Lighthouse Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 A repeat of New Years days two years ago when Saints took an impressive 1-1 draw. This fixture has been drawn on the last 3 occasions with a 2-2 draw last season, also in January. Morgan has a 1 match suspension. Pelle is NOT suspended. Bertrand is available. Clyne is either fit or having his leg amputated depend on which twitter feed you believe. Giroud misses this game, the second of a 3 match ban.
Saint Garrett Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Clyne out for ten days according to Koeman. Forster, Toby Yoshi Fonte Bertrand Davis JWP Wanyama Tadic Pelle Mane
Saint Matty 76 Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Back to the 3-5-2 for me; Forster Gardos/Yoshi - Alderweireld - Fonte Clyne - Wanyama - Davis - Bertrand JWP Pelle - Mane/Long
doc oli Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Score first and we can have them. Back to 3-5-2. Gardos and yoshida to battle it out for the 3rd cb berth. Victor / JWP / Davis , Mane and Pelle up top. Tadic to be an option off the bench.
Bewildered Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Clyne out for 10 days, so not ready for Arsenal according to RK. I would either play Toby at RB or move Bertrand over to RB and keep Targett at LB. Move Yoshida back in to CB.
richardc Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 neither Toby or Yoshida looked comfortable as RB - I would give Mccarthy a run out - didnt faze Targett today so give the youngster a chance
Turkish Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 No Giroud for them which is a bonus. They are very beatable, we should get a least a point.
Goatboy Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 neither Toby or Yoshida looked comfortable as RB - I would give Mccarthy a run out - didnt faze Targett today so give the youngster a chance This.
DuncanRG Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Containing Sanchez is the key. If we can do that without opening huge gaps in midfield we'll do okay.
austsaint Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 I'll get slated for saying this but I would start Harry Reed in midfield rather than JWP who I thought had a poor half hour on the pitch today.
Baird of the land Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Right back is certainly an issue. Toby didn't look particularly comfortable and neither did yoshida. I'd be tempted to blood McCarthy there but haven't seen enough of him to know if he's ready. morgans replacement seems a toss up between reed who would give tenacious tackling and jwp who add set piece threat.
Roger Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 I'll get slated for saying this but I would start Harry Reed in midfield rather than JWP who I thought had a poor half hour on the pitch today. Agree perfect to play arsenal. Long looked poor too.
Wrensup Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Agree perfect to play arsenal. Long looked poor too. How can you possibly make a judgment on Long for all of what 16/17 minutes, as a striker in a team under the cosh too?
Baird of the land Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 How can you possibly make a judgment on Long for all of what 16/17 minutes, as a striker in a team under the cosh too? Yeah personally I recall him cleverly winning a free kick and a throw late on.
max_saints Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 definitely can get a point for this one, arsenal looked shaky at west ham today. would be tempted to revert back to 352. fonte alderweireld yoshi mccarthy jwp (tadic?) wanyama davis bertrand mane pelle
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Only thing with dropping JWP is you lose his set piece delivery. Tadic is pretty poor at corners and free kicks.
ericofarabia Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Agree perfect to play arsenal. Long looked poor too. LOL ... at a time when the whole team could barely get anywhere near the ball, you manage to single out a single player.
ericofarabia Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 JWP's delivery was a bit erratic today as well!!
nta786 Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 I'd play 433, at the Emirates we were more than in it in the first half and had Pelle scored the chance which Davis beautifully set up for him I reckon it would be a different story. I'd rather have Alderweireld marking Sanchez, and I believe Yoshida is more than capable of handling Welbeck. Only problem is, I'm not sure whether Wenger will play Welbeck up top or Sanchez up top or whether he plays on the wing. However, today, Welbeck was on the wing and Sanchez was up top. If that's the case, I'd play this: Forster Yoshi Fonte Alderweireld Bertrand JWP Wanyama Davis Tadic Pelle Mane/Long Bench: Davis, Gardos, McCarthy, Targett, Reed, Mane/Long, Seager. I'd like to see Reed play instead of Tadic, but I reckon a lot of you would slate that idea.
Roger Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 LOL ... at a time when the whole team could barely get anywhere near the ball, you manage to single out a single player. No wasn't that. He should have loads of energy after being out vs palace and today and for me he didn't bother chasing back. Like the bloke but in the time he was on saw a lack of effort.
Viking Saint Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Right back is certainly an issue. Toby didn't look particularly comfortable and neither did yoshida. I'd be tempted to blood McCarthy there but haven't seen enough of him to know if he's ready. morgans replacement seems a toss up between reed who would give tenacious tackling and jwp who add set piece threat. TA good enough to play RB for Belgium.....the formation is of more interest, can we realistically play 352 without Clyne offering the pace to play as a wingback??
Saint Charlie Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 JWP at right back anyone? Poor one vs one defensively otherwise would be good as he has the composure and energy. But he would get beaten too easily I think. I would put Toby there unless either Bertrand or Targett are comfortable on that side.
Batman Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Well, arsenal will play the only way they play. Wenger is pretty stubborn like that. Definitely beatable Trouble is, Sanchez is fecking excellent. But we can beat them
Wiggles31 Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Sanchez is great but he'll be easier to defend against than Hazard was today. Fancy a 2-1 win. Huge game this one for the 4th spot dream.
adrian lord Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Huge game. Please please let us win. Not least because there are so many gooners at work.
Leicestersaint Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Play Bertrand at right back and keep Targett at left back. Keep Ward-Prowse in the side and Tadic on the bench.
ThorpG Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 No wasn't that. He should have loads of energy after being out vs palace and today and for me he didn't bother chasing back. Like the bloke but in the time he was on saw a lack of effort. Did not see that at all - I think questions remain on Long's finishing and real quality, but on work rate and commitment he has no issues at all. The few moments of respite we got near the end of the game were when balls were played out to the left for Long to chase and I think he drew a foul and a throw on at a time when we desperately needed some breathing space. Odd to pick out a player like this in a performance where every single player seemed to give 100% commitment in a great rearguard action. I guess some people are never happy...
No 2 to Maybush Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 I'll get slated for saying this but I would start Harry Reed in midfield rather than JWP who I thought had a poor half hour on the pitch today. Totally agree. Can we afford to carry JWP just for his dead ball ability? He just didn't get in the game today and this isn't the first time.
Saint Charlie Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Totally agree. Can we afford to carry JWP just for his dead ball ability? He just didn't get in the game today and this isn't the first time. Defensively in a game like today it just doesn't suit him because he is quite weak and not very aggressive. He let Hazard win a header against him in our box near the end FFS. But Arsenal will be a different game, they arent as powerful as Chelsea and it may suit him more.
Patrick Bateman Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 neither Toby or Yoshida looked comfortable as RB - I would give Mccarthy a run out - didnt faze Targett today so give the youngster a chance Doesn't Toby play RB for Belgium though!? Or have I made that up?
Batman Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Doesn't Toby play RB for Belgium though!? Or have I made that up? He certainly does. And does very well
Roger Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Did not see that at all - I think questions remain on Long's finishing and real quality, but on work rate and commitment he has no issues at all. The few moments of respite we got near the end of the game were when balls were played out to the left for Long to chase and I think he drew a foul and a throw on at a time when we desperately needed some breathing space. Odd to pick out a player like this in a performance where every single player seemed to give 100% commitment in a great rearguard action. I guess some people are never happy... No I'm over the moon with saints. Maybe being harsh. Thought we were amazing today.
austsaint Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Only thing with dropping JWP is you lose his set piece delivery. Tadic is pretty poor at corners and free kicks. Agree, but I'd rather trade off the set piece delivery for a tighter, quicker mid-field against a team like the Arse (in Morgan's absence)
LGTL Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Toby is the best defender I've ever seen in a Saints shirt.
No 2 to Maybush Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 So are people saying we can only get value from JWP against so-called "weak" teams? I guess I could be comfortable with that as long as he is rotated out for the games against the "strong" teams. However, Is he in danger of becoming a peripheral squad player like Gaston did? Because frankly I don't see the value in a midfielder who spends the bulk of his game time running from one side of the pitch to another and not putting a tackle in.
Lorne Malvo Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Toby is the best defender I've ever seen in a Saints shirt. Give over.
ThorpG Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 No I'm over the moon with saints. Maybe being harsh. Thought we were amazing today. Fair do's. Agreed on today's performance.
ThorpG Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Toby is the best defender I've ever seen in a Saints shirt. Not enough games to judge, would still go for Michael Svensson (in my time watching Saints). If he carries like this for the whole season, may start to agree though, he does look to be a top class player.
musesaint Posted 28 December, 2014 Posted 28 December, 2014 Mahusiffff game ... Which we can win....really excited about this. Gutted that Morgan got a red today ...we could have done with him...but he's one player and we can still win without him. Beat the Arse and then March On to do to Manure what we should have done at SMS If all that happens I will start to believe in miracles ! Haha
OttawaSaint Posted 29 December, 2014 Posted 29 December, 2014 No. Dean Richards or Michael Svennson for me, though if we can sign him permanently then I think he will usurp them (IMO)...
saint_kev Posted 29 December, 2014 Posted 29 December, 2014 Toby is the best defender I've ever seen in a Saints shirt. Totally agree. Killer was a fantastic player, a legend in my opinion, but Toby's better and also more useful... F'rinstance moving him to attacking midfield. Confident on the ball and not over-awed when taking on the likes of Costa. Sold him a number of beautiful dummies which wound him up nicely. TA is world class.
Sour Mash Posted 29 December, 2014 Posted 29 December, 2014 I'll get slated for saying this but I would start Harry Reed in midfield rather than JWP who I thought had a poor half hour on the pitch today. Agree perfect to play arsenal. Long looked poor too. Pick the team based on who you think will be best for the game by all means, but a bit silly to base it on 15mins of another game surely?
jasonb Posted 29 December, 2014 Posted 29 December, 2014 Need to snuff out the threat posed by Sanchez. He is such a catalyst for them. I'd park the bus and counter these ******s. They struggle against teams that do that to them.
Roger Posted 29 December, 2014 Posted 29 December, 2014 Totally agree. Killer was a fantastic player, a legend in my opinion, but Toby's better and also more useful... F'rinstance moving him to attacking midfield. Confident on the ball and not over-awed when taking on the likes of Costa. Sold him a number of beautiful dummies which wound him up nicely. TA is world class. Mark wright was the best so far IMO. However, if we can keep Toby he could go on to be greatest. M svennson was awesome too.
Batman Posted 29 December, 2014 Posted 29 December, 2014 I have no idea what would be best to have at RB. I thought had Clyne been fit, 3 at the back would have been good as liverpool made arsenal look very poor playing that system. arsenal simply wont change how they play RB is a bit of a problem (from a clueless fan PoV) one thing is for sure, arsenal will be dangerous going forward and will have lightening pace up front. which is even more annoying that clyne is out. I think we will play 433 given who we have out... Forster Bertrand (at RB) Fonte Toby Targett Vic Davis JWP Tadic Pelle Mane
Sour Mash Posted 29 December, 2014 Posted 29 December, 2014 I have no idea what would be best to have at RB. I thought had Clyne been fit, 3 at the back would have been good as liverpool made arsenal look very poor playing that system. arsenal simply wont change how they play RB is a bit of a problem (from a clueless fan PoV) one thing is for sure, arsenal will be dangerous going forward and will have lightening pace up front. which is even more annoying that clyne is out. I think we will play 433 given who we have out... Forster Bertrand (at RB) Fonte Toby Targett Vic Davis JWP Tadic Pelle Mane Surely no-way Bertrand will be right back? Has he any history of playing there. I just can't see it. I reckon it'll be Alderweireld, with Yoshida and Fonte at Centre Back.
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