Back to the cup and a nice distraction playing a team in Grimsby who we've not played against since an FA Cup tie in 1978. After 2 goalless draws we progressed after a 4-1 win at Filbert Street. No replays here which is a shame as I'd have loved a trip up there. While I'm having a moan an FA Cup round in midweek is absolute bollocks too. Grimsby are also the lowest ranked side remaining in the competition, surely even we can't **** this up? Would be the worst upset we've fallen victim to in God knows how long, possibly ever. Lots of potential QF ties which look winnable too. They've sold over 4000 for this which is a fantastic effort given the distance on a school night. This is a club whose home average was just 5600 last season! Our sales look dreadful though. Might end up being our lowest home attendance since the days of the JPT. 2 wins from Wemberlee... UTFS
They’re about our level, so going to be a tough game. they will be bang up for a giant killing, which will make all the difference. Southampton 0-2 Grimsby
I’m on lates this week so couldn’t go if I wanted to, but bollocks to midweek Cup ties in general. Get through this round though Saints, and give us something to smile about.
The Emirates FA Cup fifth round proper - Wednesday 1st March 2023 = Southampton v Grimsby Town 7.15 pm, Referee: Thomas Bramall Assistant referees: Derek Eaton and Steven Meredith Fourth official: Gavin Ward VAR: Craig Pawson Assistant VAR: Marc Perry I am surprised we didn't get Andre Marriner! We know what side he would be on.
McCarthy Bree DCC Salisu Djenepo AMN Diallo Alcarez Sulemana Armstrong Orsic If Orsic remains unavailable with concussion, then go with Edozie. And Lyanco if still no Salisu. Maybe Mara instead of Armstrong. Maybe Aribo instead of AMN. I'm not too fussed.
Play whoever is up for it. We won’t win the cup so can’t really be arsed with this. Can’t really be arsed with Saints anyway.
Nah, we’ll win this, which actually won’t help us as we’ll get a biggie away in the next round. Got tickets but all seems a bit pointless now. Still, come Wednesday it’ll all be different.
I take it from this you would be going a 4-4-3 (or 4-3-2-1)? Would you be bitching the 4-2-2-2? I would be, the 4-2-2-2 hasn’t worked properly for us for ages, and whilst it worked at Chelsea, I never thought it was something we should have continued, and to that extent, never thought we would beat Leeds. Hoped we’d draw at best. We simply have to find a way to get Alcarez in the team, and ME out of it.
Do we want a cup run and games in hand on our rivals, or possible points on the board. I am in favour of the later, we are 3 points of Bournemouth on equal games. Of course we have to start winning in the league to be in with a chance of staying up.
Try out a different combo than Sully and Tall Paul. You never know, maybe Mara or even Adarma will work better with TP. Sulemana's positioning and run making looks Tyro-level. Great control on the ball, got some tricks etc. But just doesn't read the game. Or, plonk him back on the wing instead of Stuie/Elyou.
Was thinking of going to this but the early ko time makes it a bit too much of a rush and cba with the hassle.
Yep. Firstly, I want to see Sulemana on the wing, ideally let loose. Secondly, I don't think we're good enough any more to play 4-2-2-2. As I see it, there are two massive issues with that formation. The first is that unless you have energy and legs throughout your team (which we don't), it becomes too easy for the opposition to kill you out wide. To an extent, we've already seen that with Chelsea and Leeds. The second is that once you fall behind, the opposition can just sit in against you and let you have the ball. You can't press the opposition if they don't have the ball. So you instead have to find a way through them, and that is difficult if you don't have creative players (which we don't) and you are condensing things into the centre of the pitch. Indeed, this has long been an issue for us, even when then the 4-2-2-2 was working well under Ralph. I think it's why the 4-2-2-2 results in us performing better against the bigger teams, because they are less inclined to just sit in - they would prefer to continue to play their own game, which enables us to press.
Whoever we put in charge they seem to be able to consolidate our weak squad with mystifying decisions … His strength is dribbling so we put him up front Alcaraz starts playing well so we drop him Bree does ok so we replace him with a dodgy AMN DCC gets frozen out Edozi disappears Ely always starts We’ve broken Bazanu Will Orsic ever play for us?
They are killing us wide, but it tends to be (though this may be confirmation bias) that they’re killing us on our right hand side, constantly. The AMN/Stu combination there is nowhere near good enough for that, which makes the lack of KWP perplexing. For all the rightful criticism of Lucy, you don’t see those same issues with him and Perraud.
