FA Cup: Oldham (H) Buildup & match thread

[DKdan]

I am all for giving the FA cup a real go, and I agree that we will only have one game a week in the future, but the tie comes on the back of a hectic and demanding schedule, and could give us more injuries to worry about if we are not careful.

It's Oldham FFS. I know they won last year but, we are a much better side now.
They are in League 1 on the same 24 points as the teams in the relegation zone. They have shipped 32 goals in the league. If we cant use the squad for this one we are in trouble.

Their players will give everything they got, run all day, and tackle hard. I don't want players we cant afford to lose to be part of that.

And Gerrard should be fine, otherwise he wouldn't have played against Hull in a game we had total control of.

[DKdan]

What a good looking thread title.

[BigChief]

Playing Skrtel and Suarez will be crazy. Lucas we could probably get away with.

Mig
Kelly Toure Agger Cissokho
Lucas Gerrard
Sterling Alberto Moses
Aspas

I'm even tempted to play Coutinho as both Sterling and Coutinho need some serious shooting practice in a match situation.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Would go with as strong a starting XI as possible, and then bring on young players if we were cruising.

There will be a full week until the next competive game and then another six day gap until the game after that, so there will be plenty of recovery time for players.


Last thing we need is to go in against Oldham with an understrength team and find ourselves having to be involved in a rematch, or worse still get knocked out of the FA cup.

We are in two competitions and would like to see us give ourselves the best possible chance to finish as well in both as we can.

[Pablo]

Regardless of what we would all choose, I'm pretty sure Rodgers will choose are pretty much full strength side for this.

[ashey]

Aye, as close to full strength as possible, then make substitutions to rest the more vital players once we're a few up.

[meffin]

Suarez can't play, he will get kicked to bits. Save him, and give him a rest. I rather get knocked out of the cup than Suarez pick up a knock

[G]

Yeah last thing I want is league one cloggers kicking the **** out of Suarez.

[PTP]

be nice to rest some players - problem is we have such a small squad i don't know who we can bring in

[Fosterbloke]

be nice to rest some players - problem is we have such a small squad i don't know who we can bring in

What a tough choice for you to make

[RedAndWhite]

be nice to rest some players - problem is we have such a small squad i don't know who we can bring in

Its not for another few days - we could have signed Mata by then

[Exiled_red]

In an ideal world I would like to rest a number of key players Suarez, Henderson, Lucas could all do with a break IMO Sterling as a young player who has been played a lot should probably also have a break.

I think defensively we can mix it up a bit as this is really the one area where we have depth in the squad. All of Agger, Skrtel, Toure, Kelly and Cissokho should be reasonably fit as Skrtel has probably played the most I would give him a break. I think I would go:

The problem is that in the midfield and attacking areas we lack options, ideally both Henderson and Lucas would be rested and Gerrard wouldn't play the full 90. As Sterling is young and has played a lot recently I would give him a break. Upfront I believe that Sturridge should be back, this being the case I would play his as the lone striker for 45-60 and keep Suarez on the bench. Coutinho and Moses haven't played a lot recently so I would put them both in and Aspas need game time. Alberto too needs game time but I'm not sure where if we were to go attacking he could come in for Lucas and make Gerrard sit, if not perhaps for Coutinho, but I'd like him to play.

I think I'd go:

--------- Mignolet ----------
Kelly --Toure -- Agger Cissokho
----- Gerrard --- Lucas -----
Aspas --- Coutinho --- Moses
----------Sturridge-----------

If the team is doing the business after an hour we could bring on some of the kids Ibe, Illori, Rossiter, Smith etc, if not Suarez, Henderson could come on. I'd like to see Alberto on too if possible.

[Yozza]

Just asked my Oldham supporting colleague his prediction for Sunday.....

His reply?

[Chris]

I think we'll be near full strength for this given its sunday - sunday now for our next two games. Can see Suarez getting 14 or 15 here.

[McDermotX]

Just asked my Oldham supporting colleague his prediction for Sunday.....

His reply?