Should we allow Sadiki and Xhaka to kop a ban ...

[WorkyTicketFTM]

I notice none of the skunks got a booking last night so the 3 that needed yellows last night and Burnley are all ok. Have to hope Bayern kick them all over next Wednesday.

Burn is on 4 like and although he’s a bit of a donkey I think he would be a miss for them with how dangerous we are from set pieces. And Tonali went off injured.

I’ve seen their fans saying Burnley and Sunderland are must win games so they should rest everyone against Leverkusen then they’ll beat PSV.. PSV have just stuffed Liverpool so that’s not a given and also if they beat Leverkusen and PSV they’ll likely go through in the top 8. If they don’t beat Leverkusen it’ll be knockouts unless they beat PSG away which I can’t see happening.

 

[Whittylad]

Burn is on 4 like and although he’s a bit of a donkey I think he would be a miss for them with how dangerous we are from set pieces. And Tonali went off injured.

I’ve seen their fans saying Burnley and Sunderland are must win games so they should rest everyone against Leverkusen then they’ll beat PSV.. PSV have just stuffed Liverpool so that’s not a given and also if they beat Leverkusen and PSV they’ll likely go through in the top 8. If they don’t beat Leverkusen it’ll be knockouts unless they beat PSG away which I can’t see happening.

According to premier league stats burn is on 3.

 

[WorkyTicketFTM]

According to premier league stats burn is on 3.

Actually that may be correct as his 4th was against Brentford but then he got a second and got sent off

 

[RLB's Beautiful Face]

This whole situation is such a double edged sword. Me personally, we need both Xhaka and Sadiki against the mags that’s without question.. I thought Xhaka would’ve got booked against Fulham and missed Bournemouth, but now with hindsight it’s a good job he didn’t.

So again I’d love him to get booked tonight however if we win what way do we look at the City match? It’s a free hit but if we beat Liverpool we don’t want our confidence to slip by fielding a weak team at City. I’d be ringing Pep and asking him to field their B team and we can playing out a boring 1-0 loss with a weakened team

This is exactly the point, for me. The fact is we just don't know what will happen...

Sadiki and Xhaka could play both Liverpool and City, avoid cards, and there's no issue.

They could play against city and be instrumental getting us a point, but Xhaka gets a ban, and we beat the Mags without him anyway.

We could get Xhaka an intentional yellow against Liverpool, he misses the City match and we draw 1-1 in a game which Xhaka's presence may very well have earned us the win. Then he plays against the Mags and we lose anyway, so we've chucked away 2 points for nothing.

There are so many ways it can play out in which taking an intentional ban for the City game would end up being silly... I'm not sure I like it.

But let's see what happens this evening. There's a decent chance GX / NS / both get yellow cards just through their normal play, so this whole thing might end up being pointless

 

[Smug in Boots]

This is exactly the point, for me. The fact is we just don't know what will happen...

Sadiki and Xhaka could play both Liverpool and City, avoid cards, and there's no issue.

They could play against city and be instrumental getting us a point, but Xhaka gets a ban, and we beat the Mags without him anyway.

We could get Xhaka an intentional yellow against Liverpool, he misses the City match and we draw 1-1 in a game which Xhaka's presence may very well have earned us the win. Then he plays against the Mags and we lose anyway, so we've chucked away 2 points for nothing.

There are so many ways it can play out in which taking an intentional ban for the City game would end up being silly... I'm not sure I like it.

But let's see what happens this evening. There's a decent chance GX / NS / both get yellow cards just through their normal play, so this whole thing might end up being pointless

Sorry but I'm still ploughing on with this argument

IMO, there's no chance Xhaka and Sadiki will get through the 19 game barrier without a booking so they're virtually guaranteed to miss a game.

It's twice as beneficial turning a draw into a win and we have a much bigger chance of 3 points against Newcastle and Leeds than Liverpool and City.

Two draws, at Liverpool and City might look impressive but that's only two points from two games ...

... beating Newcastle and Leeds would mean three times that amount so, in my mind, they're much more important.

And, as we'll finish mid-table imo, the difference between 12th and 13th would mean very little at the end.

Winning the derby would last until the following season ...

... unless we're now seriously expecting Europe in which case I'd have to think again.

 

[SAFCDRUM]

I'm now becoming more nervous on these two getting a yellow than the result itself.

 

[RLB's Beautiful Face]

Sorry but I'm still ploughing on with this argument

IMO, there's no chance Xhaka and Sadiki will get through the 19 game barrier without a booking so they're virtually guaranteed to miss a game.

It's twice as beneficial turning a draw into a win and we have a much bigger chance of 3 points against Newcastle and Leeds than Liverpool and City.

Two draws, at Liverpool and City might look impressive but that's only two points from two games ...

... beating Newcastle and Leeds would mean three times that amount so, in my mind, they're much more important.

And, as we'll finish mid-table imo, the difference between 12th and 13th would mean very little at the end.

Winning the derby would last until the following season ...

... unless we're now seriously expecting Europe in which case I'd have to think again.

Ah, I think you've explained our different thinking . I'm not "expecting" Europe by any means, but I genuinely think we have a real shot at it! Why not dream big? We are 6th on merit after almost half the season!

The only teams I think we 100% won't finish above are Arsenal, Man City, and Chelsea.

Obviously teams like Man Utd, Villa, Liverpool, etc are more likely to finish above us than not, but I honestly wouldn't be shocked if we're above any of them at the end of the year... They probably have slightly stronger squads than us, but I don't see a complete gulf in quality which guarantees them a better finish than us, tbh.

Isn't it likely that finishing as low as 8th would qualify for Europe this year? I really don't see that as an impossible target!

 

[LD19SAFC]

They’ll both get booked tonight, I reckon.

 

[Smug in Boots]

Ah, I think you've explained our different thinking . I'm not "expecting" Europe by any means, but I genuinely think we have a real shot at it! Why not dream big? We are 6th on merit after almost half the season!

The only teams I think we 100% won't finish above are Arsenal, Man City, and Chelsea.

Obviously teams like Man Utd, Villa, Liverpool, etc are more likely to finish above us than not, but I honestly wouldn't be shocked if we're above any of them at the end of the year... They probably have slightly stronger squads than us, but I don't see a complete gulf in quality which guarantees them a better finish than us, tbh.

Isn't it likely that finishing as low as 8th would qualify for Europe this year? I really don't see that as an impossible target!

Yep, that’s a good argument and I believe you could be right. Given the choice I’d take Europe ahead of a derby win, if only for all our supporters who’d travel and represent us decently.

We’d also have a manager and squad that could actually win a low level European cup …

… something the Mags have never achieved.

 

[Smug in Boots]

Regis Le Bris about Granit Xhaka and Noah Sadiki, both received four bookings this season.

"Yes, we have Noah and Granit in this situation. So we spoke with them, it's not a new situation, and they try to manage the situation properly. We'll see how it goes. For the derby, which is probably one of the most important fixtures of the whole season, they have this idea in their mind, but at the same time, if we can win points before and we have a strong squad, we'll manage the situation. So it's not a big, big topic at the minute.”

If that isn't 'code' I'll be absolutely amazed

 

[The Legendary Tongue]

I can’t wait till this group of players and RLB have got another (this) seasons experience. We’re going places, im excited as **** about tonight. Regardless of the result we’ll put a display on in the next 3 games.

 

[Smug in Boots]

BTW, I totally disagree with the idea of resting Xhaka and Sadiki for the Mags game ...

... sends out the wrong message entirely in my opinion

 

[Monkey69]

Sorry but I'm still ploughing on with this argument

IMO, there's no chance Xhaka and Sadiki will get through the 19 game barrier without a booking so they're virtually guaranteed to miss a game.

It's twice as beneficial turning a draw into a win and we have a much bigger chance of 3 points against Newcastle and Leeds than Liverpool and City.

Two draws, at Liverpool and City might look impressive but that's only two points from two games ...

... beating Newcastle and Leeds would mean three times that amount so, in my mind, they're much more important.

And, as we'll finish mid-table imo, the difference between 12th and 13th would mean very little at the end.

Winning the derby would last until the following season ...

... unless we're now seriously expecting Europe in which case I'd have to think again.

At this point, and from what I have seen so far I am seriously considering Europe and that was before the draw with Liverpool. I know there is a long way to go and many stories to be written, but we have proved time and time again we are in for the fight.

 

[Monkey69]

Ah, I think you've explained our different thinking . I'm not "expecting" Europe by any means, but I genuinely think we have a real shot at it! Why not dream big? We are 6th on merit after almost half the season!

The only teams I think we 100% won't finish above are Arsenal, Man City, and Chelsea.

Obviously teams like Man Utd, Villa, Liverpool, etc are more likely to finish above us than not, but I honestly wouldn't be shocked if we're above any of them at the end of the year... They probably have slightly stronger squads than us, but I don't see a complete gulf in quality which guarantees them a better finish than us, tbh.

Isn't it likely that finishing as low as 8th would qualify for Europe this year? I really don't see that as an impossible target!

On current form I would not rule Villa out of the top 3. In fact if they keep going they might surprise everybody including City and Arsenal.

 

[RLB's Beautiful Face]

On current form I would not rule Villa out of the top 3. In fact if they keep going they might surprise everybody including City and Arsenal.

Neither would I, but also wouldn't be surprised at all if they hit a bad run of form and end up hovering around 7th or 8th... Arsenal, City, Chelsea, I just don't see that happening, which is why they are the only "100%ers", imo.

 

[Bigmackem]

Think it’s wrong decision to ask players to change their playing style it’s asking for trouble , let them play naturally and what will be will be as all games are important whether it’s Newcastle or Wolves their are points at stake . Needless to say I would love us to beat Newcastle but it is only a part of the bigger picture .

 

[Chunksafc]

Think it’s wrong decision to ask players to change their playing style it’s asking for trouble , let them play naturally and what will be will be as all games are important whether it’s Newcastle or Wolves their are points at stake . Needless to say I would love us to beat Newcastle but it is only a part of the bigger picture .

Id love to beat the scum, but it only gives us 3 points, same as man city, same as Brighton.

We cant let the derby consume us

 

[FellTop]

Let them play against City. These are professional footballers. They know how to play situations. It isnt Sunday league stuff.

Besides, we can get point(s) against City. Lets take them on. The footballing world, including players and agents will be more impressed if we beat city than the mags.

 

[Smug in Boots]

Id love to beat the scum, but it only gives us 3 points, same as man city, same as Brighton.

We cant let the derby consume us

We have a much bigger chance of three points at home to Newcastle imo ...

... and a win against Newcastle will make Christmas all the better.

Beating Brighton would be nice but I'd swap a 1-0 against Newcastle for 5-0 at Brighton in a heartbeat.

 

[Monkey69]

Id love to beat the scum, but it only gives us 3 points, same as man city, same as Brighton.

We cant let the derby consume us

This season especially, like I have said we are building something special in my opinion and these next 2 games are important but I do not think they will define our season. However I would love to give them(The Saudi's) something to think about. in truth this game has more riding on it for them than us. we can not really lose in this one as we have already proven our worth in the first 14 games, they need a morale boost we do not we are already on cloud nine, and for me the result of this game would not change my feelings about it.
We have already surpassed all expectation and continue to delight and surprise in equal measure almost weekly at the minute, they are under performing and are struggling to find form and consistency. As the season looks so far we have already won.