Russ conference: "Ryan Fraser out for a little bit of time - back soon after the international break all being well". "No one will expect us to get anything outside of this building. Anfield an amazing place to play. If you don't get excited by it, you're in the wrong game" "Go there and be brave and aggressive" "One we are all very much looking forward to" "Going to stand in the dugout next to one of the greatest managers in the premier league. The way not just on the pitch, but the way he's brought a city together and connected with the city has been incredible" "Physically the squad is fine. We worked so hard to claw ourselves back to the position we wanted to be in, it's changed the energy. Now we have to hunt again and get back to what we were doing. I've made too many changes to the team. I shouldn't have changed the team after West Brom. That's my fault. Milwall was a freak game. Adam Armstrong should have played and that's my fault".
I really hope Martin respects the competition and the fact that over 5,000 Saints fans are making the lengthy trip, on a Wednesday, and puts out a full strength team.
I'm very glad he's realised that he shouldn't have changed the team after West Brom. The fact he's saying he's been making too many changes, and that they're fine physically, makes me hope he might not get too fiddly for tomorrow.
He still sounds a bit confused to me. The things that he seems to have taken from the Millwall game are that the team needs Stephens in it and Adam Armstrong should have played… Bizarre takes to say the least. Also I accept that Millwall don’t score 1, let alone 2 on another day. But we also didn’t do enough to score and break them down. Let’s not just put it down to a freak result and not rectify the real issues with that game. The thing that he should have taken from Millwall is not to move multiple players out of their natural positions to shoehorn a player in to the team in a weird hybrid role that left us really unbalanced. He said after Hull that he would take it back to basics and he’s been changing things too much and then he doubled down and changed more against Millwall so ill believe it when I see it. Fraser out for at least a month is a big miss. He’s such a game changer.
Bazunu KWP Bedders THB Meghoma Charles Aribo Adarma Stu Kamaldeen Adams Would be the one for me. But it won’t be.
I think RM popped on here, saw it was loading doing the thread and has realised he needs the big guns out as we have done the same. #togetherasone
I know this is an unpopular opinion but I liked Jack in his midfield/hybrid role Neither of their goals were down to a flakey central midfield and Jack was being creative and unpredictable up the field I don’t like too much tinkering but RM is struggling to fill the Downes gap I’d like to see Jack and Shea in the middle but I’m aware that trying this tomorrow is setting them up to fail Bite me!
In the absence of Downes I would prefer us to go with 2 DMs, in a 4-2-3-1 line up. The FBs can push forward and even 1 of the DMs could get forward too, on occasion.
You're not alone, I think jack has something to add to the midfield and can create a bit of havoc going forward. Could be the new Kaiser.
You just know that Sulemana will be well motivated for this just like he was for the game against them in May, he should start. Either Aribo or Smallbone in the crucial 8 position works for me, just please not Rothwell there.
I've always thought that he was a good passer and comfortable on the ball but positionally he was a bit iffy.
Have always thought he should be tried at DM. He has a great touch and vision, but gets caught out at CB. I could easily see him being better at DM than centre back. Probs wouldn’t try it against Liverpool for the first time though
^^^This. On Saturday the issue was he was DM, AM, LB, CB and maybe even goalkeeper at some stage. No one knew what he was including him and his team mates
The fact that he took the presser instead of Gilly makes me hopeful that we will have a good go there.
