Saints 2-1 Arsenal - Match Thread

[The Oggmonster]

Absolutely pointless game this, I think Eckert should rotate and play our second-string team or better yet the under 21s. We have a massive game against Wrexham on Tuesday where a win could really cement our place in the play-offs. To get back to the promised land fighting for that 17th place spot would be unreal!

[sadoldgit]

28 minutes ago, The Oggmonster said:

Absolutely pointless game this, I think Eckert should rotate and play our second-string team or better yet the under 21s. We have a massive game against Wrexham on Tuesday where a win could really cement our place in the play-offs. To get back to the promised land fighting for that 17th place spot would be unreal!

Just imagine the lift that beating Arsenal and playing in an FA Cup Semi Final would give the whole club. It’s a no brainer. Play the best team and give it your best shot. Worry about the next game afterwards.

[BarberSaint]

Yeah, think of that 4-0 a few years back with a nice goal by Cuco. 

[Anthony]

1 hour ago, The Oggmonster said:

Absolutely pointless game this, I think Eckert should rotate and play our second-string team or better yet the under 21s. We have a massive game against Wrexham on Tuesday where a win could really cement our place in the play-offs. To get back to the promised land fighting for that 17th place spot would be unreal!

Yep. Play the under 21's, and then try winning the fa cup next year instead. 

[saintstowin]

I feel similarly to before the Fulham game - I'll be annoyed if we rest fit players. I understand Scienza on the bench (although want him to start) due to his fitness, and the same may apply to Stephens, although Wood deputised well that day anyway. But everyone else, get them on the pitch and give ourselves the best chance possible, it's the FA cup quarter final. 

[Saint NL]

Well the good news is that we can't draw Liverpool in the next round 

[suewhistle]

Why, is that game over?

cough...

 

[John Boy Saint]

18 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

Well the good news is that we can't draw Liverpool in the next round 

Shortage of candles again on Merseyside by tonight

[Saint NL]

7 minutes ago, John Boy Saint said:

Shortage of candles again on Merseyside by tonight

Just as well with Storm Dave ready to blow them out

[badgerx16]

31 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

Well the good news is that we can't draw Liverpool in the next round 

Commentator said that nobody will want to draw City in tomorrow's semi-final draw. I would.

[VectisSaint]

Does prize money increase for getting through to the last 6?

[Harry_SFC]

1 hour ago, Saint NL said:

Well the good news is that we can't draw Liverpool in the next round 

IF we somehow beat Arsenal then I'd fancy our chances against Chelsea or West Ham/Leeds.

City on the other hand. 

[warsash saint]

Need us to win in 90 mins otherwise i cannot get a train home 😀

Edited yesterday at 14:38 by warsash saint

[Wade Garrett]

Don’t want anyone to get injured.

8pm on a Saturday night.  Games gone, fucking shite.

[steve green]

44 minutes ago, VectisSaint said:

Does prize money increase for getting through to the last 6?

Fifth round proper winners	(8)	£238,500
Quarter-final winners	(4)	£477,000
Semi-final winners	(2)	£1,060,000
Semi-final losers	(2)	£530,000
Final runners-up	(1)	£1,060,000
Final winners	(1)	£2,120,000

[Master Bates]

You see it's truuuuue,
All the things that you dooo,
And the way that you plaaay,
It just blows me away

So why don't you beat Arsenal then dance the night,
You know that you can do it,
Just put up the fight,

Saints you give me them feelings feelings,
Saints you give me them feelings,
Saints you give me them feelings feelings,
Saints you give me them feelings,

Feelings just for you.

[LiberalCommunist]

8pm on a Sat is a very shit kick off time. 

Very shit indeed. 

[sockeye]

2 minutes ago, LiberalCommunist said:

8pm on a Sat is a very shit kick off time. 

Very shit indeed. 

Shame that the trains run until midnight, a shithouse win on penalties blocking the last train home would be the cherry on top

 

[davefizzy14]

Hoping we can grab another victory amd progress to the semi finals tonight 😊 1-0 to us - Scienza to score 😊 COYR 😊

[Dr Who?]

We all know deep down that this will be a stroll for Arsenal. Is this not their first game since Man City beat them? They will want to keep the treble alive and I expect them to do this quite easily. 

[redkeith]

15 minutes ago, LiberalCommunist said:

8pm on a Sat is a very shit kick off time. 

Very shit indeed. 

It is ridiculous.  There are no games in England on Sunday afternoon, it should be played then.  Any game that could go to extra time and penalties kicking off at 8 pm is just mental. How the fuck are people supposed to get home ? 

2pm Sunday and everyone can have a pint afterwards and then stroll back to the station 

[Saint NL]

The other two FA Cup games have been very one sided, I hope we can at least make it competitive 👀

[die Mannyschaft]

4 hours ago, Anthony said:

Yep. Play the under 21's, and then try winning the fa cup next year instead. 

Go go fthis year as most of our best players will leave end season.

[saint michael]

I see corrupt Chelsea winning.
Arse who pulled 11 of the 23 internationals to return to their club to protect them in club games all injured of course but fit tonight. Corrupt. 
seriously tell the top corrupt 6 clubs to fuck off.  Make the prem league 6 clubs and bring back proper competitive football back.
 

watching port vale week in week out fighting to survive and getting mullered. Who wants this shit 
 

 

[trousers]

Walcott on the BBC: 'hoping to see Arsenal returning to form tonight'.... Cheers for that Theo 🙄

Edited yesterday at 17:19 by trousers

[SNSUN]

18 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

The other two FA Cup games have been very one sided, I hope we can at least make it competitive 👀

That's all I want, to put in a performance and even if we lose, come out thinking we showed some quality. The line up will say a lot for our chances. I really hope he's not thinking about 3 CBs. 

[Harry_SFC]

7 minutes ago, trousers said:

Walcott on the BBC: 'hoping to see Arsenal returning to form tonight'.... Cheers for that Theo 🙄

Never really got the sense he had that much affection for us to be honest. 

[markr27]

4-3-3 Fulham game esque perhaps?
 

[vectraman]

Knowing how Arsenal score loads from set plays, I’d like to think we will leave three players up on halfway to stop them bringing the big guys up at corners etc. 

Let’s not have 11 back for every set play. Please. 

[trousers]

[Saint NL]

 

Strong team

[trousers]

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Hopefully Leo is fully fit. Needless risk 

[LiberalCommunist]

Jesus. We are going full tilt. 

[bangkoksaint]

Strong team but FWIW risking Leo with 2 massive games coming up is, dare I say it, a tad reckless. 

[trousers]

Somewhat surprised we haven't gone for 3 in central midfield, as vs Fulham 

[The Kraken]

Arsenal are about as second string as we could realistically hope for.

[Cabrone]

Give the FA cup the respect it deserves so get in their faces and leave it on the pitch.

Let's give this a real go.

[Saint Pete]

No Downes? 

[trousers]

How many 'miracle recoveries' in the Arsenal line up, from those that had to pull out of international duty...?

[trousers]

1 minute ago, Saint Pete said:

No Downes? 

Banned due to 2 yellows in the tournament so far

Edited yesterday at 18:05 by trousers

[The Kraken]

Just now, Saint Pete said:

No Downes? 

Suspended.

[SNSUN]

2 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Hopefully Leo is fully fit. Needless risk 

Get his match fitness up for Wrexham... if another way to look at it. Let Sam come on on 60 minutes and finish them off.

Good to see Jay back on the bench. 

[trousers]

3 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Hopefully Leo is fully fit. Needless risk 

Wouldn't surprise me if Tonda was playing down his fitness during the week, so he could spring a bit of a surprise today...

[Saint Pete]

Just now, trousers said:

Banned due to 2 yellows in the tournament so far

Ah OK, thanks. Surprised Charles not starting in that case. Otherwise pretty much as strong as we could be. 

[LiberalCommunist]

I knew those yellows would pay off eventually. 

[bangkoksaint]

1 minute ago, SNSUN said:

Get his match fitness up for Wrexham... if another way to look at it. Let Sam come on on 60 minutes and finish them off.

Good to see Jay back on the bench. 

Yeah good point

[trousers]

A particularly big game for Jander and Fellows, given they've been a tad off the boil the last month or so.. 

[saintstowin]

Good stuff. Strong team. Light on defence on the bench especially at full back though.

So Welington and Stephens not fit I assume. Hopefully both back for league fixtures.

Attacking bench too.

[egg]

6 minutes ago, trousers said:

Somewhat surprised we haven't gone for 3 in central midfield, as vs Fulham 

We only have Romeu as an option. O wouldn't start him, and if we did, there's no midfield option on the bench. 

As for the rest of the team, I wouldn't have started Leo. 

Edit: I missed Charles on the bench! 

Edited yesterday at 18:09 by egg