Saints vs Shrewsbury - Match Thread

[Colwinston Saints]

I get excited about seeing the young guns, i'd sooner see them play along side 5/6 experienced lads mind you. 

 

 

[Pip]

Am I right in thinking more subs are allowed in the Cup?  Could give more opportunity for youngsters and older players needing a run out etc to get a half each.

[waylander]

17 hours ago, angelman said:

I'd start with

 

Forster

Valery, Stephens, Salisu, Voikins

Tella, Diallo, Smallbone, Redmond

Long, N'Lundulu

 

Or if Diallo is ahead of Romeu, have Rom start. If Vestergard is back on games, then maybe have him in to get up to speed.

 

Don't think you'll be seeing Tella or Redmond

[Charlie Wayman]

21 hours ago, Colwinston Saints said:

I get excited about seeing the young guns, i'd sooner see them play along side 5/6 experienced lads mind you. 

 

 

I don't get excited when through arrogance or indifference we send out an inexperienced side that gets turned over and we are out of the Cup again.

We're in it so let's go win it!

[Matthew Le God]

2 hours ago, Charlie Wayman said:

I don't get excited when through arrogance or indifference we send out an inexperienced side that gets turned over and we are out of the Cup again.

We're in it so let's go win it!

It is not particulary arrogant to think our reserve players are better than a bottom half league one team. It is reality.

[Gingeletiss]

2 hours ago, Charlie Wayman said:

I don't get excited when through arrogance or indifference we send out an inexperienced side that gets turned over and we are out of the Cup again.

We're in it so let's go win it!

At what point, would you want our youngsters to play a competitive match then? It not arrogance, we need to know what they can do.

[Saint_lambden]

5 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

It is not particulary arrogant to think our reserve players are better than a bottom half league one team. It is reality.

Given how they've performed in the EFL Trophy in the last couple of years against League One/Two sides, I'd say 'it's reality' is pushing it somewhat. 

[Matthew Le God]

3 minutes ago, Saint_lambden said:

Given how they've performed in the EFL Trophy in the last couple of years against League One/Two sides, I'd say 'it's reality' is pushing it somewhat. 

Reserve players doesn't mean under 23s. Just our non 1st choice players.

[saint lard]

Their gaffer,Cotterill,won’t be in the dugout on Tuesday. 

[St.Jeweller]

Makes you wonder how many players they will be able to field, making a bigger shambles of the delayed fixture all round.

[JRM]

2 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

It is not particulary arrogant to think our reserve players are better than a bottom half league one team. It is reality.

Not sure how many years you've been watching Saints but I've seen us slip on banana skins plenty of times to expect our reserves to win, plus Shrewbury are top of the league one form table and have had a good rest , fully recharged batteries ready to take us on. 

The u23 games I've seen we've looked poor more often than not, too many youngsters and we'll lose. 

[Matthew Le God]

49 minutes ago, JRM said:

1) Not sure how many years you've been watching Saints but I've seen us slip on banana skins plenty of times to expect our reserves to win, plus Shrewbury are top of the league one form table and have had a good rest , fully recharged batteries ready to take us on. 

2) The u23 games I've seen we've looked poor more often than not, too many youngsters and we'll lose. 

1) Over 30 years.

2) I didn't say the under 23s, I said reserves i.e. not our first choice. Plus 'too many' of anything by definition is a problem.

 

Edited 15 January, 2021 by Matthew Le God

[simo]

Is it on tv ?

[M271]

28 minutes ago, simo said:

Is it on tv ?

BT Sport 2

[Saint Garrett]

11 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

It is not particulary arrogant to think our reserve players are better than a bottom half league one team. It is reality.

It’s exactly what it is. Arrogant. 

[Matthew Le God]

2 minutes ago, Saint Garrett said:

It’s exactly what it is. Arrogant. 

No it isn't if you define arrogance as the 'exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities'. It is not an exgeraration to think Forster, Diallo, Long and our other non 1st choice senior team players are far better than a bottom half of League One level of ability. 

[John D]

3 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

No it isn't if you define arrogance as the 'exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities'. It is not an exgeraration to think Forster, Diallo, Long and our other non 1st choice senior team players are far better than a bottom half of League One level of ability. 

Nice selective naming of players there. Beyond those you've named our reserves are vokins, Valery, smallbone, Nlundulu and then players with almost zero first team appearances. 

 

[Matthew Le God]

4 minutes ago, John D said:

Nice selective naming of players there. Beyond those you've named our reserves are vokins, Valery, smallbone, Nlundulu and then players with almost zero first team appearances. 

Those players are also significantly better than bottom half League One level. 

[Hodgey]

Sorry MLG but that imho is a pretty baseless assessment. If we play our ‘reserves’ and youth on top of small squad / injuries etc then we have every chance of going out in a competition we could win (first silverware for 44 years). Why are you so confident N’lundulu, Vokins, Smallbone and Valery are better than l1 level? aside from being at a Premier League club what evidence is there ?. Equally long is probably l1 level now. I hope Ralph rests a few key players (Jwp, KWP, Ings, Berty) but should still play rest of 1st team - and I think he will, he’ll want to win this and Arsenal after is winnable and post that the big boys will have Europe as well as COVID to deal with.

[Matthew Le God]

33 minutes ago, Hodgey said:

Sorry MLG but that imho is a pretty baseless assessment. If we play our ‘reserves’ and youth on top of small squad / injuries etc then we have every chance of going out in a competition we could win (first silverware for 44 years). Why are you so confident N’lundulu, Vokins, Smallbone and Valery are better than l1 level? aside from being at a Premier League club what evidence is there ?. Equally long is probably l1 level now. I hope Ralph rests a few key players (Jwp, KWP, Ings, Berty) but should still play rest of 1st team - and I think he will, he’ll want to win this and Arsenal after is winnable and post that the big boys will have Europe as well as COVID to deal with.

Evidence = Watching them play and knowing the level of a bottom half league one player.

Sure I'd rather Long didn't start PL games for us. But to say Long is league one level is nonsense. He'd be a starter for a number of Championship teams.

Edited 16 January, 2021 by Matthew Le God

[austsaint]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

Evidence = Watching them play and knowing the level of a bottom half league one player.

Sure I'd rather Long didn't start PL games for us. But to say Long is league one level is nonsense. He'd be a starter for a number of Championship teams.

I don't think Long would be a starter for many Championship teams these days.   Agree though that the likes of N'lundulu, Vokins and Valery are definitely beyond League 1 level.  Jury is out on Smallbone; when/if he gets his next opportunity he needs to demonstrate something more than we've seen.

[Hodgey]

Agree to disagree on both those points MLG - obviously hope you are right but think you might have rose tinted ‘Saints’ specs on. My reasoning is u23 level is below l1 and none of those players have done anything of particular note there. As for Long - I think you are thinking of Long a year ago - looks totally shot to me (no better than our young strikers - possibly worse).

[steve green]

My impression from the EFL competition over the last 3yrs or so is u23 teams are mostly not a match for L1 pros. Always difficult to judge as some L1 clubs have not always taken the comp' seriously. Few Prem --> L1 loans seem to result in dramatic success these days either. The standard of footy in L1&2 is better overall than what my old brain remembers from the 70s and 80s (imo). Certainly the financial rewards for a lower league career are vastly improved since then.

It may be the increased £££ spent by up and coming (richer) clubs at lower levels have disturbed the old hierarchy as it was.

 

 

 

[austsaint]

12 hours ago, austsaint said:

I don't think Long would be a starter for many Championship teams these days.   Agree though that the likes of N'lundulu, Vokins and Valery are definitely beyond League 1 level.  Jury is out on Smallbone; when/if he gets his next opportunity he needs to demonstrate something more than we've seen.

Jury no longer out on Smallbone.  Had a really good game tonight (v Leicester) - good range of passing; pressing, tackling and an excellent first time shot on goal.   Hope his injury is not serious.

[S-Clarke]

5 minutes ago, austsaint said:

Jury no longer out on Smallbone.  Had a really good game tonight (v Leicester) - good range of passing; pressing, tackling and an excellent first time shot on goal.   Hope his injury is not serious.

He looked more physical to me, like he had worked on that side of his game. He was competing more off the ball, and winning the ball back on the counter press. It was one of the best games I can remember him having for us.

Just typical for him to be knocked off by an injury. Was a bit innocuous as well which is worrying, doesn't sound like Ralph is expecting him back anytime soon either, another to the long injury list.

Edited 16 January, 2021 by S-Clarke

[Katalinic]

The knee injury not sounding good.

 

Edited 16 January, 2021 by Katalinic

[davefizzy14]

I thought Smallbone played well tonight hope his injury isn't serious.

[trousers]

Why did we send Smallbone back onto the field after sustaining the injury, and thus risk making things worse? Might be my mind playing tricks on me but we have a tendency to do that, don't we?

Edited 16 January, 2021 by trousers

[austsaint]

3 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

He looked more physical to me, like he had worked on that side of his game. He was competing more off the ball, and winning the ball back on the counter press. It was one of the best games I can remember him having for us.

Just typical for him to be knocked off by an injury. Was a bit innocuous as well which is worrying, doesn't sound like Ralph is expecting him back anytime soon either, another to the long injury list.

Yes, more physical, more involved and he showed a touch and a passing range I hadn't seen before.    I'd doubted him from the 6 or 7 appearances I had seen but happy to admit my error.     His knee did seem to buckle during the injury incident - let's hope it's a ligament strain and not a major problem.

[Harry_SFC]

After tonight I'd go with..

Forster; Valery, Bednarek, Tchaptchet, Vokins, Chauke, Diallo, Armstrong, Walcott, Adams, N'Lundulu.

We can't risk anymore injuries to key players yet we need to put a team out that can win the game. I'd rather Armstrong didn't play but I can't really see an alternative. 

[Shroppie]

8 hours ago, Harry_SFC said:

After tonight I'd go with..

Forster; Valery, Bednarek, Tchaptchet, Vokins, Chauke, Diallo, Armstrong, Walcott, Adams, N'Lundulu.

We can't risk anymore injuries to key players yet we need to put a team out that can win the game. I'd rather Armstrong didn't play but I can't really see an alternative. 

I doubt Armstrong or Walcott will start. And can't see Tchaptchet being thrown in.

I'm guessing

Forster 

Valery, Bednarek, Stephens, Vokins 

JWP, Diallo 

Long Ferry 

Adams N'Lundulu 

Maybe Ramsey at CB if fit. Chaulke a possibility. Danny/Romeu could make the bench.

 

 

 

 

[The Curse of St Mary's]

Given our injury situation I think Ralph will rest most of last night's starting 11. Maybe start Forster, long, walcott and Stephens as the seniors. We may still have a chance winning as Shrewsbury haven't been able to train up until yesterday I believe. Not sure how many absentees they have for game though. 

Forster

Valery 

Vokins

Stephens 

Tchaptchet

Romeu (if fit)

Chauke

Walcott

Ferry

Ndlundu

Long

 

 

 

 

 

[Brumsaint]

It's hard to believe that the last B team match was against Leicester! This was the team that day:

1	KINGSLEY LATHAM (GK)
2	YAN VALERY
4	DAVID AGBONTOHOMA
3	JAKE VOKINS
5	KAYNE RAMSAY
11	WILL FERRY
6	ALEXANDRE JANKEWITZ
8	WILLIAM SMALLBONE BENNI SMALES-BRAITHWAITE (76′)
10	CALEB WATTS
7	NATHAN TELLA (C) KGAOGELO CHAUKE (72′)
9	TYREKE JOHNSON

 

Smallbone and Tella are both out injured. Johnson's gone to Gillingham, but I wonder how many of those others are in contention for Shrewsbury. I reckon at least half of them will be.

I reckon we'll see something like:

Forster

Valery Ramsey/Tchaptchet Stephens Vokins

Diallo Jankevitz/Chauke

Walcott/Armstrong Ferry

Long N'Lundulu

JWP & KWP have played every minute this season and although they are incredibly fit, I'd like to see them given a rest ahead of a punishing schedule over the next month or so. I'd definitely have Che Adams on the bench, but our options are going to be very limited!

[VectisSaint]

5 hours ago, Shroppie said:

I doubt Armstrong or Walcott will start. And can't see Tchaptchet being thrown in.

I'm guessing

Forster 

Valery, Bednarek, Stephens, Vokins 

JWP, Diallo 

Long Ferry 

Adams N'Lundulu 

Maybe Ramsey at CB if fit. Chaulke a possibility. Danny/Romeu could make the bench.

 

 

 

 

No reason not to play Bertrand, he is suspended for the next PL game so no need to rest him. 

[niceandfriendly]

15 hours ago, trousers said:

Why did we send Smallbone back onto the field after sustaining the injury, and thus risk making things worse? Might be my mind playing tricks on me but we have a tendency to do that, don't we?

Ings at Villa, Adams after taking a boot to the noggin. 

[EBS1980]

3 hours ago, VectisSaint said:

No reason not to play Bertrand, he is suspended for the next PL game so no need to rest him. 

So why can sending off suspension be claimed against cup games but 5 bookings can’t?!

 

[JRM]

7 hours ago, Brumsaint said:

It's hard to believe that the last B team match was against Leicester! This was the team that day:

1	KINGSLEY LATHAM (GK)
2	YAN VALERY
4	DAVID AGBONTOHOMA
3	JAKE VOKINS
5	KAYNE RAMSAY
11	WILL FERRY
6	ALEXANDRE JANKEWITZ
8	WILLIAM SMALLBONE BENNI SMALES-BRAITHWAITE (76′)
10	CALEB WATTS
7	NATHAN TELLA (C) KGAOGELO CHAUKE (72′)
9	TYREKE JOHNSON

 

Smallbone and Tella are both out injured. Johnson's gone to Gillingham, but I wonder how many of those others are in contention for Shrewsbury. I reckon at least half of them will be.

I reckon we'll see something like:

Forster

Valery Ramsey/Tchaptchet Stephens Vokins

Diallo Jankevitz/Chauke

Walcott/Armstrong Ferry

Long N'Lundulu

JWP & KWP have played every minute this season and although they are incredibly fit, I'd like to see them given a rest ahead of a punishing schedule over the next month or so. I'd definitely have Che Adams on the bench, but our options are going to be very limited!

Blimey we're going to really struggle if we're relying on some of those (minus the better ones who are injured Tella, Smallbone) 

Probably does make sense to give Bertrand some game time if he's suspended in the next league game anyway, plus Forster, Long and one or two others with experience to give the team some balance. 

Any news from Shrewsbury on how many players could be missing for them? 

[spyinthesky]

It is interesting/disappointing that many see Shane Long as not even Championship class when he appears to have been given a lucrative 2 yr extension to his contract!!

[Baird of the land]

6 hours ago, VectisSaint said:

No reason not to play Bertrand, he is suspended for the next PL game so no need to rest him. 

I'd argue the opposite. Far better to give Vokins a run out this game to see what he can do as we may need him to fill in for Bertrand. Bertrand could still come in for potential Arsenal tie.

[benjii]

I wonder if Bertrand could play centre back. Seems a shame not to give Vokins a match and also it seems potentially foolish not to include a senior player who can't play in the next match.

As others have said, a team comprised largely of youth and reserve players could well slip up, considering we don't currently have many fit senior reserve players, so I think it makes sense to include Bertrand. I guess he could even play in a more advanced position and they could both play.

[WALK DMC]

1 hour ago, benjii said:

I wonder if Bertrand could play centre back. Seems a shame not to give Vokins a match and also it seems potentially foolish not to include a senior player who can't play in the next match.

As others have said, a team comprised largely of youth and reserve players could well slip up, considering we don't currently have many fit senior reserve players, so I think it makes sense to include Bertrand. I guess he could even play in a more advanced position and they could both play.

Top idea. Bertrand has played as part of a back 3 in the past, so think that he could adapt. With Vestergaard and Salisu seemly out for a while it could also serve as a little bit of practice in the event of Stephens or Bednarek picking up an injury .....  

[JRM]

1 minute ago, WALK DMC said:

Top idea. Bertrand has played as part of a back 3 in the past, so think that he could adapt. With Vestergaard and Salisu seemly out for a while it could also serve as a little bit of practice in the event of Stephens or Bednarek picking up an injury .....  

yes that makes sense. We also might as well take advantage of the 5 subs allowed to be used in the fa cup, can change half the team to reduce the physical impact on some first team players. Good chance for Ralph to try a few options out. 

[fanimal]

Give Ings the first half to bag a couple and get the win on the road

[Saint86]

On 15/01/2021 at 14:42, Matthew Le God said:

2) I didn't say the under 23s, I said reserves i.e. not our first choice. Plus 'too many' of anything by definition is a problem.

 

You've seen our benches recently. These days our "reserves" is basically the u23's (plus maybe Shane Long and forster).

So I'm curious, do you confortably expect a starting 11 made up of our u23's and Shane long / forster to win or not?

 

I'd personally expect something along the lines of:

Forster

Vokins

Stephens 

Bednarek

Valery

Diallo

Chauke

Tella

Armstrong 

Long

N'Lundulu

As a starting squad - but only if we are resting players / rotating.

Edited 18 January, 2021 by Saint86

[igsey]

Ings, Forster, JWP/Romeu, any players returning from injury, the rest of the squad promising youngsters. Should be plenty.

[saintwbu]

Didn’t realise Steve Cotterill had ended up in intensive care with Covid and thankfully has just come out, but obviously won’t be there tomorrow night. 

[BallBoy]

I think many are in danger of underestimating Shrewsbury. Yes, they are currently a lower League One team but their recent record is 4 wins and a draw. They are on the up.

Having said that, we really should beat them. They have not played for a few weeks and I am sure Ralph will field the best team he can.

[Fabrice29]

Forster

Valery, Bednarek, Stephens, Bertrand

Walcott Diallo JWP Ferry

Nlundulu Long

[sad saints fan]

Forster

Ferry  Stephens Bertrand  Vokins

Valery Diallo Jankewitz Walcott

        Nludulu  Ings

[SuperSAINT]

2 minutes ago, sad saints fan said:

Forster

Ferry  Stephens Bertrand  Vokins

Valery Diallo Jankewitz Walcott

        Nludulu  Ings

Do we know if he's injured or not?

Imagine Chauke is more likely at the moment.