Accept no substitutes. Forget the imposters. Remove from your mind, the feeble copycats. THIS IS RTM. And we're back, on our brave mission to single-handedly take down despotic regimes and autocratic leaders through the devastating medium of SIDEWAYS PASSING. It's Saints, and we take on the slightly more acceptable face of oil, in our FA Cup Quarter Final tie against Manchester City. As you're fully aware, MCFC are the effective Harlem Globetrotters of world football (effective in a way that PSG just aren't), and even have their own selection of high profile celebrity fans, such as the odious Gallagher brothers (I have a feeling I told you my Liam story before, so I won't do it again, but suffice to say he tried to crack on to a girl I was with, two weeks after marrying Nicole Appleton. Nice chap. Didn't succeed. Take that, William (which is his real name)). There are musicians that support Manchester City that have written good songs though, rather than the one-paced dirge of Oasis (seriously, listen to Oasis songs, they're all the same speed). And here's one, courtesy of William Duffy - In terms of the match itself we welcome back to the fold the poster boy for Specsavers, the child that Pierluigi Collina refused to hug, Pompey's most effective player, Mike Dean. Mike Dean. Let that sink in. However, seeing as we're reversing the mechanism, he's actually going to give us loads of iffy decisions, by way of saying sorry. And that, frankly, might be our best way of winning this game. If we play like we did against Watty or Villa, we're losing this heavily. I have faith in the mechanism reversal to such an extent, that I foresee a Djenepo hat-trick. Maybe. The main question we all have, is what sort of madcap team Ralph will put out for this? Will Tom make another completely incorrect prediction? Is Ian the new Tom? All, my friends, will be answered on Sunday. Anyhow, here's a picture of Pep, and key player, Ilkay Gundogen - Pep and Gundogen in a man-embrace... Yeah, yeah LTL, we get it. But where's our song? Funny you should ask. One-pace Oasis, as you well know, wrote their biggest hit, Blunderball, about Mike Dean. And I've taken the opportunity to reprint the lyrics for you to sing along to here - BLUNDERBALL Today is gonna be the day that Djenepo's gonna score a goal. By now, you should've somehow realised Dean is worse than Poll. I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now. Refs cheat, the word is on the street, that the fire in your VAR is out. I'm sure you've heard it all before, but Lee Mason never had a doubt. I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now. And all the runs we have to make are winding And all the goals that we have scored are blinding. There are many things that I would like to say to you, and to Eddie Howe. Because maybe You're gonna be the one that saves me Cos it's a gem, And it's RTM. Today was gonna be the day, but they'll never throw it back to VAR. And by now, you should've somehow realised Moussa is a star. I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now And all the passes on the way from Prowsey, Hoofing back to Forster feels quite lousy. There are many things that I would like to say to you, and to Eddie Howe. I said Beddy, I'd probably sell you to Eddie. And after all You're a four man wall. I said Stuey (I said Stuey) You're hair makes me go gooey. And after all You're a Broja fall. I said Theo (I said Theo) As speedy as an 80s Clio (Clio) You're gonna be the one that saves me (saves me) You're gonna be the one that saves me (saves me)....
Sunday 20th March 2022 FA Cup Southampton FC (First Team) v Manchester City FC (First Team) 15:00 Live on BBC One Referee:- Michael Dean, Assistant Referee:- Ian Hussin Assistant Referee:- Edward Smart, Fourth Official:- Simon Hooper, Video Assistant Referee:- Andre Marriner, Additional Video Assistant Referee:- Sian Massey-Ellis,
Class thread as per Laces, I only just found out that Dean reffed the Skates FA Cup final (no not in 1939) and pissed the Cardiff fans so much that they hit him with a coin the next season! On to the match, there's no reason for the lads not to put in 100% and go for Citeh's throat, we haven't lost to them this season and Palace held them on Monday and this is surely the biggest match left apart from succesive trips to Wem-ber-ley of course!!
I think this will be a close game. If my thinking is right, it's all the players have been thinking about since the WHU game so this is their chance to knuckle down and really show us what they are made of. Ralph seems to be tactically more astute against the big team who usually come down to play football thus giving us more space to express ourselves. Citeh meanwhile will be lulled into a sense of false security and may put a second team out. They will be slightly hampered by a disappointing 0-0 draw against Palace on Monday. In fact they've failed to find the net in 120 minutes of football. The last time they actually scored a goal was way back in the first week in March. Then again this could be our annual 0-9 result....
Obviously I'd like us to win this, but part of me just wants to see a performance. I've had my new found Saints confidence knocked out of me the last three games, and the misfortune of being at the Watford game was the **** on the shoe.
East away win coming up I feel, especially after our recent displays, and plus the fact City are a fantastic side.
Being a creature of habit, not superstition I must add, I'll follow my usual matchday routine as will many other Saints fans. I hesitate to make a prediction apart from being the source of several loud profanities. Thankfully our neighbours are understanding of my emotions during the game. COYR!
City will be focusing on the prem and the champions League. They'll probably field the tea lady and custodial staff in trainers and non matching kit. Should still be a straightforward away win.
Only £2.86 profit for Ukraine this week I am afraid guys, but for good measure I will bung in my stake too. ...Or I could start another losing bet streak. Here's hoping.
