Sheffield United vs Saints - League Cup QF Match Thread

Chris Foy on the saints website too, they got some updating to do!

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/fixtures-results/match-preview/?matchid=3788644&tcmuri=2069862

 

it was one lonely entry in our newsnow feed. nothing from our club or the official competition site apparently.

 

Desperately hoping for a win tonight (preferably not extra time/pens), but have to give full respect to Sheffield United. As Koeman pointed out, they have made it to the quarter finals by beating teams that included West Ham. Everyone has to be on their game today. Don't want another loss before the Everton game. COYR

 

http://www.squawka.com/news/liverpo...the-summer-prior-to-southampton-switch/248417

Mane was apparently offered to Liverpool, but they decided he wasn't good enough. I'm hoping that Mane has just got caught up in our general slump, otherwise the jury is out on him at the moment.

 

His shrewd defensive cababilities matching his attacking skills.

this sentence leaves me confused! Take out one particular word and it makes sense, but as is, I cannot agree.

 

Very nervous for this game, our conversion rate of reasonable chances in the past few games has been poor.

I always feel there is no excuse for missing a penalty either.

 

I too am nervous about this game. Maybe the 'Old Southampton' fan in me is rearing it's ugly head. I feel we look jaded and Sheff Utd will be no mugs. The have nothing to lose - if they win it's an upset, if they lose it's expected. Let's hope that the quality we have shines through and we work hard...because hard work beats talent if talent doesn't work hard....

 

why not?

 

I agree with SFTW, I feel if you're a professional footballer on thousands a week, you should be able to hit the ball hard into the corner from 12 yards.

Enough of that though, tonight is massive, our biggest game for a long long time(imo). Nerves are starting to kick in, we should win, but it's a cup game and Bramall Lane will be absolutely rocking tonight. If we do win, and avoid Chelsea in the Semis, I think we will be off to Wembley.

 

The game is live on BeIn12 so there are bound to be streams available.

 

I get the feeling that RonKo has been reading the thoughts of the Fraser detractors and will drop him tonight and give Kelvin a chance to become Number One again................

 

Coyr!

 

Almost certainly. After all Ron was at Old Trafford on Sunday and would have seen how well that tactic worked for his mate Brendan.

 

But we see again and again that not everyone can score penalties...which is why most clubs have specialists (and not always the main striker).

 

Rooney misses his fair share and he is on £300,000 a week.

 

Can I just quickly point out that Dusan didn't miss his penalty. It was saved.

 

The problem we currently have with penalty takers is that we have been spoilt in the last 20 years with first-class spot-kick experts. Mattie and Rickie obviously stand out above any crowd, and neither of them could see why taking a penalty should pose any problems. Rickie used to say that it was basically a free shot at goal, and the person taking it shoukd always be favourite to score. And if I remember correctly Beatts never missed a competitive pen for us either. At the moment, however, we are in a bit of a hiatus where Tadić has stepped up twice this season, but only has a 50% record. I would imagine that the players have had a bit of practice before tonight's game, just in case the match goes to penalties, and Ron will have in his mind his top 5 takers, but if we get a pen in normal play who will take it?

 

With a fully fit squad I imagine out 5 penalty takers would be

1. Tadic
2. Pelle
3. Davis
4. Jay
5. Long

I would however have faith in Morgan and Toby if they were to take one. Toby just seems like a player who would step up to the plate for it.

 

I know obviously some people miss, even the best have missed before (Shearer, MLT, SRL, Lampard). Just my opinion that you should score a penalty, especially if you're the designated taker (Rickie said as much), different for someone who get's thrown into it in a shootout. I would quite fancy JWP from the spot to be fair.

Anyway, let's hope we don't have this issue (of a shootout) tonight eh?

 

Give one to Wanyama......POWER!!!!!!!!