Doobyah!?

ok, I'm man utd, but even then there is no precedent for any lineup of this strength in the third round of the league cup.

why?

niktheblade1

Did you play all of your strongest players?

What I normally find is if you are a smaller club playing a top premiership team, the premiership team puts out some kids and reserve players.

Also, if you were playing Chelsea as Man U, then Chelsea would put out a stronger side as the 2 are rivals in any competition... if that make sense? Also, the reputation of both clubs may have an effect on lineup in competitions

glamdring

I almost always play my strongest line-up (or something approximating to it) in the league cup 3rd round, irrespective of whether I'm in the Champions League and challenging for (or rather hoping to come the end of the season) the Premiership. I assume different AI managers have different views on how strong a team to play too.

Doobyah!?

i played a 2nd string, with 2 reserves (brandy/evans)

but i knew they would play a strong team, so this slightly influenced me.

however, the last time both teams played each other in the leaghue cup was a semi final 3/4 years ago, in which both teams played youth line ups. thats the only precedent.

Neji

Look at Chelsea in the past 2 seasons though. They always play strong teams. What is their selection like for other games?

Gundo

That's exactly what I was thinking, they do take the league cup very seriously.

leftback in the changing room

Chelsea FC v Hull FC - Sept 26 2007:

Chelsea (4-4-2):
Cudicini;
Belletti, Ben-Haim, Terry (c), A Cole (Bridge 64);
Wright-Phillips (J Cole 48), Essien (Makelele 72), Sidwell, Sinclair;
Kalou, Pizarro.
Scorers Sinclair 36, Kalou 47, 80, Sidwell 51.

I count 5 or 6 (depending on your views about Kalou or SWP) first XI players starting that match; another two on the bench (Makelele and J Cole).

I'd suggest there's your precedent.

Now you may be correct. The cup game was Grant's second in charge; he'd just come off a loss to Man Utd and had a point to prove.

But Jose Mourinho - he had no respect for the League cup, didn't he? Lets see the weakend team he fielded away at Blackburn in 2006:

Chelsea (4-3-3)
Hilario;
Geremi, Boulahrouz, Terry (c), A Cole;
Essien, Makelele, Ballack (Lampard 60);
J Cole (Wright-Phillips 78), Kalou, Robben (Drogba 82).
Scorers J Cole (52), Kalou (80).

So that's 7 regular first team players in the starting XI, and the goalkeeper was first choice due to serious long term injuries to Cech and Cudicini.

Doobyah!?

compared to 9 players who played in both the match before and after it, and 11 who played in one of those?

cech; ferrreira; cole; terry; carvalho; wright-phillips; malouda; essien; mikel; drogba; shevchenko.

its abnormally strong.

Y@$H!

Simple...to prevent a 5-1 thumping like the one that took place at White Hart Lane not so long ago...

Macyst

AI teams file full strength squad regardless of their opponents. It's already known; even some of their first team (second string) don't get to play any matches for the whole season.

If you use young players or reserve team and you lose at 3rd, 4th or quarter, regardless, the board will moan about if for the rest of the season, even after you win the EPL. That's the reason why AI teams file full strength squad :p to avoid upsetting their boards.