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Stoke 2 Saints 3 - Match & Reactions

Wiggles31

By Wiggles31
in The Saints

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MotM vs Stoke (Away 2014/15 League Cup)  

243 members have voted

  1. 1. MotM vs Stoke (Away 2014/15 League Cup)

    • Forster
      0
    • Targett
      5
    • Clyne
      1
    • Gardos
      1
    • Fonte
      10
    • Schneiderlin
      13
    • Wanyama
      8
    • Davis, S
      9
    • Long
      24
    • Tadic
      5
    • Pelle
      165
    • Cork
      0
    • Alderweireld
      2

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Lallana's Left Peg

Lallana's Left Peg

Posted
Posted
Driving up with the nipper for this one ... what's the parking like near/around the ground?

 

Not great - it's very easy to get to the ground but parking can be a pain. I always park on Sir Stanley Matthews Way - there are several manufacturing / industrial organisations based on that road who charge the public to use their car park and also some wasteland which can be parked on. It can get busy and be a pain getting out but it's the best place I've found to park over the years. I always enter that road via the A5035 as well as it gets very busy around the ground.

The Cat

The Cat

Posted
Posted
It is our best chance of success. People saying "wait for the FA Cup" are ridiculous as we can be in the semis of this before we kick a ball in the FA Cup, that's two legs away from Wembley.

 

I will be gutted if we go out, but I doubt RK will treat the cups with the contempt that Argentine did. We'll be giving it a go.

 

You will be gutted if we lose so I take it you are going to this game to support the team? Quite a close one for you isn't it?

Bearsy

Bearsy

Posted
Posted
I'd like to see Reed get a runout in this game.

 

I was expecting to see more of this bro, not because I particularly think he's anywhere near Morgan+Cork+Wanyama+Davies, or even JWP at the mo, but he was talked up a lot in pre-season, and though it smacks a bit of nepotism in his particular case it is the Southampton Way to give such bros a chance.

NewYorkSaint

NewYorkSaint

Posted
Posted (edited)

There seem to be two schools of thought going into this one.

1) Pick the best available team because the Cup matters and we don't want a repeat of last year's Sunderland.

2) Bring on the changes.

 

I think 2 is the right answer here... for two reasons:

--> Unlike Sunderland last year it really is all to play for still in the League. We could end up top six, conceivably top four. We can't compromise that main goal. In terms of building for Saints future, 6th + no cup, is probably better than 8th + cup. (I know some will disagree.)

--> We have far, far better depth of squad than last year. There are many spectacular players who need game time. Rotating them in will boost their confidence and ability for the time when we will need them in the middle of the winter.

 

Therefore I personally would support a fair number of changes for this one. Certainly all those the OP recommends (Long, Gardos, Wanyama) but also Targett, Reed and maybe even Yoshida. The three people it's dangerous to rest are Pelle, Tadic, and Schneiderlin (in that order). They are at the heart of the engine that has powered us to 2nd place. Not sure how well the team will function without any one of them, let alone all 3. But for that very reason, if they are showing signs of tiredness, we need to look out for them. Maybe rest Tadic for this one, but have him ready to come in 2nd half if it's not working w/o him. I'd also love to see Isgrove coming in as a sub if he's fit again (anyone know?)

The other riddle is whether Fonte could use a rest game. He's turned out to be an amazing leader, but was looking wobbly by the end on Sat. Maybe he could lead from the bench on this one. Yoshida has been impressive this season. And Clyne is such a key player for us... but I wonder if he too is in danger of being overstretched.

 

I don't think it would be crazy to go with:

Forster

Toby, Yoshida, Gardos, Targett

Wanyama, Morgan ©, Reed

Long, Pelle, Mane

 

Bench: K Davis, Tadic, S Davis, Fonte, Clyne, Isgrove, Cork

 

That tier 2 defense would probably ship a goal, but I still think we'd come away 3-1. It's amazing that we could make 6 changes and still put out a fantastic team.

 

p.s. One final reason to welcome some changes. It will screw up Stoke's planning. They have just had 90 minutes of one team. Why not surprise them?

Edited by NewYorkSaint
late add
Mowgli

Mowgli

Posted
Posted

I thought I read somewhere that Ron had already said he would not make more than three changes because the cup is so important. So Long and Wanyama I see coming in for Cork and Mane, Tadic or Pelle. Personally I think Tadic is OK. He got a dead leg but should be fine for Wednesday. Similarly I think Pelle is not 100% and resting his foot might not be a bad idea but gven how improtant their link up play is, I suspect it is Mane that will step down to the bench.

 

It will be interesting because I think the second half changes on Saturday worked better for Stoke than for us. If that trend continues into a game where they have home advantage we will be lucky to get anything out of this tie. That said, I think Koeman will learn fro Saturday and has the tactical superiority. Never rated Hughes as a manager (or a Saints player) but he does seem to be getting better as he matures in age!

trousers

trousers

Posted
Posted (edited)
Because we won

I think we will win anyway

 

But will anyone have the hump if we don't and we make 4/5 changes?

 

My comment was attempting to highlight that some people seem to think that making "4 or 5 changes" is a negative thing to do in principle.

 

What you've highlight is correct: People will always say: "Changes were a good thing" if we win, but "changes were bad thing" if we lose, regardless of the fact that we could make zero changes and the could be exactly the same (not that we'd ever know).

 

To me, we should judge changes on their merit before the game, not on whether we happened to win or lose, as we'll never know whether it was the changes that caused us to lose. In other words, we could make 4 - 5 changes and lose 1-0 or make no changes and lose 2-0.

 

That said, I do appreciate I'm in danger of talking nonsense by thinking out loud on this subject matter :)

Edited by trousers
the_emu

the_emu

Posted
Posted

Agree with last.

 

What also hasn't been mentioned yet, but which imo is quite important is integrating some of the fringe players into the starting line up, not just to rest some men but so that when they are called up (not if) during the busy Dec Jan window they are better established.

 

It's all well and good saying we have cover, but getting them to step up and perform when we desperately need them and they haven't any game time is a big ask.

Beckenham Saint

Beckenham Saint

Posted
Posted

Targett has played both cup games so far, and, having been at them both, has looked very impressive. I thought at the Arsenal game he built on a solid performance vs Millwal.

 

Think Gardos will come in at the back, as he did with the Arsenal game where he looked very solid and I also think that Vic will start, as he was effective against Stoke when he came on against them on saturday. I think Pelle, Long and Mane will make up the front three with Tadic probably replacing Long at some point in the second half.

 

My team, for what it's worth, would be:

 

Forster

Clyne Fonte Gardos Targett

Cork Morgan Victor

Long Pelle Mane

 

I reckon we could beat Stoke for the second time this week, although being ignorant to their squad and how they play, I'm not sure what changes they are likely to make and what effect they would have. If Arnautavic or Assaidi start they could hurt us, I think that they are both very good players who have a good eye for goal, and I'm sure Bojan will want to get some game time. I wonder if the "next messi" can do it on a cold wednesday night in Stoke...

speed demon

speed demon

Posted
Posted

Alright Lads,

 

I think I'm going to go to this so does anyone know if I'll be able to buy a ticket up there or have I got to go through Saints ticket office?

 

I'm sure the info is all available if I bothered looking for it but thought I'd stick it on here and hope someone replies.

trousers

trousers

Posted
Posted

Today's U21 line up

 

@SouthamptonFC: #SaintsFCU21s team v @SunderlandAFC: Gazzaniga, Flannigan, McCarthy, Wood, Debayo, Gape, Reed, Hesketh, Sims, Rowe, Seager. #saintsfc

 

@SouthamptonFC: #SaintsFCU21s substitutes: Mugabi, Britt, Little, Willard, Barnes. #saintsfc

doggface

doggface

Posted
Posted

1st time I saw some of our lads tired on Saturday, as a result and with a deeper squad we must rest a few IMO.

REST

MORGAN, TADIC, FONTE, BERTRAND, PELLE.

 

TEAM

FORSTER

TARGETT

GARDOS

YOSHIDA

ALDERWIERELD (RB)

WANYAMA

CORK

DAVIS

MANE

LONG (CF)

MAYUKA

 

BENCH

RESTED PLAYERS

 

IMO

ant

ant

Posted
Posted

I'm traveling up with 3 more in the car. Let's bloody go for this!

 

For me, taking both Clyne AND Bertrand out of the lineup would take too much away from our wing play. The impact of their runs and overlaps can't be overstated.

Toon Saint

Toon Saint

Posted
Posted
Today's U21 line up

 

@SouthamptonFC: #SaintsFCU21s team v @SunderlandAFC: Gazzaniga, Flannigan, McCarthy, Wood, Debayo, Gape, Reed, Hesketh, Sims, Rowe, Seager. #saintsfc

 

@SouthamptonFC: #SaintsFCU21s substitutes: Mugabi, Britt, Little, Willard, Barnes. #saintsfc

 

Looks like Reed won't be involved on Wednesday then.

 

I'd go for: Forster, Targett, Fonte, Gardos, Clyne, Wanyama, Morgan, Davis, Tadic, Long, Pelle.

 

Bench: K. Davis, Alderweireld, Yoshida, Cork, Isgrove, Gallagher, Mane

oldsarum

oldsarum

Posted
Posted
Alright Lads,

 

I think I'm going to go to this so does anyone know if I'll be able to buy a ticket up there or have I got to go through Saints ticket office?

 

I'm sure the info is all available if I bothered looking for it but thought I'd stick it on here and hope someone replies.

 

 

Pay on the gate tomorrow confirmed

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/20141027-stoke-city-cup-tickets-pay-on-the-day-2044044.aspx

JRM

JRM

Posted
Posted

Got a feeling there will be quite a few making a late decision and travelling up to pay on the day with it being half term, half of the group i'm travelling with are going to buy their tickets once we get up there , and i notice above we have already sold 3 blocks based on block numbers people are getting, we'll have more up there midweek in the cup then they brought to us in the league (and had free coach travel), good support from us.

The Cat

The Cat

Posted
Posted

Didn't realise they had free coach travel on Saturday. That makes their support look even worse than it was.

 

Typically I've left making my arrangements too late so am driving up by myself on Wednesday.

Whitey Grandad

Whitey Grandad

Posted
Posted
Didn't realise they had free coach travel on Saturday. That makes their support look even worse than it was.

 

Typically I've left making my arrangements too late so am driving up by myself on Wednesday.

 

Really? I thought there were more coaches than usual.

nta786

nta786

Posted
Posted

Personally would play this:

 

Forster

Alderweireld, Gardos, Yoshida, Targett

Wanyama, Cork, Reed? Or Davis

Mayuka, Long, Isgrove

 

Really good pace up top, and Tadic, Pelle and Schneiderlin to come on when needed :)

Defence should be solid plus we have Wanyama and Cork who are great defensive shields. Reed for game time tbh, but Davis would be great.

PhilippineSaint

PhilippineSaint

Posted
Posted
What? I'm not certain we'll lose and haven't said we will lose.

 

What are you on about?

 

The post I quoted which you wrote stated

 

"Will depend on how we lose and the team put out."

 

if that does not say we will lose I do not know what does?

CB Fry

CB Fry

Posted
Posted
The post I quoted which you wrote stated

 

"Will depend on how we lose and the team put out."

 

if that does not say we will lose I do not know what does?

Well it doesn't. How about reading the post I replied to before you read my reply.

 

(Lickle Hint: the post before by Batman talks about fan reaction if we lose, which I then comment on).

 

Happy to help. Christ.

PhilippineSaint

PhilippineSaint

Posted
Posted
Well it doesn't. How about reading the post I replied to before you read my reply.

 

(Lickle Hint: the post before by Batman talks about fan reaction if we lose, which I then comment on).

 

Happy to help. Christ.

 

I know it is nearly November and Pantomime season but this is getting ridiculous for the life of me did you or did you not state

 

"Will depend on how we lose and the team put out."

 

We all know the answer to that is Yes

 

in my befuddled mind that actually says by you "will depend on how we lose"

 

so how in any state of affairs is that not saying we will lose ?

 

harping back to previous posts does not alter the fact of your statement.

CB Fry

CB Fry

Posted
Posted
I know it is nearly November and Pantomime season but this is getting ridiculous for the life of me did you or did you not state

 

"Will depend on how we lose and the team put out."

 

We all know the answer to that is Yes

 

in my befuddled mind that actually says by you "will depend on how we lose"

 

so how in any state of affairs is that not saying we will lose ?

 

harping back to previous posts does not alter the fact of your statement.

English isn't your first language, I get it.

The Cat

The Cat

Posted
Posted

Still no word from CB Fry on whether he's making the relatively short trip to tomorrow's game. You'd think someone who spends a lot of time on a football forum would jump at the chance to see his team play in a game which he deems so important, a game that isn't much of a journey for him.

 

Strange.

shirleysfc

shirleysfc

Posted
Posted
I know it is nearly November and Pantomime season but this is getting ridiculous for the life of me did you or did you not state

 

"Will depend on how we lose and the team put out."

 

We all know the answer to that is Yes

 

in my befuddled mind that actually says by you "will depend on how we lose"

 

so how in any state of affairs is that not saying we will lose ?

 

harping back to previous posts does not alter the fact of your statement.

 

Odd. He was clearly referring to Batman's hypothetical "what if we lose" post.

Matthew Le God

Matthew Le God

Posted
Posted
Personally would play this:

 

Forster

Alderweireld, Gardos, Yoshida, Targett

Wanyama, Cork, Reed? Or Davis

Mayuka, Long, Isgrove

 

Really good pace up top, and Tadic, Pelle and Schneiderlin to come on when needed :)

Defence should be solid plus we have Wanyama and Cork who are great defensive shields. Reed for game time tbh, but Davis would be great.

 

What was the point in putting out a very strong side vs Millwall and Arsenal if you then go and rest a lot of players in the 4th round? It appears Koeman is taking the cup seriously, which is a good thing.

for_heaven's_Saint

for_heaven's_Saint

Posted
Posted
Still no word from CB Fry on whether he's making the relatively short trip to tomorrow's game. You'd think someone who spends a lot of time on a football forum would jump at the chance to see his team play in a game which he deems so important, a game that isn't much of a journey for him.

 

Strange.

No one gives a sh*t. Other than you, evidently.

John Boy Saint

John Boy Saint

Posted
Posted
Driving up with the nipper for this one ... what's the parking like near/around the ground?

BMW Mini Garage on the trading park below the Britannia have parking on Saturdays round the back so hopefully midweek too (only a well spent £5 2 years ago), and its a short walk up the hill to the ground, best of all after the game whoosh you are out on the open road before most have even gotten near the exit gates of closer parking.

hasper57saint

hasper57saint

Posted
Posted (edited)

Just had a chat with a 'Potter' neighbour.He and his mates don't care if they lose this one because "It's league points we need unlike you lucky buggers who are flying" Let's hope Hughes is of the same frame of mind!

Edited by hasper57saint
mis spelling
Batman

Batman

Posted
Posted
Just had a chat with a 'Potter' neighbour.He and his mates don't care if they lose this one because "It's league points we need unlike you lucky buggers who are flying" Let's hope Hughes is of the same frame of mind!

 

probably right. They are home to West Ham at the weekend, who are flying themselves.

They have a run of the big boys in a few weeks and they currently sit 3 points above the bottom 3.

 

Maybe, they will make a few more changes than normal tomorrow night

 

I think we will win this one.

Ohio Saint

Ohio Saint

Posted
Posted

I officially do not care much about this match. Kinda hoping to get knocked out, if I'm honest. I want a good FA cup run and to hang on in the Prem as long as we can.

nta786

nta786

Posted
Posted
What was the point in putting out a very strong side vs Millwall and Arsenal if you then go and rest a lot of players in the 4th round? It appears Koeman is taking the cup seriously, which is a good thing.

 

Weak side yes- but I genuinely think we can beat Stoke with that- albeit not 3/4-0. Defensively we'd be sound and I reckon we could get a goal or two with that.

Matthew Le God

Matthew Le God

Posted
Posted (edited)

- The squad are staying up north for both the Stoke and Hull games rather than coming back to Southampton.

- Sadio Mané is a doubt for the Stoke game with an ankle injury.

- Koeman confirms he won't make many changes. I think Targett will replace Bertrand, Long for Mané and possibly a start for Wanyama.

Edited by Matthew Le God
Leicestersaint

Leicestersaint

Posted
Posted
What was the point in putting out a very strong side vs Millwall and Arsenal if you then go and rest a lot of players in the 4th round? It appears Koeman is taking the cup seriously, which is a good thing.

 

Agree with this.

doddisalegend

doddisalegend

Posted
Posted
Wanyama was about the only one to get any change from circus freak Crouch in the air on Saturday....so should probably play.

 

I'm not sure we tried to stop Crouch seems to me we let him have the ball and made sure we were first to the knockdowns. If we really want to stop crouch man to man surely Gardos is the man for the job?

richard

richard

Posted
Posted
Thanks for the Koeman interview MLG

 

Love that clip of the Clyne goal in the last round just to see the looks on the Arsenal fans faces in the background.:D

 

I also love the clip of Targett nutmegging his opponent :)

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