Saint Garrett

It's funny, how Sky went through so much effort to make sure Tiss never watched a saints game, Merson didn't watch Arsenal etc, now we have Gary Neville regularly commentating on Utd and Carragher on Liverpool. It's absolutely bonkers. Especially like last night when they had Carragher chatting about Liverpool, and Ince chatting about Liverpool...

I’m not his biggest fan at all, but he was excellent tonight, fair play to him.

Exceptional. Did the basics well, made Thiago look bang average. He’s 21. Bonkers. Looks a perfect fit for us.

No idea how reliable this site is....but "HampshireLive" is reporting 3 are missing tonight, but doesn't name who... https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/football-news/southampton-liverpool-team-news-confirmed-4851884 This is the squad they're claiming...which would mean no McCarthy, Vestergaard, Redmond and Long...? Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster, Harry Lewis. Defenders: Kyle Walker-Peters, Yan Valery, Jan Bednarek, Jack Stephens, Mohammed Salisu, Ryan Bertrand, Jake Vokins. Midfielders: James Ward-Prowse, Oriol Romeu, Ibrahima Diallo, Stuart Armstrong, Theo Walcott, Moussa Djenepo, Nathan Tella, Will Smallbone. Forwards: Che Adams, Danny Ings, Michael Obafemi, Dan N'Lundulu.

Just watch it without the sound, it's way better anyway

No idea whether the supposed issues in his private life have caused a problem. I was actually really excited about him in his first season, when he was keeping Cedric out the side playing RWB. He’s not good enough defensively (mainly positionally) to play in a back 4 in my opinion. I’d like to see him go out on loan somewhere and play every week, either in a back 5 or further forward as a RM/RW. But gut feeling is that he will never be good enough to play in the premier league for a top half side.

Reads to me a bit of jealousy...maybe he was one of the “Americans” interested in buying us, and didn’t see eye to eye with the owner. Seems to be more of a dig at Gao than anything else.

Has he? Or did he get some confidence from playing at a much lower level? Either or, I hope he has a solid game, he hasn’t had one of them for a very long time for us.

Long overdue I’d say

Yeah, saw that and thought the same. We shall see. No reason for my mate to make it up, but who knows...

Was told he was self isolating. Maybe you can confirm that’s not the case?

He’s looking a bit tired, so might not be the worst idea him having a rest for a week. Missing McCarthy, Vestergaard, Redmond and Adams though, might mean we’re not strong enough to cause an upset.

Sounds like we don’t have much choice

Heard a rumour he might be out for a few weeks, wife has Covid

Do we feel like we have to commemorate something every season now? 20 year anniversary of leaving the Dell?

Assuming it goes ahead, feels like we need some fresh legs for this one, but not really that many options right now. Can Ings play another game so soon? Walcott probably has to start as he’s our only real attacking threat right now. Is Redmond fit? Mccarthy; KWP Bednarek Stephens Bertrand; Romeu JWP; Armstrong Ings Long Walcott Forster Salisu Diallo Redmond Djenepo Adams all on the bench

Been off the pace for a while. We need him back to the level pre-Covid, he’s so important to us.

Djenepo or Redmond in for Armstrong?

Fabianski, Fredericks, Dawson, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Lanzini, Fornals, Yarmolenko and Haller their side apparently

Ah is this a hint. Thankyou

In my opinion, which I am entitled to, he is trash, has always been trash, and will never be good enough to play week in week out in the premier league. If he does, that side will struggle. Only my opinion.

Not sure anyone thought it was likely. Just that there was a tiny possibility that if we could keep everyone in form and fit, we might have a very slight outside chance if other teams dropped points. Unfortunately, not beating Arsenal when we arguably should have done, losing to City in a game we had a lot of the ball, and not being brave enough to attack Fulham, we’re now where I’d expect us to be. Injuries, and suspensions, have had an impact, we don’t have the squad depth. No team in the premier league will rely on players as good as Long and Stephens, and find themselves at the top of the league. Top half is still very good for us, especially now the “big 6” is now more like 8 with Everton and Leicester. We might be able to sneak 7/8th, but we need to find some form, and soon. And we need Ings to come back firing when fit, and stay fit.

Team is a worry, with no likely no Ings and Vestergaard. Stephens is trash, but think Ralph will stick with him Given Adams/Theo combination worked whilst Ings was injured before, I’d go back to this, and play two of Armstrong, Moussa or Redmond (if fit?) Romeu being back is massive for us. expecting a very tough game, against a very solid side. They won’t make the same mistake again against us, and play Noble unfortunately. We also seem to struggle a bit with teams that have full backs. Think they’ll come for a drawer, but play on the counter with Antonio and Haller up top. 1-1.

With multiple places being moved into Tier 3, does that now mean they’ll be unable to go on Saturday? What happens to those tickets already allocated to those people moving into tier 3 areas on Saturday morning? Will club re-allocate to others?