Premier bid takes priority over cup run – Matt Oakley

[Ultra]

Just before Oakley joined, we meekly surrendered in a cuptie at Southampton. Many on here at that time argued that defeat was a good thing as it allowed us to "concentrate on the league". Look how well that turned out..

With the squad we have, cup runs are not a luxury, but an essential means of giving players quality match-time.

If a team like Burnley can manage both promotion and a cup run, I see no reason why we shouldn't aim to do likewise.

But Oakley's comments, which were presumably sanctioned by management, seem to be preparing the ground for defeat..

[C-man]

But Oakley's comments, which were presumably sanctioned by management, seem to be preparing the ground for defeat..

Not at all. In my opinion he's just making the point that we won't be playing a full strength side, not that we are going out with the 'it doesn't matter if we lose' mentality.

[Thracian]

Wellens hasn't travelled so King will be playing central midfield, as he did last season.

Berner is the other first choice not to travel.

I didn't mean that Wellens would be playing tonight but that he would be selected in our first choice side (if fit) no matter how King plays tonight.

[Thracian]

Just before Oakley joined, we meekly surrendered in a cuptie at Southampton. Many on here at that time argued that defeat was a good thing as it allowed us to "concentrate on the league". Look how well that turned out..

With the squad we have, cup runs are not a luxury, but an essential means of giving players quality match-time.

If a team like Burnley can manage both promotion and a cup run, I see no reason why we shouldn't aim to do likewise.

But Oakley's comments, which were presumably sanctioned by management, seem to be preparing the ground for defeat..

I think I argued that, if that were an example of how he was going to run things, we should get rid of the manager, even after his first game. In retrospect it was probably a pity we didn't.

[Ultra]

I take it you're referring to Holloway here?..

[shen]

Nor do I necessarily think he's as good a defender as King but we'll see. I like Wellens as a footballer but if he doesn't score those 11 goals or more then it will be a major blow to our chances of scoring enough goals to go up. Cos someone has to get em and it can't just be left to Fryatt and Dyer.

But now we have Adams, N'Guessan, Waghorn and Gallagher on top of Wellens. Surely they can manage 11 goals in a season. They've already managed 4 so far, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. I'm sure NP will get a lot out of our set pieces with the aerial strength we have. No doubt Gallagher was identified as a vital provider in that regard.