So after today's fantastic win and battle what sort of team are we going to play against Ipswich. Is our focus going to be on the cup or are we going to put our full focus on the league? It's a hard balance but I think now we seriously need to focus on the league and push on.
Been wanting a cup run all year assuming we would end up somewhere around 6th-8th, but now we do very legitimately have a run at the top four and our depth is very wonky as we go so deep at some areas and are paper thin at others. As such I wouldn't be gutted to see something like Forster, McCarthy, Fonte, Gardos, Targett, Reed, Cork, JWP, Isgrove, Tadic (60 mins), Long. Seems weird as it has been so frustrating in the past when we haven't taken the cups on 100% but this time we have a real excuse.
That's my thoughts exactly Mikey, I was so annoyed with MoPo last year against Sunderland but with our position and what we can achieve Newcastle has to be our focus. It's a shame we have this replay and it's going to be hard for us to get a result in my opinion. Does anyone know of we are staying up north?? If we are we are most likely going to keep the same squad as today.
Finishing in the top four will be difficult enough as it is. Trying to do whilst juggling a cup run at the same time will be pretty much impossible. I think to give ourselves a chance, we need to get out of the cup. On the other hand though, we could stumble through our next eight games and slide down to 7th or 8th. If that were to happen, then it would be quite nice to still be in the cup. Whatever Ron wants to do on Wednesday, I will agree with.
Koeman will put out a strong team...he cares about cups and got to keep momentum going. We are on a high after beating United...he won't want the team to go into depression 3 days later.
Go youth/second string. CL is the big cherry, one which might keep the likes of Morgan and Toby around so the less we can expose our first team to fatigue/injury/suspension the better. Start a few of our main team but fill any gap possible with academy lads
Is momentum really 'a thing'? You have it, than you suddenly lose it for no apparent reason. You don't have it, then you suddenly find it for no apparent reason. It's all so vague. Anyway, I'd go for a strong-ish team. Koeman gave the players three days off after the Arsenal match, they're fresh, they can handle three games in a week, they did it before.
Rest some but basically play a strong team: Keeper - Forster doesn't need a rest Defence - Fonte and Gardos pretty much have to play. It'd be nice to give Clyne the day off but Koeman doesn't seem to want to play McCarthy so maybe not. Targett should start. Midfield - Lots of options here. I'd start Reed to rest Wanyama and I think Tadic is still in need of time off so I wouldn't start him either but otherwise I'm not too fussed. Forward - Pelle on the bench. Start Long I guess.
So, you're saying.. Forster Clyne - Fonte - Gardos - Targett Reed - Schneiderlin Davis - JWP - Elia Long
Pretty much. I wouldn't object too much to McCarthy and/or someone like Isgrove starting though. I'd definitely want Tadic, Bertrand and Pelle on the bench.
Momentum and confidence Target should continue at LB but anyone who is not injured or knackered from today's team should play ex Ryan B
I think Ron will play a very strong side, a win is a win and keeps confidence high. Will be a tough game though.
Well as he's back in training, presumably Cork could feature. Would be a good chance for him to get some match fitness.
McCarthy is a bettter cb then he is rb. He doesn't offer the speed the Clyne, Targett and Bertrand have. Probably the reason why we haven't seen him that much.
I said at the start of the season that this is a transitional season and a mid-table finish with a couple of cup runs would constitute a successful season, but now it almost feels that we have got bigger fish to fry. Don't get me wrong, I want us to win the FA Cup as much as the next Saints fan, but getting knocked out at Ipswich would not be the end of our season as it would've been in previous years. We have a great chance of finishing in the top 6 at least and judging by our recent results the CL as well. Having said all that, we should field a strong side at Portman Road as has been said before, winning games breeds confidence.
