Match Day Thread Fulham v Southampton 26/12/2020 3pm Sky sports

I'd be very surprised if Stephens doesn't come in.

 

I wouldn't. If Salisu's ready and Vesty is out, he'll play. It's as simple as that.

 

It's really not that simple

Salisu hasn't played 90 minutes for probably about 9 months. He wont be ready to start the game.

Also, bearing in mind weve already lost Romeu, I just cant see Ralph throwing in 2 players who have never started a game for us, both of whom, Ralph openly admits, are learning our way of playing in a new country.

 

And Ralph gave a very strong hint in the presser too, while at the same time holding out hope that Jannik would be fit.

 

When did Stephens last play 90 minutes though? He’s only played 5 times this season, one of them in the EFL. Must be a few weeks, so he won’t be 100% either. As I said above, it’s down to who Ralph thinks can do the better job.

 

Sometimes you've got to be thrown in at the deep end. And I said if Salisu is ready. That's a fairly big if as only Ralph and his coaching staff know how close he is. But he's been on the bench the last few games. You can't have someone who isn't ready for PL on the bench IMO.

 

Are vesty and Romeu injured?

 

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Ah I see. I personally wouldn’t rest the vest. We would change the whole spine of the team.

 

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Hmmm. Maybe we should rest the vest?

 

Could be a test without the vest, and that’s no jest, but if he needs a rest, then maybe that’s best.

 

..and we'll have a goal fest

 

with a goal for our Shane of his shlong, arse or chest

 

Is this a “must win” then? Let this slip away, and our European Dream starts slipping away, potentially.

 

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Lose this one and the next two and some people start asking if we are THAT team that starts very well, before plummeting down the league.

Edit. Not saying that is you.

 

We have just drew at The Emirates in a match where we should've won and narrowly lost to one of the best teams in the World so nothing has changed much although missing a few key players might make this match more difficult I still think that if we are on it we should get a decent result.

 

I have complete confidence that this will be a good season for us...may make Europe and almost certainly will be in a good top half position come the end of the season. However, we will lose games and drop points, so my Christmas wish is that Saints scatter the disappointments throughout the season like confetti. I would prefer not to have a run of poor results which could cause my chocolate and wine-fuelled confidence to wobble. Therefore, I would prefer to beat Fulham.

 

Scott Parker is self-isolating so will miss the Saints game