Saints 1-4 Man City - Match Thread

[Saint Fan CaM]

Where to start a prediction but at the end and this one will not end well if the past three games are indicative of the level we’re operating at.

This team needs to work at 120% to get anything from a game…consistent press in packs all over the pitch…move the ball upfield at pace…more one touch passing than multiple touches.

Whatever, can’t see anything other than a 5-0 defeat. Might be more.

[The Cat]

10 hours ago, JRM said:

Hats off to Palace, they seem to be Man City's bogey side, 

74% possession, 18 shots and a 0-0 draw, City looked very frustrated at the end 

They do. If they defend solidly they have the pace up front and wide to be able to relieve the pressure on the defence. 

Man City missed a couple of relatively easy chances, sometimes you just need that bit of luck on your side too. Maybe we will have that on Sunday.

 

[Charlie Wayman]

11 hours ago, JRM said:

Hats off to Palace, they seem to be Man City's bogey side, 

74% possession, 18 shots and a 0-0 draw, City looked very frustrated at the end 

Palace are an improving side under Viera, playing attractive football and proving hard to beat. Certainly no pushover but then nor are we.

Edited 15 March, 2022 by Charlie Wayman

[AlexLaw76]

Kind of like when he "chatted" to Redmond 

Pep Guardiola involved in HEATED exchange with Vicente Guaita https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10614075/Pep-Guardiola-involved-HEATED-exchange-Crystal-Palace-keeper-Vincente-Guaita.html?ito=native_share_article-top

Edited 15 March, 2022 by AlexLaw76

[100%Red&White]

Be nice if they need to concentrate on the title race now but I'm struggling to ignore the thought that keeps suggesting 'backlash'. Step up Saints.

[Tank]

I've believed all season that City are gunna be pipped at the post for everything domestically this year. ... hopefully their troubles will begin on Sunday.

[Tank]

On 13/03/2022 at 17:44, nta786 said:

I’m really not sure what Ralph will do for this one and not I don’t really care either whether its Tino/Perraud, Stephens/Bednarek or Elyounoussi/Redmond 

I think Forster, KWP, Salisu, JWP, Romeu, Stuart Armstrong, Adams and Broja are nailed on though. 

It’s sad how quickly mood has changed since that FA Cup draw that we lose 3 in a row inc. 2 at home

However, expectations lowered might play into our hands here, if someone offered me qualification to the semifinals for 3 defeats in the PL in a row I’d also like to think 90% of us would have accepted that anyway.

Do your best Saints!  

Gotta get Redmond in there, he is playing the best football of his life just now. He can get behind City. Jans Bednerak is due a goal ... but which end? 😶

 

[Dorchester Saint]

14 hours ago, JRM said:

Hats off to Palace, they seem to be Man City's bogey side, 

74% possession, 18 shots and a 0-0 draw, City looked very frustrated at the end 

If only we could be unbeaten v Man City in the league this season…..oh!

[Saint_lambden]

If our chances didn't look slim enough already - Mike Dean is referee. 

[JRM]

9 minutes ago, Saint_lambden said:

If our chances didn't look slim enough already - Mike Dean is referee. 

You're kidding me, first time since the 9-0 at Old Trafford? 

[JRM]

1 hour ago, Dorchester Saint said:

If only we could be unbeaten v Man City in the league this season…..oh!

My point was Man City should have won easily, how they didn't convert one of those 18 shots into a goal I'll never know, Palace just had the luck on their side to go with their fight, let's hope we're the same 

[nta786]

24 minutes ago, Saint_lambden said:

If our chances didn't look slim enough already - Mike Dean is referee. 

Where have you seen this? Gutted

First time since 9-0.

Also the last game he refereed for us in the FA Cup was that infamous 1-0 defeat to Sunderland away in the Poch season

[warsash saint]

Sorry ... Dupe post on the #### refereeing on sunday

Edited 15 March, 2022 by warsash saint

[LiberalCommunist]

Any lingering hope has gone now.

Mike Fucking Dean. 

(Please covid, one last thing before you disappear)

[FboroSaint21]

I finally broke my run of not seeing Saints lose on Sunday and I can’t say I hold out much hope for this after the shit show that was the Watford game. And now adding Mike Dean to the mix 🤮 and the continuation of train line engineering works so it’s a taxi or 2.5 hour bus home. Omens aren’t good.

I will be there and maybe Ralph had whipped them all week?!

[alehouseboys]

4 hours ago, JRM said:

You're kidding me, first time since the 9-0 at Old Trafford? 

What a wonderful opportunity for the commentators to bring up that little known fact, has it ever been mentioned before?

[Whitey Grandad]

4 hours ago, Saint_lambden said:

If our chances didn't look slim enough already - Mike Dean is referee. 

An opportunity for him to right his wrongs.

[coalman]

9 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

An opportunity for him to right his wrongs.

He only has 90 minutes (plus maybe 30)

[Sarisbury Saint]

Mike Dean ? God help us.

Any good songs for him ?

[Matthew Le God]

2 minutes ago, Sarisbury Saint said:

Mike Dean ? God help us.

Any good songs for him ?

Will singing songs about him improve his performance?

[Sarisbury Saint]

1 minute ago, Matthew Le God said:

Will singing songs about him improve his performance?

He’ll be just as shit either way, so let him have it.

[JRM]

44 minutes ago, alehouseboys said:

What a wonderful opportunity for the commentators to bring up that little known fact, has it ever been mentioned before?

I'm genuinely astounded with this appointment, hate Mike Dean with a passion, Southampton Football Club quite rightly lodged a complaint about him last season after the Villa and Man Utd games and they've kept him away from us for a year, but his performances in our games go back further. What a game to bring him back for, worth a tenner on Saints to receive a red card. 

[Turkish]

On 14/03/2022 at 09:28, Turkish said:

Plucky losers as usual. Play well, maybe even take an early lead, defend gallantly, lose to a late goal, at least one major decision goes against us.

Mike Dean red so this will definitely now happen 

[stevy777_x]

20 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Where to start a prediction but at the end and this one will not end well if the past three games are indicative of the level we’re operating at.

This team needs to work at 120% to get anything from a game…consistent press in packs all over the pitch…move the ball upfield at pace…more one touch passing than multiple touches.

Whatever, can’t see anything other than a 5-0 defeat. Might be more.

Pessimist fuck 

[kevdoh]

On 13/03/2022 at 18:59, Micky said:

How have our trench soldiers done in the last few games?   I'm only voicing a realistic opinion based on current form. 

You obviously weren't about in the 90's early 00's when we were dogshit all season and nailed on to go down and a bit of magic (mainly from matty but a few other heroes) kept us up last few games. To be basically safe and a free hit at a quarter final shouldn't be sniffed at

[Badger]

15 hours ago, LiberalCommunist said:

Any lingering hope has gone now.

Mike Fucking Dean. 

(Please covid, one last thing before you disappear)

For at least 90 minutes on Sunday I suspect Putin will be the second most hated man in the world on my list. 
 

When did we last win a match with MFD as ref ? 

[Tank]

15 hours ago, Turkish said:

Mike Dean red so this will definitely now happen 

Nobody better pinch Grealish ...

[LiberalCommunist]

Rom yellow bingo. 

 

I'm going for the 7th minute........

[rallyboy]

Put your money on bizarre yellow cards and a dodgy red - normally delivered in unusual patterns that only the 'keenest' gamblers might predict.

Four to one side, none to the other, all in one half - that sort of thing.

Mr Dean, we're watching... 

[Chickendippers]

The Romeu 'never been sent off' might go with Mikey Dean in charge. He'd love to burst that bubble.

[Saint86]

20 hours ago, Turkish said:

Mike Dean red so this will definitely now happen 

Ominous typo 😆

Edited 16 March, 2022 by Saint86

[JRM]

6 hours ago, Tank said:

Nobody better pinch Grealish ...

First Romeu challenge he'll make a meal of it, Dean will already have a card in his hand ready to pounce 

[Saint Keef]

2 hours ago, JRM said:

First Romeu challenge he'll make a meal of it, Dean will already have a card in his hand ready to pounce 

He'll probably give Romeu the yellow card in the tunnel before they walk out.....just in case.

[hackedoff]

On 15/03/2022 at 14:03, JRM said:

My point was Man City should have won easily, how they didn't convert one of those 18 shots into a goal I'll never know, Palace just had the luck on their side to go with their fight, let's hope we're the same 

Zero chance of him letting a shock occur on his watch.

[John Boy Saint]

On 15/03/2022 at 13:52, Saint_lambden said:

If our chances didn't look slim enough already - Mike Dean is referee. 

No one has mentioned that Andre Mariner is backing him up on VAR another big team ref - the only reliable member of the game officials is Sian Massey on Assistant VAR duty, she is decent when running the line, probably because she lives under a magnifying glass whenever doing her job.

Most of the cards seem stacked against us for this game, so no real pressure  - may as well relax and do what we know we CAN do and beat the house.

😇🔴⚪️🔴⚪️😇

[Junior Mullet]

11 hours ago, John Boy Saint said:

No one has mentioned that Andre Mariner is backing him up on VAR another big team ref - the only reliable member of the game officials is Sian Massey on Assistant VAR duty, she is decent when running the line, probably because she lives under a magnifying glass whenever doing her job.

Most of the cards seem stacked against us for this game, so no real pressure  - may as well relax and do what we know we CAN do and beat the house.

😇🔴⚪️🔴⚪️😇

Sian is the best lino in the game for me.  Cracking eye for the line.  Shame she's on VAR duty, FFS.

[Gru]

I think we know the MFD checklist:

 

1) Book Oriol at first opportunity

 

2) Allow Man City players to foul with impunity any time Saints look to break

 

3) Book any Saints player who might be winning the individual battle

 

4) In attacking third allow dubious ‘advantages’ instead of awarding free-kicks

 

5 In other areas allow non-existant ‘advantages’ especially when Saints are under cosh

 

6) In the unlikely event of Saints actually scoring, spend an age with var looking to disallow

 

I’m sure there are some I’ve missed. Please feel free to add.

[DT]

7) Mike Dean remembers he's a Tranmere fan, which is near Liverpool, so wants City to lose. I wish.

[Croissaint]

Long shot…..

 

Ralph and gang know this is more important than the league. 
 

behind the scenes discussed throwing away some points in the league to draw out a weaker team from city. 
 

go at it full strength! 
 

dreamland I know 

[Dorchester Saint]

13 hours ago, Croissaint said:

Long shot…..

 

Ralph and gang know this is more important than the league. 
 

behind the scenes discussed throwing away some points in the league to draw out a weaker team from city. 
 

go at it full strength! 
 

dreamland I know 

Might not be a million miles from the truth there. I’m not saying they deliberately dropped league points, that would be unforgivable, but I do think that psychologically these players are more focussed on the cup and see getting to Wembley as a real possibility. It’s no coincidence that our league form dropped off after the West Ham win and having already drawn twice with Man City, they might feel they have a chance in a one off cup match, particularly as Liverpool are hot on their heels. No doubt the league is City’s priority. 

Edited 18 March, 2022 by Dorchester Saint

[S-Clarke]

13 hours ago, Croissaint said:

Long shot…..

 

Ralph and gang know this is more important than the league. 
 

behind the scenes discussed throwing away some points in the league to draw out a weaker team from city. 
 

go at it full strength! 
 

dreamland I know 

I think it'll be changed around from what I can see, certainly no need to go 'weak' given that we have no PL game, but I think Ralph is keen to reward those who are patient in the background.

Lots and lots of media this week from Willy, Stephen's has done a piece and some gumf about Moussa as well kind of suggests where we are going imo. 

[JRM]

2 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

I think it'll be changed around from what I can see, certainly no need to go 'weak' given that we have no PL game, but I think Ralph is keen to reward those who are patient in the background.

Lots and lots of media this week from Willy, Stephen's has done a piece and some gumf about Moussa as well kind of suggests where we are going imo. 

That's my thought, Willy, Stephens and Djenepo put forward for media , makes zero sense to me but I probably don't belong in the modern game. 

Reward squad players with an appearance in our most important game of the season when they could just as easily be rewarded by a game against Burnley away etc. 

[DT]

If he plays Djenepo he has totally lost the plot

[AlexLaw76]

 

[Dman]

The only thing that will prevent Ralph being known as the manager who lost 9-0 (twice), is a cup win. 

Strongest possible side please Ralph, no left field picks to try and be smart, it’s got lucky once, it won’t happen again. 
 

Edited 18 March, 2022 by Dman

[skintsaint]

Can't see anything but a decently sized loss here. Might stick $20 on City as never win a bet! 

[Badger]

22 minutes ago, Dman said:

The only thing that will prevent Ralph being known as the manager who lost 9-0 (twice), is a cup win. 

Strongest possible side please Ralph, no left field picks to try and be smart, it’s got lucky once, it won’t happen again. 
 

Unless becomes known as the manager who lost 9-0 ( three times)*

*or thrice if you prefer

[Badger]

1 hour ago, DT said:

If he plays Djenepo he has totally lost the plot

Will be ridiculous after his showing the other week.

[Nordic Saint]

Historically, there is not a lot to choose between Saints and Man City at this stage of the FA Cup. Saints have been in 22 FA Cup quarter-finals and won 13 while City have been in 27 quarter-finals and won 15. If we beat them on Sunday in our 23rd quarter-final,  our records will be even closer. It's the semi-finals and finals where Saints fall down. City have won 6 finals but we've won only one. There can't be another team in football that's been in more semi-finals than Saints yet only won 1 cup.

[miserableoldgit]

Maximum strength side please!!! Let's Rambo them!!!😁