A couple that are good friends of mine contacted me the other day to invite me on holiday with them. Two weeks in Turkey, fly out on 20th May, cheap as chips.
Now, as someone who hasn’t had a proper holiday in four or five years this should have been a no-brainer, but I stalled on the answer to check on the date of the FA Cup Final.
Now, luckily it doesn’t clash and it’s a good job too as I genuinely feel there could be a cup run in the offing. Or I did. Then there was the draw….
Sunday was a day of feeling good, I woke up beaming after witnessing a fantastic display against Chelsea, I’d settled down to watch MK Dons v Wimbledon and was preparing myself for the third round draw.
Lengthy discussions with my mate Pressbox had led us to believe that home to Chelsea would see us through to the fourth round. Unfortunately not, Manchester United were drawn after our ball and it is them, and their cup pedigree visiting The Boleyn Ground in early January.
Would it be unreasonable though to think that maybe we could beat United? Should we go all out and put the first team lot out instead of resting them for the league games? Well, my opinion, for what it’s worth, is we should.
Sir Alex will most likely rest a few players and we showed at Old Trafford that we have the ability to put up a good performance.
RVP’s deflected goal aside, we showed that we were able to match them. With a home crowd baying and under the lights, Manchester United will not relish playing us. Put into the equation that if we can get past United, one of the bigger guns and favourites will be out, it would not only give us renewed confidence, but also leave an easier route to the final.
With that in mind I believe we should only go for it on one condition.
Assuming we finish December well and our position in the table is stable then we have nothing to lose in the Cup. Sam is doing a good job and I don’t feel it would distract him or our side. If we reinforced the squad in January as well to provide more depth in the team then the risk of tired legs could be covered for inevitable fixture congestion.
Yes, it won’t be easy and I’m not for one minute saying we’ll get past United BUT I am allowed to dream. And if we got through at the expense of Sir Alex and had our first season up culminating in another trip to Wembley, then I could rest happy on my sun-lounger in Turkey.
Come On You Irons!
Smudgy
@TheRobTaylor32
