Match Thread: SAINTS vs West Ham United

Jason Puncheon is one. Others said to be Shaw and Rodriguez.

 

Puncheon fine. Shaw and most of all Rodriguez please be fit!

 

Saints' Photographer Paul Watts on Twitter:

"Nice touch from Mauricio Pochettino at training ground today came over to talk to the u9s and pose for pics big smiles allround"

 

At the very beginning I noticed that the club have given Claus a new job as cameraman.

 

Shaw would be the biggest loss to the team if he is out. Hopefully they all recover in time to feature. Would be fantastic to get another win but I'll be fairly pleased with a draw.

 

Sarcasm...the lowest form of wit??? Not a chance!

 

I was just pointing that out as Mayuka looked quite aggressive to me at first towards JWP lol

 

They always pick on the little one!

I would like to see Clyne or Mayuka try and do that to Rickie, Jos or Boruc! That would make my week.

 

Perhaps JWP is really annoying...like a cub who is going to get a clout round the head eventually.

 

Mauricio Pochettino's SaintsPlayer Interview: http://www.player.saintsfc.co.uk/la...ge/0/name/Mauricio-Sets-Only-Short-Term-Goals

Mauricio Pochettino's Pre-Match Press Conference: http://www.player.saintsfc.co.uk/la...me/Pochettino's-Pre-West-Ham-Press-Conference


Rickie Lambert's SaintsPlayer interview: http://www.player.saintsfc.co.uk/la...11170200/page/0/name/Lambert-Pushing-For-More

Rickie Lambert's Pre-Match Press Conference: http://www.player.saintsfc.co.uk/la.../name/Lambert's-Pre-West-Ham-Press-Conference

 

I see Cropper is training with the first team, presumably SKD is ill.

 

He's just had another baby so perhaps that has something to do with it. Although not sure if footballers get any paternity leave, probably not. I notice that Gazza didn't play in the last U21s (he has done recently) so maybe he is the one that is ill.

 

That sounds more likely, although Gazza has been pictured training today.

 

If kelv is out I would assume Gazza will take his place on the bench rather than cropper. Has anyone actually seen him (cropper)? Why did we sign him?

 

He wasn't signed for the first team. We had no-one covering the U21s at the time. Basically he was free and better than nobody!

 

Ha. People in the US all wonder who Gazzaniga is and why Cropper doesn't at least make the bench!

It was a smart pickup by Saints. Anytime you can get a U20 National GK for cheap from a country that produces good GK's, you should jump at the chance. Not saying Cropper is going to be a star or anything, but I think acquiring him was a bit more than just making up the numbers. He's younger than Gazzaniga and both are young for GK's in general. Way too early to say what either one might end up being. They could both be stars, they could both disappear.

 

No JRod in the pictures, but suppose we shouldn't read too much into that. In the interviews on Player, nice to see how Rickie's face lit up when asked about Jay...obviously pleased that he is finding form.

 

I've heard a few people say he is quite good, I think we signed him from Ipswich a while back.

 

When the players appear through those trees it reminded me of that movie with Kevin Costner where some old baseball players appear through a cornfield to play at a pitch he`s created on his farm.

 

Going for 2-1 with Rodriguez (if fit) and JWP to get a goal!