I want us to try to win the FA Cup, but i can understand that at some point it becomes a bridge too far. With hindsight, i'm not sure we would have made the top 4 last season if we had gone full strength against Chelsea. Our form was bad enough without a fixture pile-up or a third demoralising defeat for our best XI on the bounce. We might have struggled more with the Capital One Cup final going to extra time just a week later too.
At the moment, there's no reason to think that way though. We've got 8 days to recover after the West Ham game. We've a free week ahead of the 4th round, and home to Monaco a few days after the 5th round could have been a lot worse. Much will depend on the draw, but we're certainly due a favourable home tie eventually.
I'd like to see us play a strong team against West Ham, albeit i'd take the opportunity to give one or two young players a run out. I'd particularly like to see one of Garcia (or failing that Maffeo) starting and potentially using the game to introduce Gabriel Jesus, but i'd support that by surrounding them with our stronger first XI players. Staying in the competition would give us more games to utilise the fringe players, but throwing them all in at once benefits nobody.
It probably is our most realistic chance of a trophy this season, so while that's the case, it should remain pretty high on our list of priorities.
At the moment, there's no reason to think that way though. We've got 8 days to recover after the West Ham game. We've a free week ahead of the 4th round, and home to Monaco a few days after the 5th round could have been a lot worse. Much will depend on the draw, but we're certainly due a favourable home tie eventually.
I'd like to see us play a strong team against West Ham, albeit i'd take the opportunity to give one or two young players a run out. I'd particularly like to see one of Garcia (or failing that Maffeo) starting and potentially using the game to introduce Gabriel Jesus, but i'd support that by surrounding them with our stronger first XI players. Staying in the competition would give us more games to utilise the fringe players, but throwing them all in at once benefits nobody.
It probably is our most realistic chance of a trophy this season, so while that's the case, it should remain pretty high on our list of priorities.