Swansea v Saints - Pre Match Thread.

Not trying to sounds smart here but it´s simple tonight - the team that dare to go for a win and not being afraid to loose will take all 3 points - simple rules really ; )

The FA has asked Hughes to explain his post-match comments following the ref’s extremely professional and competent performance in the Everton game...

 

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/05/06/fa-likely-ask-mark-hughes-explain-comments-referee-jon-moss/

I'd just send them this -

--------------------McCarthy

--------Stephens Bednarek Hoedt---------

Cedric-------------Romeu---------Bertrand

-----------Lemina---------Hojbjerg--------

---------------------Tadic-------------------

--------------------Austin-------------------

Really tempted to go with Redmond though think he'd have a better impact off the bench, and we need to keep it tight first half.

--------------------McCarthy

--------Stephens Bednarek Hoedt---------

Cedric-------------Romeu---------Bertrand

-----------Lemina---------Hojbjerg--------

---------------------Tadic-------------------

--------------------Austin-------------------

 

Really tempted to go with Redmond though think he'd have a better impact off the bench, and we need to keep it tight first half.

I’m assuming Lemina is going to be out, so it’ll probably be a choice of Redmond straight in or JWP starts with Redmond off the bench.

I’m assuming Lemina is going to be out' date=' so it’ll probably be a choice of Redmond straight in or JWP starts with Redmond off the bench.[/quote']

 

With Lemina likely out i think i'd go Redmond, he'll be up for it after his goal. I'd also switch Austin for Long - watching Swans against Bournemouth they didnt deal with pace too well

Surely the biggest game since our return to the PL? This or last year's cup final - this to me feels like a chance to really shake off two seasons of sh1te football and be the first step in re-establishing our proper identity as a team who competes by trying to win and accepting losses along the way rather than trying to not lose and accepting draws. Can't wait.

With Lemina likely out i think i'd go Redmond, he'll be up for it after his goal. I'd also switch Austin for Long - watching Swans against Bournemouth they didnt deal with pace too well

I'm with you there. Redmond to start for sure tonight and Long to get stuck in from the off with Austin coming on later once Long has softened them up a bit. With Tadic and Redmond on the pitch we don't have to rely just on Austin for goals.

Formation tonight? Do we think he will stick with three CBs or switch to a back four? I reckon we have had some joy with Cedric and Bertrand as wing backs in the last few games and he will stick to 3 CBs. Stephens must be keen to make good after that sending off and generally poor performance vs Arsenal.

Surely the biggest game since our return to the PL? This or last year's cup final - this to me feels like a chance to really shake off two seasons of sh1te football and be the first step in re-establishing our proper identity as a team who competes by trying to win and accepting losses along the way rather than trying to not lose and accepting draws. Can't wait.

Yup, notable mentions to Midtjylland (A) and Hapoel (H). And Stoke and Bompey at home this season.

Formation tonight? Do we think he will stick with three CBs or switch to a back four? I reckon we have had some joy with Cedric and Bertrand as wing backs in the last few games and he will stick to 3 CBs. Stephens must be keen to make good after that sending off and generally poor performance vs Arsenal.

And pretty much every other game he's played in, he's garbage.

Sky Sports can't do maths. They say a Saints victory would mean Swansea need at least an 8 goal swing.

 

 

It is currently 7 goals difference but as the teams play each, any 1 goal margin victory changes the difference to 9 not 8

 

 

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11363644/premier-league-permutations-what-huddersfield-southampton-swansea-west-brom-need-to-survive

MLG - you have a reputation of being a pedant which I think is unfair. I enjoy your posts. I however will out pedant you as in fact if we win tonight by 1 goal , Swamsea will require a final day goal swing of 10 goals. We have scored more goals than Swansea so if the goal differences were to be the same we would stay up.

Shocked to see we are favourites for the game, if I was a professional punter I'd be backing Swansea or Draw all day long at those odds.

I will say one thing. If you feel nervy during the match, do not log onto this site!!

It will be a whirpool of nerves and paranoia.

Only log on here to vent your fury at our impending relegation, or rejoice at our impending survival.

Anything in between.... just don't do it to yourself!!

On the plus side.

We have to win this game and Swansea only need a draw.

We are the form side with a point to prove and the greatest motivation. We are also a better side under Hughes than this Swansea side are.

All things being equal, we should actually win this...

On the plus side.

 

We have to win this game and Swansea only need a draw.

 

We are the form side with a point to prove and the greatest motivation. We are also a better side under Hughes than this Swansea side are.

 

All things being equal, we should actually win this...

Not really. A draw would leave both sides needing points on Sunday. There is no reason whatsover that we can't get points against Citeh. It is difficult but not impossible. Huddersfield drew at the Etihad, there is no certainty that we can't get whatever is needed. We have good players who've gotten good results before.

Shocked to see we are favourites for the game, if I was a professional punter I'd be backing Swansea or Draw all day long at those odds.

Swansea's last results are very, very poor. Lost 4 out of 6 and drew the other 2. We on the other hand have a win and 2 draws in our last 3 games. By the form book we are favourites for this game.

Their manager hinting they’re happy with a draw is good news imo, we could see them caught between 2 stools. Rarely a good outcome, unless you’ve got top top players. Certainly will put a lot of pressure on them for Stoke game, dangerous tactic if you ask me.

I’d have taken going into the last day with it in our hands, and that’s vital imo. Clearly a win is far far better, but if it’s a point, it’s a point, let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water going down in a blaze of attacking glory.

Personally, I’d stick with 3 centre halves & bring Stephens back. Redmond deserves a start, and I’d go long for Austin. The only other option could be Bertrand in the back 3, playing McQueen as the wing back. I’d defo do this if it was Wes out, not Maya, but it’s still an option.

I’d bring Carrillo onto the bench for this one, in case we need to go Hail Mary, kitchen sink at the end. With JWP coming on to swing a few set pieces in, Charlie or Gabbi ratting around, he can get his head on stuff ala Burnley, or god forbid he may actually find the net.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Not really. A draw would leave both sides needing points on Sunday. There is no reason whatsover that we can't get points against Citeh. It is difficult but not impossible. Huddersfield drew at the Etihad, there is no certainty that we can't get whatever is needed. We have good players who've gotten good results before.

Trouble is City need 2 wins to make 100 points - really cant seem them taking their foot of the pedal sadly.

“ I would be talking in a completely different way if, for example, we had to win on Tuesday and then had to wait for two or three other results to go our way.

 

“That would be a really bad situation for us. But when it is in your hands to do it, you can just concentrate on doing it."

 

 

----------------------------------------

 

the above suggests he is content with a draw tonight! I hope we can smash a cautious Swansea then- I reckon they will play on the counter with Narsingh and Dyer tbh

I don't think that's what he's saying. He's saying he's happy that it's in their hands and if they beat us it continues to be in their hands, and that's not reliant on other results or anything like that.

Yup, notable mentions to Midtjylland (A) and Hapoel (H). And Stoke and Bompey at home this season.

If they were our most important matches in the last few years, the outcome of those games doesn't bode particularly well!

Trouble is City need 2 wins to make 100 points - really cant seem them taking their foot of the pedal sadly.

I've seen this mentioned a few times but what is more important to thw players? Getting a record points score or being fit for the world cup and injury free? The points haul only matters to fans, the players won't get any bonuses for it.

Also with regards to the odds, Saints favourites for this game and Swansea favourites to stay up, some clever gambling could see a profit being made here.

I'd just send them this -

Good heavens, that is damning. Whether Hughes was aware of this, I don't know, but the FA/EPL chiefs should investigate.

I don't think that's what he's saying. He's saying he's happy that it's in their hands and if they beat us it continues to be in their hands, and that's not reliant on other results or anything like that.

So he is saying they expect to get 3 points on Sunday and anything tonight is a bonus?

Heads up for anyone yet to hit the road, avoid A34 like the plague. Been stuck in completely stationary traffic for 40 mins, people getting out of cars and everything.

Sat Nav added an hour to arrival time so far, almost beginning to look like I might not make kick off if this continues much longer!!! ?.

Heads up for anyone yet to hit the road, avoid A34 like the plague.

Or a virus...

Good heavens, that is damning. Whether Hughes was aware of this, I don't know, but the FA/EPL chiefs should investigate.

I know, never normally one for conspiracy theories, but the evidence gathered makes a strong case against him. Seems that it has already been pushed to authorities but nothing been done with the info from what i've read.

The cynic in me says that a scandal of this scale regarding the integrity of the game would be too devastating to the Premier League brand...

I've seen this mentioned a few times but what is more important to thw players? Getting a record points score or being fit for the world cup and injury free? .

I agree. The players will also know in the back of their minds that they’ll have a shot at 100 points next season. There’s no good time to play City, but if I had to pick one it’d be last day, already won league and 90 minutes of competitive football before a World Cup.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Their manager hinting they’re happy with a draw is good news imo, we could see them caught between 2 stools. Rarely a good outcome, unless you’ve got top top players. Certainly will put a lot of pressure on them for Stoke game, dangerous tactic if you ask me.

 

I’d have taken going into the last day with it in our hands, and that’s vital imo. Clearly a win is far far better, but if it’s a point, it’s a point, let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water going down in a blaze of attacking glory.

 

Personally, I’d stick with 3 centre halves & bring Stephens back. Redmond deserves a start, and I’d go long for Austin. The only other option could be Bertrand in the back 3, playing McQueen as the wing back. I’d defo do this if it was Wes out, not Maya, but it’s still an option.

 

I’d bring Carrillo onto the bench for this one, in case we need to go Hail Mary, kitchen sink at the end. With JWP coming on to swing a few set pieces in, Charlie or Gabbi ratting around, he can get his head on stuff ala Burnley, or god forbid he may actually find the net.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Agree with you on all points. Don’t think Hughes will put Carrillo on the bench though.

Jon Moss has always been a hilariously bad ref. So schizoid and awful that some sort of betting scandal would actually not surprise me.

I expect it is just that he's useless though.

Jon Moss has always been a hilariously bad ref. So schizoid and awful that some sort of betting scandal would actually not surprise me.

 

I expect it is just that he's useless though.

Kevin friend is another pathetic ref. That home game against Liverpool was hilarious

Kevin friend is another pathetic ref. That home game against Liverpool was hilarious

The home game against Liverpool and our game against Leeds in the championship which i think was also him, are the only two times in my life i'd have believed that there was match fixing going on by an official.

MLG - you have a reputation of being a pedant which I think is unfair. I enjoy your posts. I however will out pedant you as in fact if we win tonight by 1 goal , Swamsea will require a final day goal swing of 10 goals. We have scored more goals than Swansea so if the goal differences were to be the same we would stay up.

Just to out pedant your pedanting, if they get a 9 goal swing it's more than likely they'll also overtake our goal total (which is only 2 better at the moment).

The home game against Liverpool and our game against Leeds in the championship which i think was also him, are the only two times in my life i'd have believed that there was match fixing going on by an official.

That was something else. We had not one but 2 stone wallers turned away and they got a really weak one. I remember thinking. What's the ****ing point when a pulls something like that, playing Liverpool is hard enough.

A draw's not much good, as although it's possible to get something from the City game, I wouldn't be bet on us doing that if we actually needed to.

If we win tonight we're safe - that's all we should be thinking about. COYS etc

Just overtook the team coach on the M4 17 miles out !

The home game against Liverpool and our game against Leeds in the championship which i think was also him, are the only two times in my life i'd have believed that there was match fixing going on by an official.

Wasn't the Leeds game Peter Walton? Or we might be thinking of different games.

I remember a game against Leeds which we won and I left thinking it was the worst refereeing display I'd ever seen.

Wasn't the Leeds game Peter Walton? Or we might be thinking of different games.

 

I remember a game against Leeds which we won and I left thinking it was the worst refereeing display I'd ever seen.

Away kit tonight presumably?

Peter Walton did a Brighton home game in the Championship where we won 3-0 and made some truly dreadful decisions, nearly all of them in our favour. That was at the height of a bit of bad blood between the two teams, was very, very funny though.

Trevor Kettle is another one who is consistently awful, but tends to do lower leagues so we haven't had him for a while.

Peter Walton did a Brighton home game in the Championship where we won 3-0 and made some truly dreadful decisions, nearly all of them in our favour. That was at the height of a bit of bad blood between the two teams, was very, very funny though.

 

Trevor Kettle is another one who is consistently awful, but tends to do lower leagues so we haven't had him for a while.

I wasn't thinking of that one. Actually, we got stitched up in that game. He have us one ridiculous penalty but he turned down a couple of blatant ones earlier in the match.

That Brighton team was a horrible, cynical team.

Think we might win this one woop woop

I wasn't thinking of that one. Actually, we got stitched up in that game. He have us one ridiculous penalty but he turned down a couple of blatant ones earlier in the match.

 

That Brighton team was a horrible, cynical team.

Yeh there is another one, can't quite remember which year. I'm sure someone (MLG ) will find out for us

Interesting...

On the back of the #SaintsFC hotel cancellation saga hearing that the police escort they were expecting to get from their new overnight digs in Cardiff through the rush hour traffic has also been cancelled.

From Adam Leitch twitter account.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

On the back of the #SaintsFC hotel cancellation saga hearing that the police escort they were expecting to get from their new overnight digs in Cardiff through the rush hour traffic has also been cancelled.

From Adam Leitch twitter account.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The traffic was OK they just got here

Team have arrived ahead of schedule according to his latest tweet. Phew

On the back of the #SaintsFC hotel cancellation saga hearing that the police escort they were expecting to get from their new overnight digs in Cardiff through the rush hour traffic has also been cancelled.

From Adam Leitch twitter account.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk

 

Interesting...

That was decent of Koeman.

Please Lord make this happen....

I'd been feeling calm and pragmatic up until 5 minutes ago. Now I feel as nervous and sick as ****! Maybe one day I'll listen to my other self when they tell me this football malarkey is only a game and that relegation isn't the end of the world...

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

Hour and 15 to go. ****ing D-day!

Come on Saints, don't bottle this, ****ing get at 'em and get those 3 points!

I'd been feeling calm and pragmatic up until 5 minutes ago. Now I feel as nervous and sick as ****! Maybe one day I'll listen to my other self when they tell me this football malarkey is only a game and that relegation isn't the end of the world...

 

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

same- have not felt this nervous in years- not even before our cup final.