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

[sledger]

im sure george long will be the first name on the team sheet with our latest exciting signing on the bench.Whatever happened to the excitement of a cup weekend,oh yes destroyed by the premier league and the big boys in the cartel.

[AlexLaw76]

we'll probably lose....they will be livid after the other day and we will probably make 8+ changes...

[Barton Saint]

As we really don’t want to get into the playoffs and be disappointed I would rather we take the opportunity to get into a celebratory cup run and ultimately test ourselves against a PL team in the QF or indeed another day out at Wembley in a semi 

[Chez]

Winning the FA cup as a non PL team feels impossible these days. If you have a middling championship team like ours, it is maybe almost futile?
If there are no shocks and the higher placed team wins the fourth round tie, this would be who is left:

Arsenal
Man City
Chelsea
Liverpool
Aston Villa
Sunderland
Brentford
Fulham
West Ham
Leeds
Burnley
Wolves

Ipswich
Bristol City
Southampton
Norwich

A lot of decent PL sides there. We'd then have a one in five chance of getting a Championship side in the next round. Obviously there could be a host of shocks and the picture would be different.

Not sure why I posted this, but I guess I was trying to see just how difficult it is for a lower league side to avoid a PL team and sneak through to the later rounds. Despite this, I've got a ticket and hope we can win. 

Edited yesterday at 13:01 by Chez

[Fabrice29]

2 minutes ago, Chez said:

Winning the FA cup as a non PL team feels impossible these days. If you have a middling championship team like ours, it is maybe almost futile?
If there are no shocks and the higher placed team wins the fourth round tie, this would be who is left:

Arsenal
Man City
Chelsea
Liverpool
Aston Villa
Sunderland
Brentford
Fulham
West Ham
Leeds
Burnley
Wolves

Ipswich
Bristol City
Southampton
Norwich

A lot of decent PL sides there. We'd then have a one in five chance of getting a Championship side in the next round. Obviously there could be a host of shocks and the picture would be different.

Not sure why I posted this, but I guess I was trying to see just how difficult it is for a lower league side to avoid a PL team and sneak through to the later rounds. Despite this, I've got a ticket and hope we can win. 

A few of those PL sides are beatable in certain circumstances. At home, against a semi rotated 11 etc. But yeah in reality, we’re all existing to just be knocked out for now. If you can get to the 1/4’s then maybe it becomes interesting.

[Channons Windmill]

15 hours ago, bpsaint said:

Remember us wearing yellow in a friendly against Real Sociedad at the Dell back in 2000, can’t recall any other time though.

Back to the game I saw fuck it, we’ve got a week until our next game and the team will still be reading the crest of a wave after Tuesday, I say let’s go again and keep the momentum going with as many of our first XI as possible.

We wore yellow and blue for the Mick Channon testimonial 1976 - possibly the largest crowd in The Dell? I was terrified

Edited yesterday at 13:23 by Channons Windmill

[SNSUN]

1 hour ago, Barton Saint said:

As we really don’t want to get into the playoffs and be disappointed I would rather we take the opportunity to get into a celebratory cup run and ultimately test ourselves against a PL team in the QF or indeed another day out at Wembley in a semi 

Who's we? I very much do want us to get to the play-offs to give ourselves a chance of promotion and I'd bet the players do too. Sure we haven't been great this season at times and we are nowhere near ready for the Prem but that's for SR to try to get right this time. Otherwise there's no point fighting for points in this league. None of the clubs that are potentially going up are ready for the Prem IMO but, as the Prem is the prize for winning in this League, we might as well fight for it. I'm not saying a play-off win will necessarily happen again but which Saints fan wouldn't want another day out at Wembley if we got there...

I'd like a cup run of course but the chances are we won't get much further. Wembley is more likely from our League finish than from the cup.

[Chez]

1 minute ago, SNSUN said:

Who's we? I very much do want us to get to the play-offs to give ourselves a chance of promotion and I'd bet the players do too. Sure we haven't been great this season at times and we are nowhere near ready for the Prem but that's for SR to try to get right this time. Otherwise there's no point fighting for points in this league. None of the clubs that are potentially going up are ready for the Prem IMO but, as the Prem is the prize for winning in this League, we might as well fight for it. I'm not saying a play-off win will necessarily happen again but which Saints fan wouldn't want another day out at Wembley if we got there...

I'd like a cup run of course but the chances are we won't get much further. Wembley is more likely from our League finish than from the cup.

As Sunderland (and Forest beforehand) have shown, you can be miles off the pace in the league, go up via the play offs and then survive in the PL. Obviously we were utter shit last time, but I'd certainly like another go at it. Don't get promoted and you have one season left with parachute payments before things get very tough. As we are likely to play our reserves again (as we did against Donny), the FA cup isn't going to impact our league form other than interrupting our good run of form. A week off for the first team shouldn't hurt too much. It's been a slog of games recently, so a break is propably handy.

 

 

[goodymatt]

Tonda confirmed we will make a couple of changes. Jack Stephens and Welington are having scans. Sounds like Jack is more than likely ok. Welington confirmed as missing Saturday and sounds like Tonda isn’t sure if he’s back for Charlton yet. He did have a tight hamstring at Leicester.

Mads Roerslev needs Achilles surgery and so is most likely out for the season now.

Apparently some of our players have been having injections to get through games recently.

Edited 23 hours ago by goodymatt

[goodymatt]

 

[saintant]

42 minutes ago, Chez said:

As Sunderland (and Forest beforehand) have shown, you can be miles off the pace in the league, go up via the play offs and then survive in the PL. Obviously we were utter shit last time, but I'd certainly like another go at it. Don't get promoted and you have one season left with parachute payments before things get very tough. As we are likely to play our reserves again (as we did against Donny), the FA cup isn't going to impact our league form other than interrupting our good run of form. A week off for the first team shouldn't hurt too much. It's been a slog of games recently, so a break is propably handy.

 

 

In the press conference Eckert said 'there will be a couple of changes' so assume he's putting out a strong side.

[coalman]

45 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

Tonda confirmed we will make a couple of changes. Jack Stephens and Welington are having scans. Sounds like Jack is more than likely ok. Welington confirmed as missing Saturday and sounds like Tonda isn’t sure if he’s back for Charlton yet. He did have a tight hamstring at Leicester.

Mads Roerslev needs Achilles surgery and so is most likely out for the season now.

Apparently some of our players have been having injections to get through games recently.

Poor bastard. I ruptured mine a month ago and there is no quick way back or even guarantee you regain your previous level. If it's a full rupture he's unlikely to be playing most of next season either.

[BarberSaint]

7 minutes ago, coalman said:

Poor bastard. I ruptured mine a month ago and there is no quick way back or even guarantee you regain your previous level. If it's a full rupture he's unlikely to be playing most of next season either.

Didn't RS have that, too?

[Saint Fan CaM]

Understand the thing about resting certain players or giving certain players a run out, but this is a special anniversary year right? Surely we should be making as best a fist as possible to get through as many rounds as possible? Obviously there’s almost zero chance of winning it, but 50 years ago you can bet Laurie was not thinking that way. String team please Eckhert - let’s show the Foxes that we didn’t like their antics of the first half of the last game and take it to them.

2-0 Saints

[Saint Matty 76]

Peretz
Jelert - THB - Wood - Manning
Charles - Bragg
Edozie - Matsuki - Robinson
Larin

Quarshie/Archer are the two without many minutes who miss out, but I feel like we rarely rest THB and I don't believe Archer to be a fit for us any more other than a throw off the bench option in a system switch-up. Could see Fellows in contention to start as well.

 

[coalman]

47 minutes ago, BarberSaint said:

Didn't RS have that, too?

Apparently so. No wonder he's struggled so much coming back.

[goodymatt]

58 minutes ago, BarberSaint said:

Didn't RS have that, too?

He did, horrible. Didn’t Bazunu also injure his when we got promoted last time?seems to be a trend of knock on muscle injuries after an achilles issue.

[Britannia]

Thought there was no booking fee.  Looks like there is.

[Barton Saint]

On the above replies I want us to win every game for sure! 
Just if I had a choice I would rather be keep a strong team for a cup run , not put out a weak team get beat and then don’t manage to get to 6th place or higher 

[die Mannyschaft]

Is this likey to be a reserve team? 

[redkeith]

Looking at the u21 s , only Williams seemed to be missing. That probably means Archer, Stewart and Larin all in the squad, maybe one of Downes or Jander being rested. 

[saintant]

Eckert said there'll be a couple of changes and went on to talk about Stephens and Wellington needing scans so assume neither of them will play. Can't imagine he'll start Archer up front as main striker after Tuesday so maybe Larin starts. Could be something like;

Peretz

Bree THB Quarshie Manning

Downes Charles

Fellows Azaz Scienza

Larin

[WinchesterSaint]

1 hour ago, redkeith said:

Looking at the u21 s , only Williams seemed to be missing. That probably means Archer, Stewart and Larin all in the squad, maybe one of Downes or Jander being rested. 

Williams and Tommy Dobson missing from the u21s today.

[Harry_SFC]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

Eckert said there'll be a couple of changes and went on to talk about Stephens and Wellington needing scans so assume neither of them will play. Can't imagine he'll start Archer up front as main striker after Tuesday so maybe Larin starts. Could be something like;

Peretz

Bree THB Quarshie Manning

Downes Charles

Fellows Azaz Scienza

Larin

I certainly wouldn't be risking Scienza in this game. Considering we were told he couldn't play 3 games a week a month ago...

[St. Ciervo]

Robinson needs a trot out - I agree, Scienza rests unless needed late. 

[die Mannyschaft]

13 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

I certainly wouldn't be risking Scienza in this game. Considering we were told he couldn't play 3 games a week a month ago...

Scienza definitely won't play, too big a risk.  I cant see more than 5 or 6 who played on Tuesday getting a run out. The new 3rd keeper could play.

[die Mannyschaft]

Half the blocks available for this game so 16k with corporates. 

[trousers]

31 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Scienza definitely won't play, too big a risk.  I cant see more than 5 or 6 who played on Tuesday getting a run out. The new 3rd keeper could play.

Tonda said in today's press conference that he was only going to make "a couple of changes", so he's either lying or your assessment is wide of the mark...

[benjii]

I want to get a semi, at least.

[goodymatt]

1 hour ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Scienza definitely won't play, too big a risk.  I cant see more than 5 or 6 who played on Tuesday getting a run out. The new 3rd keeper could play.

The new third keeper was recently at Warrington, this guy is here to make up the numbers. Barring emergency he won’t ever play for us.

[stknowle]

25 minutes ago, benjii said:

I want to get a semi, at least.

Despite being generally flaccid for several years now it should be noted that we have had a couple of semis in that time.

[saintant]

1 hour ago, trousers said:

Tonda said in today's press conference that he was only going to make "a couple of changes", so he's either lying or your assessment is wide of the mark...

This is my take as well. Maybe he's trying to keep Leicester guessing, we'll see.

[bpsaint]

Weather looks nice for a change tomorrow, might get an extra bit of walk up.

[Zorba]

1 hour ago, benjii said:

I want to get a semi, at least.

Well, it is Valentines Day and romance will be in the air.

I’ll be waiting for the team sheet ..and analyse that. Watch the game ..and analyse that. See the result ..and analyse that. Then take the missus out for a few beers ..and 😛

[Convict Colony]

14 hours ago, saintant said:

Eckert said there'll be a couple of changes and went on to talk about Stephens and Wellington needing scans so assume neither of them will play. Can't imagine he'll start Archer up front as main striker after Tuesday so maybe Larin starts. Could be something like;

Peretz

Bree THB Quarshie Manning

Downes Charles

Fellows Azaz Scienza

Larin

Think somewhere close to this although i might rest Leo and maybe Azaz for Robinson and Matsuki.

Fellows needs to deliver a performance soon.

[Harry_SFC]

Eckert's confirmed that Larin will start and Romeu will play a good deal of minutes. 

[Convict Colony]

1 minute ago, Harry_SFC said:

Eckert's confirmed that Larin will start and Romeu will play a good deal of minutes. 

Interesting wonder if it was fitness or getting back into english football speed that meant he was off it intially.

Will be nice to see Romeu doing the charles role of tempo setting and quarterbacking us.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

14 hours ago, saintant said:

Eckert said there'll be a couple of changes and went on to talk about Stephens and Wellington needing scans so assume neither of them will play. Can't imagine he'll start Archer up front as main striker after Tuesday so maybe Larin starts. Could be something like;

Peretz

Bree THB Quarshie Manning

Downes Charles

Fellows Azaz Scienza

Larin

Good shout. It's a bit like the club's persistence with Downs. How many games do you give Archer before you call time and drop him completely? His performance against Leicester, and not just his glaring miss in the first minute, shows he is off the pace, makes wrong choices, can't pass and is a hindrance to our progression.

I'm also expecting this team. They might be concerned enough about the goalie situation to preserve Peretz and give Long a game but the couple of changes Tonda spoke about I'm guessing are the injured defenders

[for_heaven's_Saint]

30 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Interesting wonder if it was fitness or getting back into english football speed that meant he was off it intially.

Will be nice to see Romeu doing the charles role of tempo setting and quarterbacking us.

Sounded like it was fitness as Tonda mentioned that our CMs have been running over 12km a game recently and that’s needed to play that position in this formation. 

[coalman]

42 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Interesting wonder if it was fitness or getting back into english football speed that meant he was off it intially.

Will be nice to see Romeu doing the charles role of tempo setting and quarterbacking us.

We haven't seen him in a while. There's no guarantee he's back on it. Glorious though that would be.

[Midfield_General]

1 hour ago, Convict Colony said:

quarterbacking us

What’s that then

[coalman]

10 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

What’s that then

It's how you get to the end zone to score a home run.

[trousers]

16 hours ago, saintant said:

Eckert said there'll be a couple of changes

Which BBC Solent have somewhat bizarrely translated into "the line up could look quite different to the one from Tuesday night..." 🤔

 

[BarberSaint]

1 minute ago, coalman said:

It's how you get to the end zone to score a home run.

Or backing us to get to the quarter finals.

[Verbal]

20 minutes ago, coalman said:

It's how you get to the end zone to score a home run.

Not if you drop the puck though.

[coalman]

1 minute ago, Verbal said:

Not if you drop the puck though.

That's why we brought in Peretz at short stop.

[Verbal]

8 minutes ago, coalman said:

That's why we brought in Peretz at short stop.

Oh yes, that's right

[Midfield_General]

32 minutes ago, coalman said:

It's how you get to the end zone to score a home run.

Of course - a 3 point buzzer beater

[Fabrice29]

It'll be more than a couple of changes. He named at least 4 in the press conference itself. I'm going for 11.

Long, Jelert, Wood, Quashie, Manning, Charles, Romeu, Robinson, Matsuki, Edozie, Larin.

Edited 3 hours ago by Fabrice29

[Convict Colony]

Valentine's day, how can we not score.

5-0