Opinion: Wilder’s comments on F.A Cup clash give an early indication about his team selection

Let the good times roll.

That appears to be the message that Chris Wilder is trying to get across as the Blades turn their attention away from their exploits in the league and try to focus on making progress in the cup. And with no league game this weekend to sap their time and energy ahead of the clash at the Madjeski Stadium, he’ll have plenty of time to make sure that he’s got his tactics spot on.

Speaking to The Star ahead of next week’s game with Reading in the F.A Cup, Blades boss Wilder seemed to be implying that the game against the Royals can be used as a way to keep the good times rolling at Bramall Lane:

“We are after more. We have got some fantastic games coming up and a tough FA Cup cup tie that we will go and attack. We are in a groove, we are in a good place, the club is in a good place. I have to make sure this continues.”

This game against Reading is going to be a bit of a fascinating one, especially when it comes to team selection.

We’ve seen Wilder pick a ‘weakened’ side in the cup competitions so far this season, not to the extent of Jürgen Klopp against Shrewsbury, but certainly not the regular first-team players. However, with Wilder implying that this game could be used as a springboard for the rest of the season, I think that he might go with a full-strength side against the Royals next week.

And when you consider that we then face bottom of the table Norwich City just a few days after, he will want to push both teams aside to gather momentum for a tricky run of fixtures afterwards against Newcastle United, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

What about you? Do you think that Wilder should and will play a strong side against Reading next week? Or would you rather he kept rotating players to keep them fresh for the game against Norwich next weekend?