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Saints 1-3 Arsenal - Match Thread


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Curious about the starting xi. Mccarthy in for Forster. Assume Vokins will be in for suspended Bertrand. Is Romeu going to be fit if so i'd be tempted to bring him in for Diallo(just to freshen midfield). Also know we've in the past had concerns regarding Armstrong's body handling these sharp turnarounds. Only really got Watts available though unless Redders is back fit.

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We're not going to be able to make many changes anyway, was McCarthy just rested today? 

Potentially we bring in McCarthy, Vokins, Romeu if he's recovered. 

Ings looked knackered, might be better to have him on the bench and hope we can still be drawing after an hour and bring him on. Armstrong looked completely gone near the end as well. Josh Sims could come in with Walcott moving up front. 

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26 minutes ago, qwertyell said:

Think the manager said Sims isn't part of their first team training "bubble" as yet. Don't see him playing any time soon, if ever (for us).

I missed that, heard he'd returned from loan so assumed that was to boost our depleted squad, especially with Redmond, Djenepo and Tella out. 

Good chance by the time we play this game Villa will be above us, then defeat to Arsenal will see us in the bottom half. Will be strange waiting for the league table to flick over to page 2 on teletext to see our name. 

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1 hour ago, JRM said:

I missed that, heard he'd returned from loan so assumed that was to boost our depleted squad, especially with Redmond, Djenepo and Tella out. 

Good chance by the time we play this game Villa will be above us, then defeat to Arsenal will see us in the bottom half. Will be strange waiting for the league table to flick over to page 2 on teletext to see our name. 

 

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2 hours ago, JRM said:

I missed that, heard he'd returned from loan so assumed that was to boost our depleted squad, especially with Redmond, Djenepo and Tella out. 

Good chance by the time we play this game Villa will be above us, then defeat to Arsenal will see us in the bottom half. Will be strange waiting for the league table to flick over to page 2 on teletext to see our name. 

Will be strange travelling back to 1999 to use teletext as well to be fair. 

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I'd be tempted to make a few changes. We looked tired in the second half today. Not just physically but also a bit tired mentally. 

Obviously Vokins will come in (and presumably McCarthy).

I'd be tempted to start Romeu for JWP if he's fit. It's asking too much for JWP to play 90 minutes of every match. He seems to be a machine now but sooner or later it will catch up with him. 

I'd also bring in Valery on the right of midfield and give Armstrong or Walcott a rest (whichever we think is more tired).

Long in for Adams.

McCarthy 

KWP Bednarek Stephens Vokins

Romeu Diallo

Valery  Walcott/Armstrong 

Ings Long

Subs: Forster, Tchaepchet, Ramsey, JWP, Walcott/Armstrong, Adams, Nlundulu

 

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1 hour ago, benjii said:

I'd be tempted to make a few changes. We looked tired in the second half today. Not just physically but also a bit tired mentally. 

Obviously Vokins will come in (and presumably McCarthy).

I'd be tempted to start Romeu for JWP if he's fit. It's asking too much for JWP to play 90 minutes of every match. He seems to be a machine now but sooner or later it will catch up with him. 

I'd also bring in Valery on the right of midfield and give Armstrong or Walcott a rest (whichever we think is more tired).

Long in for Adams.

McCarthy 

KWP Bednarek Stephens Vokins

Romeu Diallo

Valery  Walcott/Armstrong 

Ings Long

Subs: Forster, Tchaepchet, Ramsey, JWP, Walcott/Armstrong, Adams, Nlundulu

 

JWP hasn’t missed a game since 1956 or something, why would he not start this one? 

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What if we incorporated both Romeu (if fit) and Diallo and at the same time dropped one of Walcott/Armstrong to the bench to bring on in the 2nd half when we need that bit of quality in attack?

 

McCarthy 

KWP Bednarek Stephens Vokins

            JWP Romeu

Diallo       Walcott/Armstrong 

             Ings Adams

Subs: Forster, Ramsey, Walcott/Armstrong, Long, Nlundulu

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1 hour ago, LeG said:

If Vokins isnt ready and Romeu is back, we could play Diallo at left back, with Romeu playing alongside JWP. Would rather see Vokins but its an option if needed. 

Vokins will be 21 in a matter of weeks, and has always looked capable to me when he's played. If Ralph ends up playing Stephens, KWP or even Diallo at LB on Tuesday as you say, I'd really question Vokins' long term future at the club even at this early stage.

If he really is a viable replacement for Bertrand in the future then he needs to be trusted to start in his absence. Hope he does, and hope he does well 👍

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34 minutes ago, CWD said:

Vokins will be 21 in a matter of weeks, and has always looked capable to me when he's played. If Ralph ends up playing Stephens, KWP or even Diallo at LB on Tuesday as you say, I'd really question Vokins' long term future at the club even at this early stage.

If he really is a viable replacement for Bertrand in the future then he needs to be trusted to start in his absence. Hope he does, and hope he does well 👍

I thought he was pretty anonymous against Shrewsbury and in a game like that should have stood out. It will be interesting to see whether he plays against the arse - he didn't really push on from a year or so ago when he looked a decent prospect and given he hasn't had many opportunities since he may have fallen out of favour.

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11 minutes ago, SoberSaint said:

Really don't understand why Sims isn't being considered as a sub. Relatively experienced player (albeit in lower divs) but ideal sub running at tired defenders.

Possibly because he's injured. 17th December, out for 6 weeks with hamstring injury, reported Darren Moore (https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/sport/football/doncaster-rovers-boss-delivers-injury-verdict-josh-sims-3071875)

Edited by VectisSaint
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8 minutes ago, StrangelyBrown said:

I thought he was pretty anonymous against Shrewsbury and in a game like that should have stood out. It will be interesting to see whether he plays against the arse - he didn't really push on from a year or so ago when he looked a decent prospect and given he hasn't had many opportunities since he may have fallen out of favour.

Was taking the corners for a while. They weren't very good (though to be fair neither were JWP's when he took them later). Thought it was strange Vokins was taking them and not JWP, as did the commentators, unless it was all part of a plan to give him some experience. 

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If the Echo report is correct Ralph has pretty much stated none of the current injured players will be ready for Tuesday so it will be the same 11 apart from Bertrand who is suspended and McCarthy who will come back in.

We have no strength in depth at all. Our current bench only weakens our side. Ndululu is just not ready to be playing premiership football and Long is past it. We are absolutely screwed if Ings or Che pick up a bad injury.

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12 minutes ago, BARCELONASAINT said:

If the Echo report is correct Ralph has pretty much stated none of the current injured players will be ready for Tuesday so it will be the same 11 apart from Bertrand who is suspended and McCarthy who will come back in.

We have no strength in depth at all. Our current bench only weakens our side. Ndululu is just not ready to be playing premiership football and Long is past it. We are absolutely screwed if Ings or Che pick up a bad injury.

We aren’t screwed, don’t be so dramatic. Ings/Adams and N’Lundulu wouldn’t be our strongest attack but I’d take that over the days of playing Austin and Long as our first choice strikers.

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1 hour ago, SoberSaint said:

Really don't understand why Sims isn't being considered as a sub. Relatively experienced player (albeit in lower divs) but ideal sub running at tired defenders.

He's nowhere near as good as some people on here think he is, and having watched him coming on as a sub at Reading a few times, I can assure you he's not an ideal sub at all. The sooner he gets a permanent move the better for him. 

Edited by Fabrice29
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The LB selection will be interesting. If it isn't Vokins then that will be very telling about Ralph's view on him.

Otherwise I don't see many changes as quite simply there aren't any we can make that don't reduce out chances of a win.

Sounds like some of the injured players will be back soon, so if anyone needs a rest then wait til they can come in.

Edited by Dusic
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6 hours ago, BARCELONASAINT said:

If the Echo report is correct Ralph has pretty much stated none of the current injured players will be ready for Tuesday so it will be the same 11 apart from Bertrand who is suspended and McCarthy who will come back in.

We have no strength in depth at all. Our current bench only weakens our side. Ndululu is just not ready to be playing premiership football and Long is past it. We are absolutely screwed if Ings or Che pick up a bad injury.

Personally I thought Tella showed more promise than N'Lundulu, the little I've seen.  I wouldn't mind seeing more of him, although I guess N'Lundulu is a more like-for-like replacement for Adams. 

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2 hours ago, Dusic said:

The LB selection will be interesting. If it isn't Vokins then that will be very telling about Ralph's view on him.

Otherwise I don't see many changes as quite simply there aren't any we can make that don't reduce out chances of a win.

Sounds like some of the injured players will be back soon, so if anyone needs a rest then wait til they can come in.

I really hope he does go with Vokins rather than shifting players around and weakening other positions to be honest.

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14 hours ago, Saint Garrett said:

Can’t see it being much different to this:

Mccarthy; KWP Bednarek Stephens Vokins; Diallo JWP; Walcott Ings Adams Armstrong 

Hopefully get 1 or 2 back on the bench. 

Armstrong is the one I could see being rested in normal circumstances and he did look knackered towards the end on Saturday. But if none of Redmond, Djenepo, Tella or Romeu are still fit enough to start options to do that don't look appealing!

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18 hours ago, Dusic said:

The LB selection will be interesting. If it isn't Vokins then that will be very telling about Ralph's view on him.

Otherwise I don't see many changes as quite simply there aren't any we can make that don't reduce out chances of a win.

Sounds like some of the injured players will be back soon, so if anyone needs a rest then wait til they can come in.

JWP kept Sala quiet at LB vs Crystal Plalace

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1 hour ago, Totton Saint said:

JWP kept Sala quiet at LB vs Crystal Plalace

Yo mean Zaha I think? JWP is too much of a loss from midfield to put there, it would be different if Romeau was fit, but I can't see it as we stand.

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