Magic of the FA Cup fails to bewitch EPL club managers
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Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder said he meant no disrespect to the FA Cup in making wholesale changes to his line-up for Sunday鈥檚 2-1 win over non-league Fylde.
The 52-year-old 鈥 whose line was echoed by many of his fellow English Premier League managers 鈥 said he intended to field a strong side originally.
However, he revised his decision after seeing the impact two high-profile away matches in quick succession against defending champion Manchester City and league leader Liverpool 鈥 on December 29 and January 2, respectively 鈥 had had on his players.
Wilder鈥檚 second-string team secured its place in the fourth round in front of just 11,000 spectators in a stadium that has a capacity of over 32,000 further tarnishing the old adage of the 鈥榤agic of the Cup鈥.
鈥淲hen I saw the draw a few weeks ago I was going to play a strong side,鈥 said Wilder.
鈥淏ut just looking at how the boys were, and the intensity of the fixtures coming up, I decided not to.鈥
Wilder, whose then second-tier side was knocked out by non-league Barnet in the third round last year, said times had changed in respect to the FA Cup and the strength of the teams fielded by the top-tier sides. 鈥淚 have full respect for the Championship, that is intense,鈥 he said.
鈥淏ut at this level, we go to Manchester City and then Liverpool away from home. That is really intense.
鈥淵ou never used to see many changes in the third round but the introduction, rise and growth of the Premier League means that鈥檚 by far the biggest competition in this country.鈥
Whilst Wilder got away with so many changes his Aston Villa counterpart Dean Smith did not. After making nine to his starting line-up his club lost 1-2 to Championship side Fulham 鈥 the fourth successive year it has failed to progress to the fourth round.
However, Smith had an eye on both this week鈥檚 League Cup semifinal first-leg clash with Leicester and also a battle to avoid making an immediate return to the Championship.
鈥淲hile the FA Cup means an awful lot to us, it鈥檚 not top of our priority list given the injuries we鈥檝e got and the games coming up,鈥 he said.
鈥淚t was an opportunity for players to show me they want to be in the first team.鈥
Fellow struggler Norwich also made sweeping changes, eight in all 鈥 although one less than its second-tier opponent Preston North End 鈥 but ran out a 4-2 victor. That gives manager Daniel Farke food for thought for his team selection ahead of next weekend鈥檚 trip to Manchester United.
鈥淎 win is always good for the confidence, always good for the feeling,鈥 the German said.
鈥淎lso for several players who came into the side it was a good performance, so there will be more competition on the training pitch.鈥
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