trousers Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 (edited) So, with Austin out "for weeks", Long picking up a minor knock last night, Clasie rested vs Bournemouth and JRod potentially ready for a cameo appearance, how about this for Saturday's match-day line-up? --------------------- Forster ----------------------- ------ VvD ---------- Fonte -------- Bertrand ----- Cedric ------------------------------------- Targett -------------- Clasie ------- Davis ----------------- ---- Mane ----------- Pelle ----------- Tadic ------ Subs: Stek, Martina, Yoshida, Romeu, JWP, Long, JRod (Not sure if we can afford to leave Romeu out of the starting 11 whilst Wanyama is injured though) Edited 2 March, 2016 by trousers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheaf Saint Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 So, with Austin out "for weeks", Long picking up a minor knock last night, Clasie rested vs Bournemouth and JRod potentially ready for a cameo appearance, how about this for Saturday's match-day line-up? --------------------- Forster ----------------------- ------ VvD ---------- Fonte -------- Bertrand ----- Cedric ------------------------------------- Targett -------------- Clasie ------- Davis ----------------- ---- Mane ----------- Pelle ----------- Tadic ------ Subs: Stek, Martina, Yoshida, Romeu, JWP, Long, JRod (Not sure if we can afford to leave Romeu out of the starting 11 whilst Wanyama is injured though) The form / state of mind that Mane has been in lately, I would put a half-fit Long or even J-Rod in ahead of him. He's been completely anonymous for a long time now and looked like he really couldn't be bothered last night. We can't afford to be complacent with this one. I watched some of Sunderland's game at West Ham on saturday and they caused the WH defence a fair few problems, but let themselves down with poor finishing. They will be up for this game and we need to be too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 2 March, 2016 Author Share Posted 2 March, 2016 The form / state of mind that Mane has been in lately, I would put a half-fit Long or even J-Rod in ahead of him. He's been completely anonymous for a long time now and looked like he really couldn't be bothered last night. I'm inclined to agreebut there's a small, and somewhat hopeful, part of me that is holding out for the game where he suddenly clicks back into gear... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 Tough game, result unpredictable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom28 Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 Forster, Cedric, Fonte, VVD, Bertrand, Targett, Clasie, Romeu, Davis, JWP, Long. Get back to basics and be solid. We lost the midfield battle last night and in the second half against Chelsea which forced our wing backs into a back 5 and gave us no outlet. On paper, this team probably looks to most people as negative, but I think it would allow us to control possession and play more positively down the flanks. With Pelle, Mane, Tadic out of form, Austin injured, and JRod not fit, this lineup gives us the best chance of winning IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddie Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 I fancy that. can't wait to see the cheer Jrod gets if he comes on as a sub Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 2 March, 2016 Author Share Posted 2 March, 2016 Forster, Cedric, Fonte, VVD, Bertrand, Targett, Clasie, Romeu, Davis, JWP, Long. Four relatively defensive midfielders and one striker potentially carrying a knock? Brave call for a home game against one of the poorer teams in the league... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 I think 3 at the back has run its course. It served a purpose, much like it did last year. My team...assuming Long took a knock and Austin is out... ------------------Forster Cedric-----Fonte-------VvD------Bertrand ---------------Rom-- ----Davis--------------Clasie--------------------Tadic --------Mane ---------------Pelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheaf Saint Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 I think 3 at the back has run its course. It served a purpose, much like it did last year. My team...assuming Long took a knock and Austin is out... ------------------Forster Cedric-----Fonte-------VvD------Bertrand ---------------Rom-- ----Davis--------------Clasie--------------------Tadic --------Mane ---------------Pelle You're so confident we can beat Sunderland that you would start with only 9 outfield players? Interesting. Edit: Damn you and your quick editing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 You're so confident we can beat Sunderland that you would start with only 9 outfield players? Interesting. easy win mate. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 Jwp again showing he's nowhere near good enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErwinK1961 Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 I think 3 at the back has run its course. It served a purpose, much like it did last year. My team...assuming Long took a knock and Austin is out... ------------------Forster Cedric-----Fonte-------VvD------Bertrand ---------------Rom-- ----Davis--------------Clasie--------------------Tadic --------Mane ---------------Pelle Agreed with this, though if Long is fit I'd bring him in for Pelle. Got to go for this and attack. Don't win this and it may as well be an end of season party. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamplemousse Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 Well this time last week I would've said this was a home banker... It's obvious we do much better against teams that sit back, so hopefully Big Sam will park the bus like Pulis tried to do and another 3-0 victory awaits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALWAYS_SFC Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 Jwp again showing he's nowhere near good enough. In the build up thread...wow...got to be the earliest criticism ever.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 I would personally go 433 which I think is the best formation for the players we now have available. Play Pelle through the middle, Tadic left and Mane right and see if that combo can come good again. Without Wanyama, I don't trust our ability to play with two CM's at the mo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamplemousse Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 Jwp again showing he's nowhere near good enough. Everyone had a bad night. Unfair to bring up just one person. If we won and he had a bad performance, fair enough, but nobody played well yesterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 In the build up thread...wow...got to be the earliest criticism ever.. We don't live in a dictatorship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALWAYS_SFC Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 We don't live in a dictatorship. ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitzhugh Fella Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 Bit of a nothing game for us - can't see the players busting a gut. Sunderland are poor probably a 1-1 but our season is over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Jonny Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 Bit of a nothing game for us - can't see the players busting a gut. Sunderland are poor probably a 1-1 but our season is over. It isn't though, is it. Still plenty to play for. Don't go topping yourself just yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Katalinic's 'tache Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 Long aside, our forwards are way off form. Would it really hurt to give Juanmi a start alongside Long while Austin is out, to see if he really is too slight to deal with the Prem? The only true way to find out will be to give him game time and not just a few minutes here and there, off the bench. Pelle, Mane and Tadic haven't contributed too much in recent weeks, despite our recent run of form before this week, so he could at least offer a bit of freshness. I'd go for: GK - Forster RB - Cedric CD - Fonte CD - Van Dijk LB - Bertrand CM - Clasie CM - Romeu RM - S Davis AM - Juanmi LM - Tadic CF - Long Subs: Stekelenburg; Targett; Yoshida; JWP; Mane; Jay Rod; Pelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 Bit of a nothing game for us - can't see the players busting a gut. Sunderland are poor probably a 1-1 but our season is over. We are still in a good position to equal or better our best ever Premier League season and qualify for Europe again... so how exactly is our season over now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 We are still in a good position to equal or better our best ever Premier League season and qualify for Europe again... so how exactly is our season over now? But we're a fair few points worse off than we were after 28 games last season I think (9 perhaps ?). We didn't finish last season at all well though so there is still some hope of roughly equalling last season's performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasper57saint Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 After running into a wall last night will Kevin Friend be fit to Ref us on Saturday? He never does us any favours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Duckhunter Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 This has got 0-0 written all over it . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nta786 Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 Use whatever we beat them 8-0 with last season- I'd go to 4231 probably. Forster Cedric Fonte VVD Bertrand Romeu Clasie Davis Mane Tadic Pelle (Long depending on fitness) Bench: Stekelenburg, Yoshida, Martina, Targett, JWP, Long/Pelle, Juanmi (if Austin and J Rod are out though) Prediction: 2-1... with Mane and Clasie to get his first, Defoe to pull one back keep the faith! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Wayman Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 Mane's form is hard to explain. If any of the rumours about him moving on are true than you'd have thought he'd be busting a gut to turn in great performances just to stay in the focus of the big clubs. Right now he seems unable to run past an opponent or time his runs or passes properly even when he is on the ball. He is the sort of player that you think you'd always want in your team as he will produce a moment of magic to transform a game. I for one and always disappointed when he is not in the starting XI. Yet when his chance comes again he seems unable to take it. Is it that opponents have got wise to his tricks and double up on making him every week or is it that he has always flattered to deceive and that's why he plied his craft in Austria rather than Spain or Germany before we signed him. It could be that gifted players like him are inherently selfish on the ball and our coaches in their wisdom have encouraged him to become more of a team player and now when he gets the ball he longer knows what to do. His success may have been born of his selfishness and now that has been coached out of him he has nothing special left to offer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Wayman Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 Bit of a nothing game for us - can't see the players busting a gut. Sunderland are poor probably a 1-1 but our season is over. Crikey FF you are depressing me now and I started the day thinking last night was just a blip. Let me lighten up your day, a gypsy fortune teller told me we will win 4-0 on Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRM Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 Apparently Adam Johnson is out for them. I'd like to see Clasie back in for us, possibly go back to the forward line we had at the start of the season with Mane, Pelle and Tadic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davefoggy Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 get Gazzaniga in for starters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncanRG Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 The most important thing is we control the midfield. We've failed to do that in the last two, though Sunderland won't press us hard like Bournemouth and Chelsea did. Clasie and Davis needed, perhaps with Romeu as well though that might not be needed if Sunderland sit back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadhall Saint Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 I think mane is thinking too much about things - what he does just comes naturally imo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simo Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 After tonight Saints now 9th with Chelsea, Everton and Watford all within a win of us too (still ten minutes for Watford to draw level with us), Imperative we get something Saturday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesfp1 Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 We were 5th at half time on Saturday! Could be 11th this Saturday coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevy777_x Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 This season has been so frustrating. Everytime we ve been in a position to push on we get sucked back into mid table. I want my team everything and leave everything out there on the pitch. I didn t see that yesterday, the desire wasn t there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamplemousse Posted 2 March, 2016 Share Posted 2 March, 2016 We have to win this match. No excuses now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austsaint Posted 3 March, 2016 Share Posted 3 March, 2016 Forster, Cedric, Fonte, VVD, Bertrand, Targett, Clasie, Romeu, Davis, JWP, Long. Get back to basics and be solid. We lost the midfield battle last night and in the second half against Chelsea which forced our wing backs into a back 5 and gave us no outlet. On paper, this team probably looks to most people as negative, but I think it would allow us to control possession and play more positively down the flanks. With Pelle, Mane, Tadic out of form, Austin injured, and JRod not fit, this lineup gives us the best chance of winning IMO. Just as a matter of interest Tom, just what would you be expecting JWP to do up there in the forward line alongside Long? Or do you see him as a 10 role candidate, something he hasn't managed up till now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whelk Posted 3 March, 2016 Share Posted 3 March, 2016 Sunderland have been v weird and hard to predict this season. Unlucky at West Ham by all accounts. Think we will win comfortably although 5/1 for Sunderland looks value if we put in a performance like Tuesday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 3 March, 2016 Share Posted 3 March, 2016 Sunderland are 6/1 so if you believe our players are suddenly crap, have given up and won't try then lump on that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsbridge Saint Posted 3 March, 2016 Share Posted 3 March, 2016 The way things are going if we can win three on the spin then we could be eyeing 4th and a Champions League spot, leave alone Europa. I really hope the players grasp that and win Saturday. Season far from over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 3 March, 2016 Share Posted 3 March, 2016 Forster Cedric Fonte VVD Berrtand Romeu Clasie Davis Tadic Pelle Long if fit (Mane) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 3 March, 2016 Share Posted 3 March, 2016 Forster Cedric Fonte VVD Berrtand Romeu Clasie Davis Tadic Pelle Long if fit (Mane) I wouldn't play Long over Mane if he needs to be wide in a front 3. He has always struggled in that position and has only really found consistency since playing in a front two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baird of the land Posted 3 March, 2016 Share Posted 3 March, 2016 Forster Cedric Fonte VVD Bertrand Romeu Clasie Davis Tadic Long Mane Big Sam's team is going to be set up to deal with long ball's to Pelle so despite the fact he played ok against Bournemouth(a game he probably should have started), i'd start with the more mobile Long instead if he is fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicestersaint Posted 3 March, 2016 Share Posted 3 March, 2016 Forget mane - he looked like a headless chicken against Bournemouth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Biscuits Posted 3 March, 2016 Share Posted 3 March, 2016 Don't care who plays. Just go back to basics and grind out a result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint-crinny Posted 3 March, 2016 Share Posted 3 March, 2016 With RK confirming that Austin (as we knew) and Long will both miss this one, I guess we'll certainly see Pelle and almost certainly Mane starting. Would like to see Tadic back in the starting line-up in a switch back to the 4-3-3 formation that we have had success with prior to the collapse earlier in the season. GK: Forster RB: Cedric LB: Bertrand CB: VVD CB: Fonte CM: Romeu CM: Clasie CM: Davis RW: Mane LW: Tadic ST: Pelle Davis playing in advance of Rom and Clasie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shroppie Posted 3 March, 2016 Share Posted 3 March, 2016 With RK confirming that Austin (as we knew) and Long will both miss this one, I guess we'll certainly see Pelle and almost certainly Mane starting. Would like to see Tadic back in the starting line-up in a switch back to the 4-3-3 formation that we have had success with prior to the collapse earlier in the season. GK: Forster RB: Cedric LB: Bertrand CB: VVD CB: Fonte CM: Romeu CM: Clasie CM: Davis RW: Mane LW: Tadic ST: Pelle Davis playing in advance of Rom and Clasie. Very likely team, unless Tadic or Mane gives way to JWP Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjk Posted 3 March, 2016 Share Posted 3 March, 2016 J Rod to come on and get the winner 2-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Charlie Posted 3 March, 2016 Share Posted 3 March, 2016 J Rod to come on and get the winner 2-1 Quite possibly won't be on the bench as hasn't even played an U21 game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 3 March, 2016 Author Share Posted 3 March, 2016 (edited) I see Koeman has resorted to basketball training.... I suppose that's one way of getting the ball in the net.... "Jay is more close and we'll decide if he'll be ready for the under 21 game on Monday. Gardos needs more time than Jay" Edited 3 March, 2016 by trousers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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