vince Posted 25 January, 2017 Share Posted 25 January, 2017 Not that anyone will care until tomorrow, but here's the build up thread for the FA Cup game... I'll go for an unwanted 1-1 draw... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 25 January, 2017 Share Posted 25 January, 2017 Cup double. 2-1 Saints Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGTL Posted 25 January, 2017 Share Posted 25 January, 2017 Probably a bit of after the Lord Mayors show about it. But think we'll win actually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edmonton Saint Posted 25 January, 2017 Share Posted 25 January, 2017 Hopefully we will play a strongish team in this as well. Cups are our best bet this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSAINT Posted 25 January, 2017 Share Posted 25 January, 2017 ---------------Forster----------------- Martina Stephens Yoshida McQueen ----------------Reed------------------ ----------Clasie Højbjerg------------ Sims-----------------------Redmond ---------------Long------------------ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baird of the land Posted 25 January, 2017 Share Posted 25 January, 2017 Long deserves to start. Clasie & perhaps hojberg in for jwp who got a knock and Davis who's just back from one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lighthouse Posted 26 January, 2017 Share Posted 26 January, 2017 The double is on and we're looking at a fairly meaningless second half of the League season. Let's go for it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
It's There Posted 26 January, 2017 Share Posted 26 January, 2017 I reckon the atmosphere generated from the win v Liverpool will spur the team on. 3 v 1 winners! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 26 January, 2017 Share Posted 26 January, 2017 Is it sold out yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alehouseboys Posted 26 January, 2017 Share Posted 26 January, 2017 Is it sold out yet? No. Probably won't be far off by Saturday teatime, mostly just the Chapel again. Any member who has eyes on a Wembley ticket would do worse than gambling £15 for this even if they've no intention in going, may help with qualifying number of games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 26 January, 2017 Share Posted 26 January, 2017 Lewis Martina Yoshida Stephens McQueen Romeu Clasie Hojbjerg Sims Redmond Long Bench: Forster, Bertrand, Cedric, Gardos, Davis, Tadic, Seager Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris27687 Posted 26 January, 2017 Share Posted 26 January, 2017 ---------------Forster----------------- Martina Stephens Yoshida McQueen ----------------Reed------------------ ----------Clasie Højbjerg------------ Sims-----------------------Redmond ---------------Long------------------ Looks about right - hopefully they are buzzing enough and Arsenal aren't. Would love a great performance from Reed, but I would imagine Oriol plays instead of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Saint Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 Maybe there has been a plan all along, with Leicester being the fluke last season Saints knew in all honesty we weren't going to challenge for the top spot, so a solid run in the cups delivers the prize goal if we win one: another European tour. I believe I saw somewhere that Puel knows that the season is won and lost in the final 3rd, and his previous teams have had a surge in the latter part of the season. So he rotates the squad and gets as many players as possible running at match fitness as possible without doing too much overall damage to the cause. Then you get into the situation we find ourselves in now where in 4 weeks time we will be playing in a Cup Final. Unlike Leicester who rolled out the usual suspects just about every week last season we have a squad of 20+ players who have all been involved, all ticking over "in the pits", who now all want to be in the starting 11 in a cup final and also a further 7 players if they don't get the nod, to be waiting on the subs bench. Now with all the rotation we have potential headache looming for the manager as now he has to start thinking about his starting 11, but the pot of players to pick from is bigger than the available spaces and all of that pot is pretty much match ready, so with the exception of the odd 1-2-3-4 players they know that Claude is going to rotate players in and out: the result being that everyone ups their game to be in the Cup Final Squad, no one is going to hang back to avoid a possible knock because they know they are replaceable so they have to remain on top of their game to be in with a chance of playing in a cup final. Resulting in the whole team performance stepping up. If we fail in winning the League Cup the better performances in the games leading up to the final potentially see the 6th round of the FA Cup to redress the disappointment, and so the process remains until the last day of the season. Yes what I have written above might well be complete hogwash, in the first leg of the Semi at home v Liverpool we saw a very tidy performance. Burnley game they are battlers and everyone who turns up at Turf Moor is going to walk away having been in a hard scrap: we get done by a quirk of fate. Norwich we put out a rag tag team that on paper should have seen the job done, but end up bringing 2 players on who put the impetus in to win through. The Champions turn up Sunday, and despite the Tinkerman having a brainfart, we have enough about us to identify and exploit the pickle they are in with style. Then Wednesday night we step out onto one of the hardest grounds in the land, but where against Norwich we played like strangers, we worked as a disciplined team, no one was pointing fingers at anyone like we have seen, everyone got on and did a job in snuffing out the opposition, then punching them in the guts at the end. Claude will likely have a little tinker on Saturday evening, but I bet whoever he picks will be pretty damn keen to be in the reckoning for that starting 11 on the 26th February.............. Could be fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pass the Dutchie Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 I'm curious to see who'll replace Rodriguez as an attacking option. It would be great if Ryan Seager or Olufela Olomola could get some game time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shance Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 Would be funny if we knocked them out of both cups this season but Arsenal are FA cup specialists, so i'm expecting a narrow loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSAINT Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 I'm curious to see who'll replace Rodriguez as an attacking option. It would be great if Ryan Seager or Olufela Olomola could get some game time. Olomola is injured, I believe. Ryan is still coming back to fitness after a serious injury. Isgrove is fit, but seems to have gone backwards this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St.Patrik Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 Not to be negative but after such a energy boost after winnings vs L-Pool this game can actually come to soon - the batteries are not fully charged yet since they are still buzzing from reaching the final. Just saying it can be a setback just because of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captainchris Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 Maybe there has been a plan all along, with Leicester being the fluke last season Saints knew in all honesty we weren't going to challenge for the top spot, so a solid run in the cups delivers the prize goal if we win one: another European tour. I believe I saw somewhere that Puel knows that the season is won and lost in the final 3rd, and his previous teams have had a surge in the latter part of the season. So he rotates the squad and gets as many players as possible running at match fitness as possible without doing too much overall damage to the cause. Then you get into the situation we find ourselves in now where in 4 weeks time we will be playing in a Cup Final. Unlike Leicester who rolled out the usual suspects just about every week last season we have a squad of 20+ players who have all been involved, all ticking over "in the pits", who now all want to be in the starting 11 in a cup final and also a further 7 players if they don't get the nod, to be waiting on the subs bench. Now with all the rotation we have potential headache looming for the manager as now he has to start thinking about his starting 11, but the pot of players to pick from is bigger than the available spaces and all of that pot is pretty much match ready, so with the exception of the odd 1-2-3-4 players they know that Claude is going to rotate players in and out: the result being that everyone ups their game to be in the Cup Final Squad, no one is going to hang back to avoid a possible knock because they know they are replaceable so they have to remain on top of their game to be in with a chance of playing in a cup final. Resulting in the whole team performance stepping up. If we fail in winning the League Cup the better performances in the games leading up to the final potentially see the 6th round of the FA Cup to redress the disappointment, and so the process remains until the last day of the season. Yes what I have written above might well be complete hogwash, in the first leg of the Semi at home v Liverpool we saw a very tidy performance. Burnley game they are battlers and everyone who turns up at Turf Moor is going to walk away having been in a hard scrap: we get done by a quirk of fate. Norwich we put out a rag tag team that on paper should have seen the job done, but end up bringing 2 players on who put the impetus in to win through. The Champions turn up Sunday, and despite the Tinkerman having a brainfart, we have enough about us to identify and exploit the pickle they are in with style. Then Wednesday night we step out onto one of the hardest grounds in the land, but where against Norwich we played like strangers, we worked as a disciplined team, no one was pointing fingers at anyone like we have seen, everyone got on and did a job in snuffing out the opposition, then punching them in the guts at the end. Claude will likely have a little tinker on Saturday evening, but I bet whoever he picks will be pretty damn keen to be in the reckoning for that starting 11 on the 26th February.............. Could be fun. A naive load of Hogwash indeed.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 Olomola is injured, I believe. Ryan is still coming back to fitness after a serious injury. Isgrove is fit, but seems to have gone backwards this season. There's a lad called Olafebi (?) who seems to have got a lot of goals for the youth recently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 Would be funny if we knocked them out of both cups this season but Arsenal are FA cup specialists, so i'm expecting a narrow loss. I think it all depends on how seriously they take it. The same goes for us. Games usually go to the team that wants it the most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 I read that Arsenal are really short in CM due to injuries. Also is Wenger going to be at the game or will he be on a ban by then? Couple of things that might work in our favour. Which ever team Puel puts out I imagine they'll be desperate to impress with a cup final around the corner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncanRG Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 Anfield hangover might be an issue, but if we're fresh physically and Arsenal aren't at full tilt then we can take the game to them. Expect Hojbjerg to come in for Ward-Prowse and Long for Rodriguez. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 There's a lad called Olafebi (?) who seems to have got a lot of goals for the youth recently. I think he came off injured in the U18s FA youth cup defeat vs Man City last night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardc Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 This is just a bonus game for me - not too concerned if we lose but would be nice to win I think with injuries the team will pick itself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallagroth Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 can we still field a first 11 with the amount of injuries we have right now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErwinK1961 Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 JWP, VVD & Jay Rod all confirmed to be out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSAINT Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 JWP, VVD & Jay Rod all confirmed to be out. Question is, are any of the U23 strikers fit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 Forster Cedric Yoshida Stephens Bertrand Clasie Romeu Davis Redmond Long Tadic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Ash Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 We can still put out a decent team. --------------------Forster------------------- Cedric-------Yoshi---------Stephens-----McQueen ----------------------Romeu-------------------------- -------PEH---------Clasie-------------Tadic---------- --------------Sims--------------Long---------------- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pangy Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 We can still put out a decent team. --------------------Forster------------------- Cuco-------Yoshi---------Stephens-----McQueen ----------------------Romeu-------------------------- -------PEH---------Clasie-------------Tadic---------- --------------Sims--------------Long---------------- Cuco for Cedric I reckon and maybe see Bertand in and McQueen played as a winger with Tadic on the bench Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Kucho Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 Will we see a u23 player make his debut and put in motm performance (like Sims, Stephens and McQueen)? Ryan Seagar back from injury? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 I rather the tea lady played at RB than Martina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teacher Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 Wenger given 4 match touchline ban with immediate effect Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hasper57saint Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 Wenger given 4 match touchline ban with immediate effect He'll still be in phone contact with whoever is standing in for him.Shame really as Claude could wind him up in French and we know how he reacts in English. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brett24 Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 Gardos could start tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alehouseboys Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 Full house tomorrow, there was just a handful of single seats left this afternoon, hopefully cup-final fever and an afternoon drinking will loosen a few up for a good cup atmosphere with 4,000 Gooners in the Northam. Whatever happens "Que Sera, Sera" should get a noisy run-out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 We can still put out a decent team. --------------------Forster------------------- Cedric-------Yoshi---------Stephens-----McQueen ----------------------Romeu-------------------------- -------PEH---------Clasie-------------Tadic---------- --------------Sims--------------Long---------------- I think Yoshi Romeu and Tadic need a rest maybe Gardos Reed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 Full house tomorrow, there was just a handful of single seats left this afternoon. Or... loads of people have bought tickets to bump themselves up the Wembley priority list and the place will be half empty... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpsaint Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 Difficult to predict the score again given the injuries and necessary rotation, I'm pretty sure Arse will be treating this a lot more seriously than the league cup though. Don't want a bloody draw and replay! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedWillie Posted 27 January, 2017 Share Posted 27 January, 2017 Now sold out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Munster Posted 28 January, 2017 Share Posted 28 January, 2017 Pessimistic about this one. Wenger will probably put out a stronger team than the ones we knocked out in the League cup this year and last (he won't want that to happen again), plus they're rested and we're not. And of course our lengthy injury list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 28 January, 2017 Share Posted 28 January, 2017 Difficult to predict the score again given the injuries and necessary rotation, I'm pretty sure Arse will be treating this a lot more seriously than the league cup though. Don't want a bloody draw and replay! Pessimistic about this one. Wenger will probably put out a stronger team than the ones we knocked out in the League cup this year and last (he won't want that to happen again), plus they're rested and we're not. And of course our lengthy injury list. Arsenal have a pretty big list of injuries and suspensions to. I read they only have two fit senior central midfielders, given the games they have coming up, they may rest them and play the kids in the middle which might give us a good chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRM Posted 28 January, 2017 Share Posted 28 January, 2017 Obviously would love to win this and go on another cup run, having won 3 games in a row without conceding would help keep up our momentum. However if we do lose take consolation in the fact the next round is the week before the league cup final. It's quite possible we'll have a week off whereas United will play a 5th round game followed by a Europa league game on the Thursday before our final. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eelpie Posted 28 January, 2017 Share Posted 28 January, 2017 Wenger given 4 match touchline ban with immediate effect I'm so disappointed. I was looking forward to seeing Arsene having a tantrum. It's never so spectacular when he's in the stands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lets B Avenue Posted 28 January, 2017 Share Posted 28 January, 2017 Obviously would love to win this and go on another cup run, having won 3 games in a row without conceding would help keep up our momentum. However if we do lose take consolation in the fact the next round is the week before the league cup final. It's quite possible we'll have a week off whereas United will play a 5th round game followed by a Europa league game on the Thursday before our final. .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lets B Avenue Posted 28 January, 2017 Share Posted 28 January, 2017 I'm so disappointed. I was looking forward to seeing Arsene having a tantrum. It's never so spectacular when he's in the stands. I wonder if they can get him to stand up on the ledge and do his "Statue of Liberty" impression? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 28 January, 2017 Share Posted 28 January, 2017 I'm so disappointed. I was looking forward to seeing Arsene having a tantrum. It's never so spectacular when he's in the stands. Were will they put him? in the directors seating I guess but just for the giggles I think the club should stick him in the middle of the Northam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simo Posted 28 January, 2017 Share Posted 28 January, 2017 Liverpool 1 down to wolves already Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 28 January, 2017 Share Posted 28 January, 2017 Liverpool 1 down to wolves already Jesus imagine what sort of meltdown Alpinescouser and Glasgowscouser will be having on RAWK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BARCELONASAINT Posted 28 January, 2017 Share Posted 28 January, 2017 must admit that this is the first time i can remember not really being bothered if we go out of the cup this afternoon. Yes i would love us to beat Arsenal but i will still be happy if we have lost at full time in the knowledge we are already going to Wembley. In my mind the most important thing now for us is to avoid any more serious injuries and to pick up form in the league so we go to the cup final on a rich vein of form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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