The current Chelsea ownership thing does throw another spanner into the works. Who knows what happens there and what it means for their immediate future. Could make it more likely that they bring Broja back into the fold as a first teamer rather than try and bring in another striker to be what Lukkaku was supposed to be for them. Be interesting to see what happens there for sure but trust in our current board to do what they can to bring in Broja and if we can't, well then I'm sure we are tracking other options!
No doubt at all we’d have sold out on a Saturday; my only gripe is with the football authorities for devaluing the Cup and playing all the 5th round ties midweek. And no, I wasn’t going to drive back to London on a Wednesday night with work this morning and a tube strike to boot.
They really need to move the 5th round back to a weekend. If the season has to finish a week later or start a week earlier so be it.
Well I was a right Tom when I saw that lineup. Never did humble pie taste so good. Ralph may not be the best manager in the world but is a decent coach. Moyes has a fine first 11 but has done little to coach the best out of bit part players, doesn't seem to trust them. Pleased for Smallbone especially, had a horrible year, made Rice look ordinary at times.
Crikey, that's damning with faint praise. I'd suggest that Ralph is a lot more than 'decent'. Looking back on it, I think that was actually his best moment as a Saints boss - mainly because despite the 9 changes, you could see the players replicating the movement and style of the main first team players. It was Ralphball being played, and that's a great sign that it's now filtering through the club wholesale (and providing results). Also thought Rice looked class, but we did a good job on him. Garth Crooks should definitely sell him to one of the bigger clubs.
If Rice and JWP don't start alongside each other for the next England game then Southgate needs a smack in the face (I think they will TBF).
However, Ralph may be the best manager in the world FOR US Pep may be the best manager in the world for Citeh but how would he do with limited resources
I found it very hard to pick a MOTM, in part because of the number of substitutions. Went with Perraud in the end. Wasn't the greatest opening 30 mins in the world from us - understandable, given that line-up - but once Perraud smashed that in, we took control of the game. Aided by Ralph continuing to strengthen the team from the bench. Great win. Great to be in the QFs. Fingers crossed for tonight.
Today I will mostly be smug. . I hope Ralph is feeling extremely pleased that he has proved the doubters, including me at times, wrong.
Very few PL clubs sell out FA Cup games unless it’s a particularly notable draw, all PL ties against non ‘big 6’ teams aren’t really that big an incentive for people to spend more money on a midweek. £15 was a good price though. 28k not great, not bad imo - if it was a weekend we probably would have sold out. As for West Ham at the Olympic Stadium, their figures say they sell out but it often looks hellish gappy so I wouldn’t really trust those numbers (I get their stadium is double the size, but then so is their catchment population).
Oh look, as if there aren’t enough twats in the world. The big guy being restrained by the tiny policewoman looks well hard mind.
