saintant

I have a feeling Puel might opt for the experience of the seasoned international over the raw youngster. He may start with Caceres and see how it goes - if he's comfortable leave him on but if he struggles there's always Stephens on the bench. This is may be too big a game for Stephens but he will be desperate to play and it's a tricky one for Puel that's for sure.

Would go 4-2-3-1 Foster Cedric Caceres Yoshi Bertrand Davis Romeu Boufal Tadic Redmond Gabbiadini

Well surely we all know that penalty areas are a standard size on football pitches. The overall playing surface at Wembley is bigger than all but Old Trafford and The Etihad Stadium. Gabbiadini will not spend the whole 90 minutes in the penalty area so I'm missing the point you're making.

I think Gabbiadini could be our secret weapon. He'll be brimming with confidence and Man Utd will know relatively little about him as presumably they've not faced him previously. He'll relish playing in a cup final at Wembley and should find plenty of pockets of space on the big playing surface. Manolo could be our match winner. The flip side is that VVD will be a huge miss but with a little luck on the day I think we could upset the odds and come away with the trophy.

What was the formation today out of interest?

Fair point!

Much needed win as it maintains the points difference we had over Sunderland. Gabbiadinii s a clinical finisher plus his intelligent movement will help Tadic as he has needed someone making cute runs. Shows what we can do when we get the ball forward quicker and ditch the passing for passings sake so more of this please. Good preparation for the EFLC final. Well played Saints.

Not sure Puel will think he can play three games in a year.

Alan Shearer on tv for Leicester v Derby and had the audacity to suggest that playing three games a week should be no problem. Finally someone talking with a bit of common sense. Lineker agreed and even suggested he was disappointed if there was no midweek match. As Shearer said, today's young players are told from an early age that it is impossible to play three games in a week so no wonder they believe it.

We need the G-men up front next season, Gabbiadini and Gallagher. Think they'd score a few between them.

Looking at the form tables us and Palace are in deep trouble. Both of us have only won once and all other games in past 7 have been defeats. The lack of draws is worrying as the odd point here and there can be crucial. Hold on tight because it's going to be a bumpy ride to the end of the season.

Yes,much like Dimitri Payet. What's the point of these talented players when you could pick 10 donkeys who will run all day and track back like maniacs for a bag of carrots!

Well if they didn't then maybe it's time to sack our team of highly paid doctors and physios.

Yes, could be a massive 5 points ahead of current bottom club Sunderland next weekend if they beat us so all is well. Nothing to see here. No need for concern.

Played excellently in the number 10 role against Swansea so of course our brilliantly clever manager sticks him out on the wing in the next match. Completely sums up Puel for me.

A sobering thought for you. Next weekend we play current bottom side Sunderland and if we lose, as our abysmal form particularly away from St Marys strongly suggests is going to happen, we will find ourselves just five points ahead of them. Anyone who is not worried must have their head buried deeply in the sand.

So he's the best we could possibly get then and there is not one superior manager to Puel who would consider joining us. Didn't realise he was quite that good. Makes you wonder why we've only taken 3 points out of the last 21 if we have the best man for the job.

Agree but what about his bad points!

The players are not keen on the rotation system and want to be playing every week. You need a settled side to get a run of decent results and we've never had that under Puel.

The two consecutive home games against Bournemouth and Palace in early April are going to be massive.

3 points from a possible 21 and the manager is not the issue. How bad do we need to be before he has to take just a tiny bit of responsibility in your opinion?

Sorry, Clasie can't defend. He is an imposter who is always just too late to put in a tackle, is not a box to box player and ambles back when we lose the ball - he is not the answer to the current shambles.

On current form 3 from Saints, Bournemouth, Leicester and Palace need to start worrying about relegation.

Do they pick the team, take training and decide the tactics as well then - didn't know that.

3 points out of 21 is our record over the last 7 games. It's a complete joke and still people defend Puel. He's paid a massive salary and the buck stops with him.