Saint Charlie

Sunderland will do everything to get it played anyway as they already have some additional games due to this week's call of vs City and the Cup Final in a couple of weekends.

Away support has been good since the club introduced the incentive of loyalty points. Top scheme.

Clyne doesn't deserve a call up.

Sports Direct News is so ****e it's almost funny.

Most of these players get flogged a little too much IMO although we hardly have much choice, especially with AL and JR.

Might get an idea on likely team strength from Perez this morning.

Key thing Hodgson mentioned is that he is and has been for a while a regular starter at club level. Hope Jay keeps his squad place, he has really kicked on since his call up.

No need for them to make any changes for our game. Will be their first XI minus the suspended Brown you would think.

Sunderland dropped back into the bottom 3 last night and have City tonight so hopefully will stay there. With a replay not wanted for them, and one final already reached and fast approaching, hopefully they won't be overly bothered about this one. They have improved a lot of late though and it will be a tough game.

Chambers is more authoritative and better in the air. Clyne superior in final third. Not a lot between them and a shame one of them wasn't also a CB.

He said he is planning for next season, which is to be expected because he is a thorough professional and would probably do so regardless. But nobody can say for certain if he will be here. We can just hope.

Cardiff away? Fulham away?

Or play a strong team for both, as we will do.

Will be released end of the season IMO and probably end up like Reeves doing ok at L1 level.

Can see us resting a couple for this game. Probably Shaw and maybe Morgan. Not saying I would but we always have the last couple of years. JWP will most likely start and Guly could be in the frame too. Any idea how many tickets we have sold for this one? A good barometer for the size of game?

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/10998013._/ Echo running the story now.

Same starting team as Saturday, which is our best available team.

Every game is a big game. End of the day, we might win then draw City away. The Sunderland game in itself decides nothing. Plus, season won't fizzle out because players have the WC to play for, and because the boardroom stuff will rumble on. Enjoy watching the team because as the OP says its one of our best and most likely will be weaker next season.

Not sure why people moan about this. With profits going to Saints Foundation and fans getting a good product, it can't be a bad thing surely?

MP couldnt have done much more. Nobody on the bench is good enough to come on and change the game, we have a small squad. Isgrove won't make it and was effectively making up the numbers and JWP wouldnt have made an impact - we had enough tidy passers on and any crosses were dealy with well by Shawcross. We werent at it today and Stoke defended very well. Move onto the away games where there is more space for our attackers to play.

Correct decision, the intent was there even if contact wasn't. They should be wondering why Carroll, knowing how key he is to them, felt the need to react like that at 2-0 up.

Will be a joke if the FA cave in to a bit of pressure. Nothing to suggest Carroll didnt try to wallop Flores, he just didnt connect very well.

No.

Suprised there is so much chat about this from WHU. End of the day, he was lucky his swing was slightly off target as otherwise might have smashed Flores' nose. The intention was obvious, hence the red card being justified. Really hope they go down.

Exactly. Hardly "betwetting". Just plain sensible. You would think they at least privately know whether he intends to stay beyond the summer. Has a massive impact on planning for next season, player recruitment and retention.