http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/sa...gue_s_top_guns_to_clash_at_St_Mary_s/?ref=rss Posted this because I just like the idea we are top guns. Saints and Stoke are second and third in the form table at the moment...of course, that's real for us and an aberration for Stoke
http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Stok...-warns-Bowen/story-28200889-detail/story.html Stoke's assistant manager says that the game on Saturday is a barometer of how Stoke are doing this season....putting Saints at top of the middle of the road teams (I would have phrased that differently for both teams really). He reckons they will be close to us by the end of the season and suggests a target of finishing above us. There is a lot of sense there....admits we have been better for a couple of season, so finishing above us would put them pretty high up in the table.
I really do not want Romeu and Wanyama starting together. We showed against Sunderland you don't need a physical DM if you intend to pass the other team off the park. But Wanyama is our best DM so comes back into the side. Wanyama in for Ward-Prowse. Cedric in for Yoshida. Those are the changes I'd like to see. If it doesn't happen then I'd be happier to see Yoshida at right back than to see both Romeu and Wanyama at DM. I will admit though that Clasie has been so off the pace I wouldn't mind him dropped for Romeu in general anyway. Van Dijk is doubtful. I hope he is fit enough to start. We are one of only three sides in the league unbeaten in the last six Premier League games. Arsenal and Tottenham are the other two sides. Hopefully we can keep the run going with a win. My prediction is 1-0 to Saints.
So many draws against Stoke over the years - they are a tough physical side to break down. Yes they will be not far from us come the end of the season so 3 points on Saturday will be a good basis for making sure it is below us rather than above us. Don't think home advantage makes much difference where the Potters are concerned. They have no respect! Bit of a soft for them really.
VVD is fine and available to play. Woohoo. Koeman doesn't sound delighted with the amount of time Long played for Ireland after being out for 6 weeks.
Le Marseillaise to be played before all Premier League games. Not sure if it's just me, but feels a bit mawkish, imposing that on all games. Would've been appropriate for us to have a minute's silence and organise some collection buckets for relevant groups in the aftermath.
I don't really get it. I was all for it in the England v France game and I thought it was a perfect showing of unity. But this just seems a bit random. Yes to a minutes silence and black arm bands.
Can't we just eat baguettes? We'd be more tuneful doing that than trying to sing the French anthem. Better a polite silence than an embarrassing attempt at singing.
If this gets the Kingsland singing, that I would regard as a result, a change from the usual 90 minutes respectful silence!
I agree, it's got naff all to do with British football. Why didn't we sing the Russian National anthem when that 'plane went down, given that 224 people died? However it fits perfectly with the modern need to show publicly, obviously and ostentatiously just how concerned you are by anything unpleasant that happens that the people who drive public opinion consider to be "worthy". I must add that I'm OK on another level with our singing it, as it means that finally I get a small reward for learning the words forty years ago. I knew it would come in handy one day. Vin
