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Cook: We're Serious About the FA Cup, We Want a Cup Run
Friday, 5th Nov 2021 10:28

Town boss Paul Cook says the Blues will be taking the FA Cup seriously this season and believes the side he picks to face Oldham Athletic at Portman Road in the first round tomorrow won’t be weakened by any changes he makes to the starting XI.

Speaking at the Fans’ Forum in June, Cook outlined the Blues’ approach to the various competitions during the season ahead: “This year we want to be promoted. There’s nothing else on our radar other than promotion.

“That’s top of the list. The FA Cup then is very much second in the list. Historically it’s a great competition to be in.”

He added: “The reality is [that the] league [is] unbelievably number one, FA Cup number two, Carabao Cup and then Papa John’s Trophy.”

At his pre-match press conference ahead of the Latics' visit, Cook was as usual keeping his cards close to his chest regarding his selection but insisted the competition remains one he won’t take lightly.

“Everyone wants managers to tell everyone their teams and different stuff. I can only reiterate how serious we are within the competition,” he said.

“We told our supporters at the start of the season when we’d be making changes. We told them the level of seriousness with which we’ll take each competition.

“We are approaching tomorrow’s game as if it’s the biggest game of our season and that will be reflected in the team selection.”

Following Saturday’s match, the Blues have another cup tie, the Papa John’s Trophy match against Colchester at Portman Road.


“I think for us, as I’ve said, and I don’t want to be giving teams away, I think it’s quite common knowledge how strong a squad we’ve got, 100 per cent,” Cook continued.

“If we were to make some changes tomorrow, does it weaken the team? I don’t think it does, but we are going into the game fully behind the competition and fully behind wanting to win, so we only take each game as it comes.

“I won’t look ahead until Tuesday to Colchester until after the Oldham game and, as I can only reiterate to our supporters, we want to win the game.”

Cook says he wants players battling for places and says his team tomorrow will illustrate the seriousness with which he is taking the FA Cup.

“I think one of the things that I’ve always tried to create at a football club is competition for places where you want lads hungry to come into the team and when they get picked to play a game and perform, your performance shows supporters that you’re ready to play,” he said.

“Certainly going into last week’s game at Plymouth, for example. To lose [Sone] Aluko, [Wes] Burns and [Janoi] Donacien, it’s just so unforeseen. Hayden Coulson had only just started training back with us, and the list goes on.

“The other night Cameron Burgess came on at left-back, so the reality for us is that we have got a strong squad. Within that, our record at the minute says that we are quite a free-scoring team.

“All I know and care about is what momentum does to any football club and when you get on a good run, you think that everything comes naturally and easy. And when you’re on a bad run, you absolutely think the opposite.

“So as I say, when the FA Cup comes along tomorrow, our team selection, as you’ll know when you get it at two o’clock, will show how we’re treating the competition. We want a cup run as simple as that.”

Town have won only one of their last 19 games in the FA Cup, the last-gasp 1-0 first round replay at Lincoln two seasons ago, while the Blues last home victory in the competition was the 3-0 success over Chesterfield in January 2009 under the management of Jim Magilton.

“You’ve got to be careful because what’s come into football over a period of time is the negativity towards cup competitions in English football,” Cook reflected when reminded of the Blues’ recent FA Cup record.

“Within that, the squad rotations that happen and some managers basically give up the game with their team selection, that’s the brutal truth of it. If you get through with that team, the reality is you probably didn’t want to get through.

“I think we made it quite clear with [CEO] Mark Ashton at the start of the season where our preferences lie. We are attacking the FA Cup, as simple as that.

“We could get beaten tomorrow and make it one win in 20, but it certainly won’t be through tinkering with teams.”

Cook wants to maintain the Blues’ momentum from their improving League One campaign by beating Oldham and starting a cup run.

“Imagine the euphoria at our club at the minute if we’d have won at Plymouth,” he continued.

“Our fans can’t wait to get behind us. We’ve learnt from early on in the season what winning does and also losing to West Ham at home [in the Papa John’s Trophy] and Newport at home [in the Carabao Cup]. I thought we played well against Newport, by the way, I’ve got to say that.

“For us now, we’re trying to create a culture at the football club where winning is important, the mentality towards winning is important and what it can do to our supporters.

“Our supporters, as you guys will know, good clubs have good support. We’ve got a dormant support at the minute that’s probably still a little bit out there watching us, yet the ones that are behind us are so behind us it’s untrue. We’re desperately wanting to win the game for them tomorrow. That’s all I can say.”


Photo: Matchday Images



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legoman added 10:42 - Nov 5
I want to sing We're gonna win the cup again.
0

FrankMarshall added 10:58 - Nov 5
Ipswich Town FC FA Cup Winners= 1978, 2022
3

Europablue added 11:08 - Nov 5
As stupid as the Papa John's is, I would like to see us win it!
5

Wickets added 11:35 - Nov 5
Pull on an Ipswich Town shirt and give 100% whatever game it is . Get a winning mentality as that is what the best sides do . Football is a simple game love Ipswich Town .
2

VanDusen added 11:35 - Nov 5
@Europablue. Really? We send 40,000 to face 2500 free tickets for the Southampton U21 end? Are we that desperate that we want to endorse a cup which is now designed as a stepping stone to get the big brands playing B-teams in the league and sullying the name and reputation of our great club. I wish we'd take a stand and withdraw from the competition.
0

Chrisd added 11:36 - Nov 5
Play our best available team tomorrow, get the job done and then make changes later on in the game. Our squad has very good depth, so even on Tuesday, with changes, we should have enough to beat Colchester United. I'd like us to win both these cup ties personally.
3

blues1 added 11:41 - Nov 5
While Cook has said from the start that we will take the f.a. cup seriously, I think he will also have to take into account the injury situation when picking tomorrow's team. With the possibility of being without Celina and maybe Morsy ( international call ups)?, next Saturday against Oxford, do we really want to be risking more injuries tomorrow and being weak going into that match? Let's face it, the league is far more important than the f.a.cup, which lets be honest, we aren't going to win. So while a run in the cup would be nice, i think we have to accept that we may need to prioritise a bit more than Cook has previously said he would. Know thered be plenty criticising him if we were to lose players to injury from this match for a much bigger game next Saturday, against an in form Oxford.
-2

Ipswichbusiness added 12:30 - Nov 5
I agree with blues1. If the manager played a full strength team in the FA Cup and the Papa Johns and key players picked up long term injuries then I think I can guess how the posts on this site would read.
0

RobsonWark added 20:31 - Nov 5
Just keep the same team and let the team gel more and get used to winning.

If we get an injury then it's like you say Mr Cook "I think it's quite common knowledge how strong a squad we've got, 100 per cent". If we get an injury so be it. We will have a strong player to come in. If you really are taking this competition seriously Mr Cook you will only make changes that have been forced on you.

It makes you look stupid when you change the team for cup matches (to rest players) and then lose the next league game.

We need to think back to our glory days in the 70s and early 80s when we played the same players week in week out. That's how you build a team Mr Cook.
3

warfarinman69 added 23:35 - Nov 5
Agree with RobsonWark, what's the logic in changing the team if it the squad is as strong as Cook suggests. Or is a lot of the squad only good enough to face League 2 teams like Oldham and Colchester? If so I am worried about how this season will turn out. Like at Plymouth, a couple of key injuries and he can't get the calls right.
2

blue86 added 10:10 - Nov 6
Ref some of the above comments......pathetic. the F.A Cup should be taken seriously! Players could get injured in ANY game, or training. I'm sick of us being out whatever round we enter, have some pride. Or do you like it when teams like Newport and Lincoln shame us? Come on, I'm glad cook says we are taking it seriously, coyb.
1

blue86 added 10:16 - Nov 6
Also, when we have made wholesale changes to not risk injuries or rest players, have we then won the league or got promoted.............ahhh no? Exactly, respect the FA Cup keep a winning side going and build more momentum. Let's do Oldham and on to the next round.
1


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