Swindon Town (A) - FA Cup 3rd Round - Fri 7th Jan, 20:00 | Pre-Match Thread

[mac]

Ffs warm weather training. It's been over 16 degrees in Manchester. Sweating me tads off.

 

[lionheart]

Laporte has left the country so he's definitely not playing on Friday. I wonder if Stones is going to slot in with Ake and maybe Zinchenko to LB?

Would not be surprised if our Portuguese contingent are also allowed home for some seasonal family time with grannies and such like. They all certainly deserve it.

 

[Centurions]

I'd trust Pep to order me a chip muffin and not have eaten any of the chips, but with these Cup games, Cup Final in this instance for Town, a mixture of kids 'n returning players, never having taken the field before, conjures up a feeling of Wigan on a cold wet evening with The Alty Tit waltzing around with the whistle, desperate to flourish a red card.

Given the players have in effect two weeks off I'd play all the kids and if it's a "giant killing" or not, I couldn't give a stuff. Save our energy for the league and the CL.

 

[bobom]

Pep never ever plays a lot of youth players, even in fixtures like this, and will want to keep players on the boil for Chelsea. Palmer might start, but I'd be really surprised if any others do - would love to see a few of them get game time, though.

 

[Fordyboy46]

Pep never ever plays a lot of youth players, even in fixtures like this, and will want to keep players on the boil for Chelsea. Palmer might start, but I'd be really surprised if any others do - would love to see a few of them get game time, though.

Think you're right, probably two kids maximum start this. Palmer and Mbete are the ones I think will start

 

[Deleted member 77198]

I wouldn’t mind seeing a similar number of young lads as the Wycombe at home game.

For once, I’m not too fussed if we go out of the FA Cup like we did the EFL Cup this season… not the best attitude to have and not one I’ve had in the past and I won’t have it in the future neither, but for once I just want to concentrate on the Prem and CL this season while Covid is still here and we only have a small squad I think the more reasonable fixture list will benefit us.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

Would not be surprised if our Portuguese contingent are also allowed home for some seasonal family time with grannies and such like.

Stephen Ireland and Wayne Rooney are also booked on that trip.

 

[MAG]

Right, in @MAG 's great fixture list there's even a
13-day gap between Soton away and FA cup R4.
We'll see.

Yeah I think that's the gap I'm thinking of, almost certain he'll take them away for some warm weather training around then.

Yup, Pep also called it the "international break" after Southampton, when he was counting game by game on what to focus next, he said something like "next in the FA Cup then Chelsea next then Southampton then international break, we'll see" ... I think that's when club has plans for Abu Dhabi trip, as it's two full weeks out. We play Sat 22nd Jan, then nothing till February 9th (Brentford - H), Feb 5/6 could be the FA Cup 4th round should we win our next game ...

Have just updated the calendar with all of Feb TV listings too ...

Fixtures Calendar - 2021/22

Change Log 2022.05.22 - Final calendar with all season's results! 2022.05.20 - Final day TV picks announced 2022.05.05 - CL Final removed 2022.05.03 - Kick-off time (West Ham) changed 2022.04.27 - Postponed (Wolves) fixture scheduled 2022.04.16 - FA Cup Final removed + PL fixture confirmed...

forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk

 

[Tokyo32]

Yup, Pep also called it the "international break" after Southampton, when he was counting game by game on what to focus next, he said something like "next in the FA Cup then Chelsea next then Southampton then international break, we'll see" ... I think that's when club has plans for Abu Dhabi trip, as it's two full weeks out. We play Sat 22nd Jan, then nothing till February 9th (Brentford - H), Feb 5/6 could be the FA Cup 4th round should we win our next game ...

Have just updated the calendar with all of Feb TV listings too ...

Fixtures Calendar - 2021/22

Change Log 2022.05.22 - Final calendar with all season's results! 2022.05.20 - Final day TV picks announced 2022.05.05 - CL Final removed 2022.05.03 - Kick-off time (West Ham) changed 2022.04.27 - Postponed (Wolves) fixture scheduled 2022.04.16 - FA Cup Final removed + PL fixture confirmed...

forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk

I think South American players have international break during that period

 

[Cobra]

Pep never ever plays a lot of youth players, even in fixtures like this, and will want to keep players on the boil for Chelsea. Palmer might start, but I'd be really surprised if any others do - would love to see a few of them get game time, though.

He started 6 academy players vs Wycombe

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

I wouldn’t mind seeing a similar number of young lads as the Wycombe at home game.

For once, I’m not too fussed if we go out of the FA Cup like we did the EFL Cup this season… not the best attitude to have and not one I’ve had in the past and I won’t have it in the future neither, but for once I just want to concentrate on the Prem and CL this season while Covid is still here and we only have a small squad I think the more reasonable fixture list will benefit us.

I think we can do the three. Don't you?

 

[Leeky]

we need the FA cup to get game time for the whole squad and sprinkle a few younger players in the mix

 

[Bluesince1979]

Stefen
Walker ake stones (if fit) zinch
Fern
Grealish gundo
Palmer mcatee jesus

 

[Rmcfc23]

I'd give eveyone a good rest to be honest. We've played a hell of a lot of football recently and I think it showed yesterday against arsenal.

 

[Ethan23]

If Foden is fit to play after covid I'd go with

Steffen

Walker
Stones
Ake
Zinchenko

Fernandinho
Gundogan
Palmer

Grealish
Jesus
Foden

Much needed minutes for the majority of the back 4.

Get Foden and Gundo off after we go a goal up

 

[kun]

Pep never ever plays a lot of youth players, even in fixtures like this, and will want to keep players on the boil for Chelsea. Palmer might start, but I'd be really surprised if any others do - would love to see a few of them get game time, though.

 

[Andouble]

A week rest both before and after this tie. Anyone expecting lots of youngsters will probably be disappointed. It will probably be full strength to keep momentum. Hopefully a McAtee and Palmer cameo off the bench

considering how gassed we looked both Brentford and Arsenal I think we’ll see way less first teamers Than the Leipzig dead rubber. Seems like per Instagram that Laporte and Grealish are out of the country so Pep may have given them all a few days off.

 

[TINY]

I'd give eveyone a good rest to be honest. We've played a hell of a lot of football recently and I think it showed yesterday against arsenal.

Mayve Walker in?

 

[Goater=Legend]

He played Harwood Bellis, Doyle and Garcia against Cheltenham Town. He'll no doubt change it and give the main players rest for Chelsea

 

[i kne albert davy]

He'll pick a team to beat Swindon that's all that matters.