Hull City happy to gamble again: Squad players to face Leyton Orient in FA Cup third round replay
HULL City boss Steve Bruce will have no hesitation taking another selection gamble in tonight's FA Cup third round replay at Leyton Orient, urging his fringe players to make the most of a second chance.
With one eye on a Championship promotion bid, Bruce will again test the depth of his squad as the Tigers attempt to book a safe passage past Orient at the second time of asking this evening.
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Can Nick Proschwitz fire Hull City into the FA Cup fourth round?
Wholesale changes in the first meeting 10 days ago saw City struggle to see off their League One opponents and Bruce's men needed Nick Proschwitz's stoppage-time equaliser to force a replay in a 1-1 draw at the KC.
A fourth round tie at home to Barnsley awaits the winners of the Brisbane Road clash and Bruce wants to see a selection dilemma stirred up ahead of this weekend's trip to Peterborough in the Championship.
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"It's another good chance for a lot of players to go there and give me food for thought," Bruce told the Mail.
"The same challenge was there in the first game but no one stood up and took that chance.
"I want someone to give me a problem. I want someone to stand up and say 'You should be playing me' when the next game comes around.
"The first game 10 days ago will have done them the world of good, I'm sure.
"When you make so many changes to the side, then that's a threat, but it was a risk you have to take when you've got a squad with players who need to play.
"I've got no regrets about that. We didn't want a replay, of course, but that's the task in front of us.
"We're not coming all the way down here for a wasted journey that's for sure. We want to win."
Bruce will be forced into at least four changes from the weekend defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.
Robert Koren (heel), Sone Aluko (Achilles), David Meyler and Robbie Brady (both ineligible) will not feature tonight, leaving Jay Simpson and Proschwitz as the forwards tasked with firing City into the fourth round.
A chance for Simpson will be particularly appreciated after he missed a late penalty in Saturday's 3-1 defeat to the Owls.
Having started the season with five goals in nine games, the 23-year-old has only managed one in the next 18 to fall down the attacking pecking order.
Bruce remains content with Simpson's contributions but admits tonight's game is a chance for him and several players to respond.
"Jay's not scored the goals he would have liked in the last couple of months," said Bruce.
"But then we've not scored as many goals as a team as I would have liked so I'm not going to pin any blame on him.
"He started the season very well and, like any striker, he's judged on how many goals he's scoring.
"Jay always adds something to the team and overall I still believe he's having a good season.
"He'll want to take his chance and get a goal I'm sure but then the same can be said for the likes of Nick Proschwitz and Tom Cairney."
Comments
by davidh9000
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 6:12PM
“JONIB, whislt I agree with you on how managers perceive the FA cup, I cant say I agree with the policy. Winning (or losing) becomes a habit. Teams on a roll are hard to stop, and stuffing around with a teams make up can easily break a winning streak. Indeed look what happened with the Leyton game at KC. We struggled to draw and played like a team which had never been introduced to each other, then changed the team back again on Saturday and that had the same effect.
How often do teams who are having a good cup run end up doing well in the league? I know it doesnt apply to ALL teams but there is certainly enough of a pattern to suggest that a good cup run can mean a good league run as the players gel more and more together. Similarly of course a good league run can also mean a good cup run, IF the team isnt tinkered with every time they take the field.
I suspect managers consider it too risky to field their better players in a lesser competition, but sadly that truly jeapordises the terams ability to extend their winning form and let's face it, IF we beat Orient tonight, then we face a relatively easy 4th round and could then be sitting in the 5th round just two games away from a semi final berth. Not sure aboyut everyone else, but I remember siting in the stands at Stamford Bridge in that final ten minutes in near ectasy as Wagstaffe scored twicew and took us to a home replay. Yes, the early rounds of the cup are less relevant to higher placed teams, but where they lead isnt.
I also have to say that the concept of fielding anything but the best team possible is an insult to the paying public. As fans we fork out a fair bit to see the team play and whilst performances like the one against Leeds would be worth paying double for, I dont think it is fair to ask us to pay the same to see a mix of reserves, juniors and the odd first team players running around with absolutely no understanding of each others game simply because they havent played together before - with the predictable result as an outcome.
Let us hope we get through tonight (if for no other reason because Orient are also depleted) and then get and KEEP our best 11on the field and re commence our amazing run again.
UTT!!!!”
by JONIB
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 3:49PM
“Fred, Bradford was a side issue/point
Main point is the sad irrelevance of the FA Cup, along with the admiration of those who are willing to trek down there.”
by fredflinty
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 1:30PM
“JONIB
I can see you rational but it is more likely to be Swansea than Chelsea in the final”
by JONIB
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 12:47PM
“Burnsey summed this up when we scored in the 94th minute. I think his sarcastic comment was, "Oh joy and happiness". The FA cup is an unfortunate side show now, caused by the influx of money [sky driven] to the leagues. Nobody in their right mind is going to invest his best players into a out dated cup that is driven by out dated passions.
I know it's sad, I remember the Chelsea replay at Boothferry Park, but there's no money in it any more. It is summed up by the average manager, even mid league, using the fixture to have a look at his squad players.
Its only real use is as a cash input to the lower leagues and an opportunity to go to Europe for mid premier league teams.
In saying that, consider this: if Bradford go to Wembley and Chelsea go to Europe through other means, does that mean Bradford go to Europe? Mind blowing.
Hats off to anybody travelling tonight”
by EuroTiger
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 12:37PM
“Rob Tenerife - Did you jet in for the last one then? UTT”
by ianhale1965
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 10:39AM
“After the performance on Saturday I am not suprised SB is ringing the changes again. Seems to be having a problem with the entire squad not playing well. Come guys give us a great performance against Orient. Seize your chance!!!!”
by SteveB1234567
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 10:14AM
“Let's play a formation to suit the players tonight, 4-3-3: Stewart-Proschwitz-Simpson up front, Cairney-Evans-Olofinjana in midfield, Dawson-Bruce-McShane-Rosenior back four.”
by Ambertigerfan
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 9:40AM
“City should really go all out for a win. With Barnsley at City in the next round we have a great chance to make the last 16!
Promotion and the F.A. Cup final in one season: go for it City!”
by RobTenerife
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 8:26AM
“If its the same side as last time, if you are going don't expect a good game”
by footpower
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 8:19AM
“Not happy with what I am reading about Aluka having an achilles problem. This doesn't seem to be going away. Hope it is not going to keep him out of the "league" side.. he looked a little off the pace on Saturday(althought most did...)”