Brum City 1-4 Hudds Town - phew.

Two similarly performing sides, averaging nigh on a point per game,
both with huge goal difference deficits, Albeit,
A full division apart .

partially true. There again NO.
How about one side managing to score in every game played since the beginning of January except for a crushing home defeat v 2nd placed Derby, 3-0. Other than that,
2 away draws, Preston and Town, both games 1-1.
2 away wins at Reading, 2-0. and Sheff Wed 3-1.
And 2 home wins, 1-0 v Burton-FA Cup.. and 3-1 v Sunderland.

= WWLDDWW, So 7 played, 4 wins, 2 draws, 1 defeat, that to 2nd placed Derby.

TOWN.
not such good reading unfortunately.
last 7 played,
1 win, Bolton 2-1 FA Cup.
1 draw, Birmingham, 1-1 FA Cup.
5 defeats,
Leicester 3-0.
West Ham 4-1
Stoke 2-0
Liverpool 3-0
Man United 2-0
The sequence = LWLLDLL

Two thought patterns now from within the TOWN supporters mindset.
a, Not bothered about the FA Cup. Care less if we get knocked out. It will be a relief, and we can concentrate on the Premier league, and put our efforts into surviving this season.
b, We are playing a club a full division lower than ourselves, We should by rights have the players within the squad to see off a struggling Championship side, And a win to boost very low morale and shattered confidence is exactly what we need to set us in the right frame of mind for the vital upcoming Sunday fixture v Bournemouth at the John Smiths.

So, 'a' or 'b'.. Stick or twist. ?

Me personally, Go for the win. I like the FA Cup anyway, and am of the opinion, You should always go out to at least try...whatever the odds, to win every game we compete in. This is where we then go onto the next contentious issue.

Wagner and his latest statements that now we are up against sides where by he thinks we can get a result, ? The tactics will change and we will be playing a different way. Utter arghz imo .
The way we have played throughout January and the game in Feb then..
Every performance has been the same, lack luster intent to attack, surrendering huge portions of the field almost from the kick off. And by his logic of playing that way, which I interpret as a damage limitation strategy,
suggests that he didn't think the Stoke and West Ham games were 'winnable'. Again my opinion, But complete Tripe. Because two of the so called winnable opponents we face shortly are Bournemouth who thumped us 4-0, And Swansea comfortable 2-0 winners, admitted both away fixtures,
But 'nilled' both games. And I really don't need to dig this up, But it's a fact, regardless of who the opposition is, We just can't score a goal.
OK. 2 v Bolton, Struggling, 1 v Birmingham, Struggling -but Improving,
and that seemingly 'one off' v West Han at home.
hardly grounds for optimism.

We have to win this FA Cup replay,
being on a 5 game losing run, the stigma of being knocked out over two legs in a knock out comp against a 'lower' club doesn't bode well at all.
Usually, Surprise results in the Cup comps are where the unfancied team do well in the 1st game. replays are nigh on always where the supposed better side suss out the underdog clean up 2nd time around.
In this particular instance it would appear that looking at 'stats', Town will be that low on confidence, and Birmingham the exact opposite,
Buoyant after two successive wins, and scoring 6 goals in those games,
Being at home too, There seems to be a real possibility that the home side will win on the night,

Again on a personal level, I can't for the life in me fathom out why Town fans wouldn't relish the prospect of ANOTHER crack at that United side after the weekends defeat. The ledger is level don't forget.
And in my eyes, The humiliation of going out to a club from a lower division, when such an attractive tie awaits in the next round.
Come on TOWN..
lets have a real go in this replay. I'd be looking at the rotation players to play out of their socks, to send a message of intent to Wagner that they are really up for the survival fight once back into the premier league duties, and banging on his door loud clear that they are worthy of selection all the while putting real pressure on the regulars who lets be honest, aren't really performing that well recently, A win by the '2nd eleven' against Brum City might just give them the jolt they need to up their personal performances week in week out.

So, my take on it, A win tomorrow night could be more beneficial in more ways than one. We'll see....

"Ah But.. What about the unnecessary risk of getting players injured in a meaningless game"...
That could then be put in the
'c' catagory and open up another line of debate.
Category 'd' could then respond with, as professionals, they should be up for EVERY game with unquestioned enthusiasm.
For every 'fan'. There's a potential 'manager' who knows best ;

Set 'em alight the Blue White....er STRIPES.

United here we come