Saint Charlie

I think they see Yoshida as being capable of playing either side. But agree Caulker should play.

Fair enough. I'm sure his eye is sore and a danger area but if it was the reason Koeman couldn't select him then he would probably have said, as is pretty open with stuff like that, Mane's ankle etc. Hopefully he benefitted from his rest and is on form tomorrow because he was poor all game versus Stoke and his non selection backfired on Saturday.

I'm saying Koeman said he wasn't selected but wasn't injured. So he was rested and comes back tomorrow. If Koeman couldn't pick Cedric for medical reasons they he would have said after the game when asked. He usually does. He didnt to my knowlwdge comment on it beforehand so wouldnt be any backtracking. And even more so after his decision to play Yoshida seemingly backfired. He had a ready made excuse if needed but didn't use it. So I assume Cedric was rested or Maya preferred, as Koeman inferred.

Vectis shouldn't take Koeman's comments to be gospel.

Ready between the lines he was rested. When he said Fonte was available that was straight after the game so he obviously thought he was going to be ok. Once we had played City there is no reason for him not to mention Cedric being unavilable to him (for whatever reason). In fact after the howler from Maya it would have been in Koeman's interests to make it seem like he had no choice but to select Maya. I expect Cedric to play tomorrow after being rested to be fully fresh for this game.

Cedric was available for City. Koeman just said he didnt make the squad. Hopefully he slots in tomorrow.

Yep. He has swelling around the cut he got against City. Yoshida or Caulker? Probably the later for me, especially if Benteke plays. Plus Caulker a threat from attacking set plays.

Imagine we will probably start with Targett tomorrow. Has played most of the cup games since Koeman joined. Liverpool Echo saying Klopp will pick a very strong team (obviously). Sure Koeman will too, possibly only Targett away from the strongest available side if he decides to give him a game.

I've seen him a few times at the Amex for Brighton and he is a promising player who could be an interesting option off the bench but IMO he would be much better off staying at Brighton for now and starting most weeks. Likes cutting in from the right onto his left foot and is quite pacy.

Vince named Player of the T20 Series. Good first effort in an England shirt.

By the time we signed Cedric we knew Clyne was going.

The Europa League shouldn't have been a reason to sign him. If he isn't deemed good enough for the Premier League then why would he be good enough for the Europa League? Seems like a case of a signing for the sake of it, potentially at the expense of someone like Jack Stephens playing a squad role and almost certain we wouldnt have signed him if Erwin Koeman hadnt managed him before. If they thought Cedric was going to need time to settle they should have got someone better. Only a short time ago we had Clyne and Chambers!

Wide players up and down the country would be delighted with a non tackling, slow full back to beat with ease. But he would put in a nice cross when unchallenged.

But Martina isnt up to PL standard either and has only played a few minutes. Would rather give those few minutes to someone like Stephens.

Its interesting enough. But only of any use for comparison purposes [emoji1]

Whats the point of it then, if not to compare between the Koeman and Pochettino era?

Ha, was posing the question on how you assess the circumstances rather than saying it was my opinion. Poch took over as a complete unknown to fans, replacing the Manager most loved, in shady circumstances that lots of Saints fans strongly disagreed with at the time. So wasnt exactly easy for him either. Looking at Spurs team, the key players are still mostly those he inherited and has gotten the best out of as well as just new signings. Thats a good trait he has to get the best from players with the right attributes. Both he and Koeman are excellent but very different Managers I guess.

Pointless comparison in that if Koeman had Shaw he would have played him every week. Chambers would also have got gametime so Koeman definitely has a weaker pool of young talent than Pochettino did.

How do you define harder curcumstances? Could argue that Koeman has been able to shape his team a lot more and has signed numerous players he has wanted. Pochettino largely worked with players he inherited and he would not have known lots about prior to joining the club. He also changed the perception of the club from PL also rans to a club people took note of. Thats not easy to do.

I loved watching Saints under Pochettino. We had a real identity in the style of play and lots of English players who were getting plaudits, including a fair few that were club produced - which is always nice. However you could argue that as seven of his team (Shaw, Chambers, Clyne, Lallana, Schneiderlin, Lambert & Lovren) were deemed top four quality by the various top four contenders who bought them, that he could have taken us to slightly better league finishes? He did however completely change the PL perception of Saints, from a "meh" club to one that is recognised as progressive and ultimately a top half team. Koeman has done a great job. We don't press as much and probably the fans have slightly less of an affinity with the (mostly foreign) players he has brought in, but reality is he could hardly have done better considering the challenging circumstances he inherited. I think Pochettino will ultimately achieve more as a Manager than Koeman but you cannot underestimate the impact Koeman has as a person of being a calming presence, which for a club like ours and the fact we do sell our best players - is a great fit. Both were superb appointments at the right time.

No Coutinho although he was training at the end of the week. Lucas suspended so he will be fresh to come back in. Henderson and Sturridge on the bench and both will need games so could come into contention for Weds. Clyne and Can both on 4 yellows so a booking today would see them suspended for Weds.

Anyone else not all that sold on Hales?

Davis has a little more flair, acceleration and creativity in his touches than JWP does though. At the moment he is a much better player.

We won't though. Ours looks likely to be our best XI.

What do you mean? Are you expecting some teenagers to play for them like in the last round?