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SAINTS vs Palace FA Cup Build Up Thread


nta786

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Right, time to move on from yesterday, and the cup may or may not be a welcome distraction.

 

 

Stekelenburg

Cedric?/Martina Fonte Yoshida Bertrand

Romeu Clasie

Davis Juanmi Mane

Pelle?/Long

 

Bench: Gazzaniga, VVD, Caulker?/Martina, JWP, Tadic, Reed, Pelle/Long

 

Prediction: 1-0

I think Koeman will fire them up for this one... I hope so anyway, especially as a cup fixture.

 

Will see any transfers this week as well... Might consider Seager for Juanmi too.

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Right, time to move on from yesterday, and the cup may or may not be a welcome distraction.

 

 

Stekelenburg

Cedric?/Martina Fonte Yoshida Bertrand

Romeu Clasie

Davis Juanmi Mane

Pelle?/Long

 

Bench: Gazzaniga, VVD, Caulker?/Martina, JWP, Tadic, Reed, Pelle/Long

 

Prediction: 1-0

I think Koeman will fire them up for this one... I hope so anyway, especially as a cup fixture.

 

Will see any transfers this week as well... Might consider Seager for Juanmi too.

Would be surprised if Caulker is involved in any way. Either he will be gone or will not be selected to avoid him being cup-tied. Of course he may be involved if he goes to Palace as is being touted. I really don't see why you would play Yoshida instead of VvD (not a Yoshida hater, he is good at CB, we need consistency in the back line).

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Oh wow lol- with the number of threads created recently didn't see that- nor did the mods make the first one a sticky. Oops!

 

Would be surprised if Caulker is involved in any way. Either he will be gone or will not be selected to avoid him being cup-tied. Of course he may be involved if he goes to Palace as is being touted. I really don't see why you would play Yoshida instead of VvD (not a Yoshida hater, he is good at CB, we need consistency in the back line).

 

Would give one of Fonte or VVD a rest- especially with a midweek fixture in mind- and I do think there is a fairly high chance that this goes to a replay- in the away game I'd play our best pairing but for this I'd like to think Yoshida is capable.

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We will lose this 0-2. Just cannot see this team putting in a performance at the moment that can beat the likes of Palace.

 

Yet this team wiped the floor with the likes of Arsenal! We need to play our strongest team and I am afraid that doesn't include Yoshi.

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Why Stephens exactly ? If he plays for us in the Cup that means he can't play for anyone else this season and that may not be what's planned.

I think people are just putting Stephens in because they see he is back with us and the OS says he is available for Palace. He is not generally a RB anyway, usually plays CB or midfield. But I don't think being cup-tied would be an issue, if he were to be loaned again it would be to a Championship or L1 club, and only a few of those would be still in after the 3rd round. Being cup-tied is really only an issue if loaning to a club at same or higher level. I don't think he'll start.

 

I would go:

Forster (seems like the ideal game to bring him back, he was clearly pretty close to being ready last week)?

Cedric, Fonte, VvD, Bertrand

Clasie, Romeu

Ramirez, Davis, Tadic

Long

Subs: Stek, Targett, Martina, Stephens, JWP, Seager, Reed (assuming Juanmi is going/gone)

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I think people are just putting Stephens in because they see he is back with us and the OS says he is available for Palace. He is not generally a RB anyway, usually plays CB or midfield. But I don't think being cup-tied would be an issue, if he were to be loaned again it would be to a Championship or L1 club, and only a few of those would be still in after the 3rd round. Being cup-tied is really only an issue if loaning to a club at same or higher level. I don't think he'll start.

 

 

I would go:

Forster (seems like the ideal game to bring him back, he was clearly pretty close to being ready last week)?

Cedric, Fonte, VvD, Bertrand

Clasie, Romeu

Ramirez, Davis, Tadic

Long

Subs: Stek, Targett, Martina, Stephens, JWP, Seager, Reed (assuming Juanmi is going/gone)

 

I don't think you can play for more than 2 clubs in the same season though, that's what I was actually saying.

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The game matters because it is now the only opportunity we have to get some glory this season. We need our best team out there. No experiments!

 

It was only one game but the Arsenal result clearly showed we are capable.

 

A good cup run will restore a much needed feel good factor.

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I don't think you can play for more than 2 clubs in the same season though, that's what I was actually saying.

OK, see what you mean, not really cup-tied, but I think you are right that he would then be prevented from playing for another team. I would think that based on the wording of the news item on the OS the Club may have already decided that he is not going out on loan again this season, as they have said he is available for the Palace game.

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Surprised there is still plenty of tickets still left, based on such cheap prices and Palace taking the extra allocation.

 

Just had a look and there's certainly plenty left. We'll probably shift a few more by the weekend but it's looking far from a sell-out. Ongoing poor form (Arsenal apart) is taking it's toll and with 3 home games in a week, many are clearly finding it easy to give this a miss.

 

And with 4,500 palace having a big day out, they'll be noisy and it could be an uncomfortable experience for some.

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Just had a look and there's certainly plenty left. We'll probably shift a few more by the weekend but it's looking far from a sell-out. Ongoing poor form (Arsenal apart) is taking it's toll and with 3 home games in a week, many are clearly finding it easy to give this a miss.

 

And with 4,500 palace having a big day out, they'll be noisy and it could be an uncomfortable experience for some.

 

 

and, with their noisy (but dickish and cringey) support, it is in danger of becoming a reverse Dellhurst Park

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I'm going to be a little different here, why not 4-4-2 set up like this. Bothe the left and right sides can cover each other, and attack as well.

 

Stekelenburg

Martina Fonte VVD Target

Cedric Romeu Clasie Bertrand

Juanmi Mane

 

Not sure playing wing backs would work, very defensive and do they have it in them to play such forward minded footy? Plus why go so experimental when there are like for like replacements from the U21 that haven't seen the light of day all season.

We're not getting anything from Palace they're just too well adjusted as a team and we're all at sea.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Agree with Allardyce about crazy scheduling. Last thing need post 3rd round is mid week PL game. Encouraging teams to rest players on back of the hectic xmas period. Much better to have a midweek game in March/April. I love the FA Cup but we need to win against Watford

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I think Koeman will make a few changes for this one. Our fitness levels are questionable saturday - saturday let alone with a mid week game. Watford have newcastle home on saturday. I expect Watford to play fairly strong team but no doubt newcastle will play a weakened team. I read somewhere Forster will play for the U21's this week although there next scheduled game is not until next Monday against Liverpool according to the OS so maybe a friendly has been arranged? Dont think Keepers need to much match practice so I would be tempted to play Forster on Saturday. Cant do any worse than Steklenburg the Statue.

 

Forster

Cedric (if fit)

Yoshida

VVD

Target

 

Romeu

Reed

 

Juanmi

Ramirez

Davis

 

Long

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We should have given up on Ramírez a long time ago - he doesn't have the right attitude or temperament for English Football. He's been given so many chances and failed to take any of them. He's the only player I've seen walk of the pitch before being subbed - and he's done that 2 or 3 times now. Hopefully we will get him off the wage bill this month.

 

We've also proved we are better with two upfront - so I'd start with Long and Juanmi upfront and a diamond in midifield with Romeu as the defenisve midfielder, Clasie on the left and Ward-Prowse on the right as the Central midfielders and Davis in the hole at the tip of the diamond.

 

I'd play the current defence of Bertrand, Van Dijk, Fonte and Martina with Gazzinaga in goal.

 

And I'd have the kids on the bench - Stephens, Seagar, Targett and Reed - to see if they can make a difference if we need it - or get some game time depending how the game goes.

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I am old school and think that you should go out to win every game which means playing your best team. It would be great to see a settled team out there week in week out, or as much as possible. The way to cut out these stupid defensive mistakes is to play together as much as possible. Only mess with the defence if there are suspensions or injuries.

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With Eastleigh being home to Bolton as well and our current form I don't think this will be well attended.

 

Depends what your definition of well attended is, but i think we'll have close to 30,000 there, the whole of the Northam is sold out, most of the Kingsland and Itchen are sold out so that just leaves the Chapel and corners with a few days to go plus some walk up on the day.

 

Bolton have sold out 1100 at Eastleigh for Saturday which will help boost their attendance and no doubt non-league team in the 3rd round helps create the "magic of the cup", but i doubt this fixture will impact our attendance at St Marys much. It is £12 for Saints compared to £15 at Eastleigh.

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With Eastleigh being home to Bolton as well and our current form I don't think this will be well attended.

 

I'm paying £40 to go and see Eastleigh v Bolton in hospitality for a different experience. It'll be an interesting match, chance of an upset, it doesn't have the travel overheads that me going to Newport v Blackburn would have and not as outright dull as Saints v Palace, which I didn't even go to in the 4th Round last year.

 

Thanks to the wonders of the BBC having to justify the licence fee to the government and BT Sport having a similar level of risk-aversion, none of these matches are on tv and all of them kick off at the same time. Saints v Palace not being on the box I could understand.

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Personally i'm hoping for a few changes(opportunities for a couple of the academy players) , especially as we've a league game against watford the following wednesday.

Targett & Reed should come in imo. Juanmi if he's staying should be given a start. Hopefully some of the likes of Stephens/Mcqueen/Seager/Hesketh make the bench.

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Personally think we'll win 1-0 from a scrappy affair. Wouldn't really change too much team wise.

 

Gazza

Martina Fonte Stephens Bertrand (not Targett as he'll get ripped to shreds by Zaha)

Clasie Reed

Tadic Davis Mane

Long

 

They're a good side but depends what team they put out. Wouldn't necessarily throw too many youngsters in too soon, may work but have a feeling it may disrupt things a little more than some people hope.

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I'm going mainly because I have always gone to watch Saints - possibly from a misguided sense of loyalty started at a very early age

 

However I can well understand why some Saints fans, particularly the younger generation who have enjoyed a fairly positive spell of success, feeling a bit let down by the current situation.

 

I think anything over 25,000 at the current level of 'despair', even at attractive prices, will be fairly good.

 

Also with important home League games coming up in close succession, I would be tempted to give fringe players a go.

 

I do sympathise with those who believe we should always play our strongest team but staying in the Prem is the major thing these days and it is difficult to see our current team progressing too far in the Cup

 

What a turn round though from last year where we were relatively confident of beating Palace in the 4th round.

 

This time I would put us down as underdogs

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It's so sad to see people dismissing this game as irrelevant after the excitement in the cups over the last two seasons. Are we really less likely to get to the latter stages than Reading or Aston Villa, who both made it to Wembley last season?

 

Cup runs are great and liven up a midtable league campaign, which is what we're on course for at the moment. Let's hope the team don't take the same attitude as some of you lot.

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It's so sad to see people dismissing this game as irrelevant after the excitement in the cups over the last two seasons. Are we really less likely to get to the latter stages than Reading or Aston Villa, who both made it to Wembley last season?

 

Cup runs are great and liven up a midtable league campaign, which is what we're on course for at the moment. Let's hope the team don't take the same attitude as some of you lot.

 

like they did against liverpool?

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It's so sad to see people dismissing this game as irrelevant after the excitement in the cups over the last two seasons. Are we really less likely to get to the latter stages than Reading or Aston Villa, who both made it to Wembley last season?

 

Cup runs are great and liven up a midtable league campaign, which is what we're on course for at the moment. Let's hope the team don't take the same attitude as some of you lot.

 

The FA cup is statistically a non event though. We won't win it.

3/25 FA cups since 1990 have been won by teams which aren't Utd, City,Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs or Liverpool. Sad to say but given our bad form I'd rather we use the cup to find some form, maybe rest up a few, try a few out. Not that bothered.

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The FA cup is statistically a non event though. We won't win it.

3/25 FA cups since 1990 have been won by teams which aren't Utd, City,Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs or Liverpool. Sad to say but given our bad form I'd rather we use the cup to find some form, maybe rest up a few, try a few out. Not that bothered.

 

Jesus. It's the FA Cup! What's the point in supporting a team if you don't want a cup run? "I'm not that bothered" [about the FA Cup], seems to be mantra of the dull, modern fan.

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