I am completely ignorant of these things, but minimal research has uncovered the information that 'DanielEmeryRS' is the Twitter Name of a Norwich City-supporting student at Southampton Solent University. This doesn't diminish his opinion, but his mention of Shane, Ryan, Charlie and Jay in one tweet suggests a 'catch-all' comment. I've heard that we are also worried about the availability of Victor Wanyama and Sadio Mane, not to mention that Matt Le Tiss hasn't been in training
He could know nothing of course or be guessing and being at Solent University is merely coincidental, but we do have links with Solent....so it is possible someone there knows real facts. All the people named are known to have been injured....apart from Austin?? Unless we are desperate, I can't see Jay featuring apart from as a sub because he is coming back from an injury. I think Bertrand will be out and, although we've had no news, possibly Long....both with hamstrings. That leaves Cedric and Matty...who knows.
This is going to be my first game of the season. Hopefully theres actually some Saints players left for me to watch!
No risks will be taken for Burnley....not because they are Burnley, but because we have such a full schedule. We could be playing Chelsea or City on Sunday and I would still expect Saints to pick a team with one eye to the future. This is why Puel believes in using the full squad. I'm hoping we will have some of the injured back, but I am fully expecting to see a more experimental side. The best would be a win, but, at the very least, players will get more experience because we will need them all before we pick up all those trophies at the end of the season.
I agree. I would actually prefer McQueen to Targett for this one. We know Burnley will defend for most of the match, with all of the players behind the ball. We also know that we are reliant on our full backs to provide width in the attack and if they're failing to do so, we struggle to create chances. It was Bertrand who unlocked WHU's until that point tight defence, for example. We'll need that kind of impetus against Burnley, I think, and I also feel that it's more likely to come from McQueen than Targett. I like Targett, but he's not really capable of creating space for himself, and Burnely sure won' give him that space. McQueen, on the other hand, might just do that. We don't know exactly his defensive capabilities, but against Burnley, I think it's worth to take that risk.
Be interesting see if Fonte plays, i imagine with him playing for portugal and the inter game on thursday he will be rested, I'm sure he's said to Puel the he is expecting to start in the san siro.
Not Fonte's decision to make! If he (or anyone) said they are expecting to start a certain match to the manager, I'd want them dropped for that match.
Fonte would never say he expected to play...he isn't that kind of man, but I bet he would express disappointment if he didn't (which is a different sort of thing altogether). Puel has shown he is a strong manager by who he left behind for the Israel game. If he carries on getting good results, the players will respect him enough to go along with his decisions.
It does occur to me occasionally to wonder where footballers get their motivation to constantly play football. Even when I represented my schools, workplaces and clubs there were often times when I'd think, of an upcoming match, what again.? Mind you, I was doing it just for the love of the game.
From a cardio perspective a centre back is probably the least taxing of the outfield positions. I don't think they will, but think Fonte and Virgil could handle 3 games in 7 days
Apparently it isn't the games they mind, it's the tedium of training....that's why managers try and vary things a bit.
Leaving your star players out for a game in Isreal is completely different to not playing them in Milan. If he picks the same squad for Milan as he did for HBS i would be very surprised. I would put money on it that Fonte has indicated he would expect to play in the Milan game.
