of difference between this game and those against wigan and hull last season - hull are a premier league club and wigan were 5th in the championship and contained many players that had played in the premier league the season before, whilst reading are a side that sit 17th in the championship

I fully expect us to batter tham and thats even with some first teamers being rested

[SteveO 35]

In the cup final in a few weeks time we might just need chesney or wilshere or any of the so called back up players, so it makes perfect sense to play them today because they need to get some match sharpness under their belt.

I cannot understand the outcry against playing a non first choice team today - I would start chesney, chambers, gabriel, wilshere and wally for this game and blend them in with some of the first choice players. If a line up containing those players cant beat a shit reading side, then we have no place being in the premier league - there is a world of difference between this game and those against wigan and hull last season - hull are a premier league club and wigan were 5th in the championship and contained many players that had played in the premier league the season before, whilst reading are a side that sit 17th in the championship

I fully expect us to batter tham and thats even with some first teamers being rested

Bollocks to Wilshere, Chesney, Wally and Chambers - with the exception of JW the other three have been fucking woeful when we've they played. We don't have another game until the following Sunday so why break up a team that's on a confident run and disrupt it with half fit players or ones out of form

Blackburn were on their 3rd manager a couple of years and exactly where Reading are now when he played the Forehead and we got rolled over, and Bradford were in fucking League Two weren't they?

Surely you're not worried about the 2nd placed trophy over the FA Cup ?

[You are my sunshine]

Of course, if anyone plays today and gets injured we can blame Wenger for unnecessarily risking them.

[SteveO 35]

Of course, if anyone plays today and gets injured we can blame Wenger for unnecessarily risking them.

Not from me.....risking them for what exactly? The non existent title race. Not me - lets win a proper trophy rather than the made up one created by UEFA that rewards 4th place finishes

[You are my sunshine]

For final we are going to reach?
It is unfortunate, but that CL place, that is so coveted, is the attraction for many players in determining who they may join when they consider their transfer options (or money in some instances). I don't agree with the CL qualification criteria but such is the way of the world now that finishing in the top 4 is financially more beneficial than winning the FA Cup. Winning something should be more important than finishing 2nd - 4th.

[g88ner]

In the cup final in a few weeks time we might just need chesney or wilshere or any of the so called back up players, so it makes perfect sense to play them today because they need to get some match sharpness under their belt.

I cannot understand the outcry against playing a non first choice team today - I would start chesney, chambers, gabriel, wilshere and wally for this game and blend them in with some of the first choice players. If a line up containing those players cant beat a shit reading side, then we have no place being in the premier league - there is a world of difference between this game and those against wigan and hull last season - hull are a premier league club and wigan were 5th in the championship and contained many players that had played in the premier league the season before, whilst reading are a side that sit 17th in the championship

I fully expect us to batter tham and thats even with some first teamers being rested

I don't understand why you would want to tinker with a team that has FINALLY found a winning formula.

There's only 7 games left (8 if we reach the cup final) and most of them are spaced a week apart, so there's no reason to start messing about with personnel.

They've not played for a week and it's another week until Chelsea, so would 14-15 days rest for Cazolra, Giroud, etc. help them going into the Chelsea game next week? - I don't think it does. That is too long to be away from competitive football and it threatens to halt the momentum we've built using the same small group of players in recent weeks.

Also, I think it's a psychological blow for any professional to be axed for a Wembley cup semi-final. It's a huge game regardless of opposition and they'll want to play in it... and they've earned the right as well. That's why Chesney should have played last years final and why Ospina should be in goal today.

I'd play the same team that has won us games recently, and then bring on Wilshere and Theo in the second half if the opportunity presents itself.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[SteveO 35]

For final we are going to reach?
It is unfortunate, but that CL place, that is so coveted, is the attraction for many players in determining who they may join when they consider their transfer options (or money in some instances). I don't agree with the CL qualification criteria but such is the way of the world now that finishing in the top 4 is financially more beneficial than winning the FA Cup. Winning something should be more important than finishing 2nd - 4th.

And to many of us it still is - I couldn't give a fuck about the supposed £30m it generates, seeing as we have a majority controlling shareholder that benefits exclusively from that. As for the crappy old argument about it guaranteeing we keep all our best players like Nasri, Fabregas and Van Persie, or helps us sign all the top ones who wouldn't come otherwise......give me strength. Top players want to compete for the thing, not get rolled over in the round of 16.

As for thinking of resting players for a final that isn't until the 30th May - there will be plenty of meaningless league games leading up to that where we won't be able to win the league but should already be safe in that glorious top 4

[scotgooner]

Here we go lads ... no fuck ups please Arsenal

[mcdowell42]

Call me old fashioned,but I'm all about winning real trophies,rather than this top 4 bollocks.

[wilko49er]

If Wenker changes the team, he will pay the price. Play the strongest team, batter this lot, get it done.

[markyp]

If Wenker changes the team, he will pay the price. Play the strongest team, batter this lot, get it done.

+1. he must learn from his mistakes,hang on we are talking about Wenker here

[Nuggets]

[quote="mcdowell42"]Call me old fashioned,but I'm all about winning real trophies,rather than this top 4 bollocks.[/quote Me and you both, FFS Wonga play the strongest team don't fcuk about, the omly thin the CL benefits are the fooking shareholders they get lots of wonga we get fcuked over because we can't get past the second or third stage.I would like to see the best team we can put together, give them rock all then rest players when its in the bag, don't go to sleep in this game lads FFS

[Nuggets]

THis is getting on my fooking nerves now.

[armchair]

Fuck up. Cheer up. COYG.........

[Chippy]

Think we will win this comfortably even if we do play the back up players. I just hope it is a better game than last year's semi. One of the worst games of football I ever attended.