Yes, it's true. We lost many of our English contingent in the close seoasn. We'll just have to unearth new English gems from the Academy. And they are there, as well.
Forster Clyne Fonte Gardos Targett Schneiderlin Wanyama Reed Tadic Pelle Long Mane, Davis and Isgrove off the bench.
Reed should fit well into RK plans as he has the ability to pass through defences which is where Mane is so dangerous. Vic has to be a starter, along with Gardos
I would throw Mane in instead of Long. I haven't been impressed with Long at all so far, not even just that fact that he hasn't scored but he seems so wasteful and his decision making is poor. Watched him over hit crosses to nobody a few times today. For all the effort he puts in he doesn't look dangerous.
I know where you are coming from but I think he has been one final ball away from being good. Let's hope that final ball is there. I think he's done ok, just not as well as some if the other new boys.
Having a look through the arsenal forum, looks as if they all reckon Wenger will play a very weakened squad. A win here would do a lot more than just take us through to the next round.
An Arsenal "weakened" team is still pretty formidable so we will need us to send out a near full first choice team if we want to go through. Fingers crossed RK gives it his best shot
Koeman says he will...mind you the lying Argentinian did as well. Matty said on Sky that he hoped we would go for the cups and said he believed Ron would.
As long as we all know that league position is the priority, I have no problem with trying to do well in the Cup competitions.
Cups are priority for me, let's take advantage of a weakened Arsenal side and knock out one of the big sides. Win this and we're 2 games away from a two-legged semi then who knows what will happen ? And I think with 5000 Saints fans behind us we can do it. Come on Saints!
I hope Ron will plan his XI to play QPR before this match, and from that XI then leave out just two or three names - plus Toby, on the assumption that he will be fit for QPR but not for this one. In their place, call up people who Ron is planning to leave on the bench for QPR (so long as a near like-for-like replacement exists on the bench). I want a strong team, but I don't want us to jeopardise our chances against QPR. So utilise some of those who will only be on the bench vs QPR.
I know exactly what you're saying but you seem to miss some of his other qualities. His pace is always a threat, he must have won more free kicks than anyone this season. Also when tracking back down the wing, his pace is a real asset.
Yeah, Long is really fast. Dyer, who is no slouch, tried to outrun him once yesterday and failed miserably. But other than his physical qualities and willingness to work hard, we haven't seen much from Long. But he is no winger.
Yes, I'm giving Long a free ride at the moment, because he's playing out of position. Once Mane and Jay are available, I doubt we'll see too much of Long out wide. He then becomes a squad player, as an alternative option to Pelle. I'd be very happy with that.
As shown by the fact that we have needed all our CBs, Mane doesn't mean Long won't play or vice versa. More the merrier.
What's this..? Talking rifles or something..? What about the difference between 4th, 5th and 6th then..? Is that worth not being 100% committed to the domestic Cup competitions, but say 80-90%..? I don't want Saints to consider themselves as just a Cup team. And thankfully, I don't think they do.
TSS - I kind of think we are on the same page - yes I would love 4th, 5th or 6th or even better, I am a dreamer and think that is possible, but my sane side or that which Saints instilled in me in the nineties, is my team will let me down at some point - I just think the Carling Cup is there for the taking this year for the best of the rest, which currently is us
As I have forever been saying since shortly after the Liebherr takeover, this is not the same Saints we grew up with. You are allowed to dream and although they will inevitably let you down once in a while, like any team does to their supporters, it won't be for want of ambition or drive. You can forget that same old Saints thing. It's in the past.
