League has to always be the main priority. you win something like £5m prize money for winning a domestic cup (inc TV appearance money, etc) whereas you get £100m for finishing bottom of the Premiership (inc parachute payments) but for us fans that don't have to worry about keeping the bank manager and investors happy? Of course we'd all love to finally win a major trophy. And in terms of squad quality we are probably the closest we've ever been to achieving it.
I'm not saying we should play our strongest team we have in the cups but I think we should play the strongest team we can with an eye on upcoming Prem fixtures. For example Wickham is a very high quality striker to be playing in the cups and all the time Benteke remains fit its not a risk to use him there. Plus little Benteke? Why not? If AP thinks he is good enough to sit on the bench in a Prem game and come on at the end he should do well in a cup game.

Agree totally. Finishing 11th with early cup exits is not as good as say a 15th place finish and a place in a cup final.

You've got to put a good line-up out and get a little luck in the draw to get to a final.

Well I think Simon's head is large; always involved in espionage. (Name that tune)

Agreed

I think that the priority for our club should be becoming an established premier league side. One that is so big and has such a well developed infrastructure that a relegation would be a freak occurrence and one we could bounce back from. Think Like Everton. A team that can have cracking world class players and go for the cups seriously every season, not just in hope but give it a real go and not have it affect our league status.

The ultimate aim is to be challenging at the top of the table. Fighting for Europe and eventually the league. Every club can get time in the sun with the right management and luck. Look at Leicester who just won their champions league bow.

That's real history not just some random league one teams name on a big cup in a match no one remembers.

If devoting resources to the cup now could jeopardise the long term success, I say play the B team.

We can do both Southampton will play a second eleven then we may get a kind draw its only five wins away.

A chance for players to rest.

So I manage a Workshop which provides a safe learning environment for blokes struggling with PTSD and other mental health issues. Being a Palace fan isn't listed yet.