SNSUN Posted 31 March, 2018 Share Posted 31 March, 2018 Wow, this should be fun. Tomorrow Stoke play Arsenal, which is not going to help us either way - either Stoke miraculously pick up a point or 3 or Arsenal will gain more confidence by beating them, before hosting poor wounded Saints that have been battered 3-0 twice in successive Premier League games by relegation opposition. I don't think this will be pretty, but I hope for a more solid performance than today's first half. Starts for Long, Yoshida, JWP, Boufal, Romeu, and maybe even Davis? Desperate times call for desperate measures. I certainly want to see Yoshida in there, JWP too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heisenberg Posted 31 March, 2018 Share Posted 31 March, 2018 This game will mark 699 days since we last beat a top 6 side in the league. Got a funny feeling we will pinch this one* *cheeky insurance bet placed just in case COYS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldNick Posted 31 March, 2018 Share Posted 31 March, 2018 This game will mark 699 days since we last beat a top 6 side in the league. Got a funny feeling we will pinch this one* *cheeky insurance bet placed just in case COYSI notice you have the guild of master craftsmen as your avatar, what trade are you in to display that???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OttawaSaint Posted 31 March, 2018 Share Posted 31 March, 2018 (edited) This game will mark 699 days since we last beat a top 6 side in the league. Got a funny feeling we will pinch this one* *cheeky insurance bet placed just in case COYS Warning. Strong language. Edited 31 March, 2018 by OttawaSaint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baird of the land Posted 31 March, 2018 Share Posted 31 March, 2018 Hard to pick a team given the 11 that played today don't really deserve to start. Mccarthy Pied Stephens Yoshida Bertrand Romeu Hojberg Sims Hesketh Boufal Long Subs: Forster, Hoedt, Lemina, JWP, Austin, Gabbi, Tadic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micky Posted 31 March, 2018 Share Posted 31 March, 2018 Sorry, seeing nothing but another embarrassing loss. If we get out having only shipped two, I'll call that progress, how sad is that? Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonnyboy Posted 31 March, 2018 Share Posted 31 March, 2018 I notice you have the guild of master craftsmen as your avatar, what trade are you in to display that???? Trolling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micky Posted 31 March, 2018 Share Posted 31 March, 2018 Trolling.To be fair though, for that discipline, he does deserve to bear said crest. He is a master. Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamplemousse Posted 31 March, 2018 Share Posted 31 March, 2018 Arsenal will be prioritising the Europa League, and then of course have the early kickoff on Sunday less than 72 hours later, so hopefully Wenger names the youth or something. Try and park the bus and hope for the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 31 March, 2018 Share Posted 31 March, 2018 3-1 win for arsenal with a much improved but ultimately fruitless performance from us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saints foreva Posted 31 March, 2018 Share Posted 31 March, 2018 4-0 Arsenal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamplemousse Posted 31 March, 2018 Share Posted 31 March, 2018 3-1 win for arsenal with a much improved but ultimately fruitless performance from us Post match interview... "We are learning..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micky Posted 31 March, 2018 Share Posted 31 March, 2018 Arsenal will be prioritising the Europa League, and then of course have the early kickoff on Sunday less than 72 hours later, so hopefully Wenger names the youth or something. Try and park the bus and hope for the best.Have you seen the state of our bus, ffs. Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lighthouse Posted 31 March, 2018 Share Posted 31 March, 2018 I'd go 4-3-3. Sims and Tadic playing off Gabbi. Hoj, Lem and Rom in the middle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kwsaint Posted 31 March, 2018 Share Posted 31 March, 2018 Haven't we run out of permutations already this season. Must have tried every single combination of front 4 and nothing has worked. Only point for discussion is how many we are going to lose by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGTL Posted 31 March, 2018 Share Posted 31 March, 2018 This could be horrendous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shroppie Posted 31 March, 2018 Share Posted 31 March, 2018 Wow, this should be fun. Tomorrow Stoke play Arsenal, which is not going to help us either way - either Stoke miraculously pick up a point or 3 or Arsenal will gain more confidence by beating them, before hosting poor wounded Saints that have been battered 3-0 twice in successive Premier League games by relegation opposition. I don't think this will be pretty, but I hope for a more solid performance than today's first half. Starts for Long, Yoshida, JWP, Boufal, Romeu, and maybe even Davis? Desperate times call for desperate measures. I certainly want to see Yoshida in there, JWP too.Pretty well agree with that. We need the players who want to play for Saints, not themselves. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 31 March, 2018 Share Posted 31 March, 2018 We'll probably end up winning this. And then lose to Bournemouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 To prolong the agony, it will be a spirited 1-0 defeat to give us some hope IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northam soul Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 This game will mark 699 days since we last beat a top 6 side in the league. Got a funny feeling we will pinch this one* *cheeky insurance bet placed just in COYS Feels like 699 days since we won any league game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BotleySaint Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 5-1 Arsenal. We'll go 2 nil down and get a goal back before half time to give false hope. Look good for first 15 mins of second half and miss a few sitters. Then concede, heads will drop and more will fly in as we are in disarray at the back. Torture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saints foreva Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 We'll probably end up winning this. And then lose to Bournemouth. Nah we'll lose both. Bournemouth will confirm our relegation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InvictaSaint Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 (edited) I’m just amazed anybody thinks we will actually score..... Edited 2 April, 2018 by InvictaSaint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 Time for 5 at the back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toomer Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 The fat lady will be warming up after this game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamplemousse Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 This is what I would go with Macca Pied Stephens Hoedt Yoshida Bertrand Romeu Hojbjerg Lemina Long Austin Sadly, we all know that Cedric and Tadic will start and we’ll have conceded defeat before kick off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALWAYS_SFC Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 I notice you have the guild of master craftsmen as your avatar, what trade are you in to display that???? Self abuse by hand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabrice29 Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 McCarthy Cedric Yoshida Hoedt Bertrand Romeu Hoijberg Lemina JWP Tadic Austin Yoshida has to start, our best defender before his injury suddenly can't get in the team but Stephens who's yet to show any interest in winning a header is a starter. That hasto change. 442 is laughable outdated formation and we've never played well with it so rightly back to 5 midfielders and those 3 together centrally compete better together. JWP was in good form and his set pieces are our biggest threat so no idea why he's suddenly not in the side. Tadic is so frustrating but its no coincidence his and Austin form was best together so play them both. Boufal unlucky not to be in but the likes of Redmond and Gabbi can do one. Sadly we look better with Long in the side too so if we are to play 442 Long has to play as he's the only one in our side who can get us up the pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aintforever Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 When Yoshida is your best defender you know you are a championship side. Arsenal are going to murder us regardless of our lineup, can’t even be arsed think about who to pick anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrensup Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 Forfeit the game, take the 3-0 loss and use the extra day on the treadmil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whelk Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 They are all so sh1t but Romeu and Yoshida must start. Actually Long too. Some mugs on here mentioning that Lemina was in the top 3 best signings. Fck me. And don’t get me started on Hojberg. Did Pep give up on him as he realised he is incapable of passing to a fellow player? Not just him though but that performance yesterday was embarrassing and I have no love towards any of them bar Yoshi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuncanRG Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 4-5-1 is absolutely essential. Hughes should have learnt from Wigan but West Ham must have driven home that we can't give up the midfield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BotleySaint Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 I hope Hughes can see Cedric's confidence is totally shot and finds an alternative formation or player that can keep him out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forester Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 The only smidgeon of hope here is that this match is sandwiched by both legs of Arsenal Europa Cup quarter final including tricky trip to Moscow. Arsenal have no chance of Champions League qualification via Premier League so this is surely their priority Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Albert Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 I’d bring in Romeu and Yoshi to replace Lemina and Hoedt or Stephens respectively. The team desperately needs an injection of character. I’m assuming Hughes won’t go with a 4-4-2 away to Arsenal. He could try dropping Long back into the attacking 3 midfielders and keeping Austin up front, hoping that he will work his way into a semblance of match fitness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 We’re exactly the type of side that flat track bullies like Arsenal have a field day against. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Saint Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 If we don't use JWP and get set pieces and crosses in against Arsenal then we should give up. Stephens Yoshi Hoedt Cedric JWP Romeu Lemina Bertrand Austin Carrillo i would put Long in ahead of Carillo, much rather have someone with a bit of nuisance and no goals over someone with no pace and no goals up front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Garrett Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 4th place will be out of sight for Arsenal if Spurs get 3 points today (likely). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintJackoInHurworth Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 I think we need to do something a bit different so how about trying out 3/5 at the back with the full backs given freedom to bomb up the wing? It might look like this: [table] [tr] [td][/td] [td][/td] [td]Macca[/td] [td][/td] [td][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td][/td] [td]Stephens[/td] [td]Yoshida[/td] [td]Hoedt[/td] [td][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Cedric/Pied[/td] [td][/td] [td]Romeu[/td] [td][/td] [td]Bertrand[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td][/td] [td] JWP[/td] [td]Lemina[/td] [td]McQueen[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td][/td] [td][/td] [td]Austin[/td] [td][/td] [td][/td] [/tr] [/table] My slight reservations is that I wonder if maybe we need a bit more experience in there, so maybe we should play Davis rather than JWP. Nevertheless, JWP does give us that extra option from set pieces and his form and confidence has been better than most of the squad this season! To explain the line-up a little, I see Lemina playing as a box-to-box midfielder rather than as a static central midfielder. Also JWP/Davis plus McQueen can provide a combination of width or defensive compact-ness in midfield thus helping us to be defensively tighter and offering something different in the attacking third of the pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simo Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 3 nil saints Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Wayman Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 I wouldn't let Stephens or Hoedt anywhere near the Emirates unless we revel in costing disaster. Yoshida must start, must start, must start and surely time to blood an U23 CB and anchor Romeu in front of them. Davis back in please for some guts and backbone and sorry but Lemina is too cavalier for us at this stage of our season. I'd rets Cedric and give Pied a chance. Let's face it we are going to get tonked but at least we need to throw bodies on the line to keep the score down. Even 2-0 might be our undoing at season's end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintwbu Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 We’re gonna win this. McCarthy Pied Yoshida Stephens Bertrand Romeu Hojbjerg Ward-Prowse Sims Boufal/Long Austin Cedric, Tadic, Redmond all to be left at home. Stephens isn’t the best but he’s not a complete pussy like Hoedt. They’ve just won comfortably in what is normally a comfortable fixture for them, so in typical Arsenal fashion they’re gonna **** it up. Then Hughes will have just seen who absolutely isn’t up to it for us and will cut them out accordingly to get a reaction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewell Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 The only smidgeon of hope here is that this match is sandwiched by both legs of Arsenal Europa Cup quarter final including tricky trip to Moscow. Arsenal have no chance of Champions League qualification via Premier League so this is surely their priority I agree. I may be in the minority but I actually think this is a winnable game and we can win if we just pick the right side. JWP has to start for his set pieces alone. If I see Tadic take another powder puff drifted corner ill personally break his knee caps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lighthouse Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 I wouldn't let Stephens or Hoedt anywhere near the Emirates unless we revel in costing disaster. Yoshida must start, must start, must start and surely time to blood an U23 CB and anchor Romeu in front of them. Davis back in please for some guts and backbone and sorry but Lemina is too cavalier for us at this stage of our season. I'd rets Cedric and give Pied a chance. Let's face it we are going to get tonked but at least we need to throw bodies on the line to keep the score down. Even 2-0 might be our undoing at season's end. That's exactly what we did do with Stephens. What are you suggesting, we give a slightly worse U23 CB a run out and hope that works better. People cry out for the youth team to be given a chance because they will try and can't possibly be worse than the first team. What we have now is Martin Cranie 2.0. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farawaysaint Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 Hahahahahahaha. Ha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusic Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 I think we need to do something a bit different so how about trying out 3/5 at the back with the full backs given freedom to bomb up the wing? It might look like this: [table] [tr] [td][/td] [td][/td] [td]Macca[/td] [td][/td] [td][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td][/td] [td]Stephens[/td] [td]Yoshida[/td] [td]Hoedt[/td] [td][/td] [/tr] [tr] [td]Cedric/Pied[/td] [td][/td] [td]Romeu[/td] [td][/td] [td]Bertrand[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td][/td] [td] JWP[/td] [td]Lemina[/td] [td]McQueen[/td] [/tr] [tr] [td][/td] [td][/td] [td]Austin[/td] [td][/td] [td][/td] [/tr] [/table] My slight reservations is that I wonder if maybe we need a bit more experience in there, so maybe we should play Davis rather than JWP. Nevertheless, JWP does give us that extra option from set pieces and his form and confidence has been better than most of the squad this season! To explain the line-up a little, I see Lemina playing as a box-to-box midfielder rather than as a static central midfielder. Also JWP/Davis plus McQueen can provide a combination of width or defensive compact-ness in midfield thus helping us to be defensively tighter and offering something different in the attacking third of the pitch.That team has zero pace or creativity and would struggle in the Championship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Duckhunter Posted 1 April, 2018 Share Posted 1 April, 2018 I’d change formation for this one. Go with a back 3, Bertrand as left CB ( he did ok for Ronald there), Stephens as right CB & Yoshida as centre. JWP & McQueen as wing backs Central 3 to clog up that area. PEH, OR & Lemina (only because there’s nobody else). Up top I’d go for Sims in the 10, with Long up top. Sit deep, get bodies in defensive positions, hit them on the break. Clearly getting goals will be the issue, so leaving Charlie out looks stupid. But, we won’t get up the pitch to create any thing for him. Long & Sims have the pace to create something out of nothing. We can always bring Charlie on for the last 20 IF we’re still in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintJackoInHurworth Posted 2 April, 2018 Share Posted 2 April, 2018 That team has zero pace or creativity and would struggle in the Championship. So you don't think that Cedric/Pied, Bertrand, Lemina and McQueen have any pace? I think you will find they do! If you want even more pace with that formation then you could replace JWP with Sims or Redmond and Austin with Long or Gabbiadini. The problem with Redmond and Gabbiadini is that they are completely lacking in fitness and confidence and Long is similarly lacking in confidence (though for him fitness rarely seems to be an issue). And in terms of creativity, I would argue Lemina has a fair degree of that if he is allowed to express it in the right areas of the pitch (i.e. not defensive midfield which is not his strongest position). I am not here talking about some theoretical situation where we pick the best side on the basis of a player performing at their best; I would not be leaving Tadic and Redmond out in that situation. However, with so many players with low confidence we have got to pick a different side that reflects that. With this formation the role of pacy wingers is mainly given to the wing backs and I would argue they have plenty of pace and a reasonable level of creativity - even if not perhaps as much creativity as Redmond, Tadic or Boufal at their best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintTex Posted 2 April, 2018 Share Posted 2 April, 2018 I just amazed anybody thinks we will actually score.....no kidding.. 1 goal in the last 5 league games. and this was supposed to be our easy run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint86 Posted 2 April, 2018 Share Posted 2 April, 2018 (edited) So you don't think that Cedric/Pied, Bertrand, Lemina and McQueen have any pace? I think you will find they do! If you want even more pace with that formation then you could replace JWP with Sims or Redmond and Austin with Long or Gabbiadini. The problem with Redmond and Gabbiadini is that they are completely lacking in fitness and confidence and Long is similarly lacking in confidence (though for him fitness rarely seems to be an issue). And in terms of creativity, I would argue Lemina has a fair degree of that if he is allowed to express it in the right areas of the pitch (i.e. not defensive midfield which is not his strongest position). I am not here talking about some theoretical situation where we pick the best side on the basis of a player performing at their best; I would not be leaving Tadic and Redmond out in that situation. However, with so many players with low confidence we have got to pick a different side that reflects that. With this formation the role of pacy wingers is mainly given to the wing backs and I would argue they have plenty of pace and a reasonable level of creativity - even if not perhaps as much creativity as Redmond, Tadic or Boufal at their best.Your team pick was garbage mate sorry. If you stop Tadic fine, but not for mcqueen... Sims should be in there. I would certainly drop Lemina. He is utter garbage, flatters to deceive about as much as Boufal but gets away from it more because he is less audacious. I would play: .....................Macca...................... Pied Yoshida Stephens Bertrand .................PEH...Romeu................ Redmond.......JWP................Sims ......................Gabba....................... Really don't think it's complicated for the manager (whoever it is). Stop putting square pegs in round holes. Pick a fast possession team with players who want to run and carry the ball. Play in the opposition half, defend with everyone when we need to and then break fast (I can't remember the last time we counter attacked effectively... then use a lethal finisher with good movement, JWP for set prices... and a midfield 3 that don't **** around but just get and cycle the ball out to the runners whisky shielding the back (I.e. not what show ponies like Boufal/Tadic/Lemina do)! Winning football games isn't that hard, just get an effective and simple strat and stick to it FFS. Saints don't have big physical players, what we have is technical players who run with the ball and can keep it. Just fecking let them do that in the 3rd that matters FFS. Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk Edited 2 April, 2018 by Saint86 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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