Chance for McQueen to play left wing. He scored a great goal for the U21s this week and had two other near misses so I guess his confidence is high. He scored a cracker v Newcastle U21 last season too. As his dad supports The Toon he may just be primed for a performance on a league debut. With Debuchy out too it's stacking up.
The very lovely Mrs Godders has fetched my old boots down from the tea chest in the loft and is cleaning them and banging in new studs as we speak. It looks like I may have to use a bit of that Gaffer Tape on the left boot as it has a split on the side around the toe cap. I'm afraid lads it will have to be just a short cameo appearance for me. Mauricio could bring me on with about five minutes to go as a game changer and I could do an Alan Ball and just stand in the centre circle and ping passes around. I could be quite useful defensively as I have discovered that my walking stick is great for tripping people up. I have been practicing using it for just that purpose with those little blighters from St George's School who keep chucking their empty McDonald's bags over my front garden wall. Might not have the stick for Saturday though as the copper who knocked on my door after I tripped the last little blighter up has told me she'll confiscate my walking stick if I ever do it again. So there you have it lads the future of Southampton FC is yet to be determined by my local beat Bobby.
Amusing moment in pre-match presser... Peach: (Para) - "Mauricio, you're linked to Marseille, Monaco, Getafe..." Mauricio: "GETAFE?! Oh... hahaha" Salas: *Turns to Mauricio and laughs* Mauricio: *Pats David's shoulder* - "David is linked to West Bromwich! hahaha"
However, a positive is that out of the players listed as 'doubts' by Poch, Morgan, Steve Davis, and Jay Rod were all back in training today.
Really good press conference from Mauricio this week. Very jovial, and seemed upbeat. Hopefully there will be good news about his contract soon.
I think we can rule out Getafe from the list Ruling out all injury doubts Boruc Chambers - Fonte - Lovren - Shaw Cork - JWP Lallana - Gaston - Reed Lambert Gazzaniga, Hooiveld, Gallagher, McQueen, Targett, Turnball, ???? Shows how stretched we could be....Think Morgan will be back based on the training video. Think players with knocks may find themselves on the bench at least
Oh me too! How sweet would that be? Bang in the winner, send them down and then lift up my cobblers shirt to reveal a red shirt with AP written across the front I can dream.
I think the team will be (If Rodriguez is out): Boruc Chambers Fonte Lovren Shaw Cork Schneiderlin Ramirez Davis Lallana Lambert Subs: Gazza, Hooiveld, JWP, Gallagher, Reed, Targett, Turnbull? Bench looking extremely thin, plus that's me also hoping Morgan and Davis are fit to play!