Fringe players to the FA Cup

[redscot]

Next weekend Reading play Crawley in the FA Cup. What should Reading do? Play a first team or use fringe players?

I would prefer to rest key players in case they get hurt. Survival is key and there is still a slim chance. So play the likes of Church (he is league one player anyway) and see what happens.

[Albert Spangler]

First team. Get some rhythm going.



Confusing poll, by the way - asking a different question to your post.

[SPARTA]

Full strength team and try and build our confidence and get a cup run going. It's been the catalyst for us before and can be again.

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

no point in having a go at a cup run. we need all the rest we can get for staying in the prem. that in my eyes was part of the key to promotion last year, getting knocked out by stevenage early.

[Rex]

it has to be the first team. I do not expect Crawley to be a push over by any means and we need to get the first team out there for consistency and show respect to Crawley. As for a cup run - yes please.

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

it has to be the first team. I do not expect Crawley to be a push over by any means and we need to get the first team out there for consistency and show respect to Crawley. As for a cup run - yes please.

since bm has finally seemed to settle on a first team (minus gunter/cummings, harte/shorey switching back and forth) this could do us a lot of good. we must keep playing the 4-5-1.

[windermere_royal]

......................Feds.................

Cummings...Morrison...Pearce...Shorey

McCleary...Guthrie.....Karacan......HRK

....LeFondre....Hunt.........

That should be strong enough to beat Crawley

[USA_Loyal_Royal]

......................Feds.................

Cummings...Morrison...Pearce...Shorey

McCleary...Guthrie.....Karacan......HRK

....LeFondre....Hunt.........

That should be strong enough to beat Crawley

should be, doesnt mean it will...

[Rex]

I want a sphincter touching cloth match and a squeaky win.

[arreff]

We need to play the strongest team possible if only to let any newcomers to our ranks get as much playing time together as they can.

[SPARTA]

Stick with 4-5-1 as we need to master it and are still a long way off doing so, but be a lot more offensive in our approach to the game.

Morrison in for Mariappa, Shorey in for Harte and then as you were.

[unless we have a debutant we can bring in]

[Lovely hot donuts!]

If any player has an actual concern with fitness then be more cautious about picking them than for a league game. However, if the first team are fit then play them. We will have just have come off the back of a congested period of fixtures but, looking forward, it's pretty much one game a week for the rest of the season so it's in no way a rigorous schedule.

I think we should try our best in the cup because winning is a habit and we feed off momentum so it can only be a catalyst. Also, the FA cup is a lot of fun when it goes right and will generally cheer the place up.

[Royal Ginger]

Play the 4-5-1.

................................Feds.........................

...Cummings...Mariappa...Gorkss...Harte........

McCleary...Tabb...Guthrie....Ledge......HRK...

............................Hunt............................

Not our "best" team, but not the reserves either. Give the bench a run. We'll need quality to beat Crawley, wouldn't be surprised to be outplayed. If we're a couple up with 20 to go, got to a 4-4-2 with Samuel and Le Fondre.

[Ian Royal]

Not first team as we shouldn't play 4-5-1.

I'd probably rest Pog as he's been doing a lot of work. Hopefully Roberts will be back by then and we can see him play alongside ALF. Not sure which way to go with Jem, could probably do with games to get fully up to speed, but at the same time might not be fully fit so don't want to risk tiring him out after coming back from injury. Depending on which way that goes I'd like to see Guthrie and either Jem or Tabb. Just to see how that sort of midfield pairing copes.

Shorey should probably come in to try and keep him fresh and match fit. Cummings and Gunter much of a muchness.

Federici
Cummings, Pearce, Mariappa, Shorey
McCleary, Guthrie, Tabb, Robson-Kanu
Le Fondre, Roberts

TBH I'd be pretty happy with that (although I'd expect a few less changes) and I don't think there's a great deal of difference between that in quality and any other 4-4-2 we can stick out.

[Mr.T10]

Mix of first team and squad players. Will be very embarrassing if we lose this.

My team: Federici, Cummings, Pearce, Morrison, Harte, McCleary, Karacan, Guthrie, HRK, ALF, Pog. We can go 4-4-2 for this game as they will not have the same quality as premier league opposition but I expect a tough game.

If we get a one or two signings maybe a good game to introduce them in.

Very much looking forward to going to Crawley.

[LoyalRoyal22]

Play a strong side but rest a few of our key players. Mayaswell use 442 for this aswell

[redscot]

If Reading lose it will be quickly forgotten, so to lose is not the end of the world.

Didn’t Birmingham go on a excellent cup run last season? Before the cup run they looked strong contested to automatic place. As long as there is a glimmer of hope that Reading will stay up then that has to be the main concern. If you have fringe players in your stall (and pay them, too) you might as well use them. I really liked Coppells view on this.

[MouldyRoyal]

Feds

Cummings
Morrison
Gorkss
Shorey

McCleary
Tabb
Guthrie
HRK

Le Fondre
Samuel

[SHORT AND CURLY]

Morrison and Roberts if fit should get a run out with Mcleary and Tabb involved. Perhaps Taylor in goal.

I don't think we should under estimate Crawley they will probably be up for it.

[Optimist]

Not bothered either way.

In the last few years going on a cup run has kick-started great league form, and going out straight away has allowed us to kick-start great league form! I'd expect about 5 or 6 changes, but bringing in Shorey, Morrison, Cummings, HRK, Tabb, Le Fondre et al won't exactly dent my confidence.