Eastleigh away - FA Cup round two

[Stranded]

Full draw:

• Maidstone United [6] v Barrow [4]
• Wycombe Wanderers [3] v Morecambe [4]
• Notts County [4] v Shrewsbury Town [3]
• Chesterfield [5] v Leyton Orient [3]
• Aldershot Town [5] v Stockport County [4]
• Alfreton Town [6] v Walsall [4]
• Blackpool [3] v Scarborough Athletic [6] or Forest Green Rovers [4]
• Cambridge United [3] v Kidderminster Harriers [5] or Fleetwood Town [3]
• Bolton Wanderers [3] v Harrogate Town [4]
• Wrexham [4] v Yeovil Town [6]
• Crewe Alexandra [4] or Derby County [3] v Bristol Rovers [3]
• Peterborough United [3] or Salford City [4] v Doncaster Rovers [4] or Accrington Stanley [4]
• Eastleigh [5] v Reading [3]
• Gillingham [4] v Charlton Athletic [3] or Cray Valley Paper Mills [8]
• Stevenage [3] v Port Vale [3] or Burton Albion [3]
• Newport County [4] v Barnet [5]
• Oxford United [3] v Slough Town [6] or Grimsby Town [4]
• Chester [6] or York City [5] v Wigan Athletic [3]
• Sutton United [4] v Barnsley [3] or Horsham [7]
• AFC Wimbledon [4] v Ramsgate [8]

Think it will be touch and go if we get picked for TV.

Looking at those games, I can see the following that will be of interest

Chesterfield - Orient
Aldershot - Stockport
Alfreton - Walsall
Chester/York - Wigan
AFCW - Ramsgate
Eastleigh - Reading

And the our game. We may well get picked because of the off pitch story but I can imagine BBC/ITV wanting to focus on the real minnows (so may need to factor in Cray Valley if they win their replay), so can see us missing out.

[Snowflake Royal]

Our squad is pretty decent, if struggling against first team L1 sides, and Cup games are a break from the pressure. We've scored an absolute hat full in knockout football this season. Despite a bit of a hit and miss performance against MK. There's a pretty big gulf between L1 and NL. PLus we have a whole month between now and then in which we may even get some good news or a new manager.

I'm fairly confident we should do ok. And if we don't, it's a whole hell of a lot of meh in the face of the league and ownership issues.

Even against MK we could've scored six realistically - Azeez narrowly putting wide, Ballard's chip cleared off the line and Ballard not squaring for an Azeez tap in before missing the target himself.

Realistically, our 'second strongest side' is roughly of the same level as our strongest side - at least not a significant step back. If you look at the side that started yesterday, you wouldn't be surprised if any of those players started in the league (with the exceptions of Pereira and Rushesha if there aren't injuries; I don't think Pereira is much of a step down on Button - if a step down at all). Even of the bench, only Collins would be a surprise to appear in a league game. And that's with nine changes to the starting XI.

If we put out the same sort of side against Eastleigh, we should have better players on the pitch than they will. We should also have a stronger team than the one that lost at Kidderminster. The team that day was:

Rafael
Tetek (Araruna (Stickland)) - Holmes (Laurent) - Holzman - Bristow
Drinkwater (Rinomhota) - Osorio
Camara - Dele-Bashiru - Halilovic (Azeez)
Puscas

It didn't help that I think all the substitutions except Drinkwater for Rino was enforced due to injury. However, I believe five of the starting XI had played less than 630 minutes (7 full matches) of professional football up to that point, plus two of the subs. Tetek started the game out of position, whilst Laurent did too - both played RB (IIRC).

Of the older players, Drinkwater, Halilovic and Araruna don't appear to have played for anyone following that season (although Araruna is almost certainly because of injuries). Dele-Bashiru went back to Watford following his loan and has only featured in just over 1,000 (just under twelve full 90 mins) in the one and a half-years since.

Looking back, I can't believe how poor that side was we took to Kidderminster. Especially ending up with a defence of Laurent - Stickland - Holzman - Bristow.

Ahhh yes. The dark days of managers picking abject cup teams with no interest in winning.

[Einstein agogo]

just stick out the team that gave Millwall a lesson in football

[Royal_jimmy]

Full draw:

• Maidstone United [6] v Barrow [4]
• Wycombe Wanderers [3] v Morecambe [4]
• Notts County [4] v Shrewsbury Town [3]
• Chesterfield [5] v Leyton Orient [3]
• Aldershot Town [5] v Stockport County [4]
• Alfreton Town [6] v Walsall [4]
• Blackpool [3] v Scarborough Athletic [6] or Forest Green Rovers [4]
• Cambridge United [3] v Kidderminster Harriers [5] or Fleetwood Town [3]
• Bolton Wanderers [3] v Harrogate Town [4]
• Wrexham [4] v Yeovil Town [6]
• Crewe Alexandra [4] or Derby County [3] v Bristol Rovers [3]
• Peterborough United [3] or Salford City [4] v Doncaster Rovers [4] or Accrington Stanley [4]
• Eastleigh [5] v Reading [3]
• Gillingham [4] v Charlton Athletic [3] or Cray Valley Paper Mills [8]
• Stevenage [3] v Port Vale [3] or Burton Albion [3]
• Newport County [4] v Barnet [5]
• Oxford United [3] v Slough Town [6] or Grimsby Town [4]
• Chester [6] or York City [5] v Wigan Athletic [3]
• Sutton United [4] v Barnsley [3] or Horsham [7]
• AFC Wimbledon [4] v Ramsgate [8]

Think it will be touch and go if we get picked for TV.

Looking at those games, I can see the following that will be of interest

Chesterfield - Orient
Aldershot - Stockport
Alfreton - Walsall
Chester/York - Wigan
AFCW - Ramsgate
Eastleigh - Reading

And the our game. We may well get picked because of the off pitch story but I can imagine BBC/ITV wanting to focus on the real minnows (so may need to factor in Cray Valley if they win their replay), so can see us missing out.

I'd be surprised if they picked Alfreton v Walsall over us to be honest. Same with Aldershit v Stockport

[blythspartan]

I think this is a great draw. Also, I am sure we’ll be on TV. I hope so as I can’t go to this one. I have some family living in Eastleigh who are regulars and they’re very excited about drawing us at home.

After being at the Chesterfield game yesterday, who I have watched a few times over the last few years the standard of football in the National League is very good. I think Eastleigh will be more than capable of beating us, but I am confident we’ll win 3 - 1.

[Stranded]

Full draw:

• Maidstone United [6] v Barrow [4]
• Wycombe Wanderers [3] v Morecambe [4]
• Notts County [4] v Shrewsbury Town [3]
• Chesterfield [5] v Leyton Orient [3]
• Aldershot Town [5] v Stockport County [4]
• Alfreton Town [6] v Walsall [4]
• Blackpool [3] v Scarborough Athletic [6] or Forest Green Rovers [4]
• Cambridge United [3] v Kidderminster Harriers [5] or Fleetwood Town [3]
• Bolton Wanderers [3] v Harrogate Town [4]
• Wrexham [4] v Yeovil Town [6]
• Crewe Alexandra [4] or Derby County [3] v Bristol Rovers [3]
• Peterborough United [3] or Salford City [4] v Doncaster Rovers [4] or Accrington Stanley [4]
• Eastleigh [5] v Reading [3]
• Gillingham [4] v Charlton Athletic [3] or Cray Valley Paper Mills [8]
• Stevenage [3] v Port Vale [3] or Burton Albion [3]
• Newport County [4] v Barnet [5]
• Oxford United [3] v Slough Town [6] or Grimsby Town [4]
• Chester [6] or York City [5] v Wigan Athletic [3]
• Sutton United [4] v Barnsley [3] or Horsham [7]
• AFC Wimbledon [4] v Ramsgate [8]

Think it will be touch and go if we get picked for TV.

Looking at those games, I can see the following that will be of interest

Chesterfield - Orient
Aldershot - Stockport
Alfreton - Walsall
Chester/York - Wigan
AFCW - Ramsgate
Eastleigh - Reading

And the our game. We may well get picked because of the off pitch story but I can imagine BBC/ITV wanting to focus on the real minnows (so may need to factor in Cray Valley if they win their replay), so can see us missing out.

I'd be surprised if they picked Alfreton v Walsall over us to be honest. Same with Aldershit v Stockport

Maybe but the story in the first couple of rounds is low ranked clubs getting further and being one step away from Alfreton hosting a Premier League side - any Level 6 team at home to a league club is going to be a TV draw. Aldershot have just won 7-4 at a L2 club so a home tie to the L2 leaders is also likely to be one they look at.

Not saying we won't get picked, L1's bottom club, a club in crisis, is prime for a shock, so could get a slot - just pointing out that there are a number of other ties that may get picked ahead of us. I hope we do get picked as unless it is a live game, close to impossible to see it outside the UK.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Seems like an ideal tie for TV potentially, a chance for them for an upset considering where we are in the L1. Obviously still expecting us to win but you never know in the cups.

[Royals and Racers]

Jake Taylor is the Eastleigh captain.

[stealthpapes]

Of the older players, Drinkwater, Halilovic and Araruna don't appear to have played for anyone following that season (although Araruna is almost certainly because of injuries). Dele-Bashiru went back to Watford following his loan and has only featured in just over 1,000 (just under twelve full 90 mins) in the one and a half-years since.

Just because I had wondered what happened to him about a week ago, Halilovic went back to Croatia for a season and now plays in the Dutch league. A few handfuls of games a season, barely a goal. Thought he was clearly a good player but its never quite happened for him.

[Hendo]

Can't wait for the ticket meLOLtdown.

[Hound]

Our squad is pretty decent, if struggling against first team L1 sides, and Cup games are a break from the pressure. We've scored an absolute hat full in knockout football this season. Despite a bit of a hit and miss performance against MK. There's a pretty big gulf between L1 and NL. PLus we have a whole month between now and then in which we may even get some good news or a new manager.

I'm fairly confident we should do ok. And if we don't, it's a whole hell of a lot of meh in the face of the league and ownership issues.

Even against MK we could've scored six realistically - Azeez narrowly putting wide, Ballard's chip cleared off the line and Ballard not squaring for an Azeez tap in before missing the target himself.

Realistically, our 'second strongest side' is roughly of the same level as our strongest side - at least not a significant step back. If you look at the side that started yesterday, you wouldn't be surprised if any of those players started in the league (with the exceptions of Pereira and Rushesha if there aren't injuries; I don't think Pereira is much of a step down on Button - if a step down at all). Even of the bench, only Collins would be a surprise to appear in a league game. And that's with nine changes to the starting XI.

If we put out the same sort of side against Eastleigh, we should have better players on the pitch than they will. We should also have a stronger team than the one that lost at Kidderminster. The team that day was:

Rafael
Tetek (Araruna (Stickland)) - Holmes (Laurent) - Holzman - Bristow
Drinkwater (Rinomhota) - Osorio
Camara - Dele-Bashiru - Halilovic (Azeez)
Puscas

It didn't help that I think all the substitutions except Drinkwater for Rino was enforced due to injury. However, I believe five of the starting XI had played less than 630 minutes (7 full matches) of professional football up to that point, plus two of the subs. Tetek started the game out of position, whilst Laurent did too - both played RB (IIRC).

Of the older players, Drinkwater, Halilovic and Araruna don't appear to have played for anyone following that season (although Araruna is almost certainly because of injuries). Dele-Bashiru went back to Watford following his loan and has only featured in just over 1,000 (just under twelve full 90 mins) in the one and a half-years since.

Looking back, I can't believe how poor that side was we took to Kidderminster. Especially ending up with a defence of Laurent - Stickland - Holzman - Bristow.

Ahhh yes. The dark days of managers picking abject cup teams with no interest in winning.

Iirc we were in the midst of a dire injury crisis (obviously) and the team we put out against Fulham around that time in the 0-7 wasn’t a whole lot better

Can’t believe how weak that team vs kiddy was though. No suprise we lost

Anyway, Eastleigh - good draw. Bit of interest and a great chance to get to round 3

[Royal_jimmy]

Recent ex-prem club, just been in the championship for 20 years and struggling massively away to a side who could certainly beat us. Why wouldn't it be on TV? It's probably the tie of the 2nd round. Imagine more neutrals would watch that over the other games.

I expect Wigan as former winners will be picked too in their away tie.

[Sutekh]

Of the older players, Drinkwater, Halilovic and Araruna don't appear to have played for anyone following that season (although Araruna is almost certainly because of injuries). Dele-Bashiru went back to Watford following his loan and has only featured in just over 1,000 (just under twelve full 90 mins) in the one and a half-years since.

Just because I had wondered what happened to him about a week ago, Halilovic went back to Croatia for a season and now plays in the Dutch league. A few handfuls of games a season, barely a goal. Thought he was clearly a good player but its never quite happened for him.

Drinkwater has now retired. Reading were his last club, he said that he recognises he wasn't fit when he started his loan at Reading but that Ince's arrival turned him round and he hoped that he could have got another club last summer (2022) but no-one showed any real interest and he's now at the point of having had enough of it all.

[BraisingsteakRoyal]

Eastleigh are my local side having moved down from Basingstoke to Chandler's Ford a couple of years ago. I've been to the Silverlake a few times and have a couple of mates who go regularly. One of my lads' mates plays for them.

Jake Taylor has been bang-average for them since he came here this season - but i'm lumping on for him to score against Reading.

Eastleigh are a properly inconsistent side - capable of absolutely dire performances one week, followed by plenty of goals and tempo the next. Partly that's down to the calibre of opposition in the NL, but also as they have a matchday squad that seems to chop and change a lot - with loanees often in and out.

It won't be a walkover by any means - but i think the Spitfires will have enough...

[Elm Park Kid]

The general opinion of those that follow FA cup tv ties and such (yes, I do go on forums that boring) is that we're nailed on as a TV pick. Maybe even first pick.

Southampton v Cardiff does create issues for a Saturday game though.

[Sutekh]

The general opinion of those that follow FA cup tv ties and such (yes, I do go on forums that boring) is that we're nailed on as a TV pick. Maybe even first pick.

Southampton v Cardiff does create issues for a Saturday game though.

Putting it on TV then resolves the issue, a Friday/Monday nighter in darkest Hampshire a distinct possibility.

Aldershite v Stickpart probably 1st choice though, but surely a must when there'll be 4 games on the box.

Other games will be Chesterfield v Orient and probably Alfreton v Walsall.

Cray Valley v Charlton replay also bound to be on the telly.

[Clyde1998]

Iirc we were in the midst of a dire injury crisis (obviously) and the team we put out against Fulham around that time in the 0-7 wasn’t a whole lot better

Can’t believe how weak that team vs kiddy was though. No suprise we lost

Hadn't realised how bad the team was against Fulham either: we appear to have played most of the game with a back line of Tetek - Holmes - Laurent - Bristow after Dann went off injured after about ten minutes. No wonder my memory of our defensive situation in that game is Fulham walking through our defence at will.

[Clyde1998]

The general opinion of those that follow FA cup tv ties and such (yes, I do go on forums that boring) is that we're nailed on as a TV pick. Maybe even first pick.

Southampton v Cardiff does create issues for a Saturday game though.

It'll almost certainly not be on the Saturday - even if we're not on TV. We should know soon enough, as last season it appears the TV games were announced on the Wednesday following the draw.

[Royal Ginger]

Will Southampton's game really change things? Eastleigh's stadium holds short of 6,000 and I'd wager St Mary's will be several multiples of that short of their 32,000 capacity given a boring FA Cup draw and there's no particular 'beef' between any of the participants. Yes, the train stations are only minutes away but I'm just not sure we're important enough to be a factor.

[CountryRoyal]

Recent ex-prem club.

10+ years isn’t that recent tbf.