With transfer talk on the increase, the matter of our FA Cup tie at Leeds has taken a back seat with the press but as the weekend approaches, attention is starting to turn.
We may have moved easily past Coventry in the last round but on paper at least, Leeds look to be a more daunting prospect. Their form in the league is inconsistent – they’ve lost three and drawn three of their last six in the Championship but the danger away from home is always there and it’s a fact that skipper Michael Dawson Acknowledges.
“It’s another tough game,” Dawson said. “We were there a few years ago in the FA Cup. We had them down here at White Hart Lane and then had the replay up there, so it’s one we look forward to and hopefully we can progress to the next round.”
The games that Michael refers to came at the same stage of the competition in 2010 and in the first match at White Hart Lane, a late Jermain Beckford penalty took the game to a replay. In the second game at Elland Road, Leeds kept the score at 1-1 until the 73rd minute before Jermain Defoe scored. JD then added another in injury time to complete his hat trick and seal a 3-1 win.
Sunday’s match could be equally close but will Leeds push us all the way or should this current Spurs side secure a more comfortable passage to the fifth round?
[…] Daws expects tough cup test jQuery(document).ready(function($) { postID = 1068186; if (jQuery("#jockspin_carousel_"+postID).length > 0){ jQuery("#jockspin_carousel_"+postID).hide(); } }); With transfer talk on the increase, the matter of our FA Cup tie at Leeds has taken a back seat … […]
I would like a good cup run but I think the Europa League will/should take priority over the FA cup this year. As much as I would love to see the lads walk out at Wembley for a major cup final, we simply do not have the squad, at present, to compete on THREE fronts.
The reasons I believe the Europa should take priority over the FA, this season are:
1. An English club is yet to win the competition in its current format. To become the first would be something special.
2. Winning the Europa League would enhance/cement our growing reputation around Europe, more so than than an FA cup triumph.
3. The experience of winning a European comp would be amazing for our young squad, and would set us up perfectly for an assault on the Champions League.
While I’m not dismissing the FA cup in any shape or form, I just feel that for the LONG-TERM benefit of the club, winning the Europa League carries more in terms of a lasting effect!
Leeds are in turmoil right now so the ideal time to play them. Their defence is a disaster and goals hard to come by, Bechio unlikely to start. We have a chance of winning this one perhaps sneaking it in the replay provided, as expected, Leeds send out their reserve team. There is very little between the teams. Varney the danger man.