Plucky Saints only 1-0 down until last 10 but fall to couple late sucker punches. SFC achieve over 60% possession to the PL leaders & although manage 3 shots on target, no saves needed throughout the whole game. Van Dick blocks one with his arse, heads one away & the other with his hand (Webb to apologise later). RM post match, commented “we played some nice build up play but our ball in the final 3rd was lacking & something we will work on. Injuries didn’t help but we are learning all the time. Sunday will be a different game”. Slot’s assistant manager said Southampton are a really nice team. Play nice football, tackle nicely, nice ground & nice crowd. Yes really nice evening & we’re very happy to be in the SF (really wanted to say they also learned a lot but didn’t want to upset the football gods - stupid really as Sunday is a massacre). ****ing hell Saints, it’s a LC QF & I’ve got little / no interest. 50+ years supporting you & this it what it’s resulted in. Maybe an impossible mission this year but SR, RM & we are sleepwalking into ….. just, blah. I get the arguments about no change but this squad is going to be massively demoralised by season end & that won’t result in promo the next.
Unfortunately, I think Salah will really be up for this match. Iirc, he is only 13(?) or so goals away from Henry's total for Arsenal. So can't help but feel he'll have earmarked this game as his opportunity to help him towards that total.
Edit: No I don’t! Ha! Thought the LC game was this Wednesday. See that’s how much I’m interested! Makes more sense now Most of my original post probably still applies, apart from score, easy 4-0
Referee: Sam Barrott. Assistants: Lee Betts, Wade Smith. Fourth official: Darren England. VAR: Michael Oliver. Assistant VAR: Mat Wilkes.
Not sure it would make any difference if he doesn’t play Sunday, but VVD has returned from international duty early “on medical advice”. He could probably play on crutches and still keep up with our ponderous attacks.
