Preston vs Saints - Saturday 2nd May 12:30pm

[Saint Garrett]

Trains are going to be rammed...! Only 3 from Sou that get to Preston before KO.

[Football Special]

1 minute ago, Saint Garrett said:

Trains are going to be rammed...! Only 3 from Sou that get to Preston before KO.

I dont think many will go that way, most that i know travelling are going up night before or at least doing some of the journey Friday stopping on the way. 

Trying to rely on the trains to get to Preston by midday is too risky! 

[tdmickey3]

Driving up for us, any good tips for car parks that are not miles from stadium?

[pimpin4rizeal]

We should just rest key players and get fresh for the playoffs now .. azaz got smashed up yesterday in a game that it probably wouldn’t have got us promoted even if we won .. we have no one to fear in the playoffs better to just get fresh and ready then worrying about anything else 

[Thripp87]

Appreciate not an easy sell after last night.

That said, I have two spare tickets and travel for 2 from Eastleigh Fleming park, 5:15am. Open to offers if anyone fancies it? 

[Saint Fan CaM]

Difficult one for Tonda - a win would be a great way to end the season, but how many does he rest ready for the play-offs?

[Willo of Whiteley]

I see this being a game where Stewart and Matsuki start, Larin and Azaz get rested, maybe Bragg comes in too, he’s done more to deserve being in the team recently than Charles

[Baird of the land]

2 hours ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

We should just rest key players and get fresh for the playoffs now .. azaz got smashed up yesterday in a game that it probably wouldn’t have got us promoted even if we won .. we have no one to fear in the playoffs better to just get fresh and ready then worrying about anything else 

Yep much rather have key players fresh and injury free at this point.

[Wade Garrett]

12 hours ago, Football Special said:

Probably right, their 'replacements' should be good enough to come in, would be nice to enter the play offs on the back of a win rather than a run of 4 without just as Middlesbrough are finding form again 

Didn’t hurt last time we went into the play-offs.

[Tommy Mulgrew]

20 hours ago, James G said:

Scienza should go full Brazilian

😳

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, Wade Garrett said:

Didn’t hurt last time we went into the play-offs.

Yeah i think beating Leeds away last game gave us a real lift going into the play offs. 

Our record against Millwall and Middlesbrough is worrying, not managed to beat either of those this season, just need Hull to finish 6th to complete the set 

[VectisSaint]

3 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I see this being a game where Stewart and Matsuki start, Larin and Azaz get rested, maybe Bragg comes in too, he’s done more to deserve being in the team recently than Charles

Would be surprised if Larin starts due to the ankle problem he was having last night. Azaz was heavily strapped, was n ended yesterday but would be wise to leave him out. 

[Thripp87]

Personally don’t see the debate. We’ve played a stupid amount of football in April.

Tonda should make 11 changes. If we lost Peretz, Scienza or Larin we wouldn’t win the play offs.

long

jelert quarshie u21 wellington

Edozie   Bragg Romeu archer

sesay

oneuyke 

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, Thripp87 said:

Personally don’t see the debate. We’ve played a stupid amount of football in April.

Tonda should make 11 changes. If we lost Peretz, Scienza or Larin we wouldn’t win the play offs.

long

jelert quarshie u21 wellington

Edozie   Bragg Romeu archer

sesay

oneuyke 

He isn't going to do that is he, and nor should he lol

[Dr Who?]

16 hours ago, tdmickey3 said:

Driving up for us, any good tips for car parks that are not miles from stadium?

Always use yourparkingspace.com and never had a problem. There is a Tesco I think 2 minutes from the ground that are on the site and there are loads of retail parks short distance with food. 

[Football Special]

12 minutes ago, Thripp87 said:

Personally don’t see the debate. We’ve played a stupid amount of football in April.

Tonda should make 11 changes. If we lost Peretz, Scienza or Larin we wouldn’t win the play offs.

long

jelert quarshie u21 wellington

Edozie   Bragg Romeu archer

sesay

oneuyke 

Lol some of you are getting yourselves into a right panic. 

The club pay plenty of analysts and fitness coaches, they'll be aware of any players carrying a knock (Azaz for example) , others will be fine and will want to play games , we have a week's break after Preston to rest and prepare 

[Wade Garrett]

11 hours ago, Football Special said:

Yeah i think beating Leeds away last game gave us a real lift going into the play offs. 

Our record against Millwall and Middlesbrough is worrying, not managed to beat either of those this season, just need Hull to finish 6th to complete the set 

Good point about our record v Boro and Millwall.  I do think we are a totally different proposition than the ones they faced earlier in the season though.

[whelk]

People calling for Peretz to be rested - lol he’s a keeper and they don’t get drained from playing a game at all

[swedish dave]

OF COURSE......we want to win every game, but this fixture is somewhat " meanings less"  in one sense.

We have already qualified for one of the playoff spots, and no-one's crystal ball can predict who we will play.

(With respect), Preston can only be called an "average Championship side" and if we start with a full strength

side, it could be unfortunate  if a "fluke injury" could harm someone's play-off chances, and the team's future.

 

If the media is to be believed we are likely to lose some top names - regardless of a promotion - or otherwise,

and with that in mind, it would be an ideal chance to include some of  "Lallana's young hopefuls" from the U21's,

and see if they come up to standard.  Playing well in the Prem. is  a challenge in itself, (even for top players) but

with the inevitably of needing to replace some of our stars, we need to analyse our best available talents PDQ, 

before plunging into the summer transfer market - yet again.  

 

I don't need to list all the likely departures, (we can all guess) but there are a number of players who may be 

playing their final Saints games in these remaining fixtures.  IF  there are any " likely lads " looking to make the

next step up and an opportunity  to impress.  We have nothing to lose, but a chance to find our next young talents.

[Football Special]

35 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Good point about our record v Boro and Millwall.  I do think we are a totally different proposition than the ones they faced earlier in the season though.

You are right we are very different, having Larin up front instead of Adam Armstrong transforms that. Our FA Cup run also a good rehearsal for play off football. 

Having said that if we have to go away to MIddlesbrough needing a win 2nd leg I dont fancy us to do it, just something about that place 

[Lighthouse]

39 minutes ago, whelk said:

People calling for Peretz to be rested - lol he’s a keeper and they don’t get drained from playing a game at all

I don't think it's a case of being rested so much as not risked. Imagine he fractured his forearm or pulled a hamstring in what is essentially a meaningless game and missed the playoffs. I don't fancy seeing Long vs. Millwall at Wembley.

[Barton Saint]

This is not an easy game ffs!!

Their last game at home, they are level with Bristol City so they are no mugs; Tonda will treat them with respect and go out to win to finish as high as possible 

[Winnersaint]

13 hours ago, Football Special said:

Yeah i think beating Leeds away last game gave us a real lift going into the play offs. 

Our record against Millwall and Middlesbrough is worrying, not managed to beat either of those this season, just need Hull to finish 6th to complete the set 

Only 2 points from a possible 18 from those.

[Mboto Gorge]

Does make me laugh that some people here are insisting we need to rest the entire first team on the off chance they get injured when the squad has been fine all season by and large , they are no more likely to get injured on Saturday as in training, or any other given game we’ve had over the last few months, where they didn’t get injured.
 

Some of the mass panic is ridiculous. Play a team capable of winning the game,  but rest players where it’s absolutely necessary. Anything else is incredibly counter productive to the form and continuity, cohesion and team spirit we’ve built up over the past few months. All this talk of playing kids is fucking ridiculous and smacks of panicking.  I expect to see 4-5 players rested max , with capable replacements, and a view that we will be going out to win the game and give ourselves the best chance of finishing 4th for a second leg at st Mary’s. Resting players for the sake of it is just stupid when we still have something to play for. 

[Mboto Gorge]

3 hours ago, Thripp87 said:

Personally don’t see the debate. We’ve played a stupid amount of football in April.

Tonda should make 11 changes. If we lost Peretz, Scienza or Larin we wouldn’t win the play offs.

long

jelert quarshie u21 wellington

Edozie   Bragg Romeu archer

sesay

oneuyke 

Fucking hell

[Cabrone]

Funny one this, if we could win there is a decent chance Boro will lose and we'd get the home advantage in the playoffs but then again we really could do with resting some players after such a tough schedule.

Also Boro will probably be going for it because they have a tiny shot at top 2 + they want to get 3\4th at least.

Overall I'd side with resting players vs getting the 3/4 position, we need them for the playoffs and I think we can beat Boro whatever the order of games anyway.

[Jack]

Tonda will put out a side that he thinks will win the game and keep our momentum going, exactly like he has done all along. Giving starts to players who’ve not been involved at all like some are suggesting just won’t happen. Who wants to go into the playoffs with no wins in 3 and momentum fading? Tonda certainly won’t. 
 

Home advantage vs Boro would be huge. They’ve already beaten us 4-0 at theirs this season and they play great football, they’ve just been shit at finishing their chances. That said they scored 5 last time out and are looking to win 3 in a row going into the playoffs. They’d be very tough to get past, especially if the 2nd leg is up there. 

[CB Fry]

2 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

I don't think it's a case of being rested so much as not risked. Imagine he fractured his forearm or pulled a hamstring in what is essentially a meaningless game and missed the playoffs. I don't fancy seeing Long vs. Millwall at Wembley.

What if he’s rested and drops a jar of salad cream on his foot?

[Football Special]

14 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

What if he’s rested and drops a jar of salad cream on his foot?

Im going to be up all night worrying about that now.

If anything playing in a match reduces chance of injury as they wont be getting things out of the fridge 

 

[Mboto Gorge]

35 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

What if he’s rested and drops a jar of salad cream on his foot?

It’s incredible how the probability and fear of someone getting injured has suddenly increased dramatically to coincide with a game people are deciding we need to rest every senior first team player for. Suddenly there’s a chance everyone is going to drop dead if they play another match before the play offs. Of course they’ll only get injured during this match though, and at no other time 

[Toadhall Saint]

Rest/don’t rest all I know is that we need to get back to winning ways - especially going into the playoffs. For me play your best available team. 

[Midfield_General]

1 hour ago, Football Special said:

Im going to be up all night worrying about that now.

If anything playing in a match reduces chance of injury as they wont be getting things out of the fridge 

 

Are those definitely his legs? 

Bit skinny for a footballer - even a keeper should be chunky of thigh and firm of calf

Edited 2 hours ago by Midfield_General

[whelk]

6 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Are those definitely his legs? 

Bit skinny for a footballer - even a keeper should be chunky of thigh and firm of calf

My forearms match Crouchie’s thighs

[whelk]

54 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

It’s incredible how the probability and fear of someone getting injured has suddenly increased dramatically to coincide with a game people are deciding we need to rest every senior first team player for. Suddenly there’s a chance everyone is going to drop dead if they play another match before the play offs. Of course they’ll only get injured during this match though, and at no other time 

Like when someone must be hooked the moment they get booked as cannot risk a red

[badgerx16]

2 hours ago, Winnersaint said:

Only 2 points from a possible 18 from those.

Before we started to pick up form mid January. 

[CB Fry]

57 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

It’s incredible how the probability and fear of someone getting injured has suddenly increased dramatically to coincide with a game people are deciding we need to rest every senior first team player for. Suddenly there’s a chance everyone is going to drop dead if they play another match before the play offs. Of course they’ll only get injured during this match though, and at no other time 

I would rest Jander for the play off final myself.

Because if he does his ACL at Wembley he would not be available for the Premier League opening fixtures.

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

2 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

I would rest Jander for the play off final myself.

Because if he does his ACL at Wembley he would not be available for the Premier League opening fixtures.

Why on earth are we worrying about the Premier League when we'll have the Champions League to think about soon after?

[Kenilworthy1959]

22 hours ago, tdmickey3 said:

Driving up for us, any good tips for car parks that are not miles from stadium?

I have in the past found free parking on Moor Park Avenue which is just over the road from the stadium. Another possibility might be Moor Park Sports and Social Club. We drank in there last time and they were very friendly.

[AlexLaw76]

29 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

I would rest Jander for the play off final myself.

Because if he does his ACL at Wembley he would not be available for the Premier League opening fixtures.

Just sell him to the first bidder. Some other mug can wear the risk of his ACL popping

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

A few will probably bin this off now but I don’t think it will be many tbh. I actually think it may be a better atmosphere now, rather than half the crowd with heads to phones following other games, this should now get everyone’s full attention.

There’s still enough about it for finishing as high in the playoffs as possible to give the game an edge.

We’re still planning on making a good day of it.

[Thripp87]

People seem to have a fascination with having the second leg at home just as much as I do resting players for Preston. Who gives a shit? Win the first leg at home 3-0 and the second leg is irrelevant anyway.

id far rather not risk someone like Peretz, who without we won’t go up, in a meaningless match at Preston. 

Edited 32 minutes ago by Thripp87

[beatlesaint]

3 minutes ago, Thripp87 said:

People seem to have a fascination with having the second leg at home just as much as I do resting players for Preston. Who gives a shit? Win the first leg at home 3-0 and the second leg is irrelevant anyway.

 

Now now, I was told off yesterday for saying exactly the same thing 😂

[Mboto Gorge]

I think we should rest Tonda too, just incase he over exerts himself too much masterminding another decent performance in a meaningless game and his arms are aching from all the directing he’s doing, or he loses his voice and is unable to communicate and get his messages over properly for the play offs. Can never be too careful

 

Edited 23 minutes ago by Mboto Gorge

[badgerx16]

Winning is a habit. I'd rather go into the playoffs after a win than after suffering a defeat when resting the first 11.

Edited 16 minutes ago by badgerx16

[whelk]

I just hope they have all stopped training now until the first leg

Edited 4 minutes ago by whelk

[tdmickey3]

Just now, whelk said:

I just hoped they have all stopped training now until the first leg

Just forfeit the game FFS 

[whelk]

And assume we are now invoking policies at some corporations where the leadership can’t all travel together for risk of all being wiped out together? Imagine if Jander, Charles, Downes and Bragg all die together, it would leave us incredibly light in midfield

[whelk]

2 hours ago, CB Fry said:

I would rest Jander for the play off final myself.

Because if he does his ACL at Wembley he would not be available for the Premier League opening fixtures.

I’m just relieved we didn’t win the FA Cup as last thing we need before the start of a season is the Community Shield game