Saints v Leicester FA Cup 4th Round - Saturday 14th Feb 3PM

[St Chalet]

Following on from the great high of last night. Looking forward to the chants to Leicester fans having given them a further 3 point deduction in the second half.

Although it is anniversary year, focus has to be on the league. For me:

McCarthy / Long

Jelert

Manning

Quarshie

Wood

Bragg

Romeu

Matsuki

Robinson

Edozie

Archer

 

Also don't let Ross Stewart anywhere the stadium let alone the pitch/bench

 

[goodymatt]

McCarthy had had a scheduled surgery so will be missing for a couple of weeks apparently. Welington has a tight hamstring, you could see Larin asking him about it in the celebration video, hopefully he’s fine for the next league game.

In general we do need to rest our players and focus on the playoff chase. Makes predicting the score in this one quite difficult.

Edited 2 hours ago by goodymatt

[trousers]

I'm in two minds (just for a change....!)

As we don't have a midweek match next week, there's an argument for giving our first choice starting 11 another opportunity to gel even further, and keep the momentum building.

But there's also a case for giving those players a week off to relax and rejuventate.

Swings and roundabouts.

Edited 2 hours ago by trousers

[St Chalet]

Lets see what comes out of the Tondbola

[benjii]

9 minutes ago, St Chalet said:

Following on from the great high of last night. Looking forward to the chants to Leicester fans having given them a further 3 point deduction in the second half.

Although it is anniversary year, focus has to be on the league. For me:

McCarthy / Long

Jelert

Manning

Quarshie

Wood

Bragg

Romeu

Matsuki

Robinson

Edozie

Archer

 

Also don't let Ross Stewart anywhere the stadium let alone the pitch/bench

 

No, no, no.

 

Macca (if not fit then Peretz)

Jelert

Quarshie

Stephens

Manning

Jander

Bragg

Matsuki

Azaz

Edozie

Larin

 

Bench: GK, Bree, Wood, Romeu, Charles, Stewart, Archer, Robinson, nipper 

Edited 2 hours ago by benjii

[SNSUN]

I want a cup run, even if it's to the next round and we come up against Arsenal, City or Liverpool. It will boost morale. We know we can beat Leicester, we know they are a poor side and we know not to let the first half from yesterday happen again.

And yet... there is a little tiny weenie, miniscule piece of me that wants us to concentrate on the League. It's tricky. I do not think we should make sweeping changes, this isn't the Carabao. We need to put out a competitive side with maybe a few changes that won't completely diminish us in quality. It's a tie where, if we win, great. But one that if we lose, with our Championship play-off credentials becoming more important, it wouldn't be the end of the world. Leicester will probably think the same, being that they're now firmly in a relegation battle, which makes me think they may not be up for it as much as they were in the first half yesterday. Also Mukasa, who was good last night on his debut, can't play against us as he is cup tied

Personally my team would be something like:

Peretz (McCarthy is  out and I'm not sure I want to see what George Long is like unless I have to). 

Jelert (Rest Bree for the League)

THB

Wood (or Quarshie but Wood seems to be the bench option currently for Tonda)

Welington (he could be rested for Manning but against Fatawu, Leicester's only decent player, I wouldn't feel comfortable)

Charles (for Downes who I'd give a rest to)

Bragg (Jander needs a game off)

Matsuki (rest Fellows)

Azaz 

Edozie (Scienza rest, plus I just like Edozie.)

Stewart

 

Essentially I'd keep the spine the same, although I've changed both CMs I still consider Charles as a first choice. CM is the position we can rotate without a drastic dip in quality.

[Jack]

Whoever starts, they need to analyse the first half of last night’s game and do the exact opposite. Play a target man, move the ball quicker, don’t aim for 700+ passes across the back 4, show for the ball, play into midfield, press, get stuck in and win 2nd balls. 

[Oisin]

No midweek game so no need to specifically save anyone but on the other hand not a priority so worth resting any with knocks, or any who have done a lot of minutes. Plus also a chance to give minutes to those who need.

Scienza could do with a rest imho. Possibly Jander too. Matsuki deserves a run out and I think Charles needs minutes. Bragg, Edozie, Robinson and Larin could all do with minutes but maybe from the bench? And if Wellington is carrying a tweak he should be spared.

Id go something like

Peretz

Bree THB Stephens Manning

Charles Downes

Matsuki Azaz Edozie

Stewart

 

Id plan for Bragg/Downes Stewart/Larin and Robinson for Edozie or Azaz subs.

I might possibly try and find room for Quarshie too but would ideally like to keep the gk and 2 cbs settled

[Pamplemousse]

Loads of tickets left, going to be a small crowd despite the cheap tickets. Hopefully the uptick in form will see a few last minute purchases

[saintant]

I'm guessing Leicester will have to consider resting some of their better players seeing as they are now in a battle to avoid relegation. If that proves the case then we should be able to field a decent team capable of beating them.

[SNSUN]

9 minutes ago, saintant said:

I'm guessing Leicester will have to consider resting some of their better players seeing as they are now in a battle to avoid relegation. If that proves the case then we should be able to field a decent team capable of beating them.

So that's Fatawu rested then. 😀

I do think they might field some of their younger players. They seem to be crying out to play Aluko at right back over Ricardo and Kristiansen over Thomas at left back. I think Monga is injured or he'd be playing. They will also have no Mukasa, Vestergaard, Choudhury, Soutter, Ramsey, Aribo or Cordova-Reid. They're down to the bare bones.

[Chez]

I'd rest them all except Peretz, Charles and Larin - as both might need some playing time to get them match fit. Do we have any other injuries?

Peretz
Roerslev Wood Quarshie Manning
Bragg Charles
Robinson Matsuki Edozie
Larin

Long, Jelert, THB, Romeu, Sesay, Williams, Archer, Oyekunle

[Saint_clark]

We shouldn't be making anywhere near that many changes. Keep the momentum going.