eelpie

This thread is getting distasteful and spoiling a great event.

I agree, though Read may have instructed Puel to play our youth product, Stephens, anyway. I think unless Stephens or Yosh are injured Martin won't play. He could be very useful in league matches, though. We need a strong run in to the end of season.

..other than competitive international under-21 matches

We haven't got a great record of playing well after more than a week off. It always seems to take a bit too much time in the first game afterwards to get up to full speed. Hopefully this will be different.

It's also about what he didn't do, that has been problem for Saints this season.

.....this is the weirdest season in over 50 years supporting Saints. We never know who will be playing from one match to the next, nor who will be gone by the next window. Revolving doors are frustating.

You're taking me seriously

Eleven players will not want to get injured before the cup final so we lose 0-11

Well said

Are you happy to be slipping down from mid-table?

Reed messed up in the summer and January. He has been complacent, and his conceit will not admit catastrophic mistakes, mainly: Selling Mane (cheaply)and Pele without fit proven goalscoring replacements. Gambling on Puel's experiments and appointing Black, losing Sammy Lee. Selling Fonte without backing up with a fit, skilful replacement at CB

An own goal would be very nice

It is difficult to disagree with your post. Reed was responsible for selling without replacing Mane and Pele in the summer. Gabbialdini should fulfil that role now. Meanwhile Fonte was sold without replacing with an experienced CB, so where we were weak upfront but strong defensively we are now suddenly and dangerously weak at the back. I've a lot of faith in Stephens and Yosh but they are an inexperienced pairing and Gardos has just returned from a major injury. It's going to be a steep upwards learning curve for the back four. So let's look forward to an exciting, nail-biting run-in at the bottom end of the table. It's never dull to be a Saints fan.

Rotation - that 'R' word again.

We sincerely hope (to the first) The jury is sitting (to the second)

Ha ha, that could be a well earned point. And entertaining. But if a team mainly made up of our available second and third choice players can concede five goals against Arsenal then a team with more first choice players should be able to do a little better, we hope. We should be able to scrape a win. 2-1 (being about the most goals we can expect Saints to score on current form)

Sadly, when it comes to PR statements covering cock-ups Les Reed is learning the arts of alternative facts.

Exactly. I do hope that Gabbiadini is the real deal and can score from a distance which he may have to with current tactics. I would like to see as an attacking right wing, but I am disillusioned with Puel. Our front players are shy of getting too close to the box, especially from the right. Wing backs surge forward then stop as if they've hit an invisible wall and pass sideways or back , when there are opportunities to cross dangerously further upfield. Frustrating.

An alternative fact if I ever heard one.

'Oh dear, here come the stupid knee jerk morons.'

Money, money, money Gamble, gamble, gamble

Won't Austin be out for the rest of the season?

lol

What a contrast with home fans support against Arsenal. I arrived a couple of minutes after the start to find our lot stunned into shocked silence, by Puel's hapless and weird 'throw-in-the towel' team selection I guess.

Last night is history and over. But I no longer have belief that Puel will select the best team available any more. So I'm now glad I couldn't get a ticket for the West Ham match.