It's not a problem we will just have to outscore United. This is going to be like a rerun of 1976. They will already be engraving Man U on the cup but they won't have reckoned on the spirit of Southampton. It has to be JWP to score the winner. Another pompey lad.
Been saying the JWP thing since before the 2nd leg... it's written in the stars! I'll be lumping on it too
Considering Yoshida has been playing better then Fonte, and Stephens has come on well, I'm annoyed, but it's not the end of the world. What worries me most is our 3rd and 4th choice CB's. Having to move Bertrand from LB to CB is an option, but then that weakens our LB position etc. May well see a free agent join us in the near future.
We've got two games before the cup final. Unfortunately one of them is against Andy Carroll, but what can you do, that's how it is. I'd be inclined to play Gardos in both of them, and see how he gets on. As you say, what little of him we saw before his injury, he looked fine. Maybe, just maybe, after another 180 minutes under his belt (and hopefully a game for the U23s, if the U23s fixtures fall kindly - I don't know), might get him into shape for the final.
It's a little different for a CB over a CF, but essentially, yes I don't think we should be expecting too much from Florin this season. When he was fully fit a couple of years back he took over from Alderweireld when he injured himself at Old Trafford and it was seamless. That was the first of two away games both of which we won and he was excellent.
I wouldn't, Stephens and Maya is our first choice now so give them 180 minutes playing together to learn each others game a bit more.
Doesn't matter how much notice you get - you've still got to convince the player to join, work on the agent, negotiate fees with the selling club. We can't just say, right we want you Sakho, down you come to sign for us and he comes running with a working ballpoint pen.
I trust Jack & Yosh, but if say MY was to pick up a couple of yellows, you cannot simply stick a kid next to JS and expect him to perform.So if we are lucky, we'll have no injury or suspension problems, but if we do, we are in serious trouble. We have cover, the problem is they are already playing!
I'd personally not rush him as that could result in another injury, I guess it's mainly up to the sport science people as to when he'll be good to go.
Benali looked pretty fit the other day when he was at SMS. If Bertrand can convert from LB surely Benali can.
Might be on too something here, he can kick the **** out of Ibra before being subbed off after 10 minutes to a standing ovation from West end of Wembley
When he was fully fit a couple of years back he took over from Alderweireld when he injured himself at Old Trafford and it was seamless. That was the first of two away games both of which we won and he was excellent. _______________________________________________________________ Yeah, I remember that, looked very composed, like he had been here an age. But I also remember last Saturday, and pairing Gardos with Stephens in the coming weeks is suicidal. Not trying to be a danny downer, I'm just very worried. (were I Yoshida, I'd be hinting at contract renewals right about now)
Oh completely. If the sports science guys say no, then you listen to them. But Saturday-Saturday-Saturday-Fortnight Off-Sunday doesn't seem like a massive ask. Tbh, whoever plays between this weekend between Stephens and Gardos, I do fear the damage that could be caused to their confidence if Carroll dominates them. Especially with Zlatan in Utd's team, given how strong he also is in the air. (But at least if it is Gardos, he'll have had some more game time under his belt).
Everyone is talking like we have some spare games till the final. We don't, the rate teams are picking up points we could be well and truly sucked into the fight by the time we step out at Wembley. We are only above Sunderland in the form table, and that's our next away game.
