Saints 3-1 West Ham - Match Thread

[badgerx16]

We put out stronger sides in the previous 2 rounds and struggled against Championship teams.

[Chez]

9 minutes ago, Saints foreva said:

We'd rather finish 9th than win a cup. The PL prize money has completely devalued the FA Cup for this club. 

for what end? In the end what does the extra money do? If the ultimate aim is to win a trophy, do you think the extra money won in the league will help us (create a better opportunity) to win next season?

We are a top flight, mid table side that is absolutely flying. We wont get a better situation than this unless a billionaire buys us.

[Teddeer]

Might as well have given them a bye. Prove the majority of us wrong Ralph or lose a lot of the credit you've built up because many will be raging if we lose this game.

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, badgerx16 said:

We put out stronger sides in the previous 2 rounds and struggled against Championship teams.

Good shout.

They are a powerful side, I fear it will be a pretty easy win for them

[Faraway Saint]

Ralph used to take cups seriously, the midweek replay at Spurs in 2020 was our full strength team except Gunn. I don't get it, why chuck away a chance to win the FA cup to give minutes to the subs. 

Did he learn nothing from the lucky escape against Coventry? Against a strong west ham team we have no chance

Caballero? Seriously? There is no reason to play him in this game unless Forster's injured. I'm so annoyed at that lineup

 

[Sarisbury Saint]

5 minutes ago, suewhistle said:

Bloomin' Eck! That reaction, by the way, is at the over-reaction of some of you. It's a weaker team than I'd have liked, but I can't quite manage the pearl-clutching hysteria of some of you. 

I'm pleased that one Armstrong is rested and the other gets a chance. Not much point having a squad if you don't use it, and certainly they need first team minutes to help them, so when they are called on from necessity they are ready.

Should have saved them for the Villa game.

[Suhari]

That is a shocking selection.

Hard to justify so many changes.

Hope RH knows what he's doing.

[LGTL]

Their first team could well have beaten ours. Their first team could well embarrass our reserves. FFS I’m fuming. 

[St Chalet]

Agree the game is not lost before we have kicked a ball, just feels like it.

 

[Kingsland Codger]

5 minutes ago, suewhistle said:

Bloomin' Eck! That reaction, by the way, is at the over-reaction of some of you. It's a weaker team than I'd have liked, but I can't quite manage the pearl-clutching hysteria of some of you. 

I'm pleased that one Armstrong is rested and the other gets a chance. Not much point having a squad if you don't use it, and certainly they need first team minutes to help them, so when they are called on from necessity they are ready.

Whilst I understand the need to be positive, why not use the squad away at Villa? The second string can get first team minutes there.

[Chez]

5 minutes ago, suewhistle said:

I'm pleased that one Armstrong is rested and the other gets a chance. Not much point having a squad if you don't use it, and certainly they need first team minutes to help them, so when they are called on from necessity they are ready.

ready for what? To help win more league points?

[northam soul]

I thought this was on iPlayer but I can’t see it.

[kjurwi]

Starting to fear another 0-9:(

 

Hopefully Ralph proves us wrong.

[JRM]

I can only imagine Ralph doesn't realise this is the same West Ham in our division and he thinks it's a different West Ham that he saw play against Kidderminster 

[Chez]

1 minute ago, St Chalet said:

Agree the game is not lost before we have kicked a ball, just feels like it.

 

its far from lost. West Ham are having a great season, but they are not world beaters. We can still win this.

[aintforever]

Why the fuck does a goalkeeper need a rest?

[Fitzhugh Fella]

8 minutes ago, suewhistle said:

Bloomin' Eck! That reaction, by the way, is at the over-reaction of some of you. It's a weaker team than I'd have liked, but I can't quite manage the pearl-clutching hysteria of some of you. 

I'm pleased that one Armstrong is rested and the other gets a chance. Not much point having a squad if you don't use it, and certainly they need first team minutes to help them, so when they are called on from necessity they are ready.

Armstrong has played how much football this season. Fuck me you’ve been playing women’s soccer far too long

[bangkoksaint]

Ralph might just have lost the overall support of the fans with that selection. Shows total contempt just when there was some belief in the team and him. 

[Teddeer]

Feel sorry for those fans who have paid good money. Right now they'll be feeling short changed. If Ralph is thinking we can hold them then make changes and go for it second half I hope he knows what he's doing because they could be a couple in front and we'll have too much to do. So disappointed with this.

[Chez]

1 minute ago, kjurwi said:

Starting to fear another 0-9:(

 

Hopefully Ralph proves us wrong.

behave. This side still has plenty of quality in it. Not our best side, but we'll make a game of it.

[Jonnyboy]

We are going to need some good substitutions at half time.

 

Hope Ralph has factored that in. 

Maybe he's dreaming of Europa qualification via the league. 

[Chez]

1 minute ago, aintforever said:

Why the fuck does a goalkeeper need a rest?

but a CM (JWP) plays yet another game. Is it contractual perhaps or just the done thing these days (so almost expected by second choice keepers)?

[64saint]

3 minutes ago, northam soul said:

I thought this was on iPlayer but I can’t see it.

Nor me, 🤔🙄

[Warriorsaint]

Don’t get that selection and hope to be proved wrong. 

[The Cat]

Just walking over the Itchen Bridge. Heavy traffic coming out of town, can only imagine people have seen the line gone "fuck that", turned around and are heading home.

[nta786]

5 minutes ago, northam soul said:

I thought this was on iPlayer but I can’t see it.

They've moved coverage to start from 7:20pm now I think

[Streaky]

I could be very wrong but west ham should smash that team. What's the point of putting out a weakened team when we have nothing to play for in the league

[Chez]

4 minutes ago, adriansfc said:

Our rotated team performances v Swansea and Coventry weren't great at all. His bullshit about players deserving to keep playing doesn't make any sense. Is he saying he'd pick a weak side in the semi then? The final? In which case we can't possibly win a cup under Ralph. 

Is it just his decision? Board prioritising top half? I can't see any logic to it at all. 

Even if you do buy into the needing to rest players stuff (they had a winter break and cancelled fixtures, it's nonsense), you simply don't drop 9 first team players. This is our most important remaining match. We're safe, we have an outisde chance of 8th (who cares really?). Appalling line up. Even if west ham completely fck it up and we scrape through with the reserves again, I don't want to see our club completely devalue the cup like this. 

Honestly believe the fans should be warned before buying tickets if the club has decided it's not a priority. 

half price tickets, half price side. 

[Baird of the land]

1 minute ago, Chez said:

but a CM (JWP) plays yet another game. Is it contractual perhaps or just the done thing these days (so almost expected by second choice keepers)?

Caballero isn’t even our second choice.

[East Kent Saint]

2 minutes ago, Jonnyboy said:

We are going to need some good substitutions at half time.

 

Hope Ralph has factored that in. 

Maybe he's dreaming of Europa qualification via the league. 

Don't worry Redmond and Walcott ready to come on at half time

[nta786]

I don't think anyone would have complained if that team tonight was for Villa Park on Saturday instead

[CanadaSaint]

What’s hard to take is that we have a classic FA Cup side - capable of turning any team over. The only shred of a rationale for what he’s doing, other than tone-deaf arrogance, is a desire to prove to the ownership that his squad needs strengthening.

[East Kent Saint]

4 minutes ago, 64saint said:

Nor me, 🤔🙄

On the red button as well

[John B]

6 minutes ago, kjurwi said:

Starting to fear another 0-9:(

 

Hopefully Ralph proves us wrong.

I doubt it West Ham are not going to bust a gut to score that many

 

 

Goal Difference is not involved and I think they play Liverpool next week

[Dorchester Saint]

Hopefully eat my words later, but at this point, that is a ridiculous squad for a cup match v decent Premier League opposition. This says all you need to know about the clubs FA cup ambition this season.
 

 

Edited 2 March, 2022 by Dorchester Saint

[Toadhall Saint]

1 minute ago, nta786 said:

I don't think anyone would have complained if that team tonight was for Villa Park on Saturday instead

Rubbish look at any match day thread any.

[igsey]

I think Moyesy may have called Ralph's bluff with their strongest line up.

[Teddeer]

They'll absolutely murder us in the air from corners and free kicks.

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

Wow I'm flabbergasted by that team. Most important game of the season and the muppet picks that team. We're not even playing 2 recognised centre backs. Fuck off Ralph - you obviously don't care about us fans

[Hatch]

Terrible team selection.  
 

also doesn’t have any justifications as we are not in trouble in the league 

 

just a nonsense 

[Turkish]

25 minutes ago, bubblyone said:

In my nearly 50 years of following Saints, I don't think I've ever been more disappointed over a team selection 😕 

Sadly I think you’re right. I’ve been quite optimistic today thinking we’ve got a good chance, it’s a real let down as in reality it’s all we’ve got to play for this season. We aren’t going down and highly unlikely we’ll finish higher than one place above where we are now

[Master Bates]

Doesn't seem to be on iplayer

[Sarisbury Saint]

Hope Adam Armstrong shows he has something tonight.

[LiberalCommunist]

Jesus. That team. Wow. Shades of Sheffield and Sunderland.

 

As I cling to hope all I can think is Nigel saying;

'Hard work beats talent.....' Over and over again.

You fuckers better work hard tonight~!

uts

[Pamplemousse]

Defensively it's not a bad team tbh.

 

But that front four simply isn't good enough. I guess if we put on Broja Adams and Armstrong and go at them second half you'd like to think we'll be dangerous. But can we hold out until the second half?

 

If it's still 0-0 at half time we will win this game. That's my prediction.

[eelpie]

What stream is showing this game? I thought it was going to be on iPlayer, but not so. 

[Pamplemousse]

Just now, Master Bates said:

Doesn't seem to be on iplayer

7.20pm it will show

[It's There]

I will wait and see how theyplay. I'm not throwing in the towel before a ball is kicked!

[CB Fry]

2 minutes ago, eelpie said:

What stream is showing this game? I thought it was going to be on iPlayer, but not so. 

It is. It only starts at 25 past seven.

There's no build up or half time analysis.

At half time for the Palace/Stoke game yesterday they just had footage of the groundsmen wandering around.

Edited 2 March, 2022 by CB Fry

[Teddeer]

Just now, Pamplemousse said:

Defensively it's not a bad team tbh.

 

But that front four simply isn't good enough. I guess if we put on Broja Adams and Armstrong and go at them second half you'd like to think we'll be dangerous. But can we hold out until the second half?

 

If it's still 0-0 at half time we will win this game. That's my prediction.

Defensively who is going to win the headers against their corners and free kicks? They are a big side we are the complete opposite.