Sorry it's early but not that much available this week to start one later. Game is live on BT Sport 2 I think. 7pm Kick-off. Saints head to Arnhem for their final game before the start of the Premier League season as they look to get progress into the play-off round of the Europa League. Taking a healthy 3-0 lead from the home leg means that one Saints goal leaves Vitesse needing 5. Likely Saints Line-up: Stekelenburg Cedric Fonte Yoshida Targett Wanyama Davis Tadic juanmi mane Pelle I'm going for 2-1 Saints win. COYR #wemarchon
-------------------Stekelenburg--------------- ---Cedric-----Fonte-----Caulker------Targett----- --------------Wanyama-------JWP------------------ ---------Long------Juanmi-----------Rodriguez--- ------------------------Pelle--------------------------- That's the team I would like to see. Leave Mane safely on the bench!
Isn't it great to have so many attacking options this season? To think we could put out a side without Tadić or Mané and still look that strong.
My team for the away leg, could see Rodriguez coming on in the Second Half. Would be good to be able to rest Mane, Tadic, Yoshida etc before the game against Newcastle, especially if we get an early goal! Stekelenburg, Cedric, Fonte, Caulker, Targett, Wanyama, Reed, Davis, Long, Juanmi, Pelle. Subs: Gazzaniga, Yoshida, Tadic, Rodriguez, Ward-Prowse, Mane, Martina.
Stekelenburg Cedric-Fonte-Yoshida-Targett Davis-Wanyama Long-Juanmi-Tadic Pelle Gazzaniga,McCarthy,Martina,Ward-Prowse,Reed,Mane.Rodriguez. (Caulker can't be involved as he wasn't registered in time for the first leg)
Really think Caulker will walk into the first team? Feel would be a bit offensive to Yoshida. ------------Stekelenekerlenberg--------- Cedric----Fonte------Yoshi---Target ---Wany---Reed-------Davis------- Long---------Pelle---------Juanmi--- Bench: Davis, caulker, Martini, J-Rod, mane, JWP, Tadic. Pelle to make way for J-rod @ 60m, Mane to come on with 15m to play. Tadic to rest. JWP to get a run out.
Don't think there is a great need to rest players this early in the season. Think JWP for Clasie will be the only change from the first leg
You also want to get all your players match fit for the season, and to get some playing time with the team so they can step in when players will need a rest. Clasie is a tough call. If his medical showed he needs a break, this would be a great time to give him one. OTOH he looked out if sync the first leg so could use the match to get settled in. I would be more likely to put Reed in for Wanyama, and possibly sit Mane. JWP is a lousy defender, unfortunately. In a game where defense is really the only thing that matters, I would sit him. if we are in control after this first half, he could possibly come in for Juanmi early in the second.
Wanyama will get a ban at least once a season, he can rest then. Only reason I said rest Tadic is everyone said he looked knackered against vitesse. Also he carried an injury for the latter part of the season. He strikes me as a player I would rather have 50% of the time @ 100% than 100% of the time @ 50%.
Being a naturally careful person, I would replace Clasie with Harrison Reed and leave the rest of the team the same. Absolutely no need to take risks, control and tie down the midfield and hit them on the break
With thanks to Solent Saint pointing out that Caulker isn't eligible anyway...I would be happy to see Yoshida play. Competition is great and necessary, but I think he deserves to be considered the present incumbent and it is for Caulker (or A. N. Other) to prove themselves in training.
My preferred lineup for this one: Stekelenburg Cedric - Fonte - Yoshida - Targett Wanyama - Reed Mane - Davis - Long Pelle Reed to tighten up the defence, Long for Tadić for his work rate.
I like this, Long also as I think it suits playing on the break more, just hope we can get an early goal and put the tie to bed.
I like the look of that lineup. Vitesse are going to have to come at us, and Wanyama and Reed are our 2 best Defensive midfielders. Makes sense. Long and Mane for the counter with Davis doing a bit of everything in the middle but a more defensive option than Juanmi or JWP.
Why risk Mane? Come to think of it why risk Wanyama as well? We can play Reed and Davis in the holding roles with Juanmi and Long either side of JWP and then Pelle up front. I will be massively pissed off if Mane in particular plays and gets injured when there is absolutely no need to play him.
Or play Mane because he would nearer full fitness by the time we play Newcastle. I think these 2 Europa games could help us get players ready for the league. If you worry over everything, you would never leave the house. The 3-0 starting position could make Ron reconsider the line up, but I for one would like an early away goal.
