Change from Championship to FA Cup has come at the right time
A trip to a Premier League team in the FA Cup is a welcome change of routine for Watford.
The Hornets have just completed a sequence of five league games in 14 days, four of which they lost.
However, they have still only lost four of their last 11 and the cup tie gives them a chance of a ‘free hit’.
“I don’t want the players to get into a relaxed mindset but on paper it is a free hit, yeah,” said Tom Cleverley.
“It’s a bit like the Man City fixture earlier in the season – we felt that was a free hit and we went and played a really spirited and resilient game, and pushed them right to the wire.
“We have to go with the mindset of feeling less pressure but we also want to get that feeling back that we can be resilient.
“I think the break from the league has come at a good time for us.
“There was a bit of a negative bubble we were in, and the games have been coming thick and fast.
“It’s a good chance to come out of that and reflect on the bigger picture, which isn’t as bad as it felt it was last week.
“We’d still go into joint sixth if we win our game in hand, we’re still in a strong position.
“Now we have an exciting tie to look forward to against a really good Premier League side in Fulham.”
Twice an FA Cup finalist, Cleverley is a big fan of the competition – and particularly the ties that the Third Round throws up.
“The FA Cup is a fantastic competition and my best memories of it are the Third Round at Woking and the Third Round at Carlisle,” he said.
“It’s special, and a competition which unifies the casual football fans in the country.
“If the players needed any extra motivation for a third-round cup tie at a Premier League team, then 4,000 travelling supporters is just that.
“We want to go and put in a performance for them.”
Those heading to Craven Cottage can expect a changed starting XI, with some of the younger and fringe players getting an opportunity.
“It’s an audition for some of the players who haven’t had as many minutes as they might have liked so far this season, and some of our younger players,” Cleverley explained.
“I’m excited to see them in a difficult environment against a team full of talented players.
“In making changes I’m not intending to disrespect the FA Cup in any way, but we’ve been playing every three days for a few weeks now.
“Some players cannot play a game that regularly, so there will be some forced changes and some changes by choice.
“I expect Fulham to make changes too, and like us they are a team that has dabbled with a back three and back four in recent weeks.
“But it has to be about us and how resilient we can be, and show a good defensive backbone to take the game into the deeper minutes.”
After losing in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg to Newcastle, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said the different ball used in that competition had a significant effect.
It is the same with the FA Cup, which has its own particular matchball.
“It is a different ball, and it is quite different to the ball we use in the league. I couldn’t say if it’s better or worse,” said Cleverley.
“Like every cup competition, we’ve spent all week training with the new ball, so we’ve already had three days to adapt to it.
“Sometimes the weight can be different, the movement if you really strike it well, it can react differently off the surface.
“At the end of the day it’s a football, but you can certainly tell the difference between a Mitre, a Nike and a Puma.
“I didn’t hear Mikel’s interview so I don’t know what his comments were but there are certain differences.
“If anything, it’s from a goalkeeping aspect that you need to take more notice in the small changes a ball change can bring.”
