Saints vs Birmingham - Saturday 3pm

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

18 minutes ago, Maggie May said:

Demarai Gray and Jay Stansfield are certain to score.

Demarai Gray is a left winger so should be on the opposite side to Manning because otherwise he'll be getting in those crosses all day long to Stansfield.

If Scienza is fit and confident that Tonda has got them practising ways of getting through a rapid high press, I'm expecting another goalfest. 4-2 Saints win.

[die Mannyschaft]

1 hour ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

Demarai Gray is a left winger so should be on the opposite side to Manning because otherwise he'll be getting in those crosses all day long to Stansfield.

If Scienza is fit and confident that Tonda has got them practising ways of getting through a rapid high press, I'm expecting another goalfest. 4-2 Saints win.

Let's hope Saints play in Scienza plus mode and not Russell Martin plus.

These are our football options, one is high attack the other high risk.

[bugenhagen]

1 hour ago, RedArmy said:

I don’t really get the big issue with Manning this season. 

He is playing as a wing back, not a full back. Apart from us getting countered quickly there shouldn’t be many situations where Manning is left isolated and either a mistake or him getting beaten directly leads to a chance or goal. If that happens either the left centre back has gone AWOL or one of the midfield 2 hasn’t dropped in. 

Milwall’s first goal for example. Stephens is miles away marking fresh air around the penalty spot, by the time he realises he’s left Manning 2v1 it’s too late and he comes scrambling out but gets nowhere near it. If he’s out there covering where he should be they might not equalise and Manning doesn’t look like a headless chicken. 

I wouldn’t want Manning in a back 4 still though. 

I agree, but...

We are playing Manning, with all of his limitations, next to "AIR Stephens". Hence the problem that we should be able to manage, but it is still like playing with him in a back four, especially when we are defending crosses from the opposite side and Stephens is marking fresh air... again!

[for_heaven's_Saint]

Scienza is in the latest video from Staplewood.