That's the reward if we can overcome Sheffield Wednesday to make the last eight of the F A Cup. The Owls remain a formidable obstacle and I don't think the Tuesday evening rescheduling will help our cause, especially as they know the reward for beating us, but it's not Mission Impossible. I was hoping for a home tie and a shot against one of the top sides left in it, but the Blades would represent a realistic chance for us to make our first cup semi in a major competition since we won the trophy 67 years ago.
Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, if we were to see Wednesday off, the match at Bramall Lane would be played on 7th or 8th March, the weekend of the Watford away game. That would mean another game in hand but it would be a nice problem to have. Given the newness of so many of our current squad, we need as much game time as we can get, so these cup matches are welcomed. I would settle for a semi-final defeat at Wembley if it helped us refocus our league form and put a run together with the games in hand to haul ourselves out of trouble. I guess the odds favour us slumping out at Hillsborough and losing a six-pointer to the Lions once again when United entertain Wednesday in a Steel City derby.
If we are to beat Wednesday, I can't help thinking Chris Powell needs to be far more positive than his team selection for the postponed fixture at Hillborough. Marin Sordell was again picked to start upfront. I'm sorry, but he's shown us he has very little in his locker and just why he has been loaned out by struggling Bolton. Goocnhannejhad and Peter the Pole may yet be unproven but I'd throw them into the fray rather than watch Sordell fire another blank.
Jordan Cousins isn't a winger either but Powell again sought to play him out wide to accommodate Jackson and Poyet. I am in the 100% Powell backing camp but he's not going to get his contract renewed without winning more games and he must be more positive if we are to have any chance of that. It was interesting to hear Richard Murray's prepared answer to the question about Powell's future at Thursday City supporters gathering - "it's a result business." I don't think he could have been any more specific and you know that he is repeating Duchatelet's view.
Without getting too far ahead of ourselves, if we were to see Wednesday off, the match at Bramall Lane would be played on 7th or 8th March, the weekend of the Watford away game. That would mean another game in hand but it would be a nice problem to have. Given the newness of so many of our current squad, we need as much game time as we can get, so these cup matches are welcomed. I would settle for a semi-final defeat at Wembley if it helped us refocus our league form and put a run together with the games in hand to haul ourselves out of trouble. I guess the odds favour us slumping out at Hillsborough and losing a six-pointer to the Lions once again when United entertain Wednesday in a Steel City derby.
If we are to beat Wednesday, I can't help thinking Chris Powell needs to be far more positive than his team selection for the postponed fixture at Hillborough. Marin Sordell was again picked to start upfront. I'm sorry, but he's shown us he has very little in his locker and just why he has been loaned out by struggling Bolton. Goocnhannejhad and Peter the Pole may yet be unproven but I'd throw them into the fray rather than watch Sordell fire another blank.
Jordan Cousins isn't a winger either but Powell again sought to play him out wide to accommodate Jackson and Poyet. I am in the 100% Powell backing camp but he's not going to get his contract renewed without winning more games and he must be more positive if we are to have any chance of that. It was interesting to hear Richard Murray's prepared answer to the question about Powell's future at Thursday City supporters gathering - "it's a result business." I don't think he could have been any more specific and you know that he is repeating Duchatelet's view.
Before Saturdays postponement, I fancied us getting at least a draw, however, with the next round draw as it is, I can't see anything but a Wednesday win.
ReplyDeleteI'm in total agreement regarding Sordell, Powell needs to do something pdq, if he has any chance of saving us or himself.
PH
We seem locked-in to Sordell season-long. A terrible waste of resources, and hard to figure that he has 14 U-21 caps, gained during a time when the team regularly got to finals. As to new acquisitions, are we sure CP will have a say, unless they happen to be ex-Leicester or former Addicks Academicians? Going to be KM and RD, innit?
ReplyDelete8 March is when we host Udinese (Vicarage Rd Branch) according to the fixture list, Dave. Not that that affects your prediction, and my fear that we may be solely engaged in Championship survival by then. The showdown at the Toolbox is on the Ides of March. Hmm....comment not needed.
Geoff - thanks, had it down wrongly in my calendar. I knew I had a good excuse for not going - I will be at the Millenium Stadium watching Scotland's clean sweep in the 6 Nations.
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