FA Cup is an opportunity for MM to show strength in depth

SO IT’S Macclesfield Town away in the FA Cup on Saturday and I’m expecting Malky Mackay will take the chance to rest some of his key players.

The Scot did the same thing 12 months ago when he shuffled his pack, although he paid the price of a 4-2 third-round defeat at West Brom.

Mackay has quite a few squad members who badly need to play a match, and the timing looks perfect for one or two of them.

Stephen McPhail has played a few games now for the development team in building up his fitness and it would be fantastic if Tommy Smith was ready for a run-out.


In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mackay has had the FA Cup tie pencilled in as potentially Smith’s return for some time.

Smith (pictured) is going to be a crucial player in the second half of the season and I’d love to see him get at least an hour at Macclesfield.

I’m convinced the likes of Craig Bellamy, Heidar Helguson and Peter Whittingham will get a weekend off and a few others might also get a breather before in-form Ipswich visit the Cardiff City Stadium on January 12.

It promises to be a difficult afternoon at Moss Rose even if Macclesfield are plying their trade in the Conference these days.

The Macc have already won at Swindon in the FA Cup this season and must not be taken lightly.

But it would be good for everybody if guys like McPhail, Etien Velikonja, Filip Kiss and Joe Ralls get a chance to show what they can do.

The FA Cup is an important competition, but it goes without saying that promotion to the Premier League is the priority this season.

The great thing now is that City have enough quality in their squad to rotate a few players and still come through a test like the one on Saturday.

A cup run would be great for the players and the fans... but it’s all about Championship glory this season.



Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z2Gboe5RF9

If he doesn't play Eti then I think that will say it all to me. Something would not be right if he doesn't get a start and i won't see a future for him. He will start though...surely!?!

I disagree. Throw the game. Let the other teams Like palace, blackpool, leicester have cup runs whilst we dont bother with and focus on the league.

I disagree. Throw the game. Let the other teams Like palace, blackpool, leicester have cup runs whilst we dont bother with and focus on the league.

that doesn't make sense to me - we have a development squad now, several of which need game time. Surely this is the ideal opportunity for them to stake their claims to be involved in the senior squad. I don't see how these guys playing will make a difference to what Palace etc do.

I disagree. Throw the game. Let the other teams Like palace, blackpool, leicester have cup runs whilst we dont bother with and focus on the league.

that doesn't make sense to me - we have a development squad now, several of which need game time. Surely this is the ideal opportunity for them to stake their claims to be involved in the senior squad. I don't see how these guys playing will make a difference to what Palace etc do.

Rather Malky's focus be on the league and not cup distractions. His planning, his focus, his tactics all need to be on the next league game ahead. The younger players have a chance to prove themselves in training all the time and if they do it they will get their chance. Kim was deemed ready so got his chance and has done pretty well so far.

I disagree. Throw the game. Let the other teams Like palace, blackpool, leicester have cup runs whilst we dont bother with and focus on the league.

that doesn't make sense to me - we have a development squad now, several of which need game time. Surely this is the ideal opportunity for them to stake their claims to be involved in the senior squad. I don't see how these guys playing will make a difference to what Palace etc do.

Rather Malky's focus be on the league and not cup distractions. His planning, his focus, his tactics all need to be on the next league game ahead. The younger players have a chance to prove themselves in training all the time and if they do it they will get their chance. Kim was deemed ready so got his chance and has done pretty well so far.

Yes, but he can't play them all in the league games no matter how well they do in training. The cup offers an excellent opportunity for Malky to have a good look at the fringe players in case they are needed because of injuries, suspenions etc. He rested many first teamers against WBA last season and we gave them a good game despite the defeat. I don't think he was planning to go out of the Carling Cup so early this time and it has meant that quite a few have missed important game time as a result.

My team would be

-------------------------------lewis------------------------------

connolly--------hudson---------nugent-----------john

ralls----------mcphail----------kiss-----------kimbo

------------------velinkonja--------mason--------------------

subs - parrish , taylor , mcnaughton , conway ,cowie , st luce , gestede ,

lewis in goals is a definate imo
hudson as team captain will want to play everygame and malkey will want his leadership at the back to help the youngsters
mcphail to play whittinghams role with kiss supporting
velinkonja should get the chance to show what he can do but i think gestede may start in front of him alongside mason

MAYBE WE COULD SEE ONE OR TWO NEW SIGNINGS MAKING THERE DEBUTS IN THIS GAME ASWELL HOPEFULLY ???

Lewis

McNaughton Connolly Nugent John

Mutch

Ralls Kiss Kimbo

Gestede Velikonja


Mutch needs match practice and fitness.

Gestede could also do with more game time to practice timing his jumps.

Only problem with that team is no width, so maybe Smith will play some part.

Nothing does my head in more, than people saying "I hope we lose the cup" I wanna win every game, yes its not our objective but its a game Cardiff City are Involved in and I wanna win

As for the side:

Lewis

John Nugent Connolly McNaughton

Cowie Mcphail Kiss Kimbo

Etien Mason?

Really looking forward to this one. I know it'll be a 'B' team, but I'm quite looking forward to seeing the unused subs and future prospects being given a chance to shine and partly justify some of the hefty money that's gone on some of them!!

My first away match since the Scunthorpe match of 1992-93 and with the, hopefully, new generation of CCFC supporters in tow!!

Lewis

McNaughton Connolly Nugent John

Mutch

Ralls Kiss Kimbo

Gestede Velikonja


Mutch needs match practice and fitness.

Gestede could also do with more game time to practice timing his jumps.

Only problem with that team is no width, so maybe Smith will play some part.

This team for me.

----------------------Lewis------------------
Coulson----Connolly----Nugent----John
--------------McPhail----Mutch------------
Smith-----------------------------Kim Bo
-----------Gestede------Etien-------------

Subs: Parish, McNaughton, Kiss, Ralls, Cowie, Mason, Harris (If fit)

----------------------Lewis------------------
Coulson----Connolly----Nugent----John
--------------McPhail----Mutch------------
Smith-----------------------------Kim Bo
-----------Gestede------Etien-------------

Subs: Parish, McNaughton, Kiss, Ralls, Cowie, Mason, Harris (If fit)

.

spot on

I would love to see the subs and unused players to have match practice, It will come in handy for them to have some game time

----------------------Lewis------------------
Coulson----Connolly----Nugent----John
--------------McPhail----Mutch------------
Smith-----------------------------Kim Bo
-----------Gestede------Etien-------------

Subs: Parish, McNaughton, Kiss, Ralls, Cowie, Mason, Harris (If fit)

This is a good squad to go with. I hope etien does make a full debut into the first team. Does anybody know if this game is going to be televised?

My team would be

-------------------------------lewis------------------------------

connolly--------hudson---------nugent-----------john

ralls----------mcphail----------kiss-----------kimbo

------------------velinkonja--------mason--------------------

subs - parrish , taylor , mcnaughton , conway ,cowie , st luce , gestede ,

lewis in goals is a definate imo
hudson as team captain will want to play everygame and malkey will want his leadership at the back to help the youngsters
mcphail to play whittinghams role with kiss supporting

velinkonja should get the chance to show what he can do but i think gestede may start in front of him alongside mason

MAYBE WE COULD SEE ONE OR TWO NEW SIGNINGS MAKING THERE DEBUTS IN THIS GAME ASWELL HOPEFULLY ???

I think Hudson needs a rest . Move Lappin to full back and brink Connolly to centre half