Agree on inbound business, obviously, but disagree on the importance of this competition to LUFC during 2023-24. Fewer fixtures is good news, particularly as the Championship is more important, more intense, is longer and has more games than PL. I'm not holding my breath on incomings and we're not exactly teeming with options from the bench. I'm sure Farke's not that bothered.

Going out to Salford in a penalty shootout is not exactly brilliant, of course, but this is the magic of cup competition. This sort of exit can happen to anyone - we battered them otherwise from what I can gather. Looking back, this exit does not compare at all to (inexplicably) losing 3-0 to Crawley under Bielsa.

Got to put setbacks like this in a reasonable context.

Rutter? He'll learn - and maybe he won't - but we should be suing Orta or something...

And I hope we can hold on to Meslier - Darlow's a dud!

comment by Jaz63 (U8369)
posted 14 minutes ago
Agree on inbound business, obviously, but disagree on the importance of this competition to LUFC during 2023-24. Fewer fixtures is good news, particularly as the Championship is more important, more intense, is longer and has more games than PL. I'm not holding my breath on incomings and we're not exactly teeming with options from the bench. I'm sure Farke's not that bothered.

Going out to Salford in a penalty shootout is not exactly brilliant, of course, but this is the magic of cup competition. This sort of exit can happen to anyone - we battered them otherwise from what I can gather. Looking back, this exit does not compare at all to (inexplicably) losing 3-0 to Crawley under Bielsa.

Got to put setbacks like this in a reasonable context.

Rutter? He'll learn - and maybe he won't - but we should be suing Orta or something...

And I hope we can hold on to Meslier - Darlow's a dud!
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Of course league is focus, but to do that we need players who are ready.

How are Bate, Hjelde, Darlow etc going to be ready if they never get any first team minutes.

That is what Cup is for.

Every time we go out of a cup, we have a dip in form, going back years, it shouldn't happen to us, but it does, and momentum is a massive thing, cup is important for that too.

I trust in Farke, but he needs more players.

A few months ago, Meslier was worst keeper we've ever had, in pre season, doesn't look interested, need to sell him, Darlow's in, going to be number one, now hoping Meslier doesn't leave!

He was never a bad keeper!

Minus Piroe, that was pretty much full strength and couldn't beat them over 98 minutes. Sini may have made a difference had he started but its a bit worrying that we only drew.

Need a few players in, midfield and full back especially. Probably need a striker to cover Piroe if he's absent.

Things we learned

We badly missed a striker last night.
Hjelde is not a left back and should not be played there.
Rutter - still have doubts and think hes a winger.
Darlow looked uncomfortable all night but its early days for him

More positive notes:

Ampadu was excellent again
Shackleton is a very useful squad player.

Don't think you read too much into last night Darlow miles off being good enough as he showed in the penalties, now hope Mes does stay, Shaks had a reasonable game but he is a utility player and we need better at right back, maybe the new lad or Bill, Charlie and Struijk iooked OK but will not be our starting CB pairing very often. Left back remains an issue through the whole club. We Looked fine in midfield but still need to recruit (the Japanese lad?). Up front was nothing like what it will look like full strength, Rutter again out of position, I like the lad.

Must admit, I had to tune out of the match day thread last night the moment people started with the ‘I’m not bothered about this cup’ comments. So short sighted it’s unbelievable.

Darlow? He should be ready already, no?

Bate, Gyabi, Hjelde. Yes, of course cup competitions are good for fringe player development, but promotion this season must take priority, no?

Dip in form? Hope not but yes, it always seems to happen after a cup exit. On this occasion, however, I'd argue that we weren't comprehensively beaten, like with the Crawley example.

And Light Brigade, do you always just tune out when you hear something you don't like?

Don't want to seem provocative but I just don't share your opinion on the importance of this game/competition.

comment by Jaz63 (U8369)
posted 12 minutes ago
Darlow? He should be ready already, no?

Bate, Gyabi, Hjelde. Yes, of course cup competitions are good for fringe player development, but promotion this season must take priority, no?

Dip in form? Hope not but yes, it always seems to happen after a cup exit. On this occasion, however, I'd argue that we weren't comprehensively beaten, like with the Crawley example.

And Light Brigade, do you always just tune out when you hear something you don't like?

Don't want to seem provocative but I just don't share your opinion on the importance of this game/competition.
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Everyone needs some match play, practice never the same.

We got a good manager who knows what it takes, fingers crossed for a bounce back v Sheff Weds.

comment by Jaz63 (U8369)
posted 1 hour, 7 minutes ago

And Light Brigade, do you always just tune out when you hear something you don't like?

Don't want to seem provocative …
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👍😁

In fairness to Light, don't remember the fans calling it a 'Mickey Mouse Cup' back in '68 - our first major piece of silverware.

comment by The Light Brigade (U22847)
posted 4 hours, 3 minutes ago
Must admit, I had to tune out of the match day thread last night the moment people started with the ‘I’m not bothered about this cup’ comments. So short sighted it’s unbelievable.
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Absolutely spot on. The same folk would be clambering for tickets if we ever got near the final. Club should make a record of folks comments and when we finally get to the final they can put them bottom of the list.

Have any of these garbage cup exits ever helped us have a successful season after?

Have Man City’s Efl cup exploits of late crushed any of their seasons?

Good teams win football games.

comment by Elsbels - Man of colour (U21658)
posted 7 hours, 51 minutes ago
Don't think you read too much into last night Darlow miles off being good enough as he showed in the penalties, now hope Mes does stay, Shaks had a reasonable game but he is a utility player and we need better at right back, maybe the new lad or Bill, Charlie and Struijk iooked OK but will not be our starting CB pairing very often. Left back remains an issue through the whole club. We Looked fine in midfield but still need to recruit (the Japanese lad?). Up front was nothing like what it will look like full strength, Rutter again out of position, I like the lad.
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Change like the weather. You wanted Meslier out, now you want him in. Cresswell would be Leeds main defender this season and now the pairing with Struijk won’t be a fixture.

comment by Kebablegs (U17699)
posted 1 hour, 6 minutes ago
comment by Elsbels - Man of colour (U21658)
posted 7 hours, 51 minutes ago
Don't think you read too much into last night Darlow miles off being good enough as he showed in the penalties, now hope Mes does stay, Shaks had a reasonable game but he is a utility player and we need better at right back, maybe the new lad or Bill, Charlie and Struijk iooked OK but will not be our starting CB pairing very often. Left back remains an issue through the whole club. We Looked fine in midfield but still need to recruit (the Japanese lad?). Up front was nothing like what it will look like full strength, Rutter again out of position, I like the lad.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Change like the weather. You wanted Meslier out, now you want him in. Cresswell would be Leeds main defender this season and now the pairing with Struijk won’t be a fixture.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
certainly a lot of flip flopping re players and it happened with Orta too.

comment by Kebablegs (U17699)
posted 3 hours, 41 minutes ago
comment by Elsbels - Man of colour (U21658)
posted 7 hours, 51 minutes ago
Don't think you read too much into last night Darlow miles off being good enough as he showed in the penalties, now hope Mes does stay, Shaks had a reasonable game but he is a utility player and we need better at right back, maybe the new lad or Bill, Charlie and Struijk iooked OK but will not be our starting CB pairing very often. Left back remains an issue through the whole club. We Looked fine in midfield but still need to recruit (the Japanese lad?). Up front was nothing like what it will look like full strength, Rutter again out of position, I like the lad.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Change like the weather. You wanted Meslier out, now you want him in. Cresswell would be Leeds main defender this season and now the pairing with Struijk won’t be a fixture.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Darlow was poor in the penalties, I said a while back that Meslier has made some good saves but really what choice is there. I would prefer a better keeper.
All I say is that Charlie and Pascal will not be our starting CB pairing very often. They did OK last night.
I would still prefer a better keeper and we still haven't kept a clean sheet since Jonty was a lad.

comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 2 hours, 40 minutes ago
comment by Kebablegs (U17699)
posted 1 hour, 6 minutes ago
comment by Elsbels - Man of colour (U21658)
posted 7 hours, 51 minutes ago
Don't think you read too much into last night Darlow miles off being good enough as he showed in the penalties, now hope Mes does stay, Shaks had a reasonable game but he is a utility player and we need better at right back, maybe the new lad or Bill, Charlie and Struijk iooked OK but will not be our starting CB pairing very often. Left back remains an issue through the whole club. We Looked fine in midfield but still need to recruit (the Japanese lad?). Up front was nothing like what it will look like full strength, Rutter again out of position, I like the lad.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Change like the weather. You wanted Meslier out, now you want him in. Cresswell would be Leeds main defender this season and now the pairing with Struijk won’t be a fixture.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
certainly a lot of flip flopping re players and it happened with Orta too.
------------------------------------------------------------------

All I have said on Orta was that like all directors of football his job was to identify players based on what a coach said they wanted, his job wasn't so much about scouting but putting data into a computer programme, we want such and such a player, with such and such skills and this is who is out there. Also hat he was unlikely to be solely responsible for the contracts that we ended up with last year. I felt these were much more likely to have come from corporate USA and have needed to have been agreed at a higher level than Orta.

What do you disagree with me on?

I think some of what Orta did was inspired Bielsa for example.

comment by Elsbels - Man of colour (U21658)
posted 7 hours, 7 minutes ago
comment by Kebablegs (U17699)
posted 3 hours, 41 minutes ago
comment by Elsbels - Man of colour (U21658)
posted 7 hours, 51 minutes ago
Don't think you read too much into last night Darlow miles off being good enough as he showed in the penalties, now hope Mes does stay, Shaks had a reasonable game but he is a utility player and we need better at right back, maybe the new lad or Bill, Charlie and Struijk iooked OK but will not be our starting CB pairing very often. Left back remains an issue through the whole club. We Looked fine in midfield but still need to recruit (the Japanese lad?). Up front was nothing like what it will look like full strength, Rutter again out of position, I like the lad.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Change like the weather. You wanted Meslier out, now you want him in. Cresswell would be Leeds main defender this season and now the pairing with Struijk won’t be a fixture.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Darlow was poor in the penalties, I said a while back that Meslier has made some good saves but really what choice is there. I would prefer a better keeper.
All I say is that Charlie and Pascal will not be our starting CB pairing very often. They did OK last night.
I would still prefer a better keeper and we still haven't kept a clean sheet since Jonty was a lad.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Back in black and white then!

comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 1 hour, 18 minutes ago
comment by Elsbels - Man of colour (U21658)
posted 7 hours, 7 minutes ago
comment by Kebablegs (U17699)
posted 3 hours, 41 minutes ago
comment by Elsbels - Man of colour (U21658)
posted 7 hours, 51 minutes ago
Don't think you read too much into last night Darlow miles off being good enough as he showed in the penalties, now hope Mes does stay, Shaks had a reasonable game but he is a utility player and we need better at right back, maybe the new lad or Bill, Charlie and Struijk iooked OK but will not be our starting CB pairing very often. Left back remains an issue through the whole club. We Looked fine in midfield but still need to recruit (the Japanese lad?). Up front was nothing like what it will look like full strength, Rutter again out of position, I like the lad.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Change like the weather. You wanted Meslier out, now you want him in. Cresswell would be Leeds main defender this season and now the pairing with Struijk won’t be a fixture.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Darlow was poor in the penalties, I said a while back that Meslier has made some good saves but really what choice is there. I would prefer a better keeper.
All I say is that Charlie and Pascal will not be our starting CB pairing very often. They did OK last night.
I would still prefer a better keeper and we still haven't kept a clean sheet since Jonty was a lad.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Back in black and white then!
----------------------------------------------------------------------