hull post match (5-4 pens) 1-1 aet

[Guest MattP]

Like it or not, money matters - its not about the gap within the Prem, its about the gap between the Prem and the championship. If we went down this season by playing our best team in every game, including the league cup, so that our top players get injured and we're forced to play a second string in the league, it would be pretty irresponsible in terms of the club's long term financial position. We've been in adminstation once thanks to getting relegated just as we'd built a new ground.

 

Totally agree with the above comment about taking it slowly, building up over time. A championship club can afford to through everything at a League cup game against the 'big boys' - we are one of the 'big boys' now, or should be aiming to be, and part of that is using the resources at yr disposal tactically. As I said, if we'd scraped a 1-0, noone would be moaning.

 

But we bought on Vardy and Mahrez last night? We were prepared to risk our top players, Vardy played over half a normal game, if the concern is really injuries then why are they even risked? I've said it before and I'll say it again, money is overrated, look at our team now, the better players cost peanuts, it's the higher priced players that have more often than not been the let down.

 

Hull rested eight players last night as well. And if we had won you are right, no one would be moaning, that's a chance the managers takes with his seleection, you could say that about any game, how about playing all the youth team at the weekend as well? Me might lose, but if we won, no one would be moaning would they?

[Harry - LCFC]

We HAVE to focus on the league more than a cup. 

 

Premier league survival is worth £100,000,000+ in kept revenue, Just because we are 5th does not mean we can not still end up in a survival scrap (although I doubt it now this season we look pretty safe) 

 

Give it another season then I'll care about cups, although this was a fantastic opportunity with arsenal and chelsea out. 

 

The translation of what you've just said is that you don't want to win the League Cup.

 

If you aren't prepared to go for it now you never will be - I don't believe you when you say you'll care next season. Next season we might 'only' be 8th at this stage and you'll be scrambling for excuses once more. What you want is to see your club tread water in mid-table ad infinitum because you've convinced yourself that relegation is a strong possibility and would be a disaster if it were to happen.

[EGBFitness]

Do you think winning that trophy got them relegated? Whether they won or lost that final it wouldn't have mattered anyway given what happened to their chairman soon afterwards. Had he chosen Prem to your question he would still be sat watching a Championship team now, he just wouldn't have had the trips to Europe and the League Cup win to go with it.

You don't seriously think that had they decided to go out the early rounds that with a reserve team they would still have PL status now surely?

That's not what I'm trying to say at all. I'm saying that as a fan he said he would of preferred the cup rather than premier league survival, which at that point they were pretty safe if memory serves me right which is probably why he said cup as he probably didn't think they would get relegated anyways.

Yes what happened to the club etc had nothing to do with winning the cup but sometimes that distraction sometimes isn't neccisarily a good thing.

But they took the league for granted and their club is now a mess. Not saying the same would happen to us but sometimes it's worth looking at what the priorities are rather than just having a good cup run.

So if we actually managed to get a spot in Europe this year because we have prioritised the league you would wish that we had focused more on the cup?

[Guest MattP]

That's not what I'm trying to say at all. I'm saying that as a fan he said he would of preferred the cup rather than premier league survival, which at that point they were pretty safe if memory serves me right which is probably why he said cup as he probably didn't think they would get relegated anyways.

Yes what happened to the club etc had nothing to do with winning the cup but sometimes that distraction sometimes isn't neccisarily a good thing.

But they took the league for granted and their club is now a mess. Not saying the same would happen to us but sometimes it's worth looking at what the priorities are rather than just having a good cup run.

So if we actually managed to get a spot in Europe this year because we have prioritised the league you would wish that we had focused more on the cup?

 

But you said "look where they are now" - you were implying winning the cup had some impact on their position now, it simply hasn't, they would still be a shitty Championship side now had he picked Prem survival that season given what happened to them.

 

If it's worth looking at our priorities would you even bother with a go at the FA Cup either in a few months? If we've dropped to 10th-12th and are still ten points off the "magic 40" shall we make sure we go out just in case a longer cup run means we have a danger of injuries?

 

If we get a Europa League spot through the league then great, but I'll still not be convinced that playing the reserves away at Hull in October was the reason for that.

[catfordfox]

But we bought on Vardy and Mahrez last night? We were prepared to risk our top players, Vardy played over half a normal game, if the concern is really injuries then why are they even risked? I've said it before and I'll say it again, money is overrated, look at our team now, the better players cost peanuts, it's the higher priced players that have more often than not been the let down.

 

Hull rested eight players last night as well. And if we had won you are right, no one would be moaning, that's a chance the managers takes with his seleection, you could say that about any game, how about playing all the youth team at the weekend as well? Me might lose, but if we won, no one would be moaning would they?

 

Presumably he hoped that he could bring on vardy and mahrez for the last 15 of normal time and they'd be able to nick it. Which almost happened. That's not the same as saying 'play the youth team', its using the resources he has at his disposal strategically, in a situation where we clearly don't have that much strength in depth in key positions.

[davieG]

Highlights on Sky if interested

 

http://www.skysports.com/football/hull-city-vs-leicester/live/351755

[EGBFitness]

But you said "look where they are now" - you were implying winning the cup had some impact on their position now, it simply hasn't, they would still be a shitty Championship side now had he picked Prem survival that season given what happened to them.

If it's worth looking at our priorities would you even bother with a go at the FA Cup either in a few months? If we've dropped to 10th-12th and are still ten points off the "magic 40" shall we make sure we go out just in case a longer cup run means we have a danger of injuries?

If we get a Europa League spot through the league then great, but I'll still not be convinced that playing the reserves away at Hull in October was the reason for that.

So a congested couple of months with some big games coming up wouldn't have any impact on that?

Quarters are 2 days after Man Utd game and days before Swansea game

December-

Swansea, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Man City

FA Cup 3rd Round

Jan-

Bournemouth, Spurs, Villa and Stoke with I think another FA Cul round and 2 Semi Finals to play!

We have a history of hitting abit of a slump this time of year anyways but depending where we are after this will give us a good idea about how our season will play out whether it's survival or going for Europe. There's some big games in there that we can take or give a good go at and really help us keep up the league.

Was you convinced when the 'reserves' beat a full strength West Ham team? What about some of the players who played last night, do you not feel like they are or should be pushing for a spot in the first team?

Yes I would like to see a good cup run (including your question about FA Cup) but as I've mentioned I'm more bothered about the league as we have something to play for in it. Just cause we're out the cup doesn't mean that we are a money grabbing Newcastle with no ambition.

[Dan]

Think its pretty clear that if we lost Vardy, Mahrez or Drinkwater through injury the spine of the team would collapse. We've got to keep those players fit and free from injury. We just don't have the strength in depth atm. The Prem has to be the priority, especially with the big money kicking in at the end of the season. It's not 1997 anymore. Can totally understand why he's picking the second string for the League Cup, and then bringing on our top players at the end to try to win it. If we'd nicked it 1-0 last night, no one would be moaning.

 

We cannot go through seasons fearing the worst all of the time. It's a completely detrimental mindset to have. I'm not saying you're wrong about losing the spine of our team, but Mahrez is just as likely to get injured at West Brom this weekend than he is by playing at Hull.

 

We're getting firmly stuck in a cycle here. I can appreciate it a bit more if you're newly promoted - but honestly, we aren't going down this year. We just aren't. It was freak for a team to start that well last year and end up in such trouble in itself, let alone go on to beat the drop in the way we did. It would be a total freak if us, Palace or West Ham get relegated this season from here. It would take a complete capitulation, which I accept isn't impossible, but if we do it won't be because we named a full strength side against Hull.

 

We got away with it against West Ham, West Ham didn't turn up one bit, you put those two XI's against each other again, we'd likely lose.

 

I can respect making a few changes with a game at the weekend, but the whole team? It just reeks of contempt. If our long term ambition is to make up the numbers in a league rather than make a name for ourselves then I'll quickly get turned off by this sport.

[Dan]

Exactly. So weird to think there are supporters who don't think we should be trying to win things every season. Why do they even follow football?

 

Accepting that dross this year is firmly putting yourself into the Sunderland/Newcastle category - ie totally happy to make up the numbers and never achieve anything.

[Dan]

I find it amazing that when we field basically the same team in the cup against a non-changed strong West Ham it's how great CR is and how it's important to rotate/give squad members a chance to shine etc but when we go out in the next round by penalties it's how CR has got it all wrong etc

The thing is we have a big squad here, we have probably one of the most competitive squads we have ever had and on paper you would like to think that the team played last night could of finished Hull off.

It has given some regulars an important rest as we have some big league games coming up soon (WBA didn't play last night, so if we turn up Saturday and looked tired from playing 120 mins of football would you moan that we have big squad and should of rotated!!??)

Or what if some of our starters had got injured? Arsenal lost the Ox and Walcott last night. What if Vardy and Kante got injured playing against Hull, would you say then that league cup should of taken priority?

Like any fan I would love to see Leicester and Wembley and lifting a trophy but unfortunately you can't have it all. With the squad we have they also need game time and a chance to shine, some have stated a claim for more of a chance next game and some have failed to prove anything.

I have a friend who's a Birmingham fan, before they won the League Cup I asked if they would take Trophy or Prem. he said trophy, look where they are now

 

Didn't seem to be the case when a Leicester side that lost two key players early doors against Chelsea on a Wednesday night in a high energy game turned up against a Newcastle side who'd had a full weeks rest and completely slaughtered them.

 

Oh and as for Birmingham - well, they have another trophy in their cabinet, they have a memorable night at Brugge and they're looking like possibly coming up this year. Yes they went down, but how do you know if that's what saw them relegated?

 

I just cannot grasp this absolutely bizarre mindset so many fans have that they actually make excuses for the fact they don't have some proper footballing memories created even when the opportunity is there. I've honestly never known anything like it.

[Voll Blau]

So a congested couple of months with some big games coming up wouldn't have any impact on that?

Quarters are 2 days after Man Utd game and days before Swansea game

December-

Swansea, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Man City

FA Cup 3rd Round

Jan-

Bournemouth, Spurs, Villa and Stoke with I think another FA Cul round and 2 Semi Finals to play!

We have a history of hitting abit of a slump this time of year anyways but depending where we are after this will give us a good idea about how our season will play out whether it's survival or going for Europe. There's some big games in there that we can take or give a good go at and really help us keep up the league.

Was you convinced when the 'reserves' beat a full strength West Ham team? What about some of the players who played last night, do you not feel like they are or should be pushing for a spot in the first team?

Yes I would like to see a good cup run (including your question about FA Cup) but as I've mentioned I'm more bothered about the league as we have something to play for in it. Just cause we're out the cup doesn't mean that we are a money grabbing Newcastle with no ambition.

 

Our best chance at silverware isn't something to play for then?

[EGBFitness]

Didn't seem to be the case when a Leicester side that lost two key players early doors against Chelsea on a Wednesday night in a high energy game turned up against a Newcastle side who'd had a full weeks rest and completely slaughtered them.

Oh and as for Birmingham - well, they have another trophy in their cabinet, they have a memorable night at Brugge and they're looking like possibly coming up this year. Yes they went down, but how do you know if that's what saw them relegated?

I just cannot grasp this absolutely bizarre mindset so many fans have that they actually make excuses for the fact they don't have some proper footballing memories created even when the opportunity is there. I've honestly never known anything like it.

That was also against an abysmal Newcastle side who had gone about the last 3 months without a win.

West Brom have started to pick up abit of momentum and are starting to settle down.

If you read back through posts you will see that I'm not exactly saying that just cause you win a cup then your getting relegated but saying from a fans point of view they wanted a cup over league survival. Since their relegation look at the shit the club have been through, yes a lot had to do with their owner and not all down to winning the cup but don't take premier league survival for granted, this club has been through years trying to get back into the premier league, you can't expect to have everything after being back for 1 year.

It's not about having a negative mindset for the club it's about ensuring we have stability and a platform to grow as a club. This club WILL win cups but these things take time.

[EGBFitness]

Our best chance at silverware isn't something to play for then?

How was it? It was quarter finals if we got through and there's still the likes of Stoke, Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool, Everton etc to beat.

It wasn't like we've threw it away in the semis.

[Voll Blau]

How was it? It was quarter finals if we got through and there's still the likes of Stoke, Man Utd, Man City, Liverpool, Everton etc to beat.

It wasn't like we've threw it away in the semis.

 

That still makes it our best chance of silverware. We'd have only had to have beaten three of the teams you listed (at most) to win a trophy if we'd won last night.

[foxfan92]

I don't think we can blame the team selection. It was pretty close to the team many of us picked in the pre match thread and we need to recognise that - while it would be great to win - it's also used as an opportunity for those fringe players to get some game time under their belt and make a case for being in the starting 11. This includes the goalkeeper who needs to get game time in case Kasper picks up an injury - everyone will quickly ask why we hadn't given our number 2 game time in the cups if this happens.

Problem we have with the goalkeeper is we need a better number 2 now - one that is constantly challenging Kasper's position keeping him on his toes and being an almost equal replacement if needed.

I think Mark was once a good keeper and would make a decent coach perhaps but the years have caught up with him now.

Last night highlighted Chiwell gives us plenty of cover in that LB position and I thought De Lat was making a case for a recall (albeit against championship opposition) and these are the positives we can take from the game. The fact we're now out is hugely disappointing but I'd prefer harsh lessons learned in the cup than the league.

We just need to thrash the Baggies on Saturday and erase this match from our memories!

[jerakin]

Lost, oh well.  We all know what the focus needs to be on, the league.  Second string totally made sense.  I wouldn't have even had Mahrez, DD or Vardy on the bench.

 

Only shame is no game time for fringe players, but not a really big deal.

[Dan]

That was also against an abysmal Newcastle side who had gone about the last 3 months without a win.

West Brom have started to pick up abit of momentum and are starting to settle down.

If you read back through posts you will see that I'm not exactly saying that just cause you win a cup then your getting relegated but saying from a fans point of view they wanted a cup over league survival. Since their relegation look at the shit the club have been through, yes a lot had to do with their owner and not all down to winning the cup but don't take premier league survival for granted, this club has been through years trying to get back into the premier league, you can't expect to have everything after being back for 1 year.

It's not about having a negative mindset for the club it's about ensuring we have stability and a platform to grow as a club. This club WILL win cups but these things take time.

 

It won't though, because every single year you're going to face situations like this. These chances don't come every year. We got bloody lucky to run into Hull in this round.

 

I'm not being funny but it will be exactly the same in the FA Cup, and the League Cup next year. There will be excuses based around whatever our league situation is at the time. Honestly - we're 5th in the league, we're most likely not going to finish there, but even less likely to go down. We are in the ideal position to have a proper go at the cup, and we didn't, we gambled with a weak side and lost to a weakened Hull side that I say with 99% confidence our usual first team would've put away.

 

I understand the concept of growing the club, but we completely bottled going for a trophy. I just hope Hull are sent to Man City tonight as that'll make me a little less gutted.

[Guest Col city fan]

I can only presume anyone who doesn't care or is even happy about us going out doesn't remember the MON years? Trips to Wembley and European trips are fantastic things to do.

Really shouldn't need to say this but being a football fan should be about winning trophies, not increasing the bank balance of owners or shareholders.

Hope we never qualify for the Champions league, no point if we can't manage two games a week.

[enmac]

I don't really like it but I accept that the team will be changed quite drastically in games like this. And I suppose I'd have to admit that getting fringe players game time is useful too.

But what I cannot understand is why you'd play Schwarzer in this game. At his age he clearly hasn't got the ability to play in the Premier League any more. He isn't competing with Schmeichel for the first team so there's little reason to give him game time so he can show what he can do - he simply isn't going to get in. There's also no need to 'rest' your goalkeeper.

I'm sorry to say it but I feel quite annoyed at Ranieri for picking him. It wasn't the right choice for the match itself and I can't see any benefit to the team in the long run.

Match practice! In case KS gets injured. Obvious?

[Guest MattP]

What Dan says, these opportunities don't come around very often, a chance at a Quarter final place against a Hull side who made 8 changes with Arsenal and Chelsea going out on the same night? Don't expect those sort of scenarios to come around every year. Fully expecting Hull to draw Sheff Wed at home tonight and two big sides to be drawn together to compound the misery.

 

I don't believe the people saying "we'll have a proper go next year" either, I'm sure they'll be some excuse next, I doubt we will be in such a strong league position for a start, if we aren't going to have a go a full go a cup because we are scared of relegation when we are 3 points off the top of the league in November then when ever will we?

 

And before anyone accuses me as being anti-Ranieri on this I was just as mad at Pearson last season for the weaker team he put out against Villa in the latter stages of the FA Cup and Shrewsbury early doors.

[Footballwipe]

We cannot go through seasons fearing the worst all of the time. It's a completely detrimental mindset to have. I'm not saying you're wrong about losing the spine of our team, but Mahrez is just as likely to get injured at West Brom this weekend than he is by playing at Hull.

 

We're getting firmly stuck in a cycle here. I can appreciate it a bit more if you're newly promoted - but honestly, we aren't going down this year. We just aren't. It was freak for a team to start that well last year and end up in such trouble in itself, let alone go on to beat the drop in the way we did. It would be a total freak if us, Palace or West Ham get relegated this season from here. It would take a complete capitulation, which I accept isn't impossible, but if we do it won't be because we named a full strength side against Hull.

 

We got away with it against West Ham, West Ham didn't turn up one bit, you put those two XI's against each other again, we'd likely lose.

 

I can respect making a few changes with a game at the weekend, but the whole team? It just reeks of contempt. If our long term ambition is to make up the numbers in a league rather than make a name for ourselves then I'll quickly get turned off by this sport.

 

Where does the cycle end? Would people take this highly hypothetical and exaggerated situation...

 

Don't take the LC or FAC seriously because we need to stay in the league and establish ourselves

 

Once established, don't take the LC or FAC seriously because we want to focus on finishing fifth.

 

Once we finish fifth, no point focusing on the LC, FAC or EL because we want to focus on finishing in the top four

 

Once we finish in the top four, no point focusing on the LC, FAC or UCL because we want to focus on maintaining in the top four, and if we dropped into the EL forget that too, it's a distraction.

 

Suddenly you're not focusing on cup competitions to get as high as possible in the league and qualify for... a cup competition. Each team is guaranteed £99m from next season. There's extra for finishing higher but it won't make groundbreaking difference. What will is being in Europe. Our best chance of getting to the UCL is through the Europa League, let's face it. Yet people don't want us to win these trophies which qualify us for the tournaments that can propel us to a European adventure and the tiny chance of getting to the pinnacle of European club competition.

 

Where does it end? When do those people decide it's time for us to have a cup run and go for it? There's no set rule that EL equals relegation. It might cause a drop in league position of a couple of places but let's go for it. How many seasons will we need to secure ourselves in the league? Fulham had been in for 11 years and dropped. Freak seasons and issues can arise at any time. Claudio is 64, he's going at some point in the next five years, the next manager might be guff and take us down. Why not enjoy what he's building here and go for it?

 

No-one is really disputing the team selection, but the manner of the defeat. Those XI out there last night SHOULD have had the quality to win, and they were outplayed.

 

All of the above is preposterous hypothesising but it echos Dan's point. When does it stop? When do we go for a cup run and enjoy the glory, because we're Leicester City, we're always going to go into a PL season looking over our shoulder, initially.

[Dan]

What Dan says, these opportunities don't come around very often, a chance at a Quarter final place against a Hull side who made 8 changes with Arsenal and Chelsea going out on the same night? Don't expect those sort of scenarios to come around every year. Fully expecting Hull to draw Sheff Wed at home tonight and two big sides to be drawn together to compound the misery.

 

I don't believe the people saying "we'll have a proper go next year" either, I'm sure they'll be some excuse next, I doubt we will be in such a strong league position for a start, if we aren't going to have a go a full go a cup because we are scared of relegation when we are 3 points off the top of the league in November then when ever will we?

 

And before anyone accuses me as being anti-Ranieri on this I was just as mad at Pearson last season for the weaker team he put out against Villa in the latter stages of the FA Cup and Shrewsbury early doors.

 

It was exactly the same last year as well when we lost at Villa. West Brom at home and Liverpool (who were diabolical at the time) at Wembley on route to a final, and Villa were very beatable.

 

I sympathise with the managers to an extent as they're in a lose/lose, it's just a problem with football in general and one we seem to be happy to abide to. It's poisonous.

[filbertway]

Highlights on Sky if interested

 

http://www.skysports.com/football/hull-city-vs-leicester/live/351755

 

Not going to bother, but I imagine it's along the lines of... Schwarzer throwing the ball into the goal, the 2 goals, Mahrez's miss and Meyler's winning pen. Easiest highlight compilation ever.

[davieG]

Not going to bother, but I imagine it's along the lines of... Schwarzer throwing the ball into the goal, the 2 goals, Mahrez's miss and Meyler's winning pen. Easiest highlight compilation ever.

Mostly Hull attacking, Schwarzer stretching to save a shot and pusingh it out towards a Hull player to score but should have been stopped before. All the penalties.

[Gerard]

so devastated, what a chance missed for a trophy after arsenal and probably chelsea out

 

That annoyed be as much as getting knocked out.

 

If we were going to win it then we would probably have to beat two of the big four but with Chelsea and Arsenal out then the competition is now wide open for a club to win it that doesn't normally win trophies. I'll be even more annoyed if Hull get a good draw tonight.