UP FOR THE CUP AGAIN.....

Fortunately working in London so wasn't there, mate said awful, tactics all wrong, Koeman maybe trying to over think things. Play players in their best position, keep it simple, and get them working for each other. Seems to be a lack of spirit amongst them

Palace at home will be a tough tie but think would rather that than away to someone like Birmingham/Ipswich etc. Should be an entertaining game of football

Third round tie against Palace on Saturday, can Saints win this one?

Maybe if mane wants to show what he can do but suspect Palace may be more up for this and they look quite safe but unlikely to finish top 6 so will see this as best chance of glory this season, 3 - 1 Palace

Expect Gazzaniga to start in goal, Targett at LB, preferably Cedric at RB but could see Martina starting (which will be a disaster as Zaha will murder him) Midfield Romeau, Classie, Reed and JWP, Long and probably Mane up front but I would start Gallagher and keep Mane on the bench but make sure he comes on second half so is cup tied. Would expect Seager to be on the bench maybe another midfield player for U21s.

well same old story. odd team selection going with 5 at the back, then strange substitutions bringing on both Jauanmi and Tadic, having far more chances but self inflicted errors allow the opposition to score and win. Think Koeman needs to go away for a few days and forget football as he is complicating things to much.

Palace actually only had two shots on goal that I can remember yet scored both. first half we were slightly better side but a pretty boring half, why we started with 5 at the back no idea, Martina played more as a half back but rarely ventured far enough forward, Yoshida was on left side as CH which he clearly was not comfortable. I was hoping Mane would be fired up to prove everyone wrong, instead looked like he couldn't give a monkeys. Seldom made a tackle never interested in shooting and managed to fall over many times.

Long was put through early on and took the ball past the goalie but to far wide and ended up with a corner. One of the few decent balls, to many were lumped forward as if he was Pelle and a complete waste. Davis got in a good position but shot was deflected wide. Our corners by Targett were awful , all over hit and after the third one I gave up any hope he would learn. Then after half an hour with Palace not having a shot on goal we gift them the lead, Davis gave the ball away in midfield, puncheon had a clear run, pulled the ball back for a simple goal for Ward. Just do not understand what goes on in their heads. we could have had a penalty when Yoshida was clipped though ball was running out of play but he was definitely clipped and Mason who again proved what a hopeless ref throughout the game gave nothing.

Second half the 2 subs made, which meant we had 1 sub left, losing yet had left our only striker (Seager) on the bench still there, took off Yoshida which meant back to 4 at the back. Mane finally had a shot which started wide of goal and just kept on going further away from goal. Saints did get the equaliser. A break involving Juanami lead to Martina having space for a shot, parried by goalie and Romeau on hand to score. Long then managed to turn in the box and had a decent shot low down which was well saved. Again from commanding the game an error gave away another goal, Tadic made a poor clearance then made a really feeble attempt at a tackle which allowed Puncheon to cut in and shoot, Stekelenberg parried when really should have put over the bar, ball fell to Zaha, poor marking by Targett to restore their lead.

Saints pressed at the end, at last some decent corners from JWP one header just over, next hit the post, from a free kick from JWP Hennesy made another good save low down again. Again you wonder how we lost the game but Koeman has to take the responsibility. Martina is not a RB of premiership quality, he tries but cannot tackle, which is a bit of a problem for a full back yet Koeman persists with him, Tadic lacks heart and responsibility yet again even if he doesn't start Koeman will bring him on. The young players never get a chance, why not bring on Reed or Seager today? Earlier in the week he criticised the Academy saying not good enough quality, that will clearly motivate them or give them the confidence they are good enough, yet doesn't give them a chance on the pitch.

Stekelenberg 5 2 shots and 2 goals conceded second one he should have done better .
Targett 5 still positionally gets in trouble, poor set pieces would probably benefit from regular games elsewhere he will be top quality okay for back up.
Fonte 6 made a number of errors, bo**ocked Martina 2nd half for not helping him out though he could have used goalie
Virgil 6 nearly scored and still looked our best defender
Yoshida 4 didn't look comfortable in the back line, out of position and some poor attempts at tackles
Martina 4 cannot fault the effort but out of his depth and the rest of team know it, did have the shot that lead to goal but he is supposed to be a full back.
Davis 5 his error set up their first goal and subbed at half time.
Classie 6 again getting better some good passes and interceptions the odd error but far better from his early games
Romeau 7 , who needs wanyama should be first choice from now on and leave wanyama on the bench
Mane 4 slipped or fell over, when he did have ball near box ran sideways, had several chances to shoot, always one more touch. someone said we had turned down a £30m bid, we would be mad not to take the money despite koeman looking silly as saying no one will be sold.
Long 6 tried hard, no help from ref Mason who should be retired, nor when we simply lumped the ball forward, he needs and wants the ball at his feet.

Subs

Tadic 4 a waste of space
Juanami 5 on a pitch like today lightweight though he is capable of running at players with decent control so could have a future
JWP 6 deserves a 6 for his set pieces

Thanks Matty.......so there goes any chance of a repeat of '76 forty years on.

All looking rather depressing really.....but 2 home games this week and 6 points in the kitty would help things look an awful lot better please.

Am I just imagining it? Last season Saints struggled badly against the top teams but could almost always be relied on to beat all the teams below them. This season, it seems to me that anything could happen in just about every match.

Certainly far more unpredictable this season, other sides invested the additional income they received from Sky money, saints didn't, used the money to balance the books which has its virtue however not if you end up in a relegation battle. We gambled on strikers by hoping (and think that is the best word) JRod would return as he was, a pretty risky gamble in my view. Now Pelle has picked up an injury, Mane has had his head turned we have been caught out. Unfortunately don't think our board will recognise they got it wrong, Reed and Kruger are not two individuals that come across as ones that admit they ever make mistakes, so will be totally reliant on Pelle having a purple patch of scoring in 5 or 6 games out of 7/8 and that we win 3/4 of those.

Here we go again......can Saints beat Palace at St Marys?

I think Palace will play a full team and we will rest players, obvious with Europa league but can already hear Pardew that we didn't treat with respect. See starts for McCarthy, Targett, JWP, JRod, possibly Reed, Yoshida and not complaining have to manage the squad.

Expecting a defeat by odd goal but not that worried to be honest

Certainly plenty of changes but the youngsters did well. Sunderland at home next I think

Here we go again......Home to Sunderland to fight for a place in the last eight of the League Cup. If we get through this, then an awful lot is going to depend on the draw.

Working in London so unable to go, mate said poor game great goal by Boufal. Arsenal away, first thoughts typical but wenger may well rest players so a chance  depends who we have fit!  At least Virgil and romeau got a rest tonight

An excellent goal by Boufal.

Yes, and apparently Boufal played well.

We all know Claude loves to rotate but I think he took rotation to the max this time.....at least a number of main players got a rest and youngsters got a game.....and we got away with it, although apparently we didn't deserve the win.

Is there any point Saints bothering to turn up? Will there be massive changes once again?? Is there any chance we could get through???

I am thinking a lot will depend on how seriously Arsenal are taking this competition now......

Well 10 changes (Arsenal) v 8 changes (saints) suggests we took similar level of seriousness. A more balanced team than a we played against Sparta, just to hack me off again, and for once the non strikers made a contribution with a cracking goal from Classie and a decent strike from Bertrand.

Draw against Liverpool bit of a kick in the teeth, might be their best chance for success so suspect they will play a full side still who knows with saints.

Good to watch the highlights of that one. Liverpool will be a problem, especially as over 2 legs. We might have sneaked a result if just one game....but I find it hard to think we can get the better of them over 2 matches. Still, fingers crossed......

FA Cup time again already. Norwich away will be tough although they haven't been having the best of spells recently.

I can't make up my mind whether I would like Saints to do well in another Cup competition or go out and concentrate on the League. Inclined to think it would be better to get a win as we certainly need some confidence and the Cup could help with that.

(On the other hand, if we are trounced by Norwich it might make the Board see how bad things have become and push them to do something about it)

Like you Mike what result I want, a defeat will not do the confidence any good but a win would just paper over the cracks. Reed's interview earlier in the week just confirms my impression of him, an arrogant individual and you cant help but think they are waiting for a takeover, not much transfer activity, certainly coming in and sell Virgil in summer, I bet first week transfer window open then sell up, but no doubt will be a job for Reed

A draw, last minute equaliser, worst result possible

An extra game to fit in......but with Claude's infamous rotation policy I don't really understand why he should find that a problem. With rotation very few players are involved in more than one match a week, so they shouldn't be knackered.

From one Cup to the other....

Can Saints manage a first-leg win against Liverpool? I have the depressing feeling that it doesn't really matter, if we were to win 3-0 we could still easily capitulate in the second leg and let them win by 4!!

Base on the recent performances I have seen I cannot see anything other than a defeat. Defensively we are suspect, no doubt Redmond first name on the team sheet and if Tadic plays as well unlikely to sore as well. A defeat by the odd goal wouldn't be a bad result as could see us getting hammered.

Nice to see them playing better but can't see 1 being enough in the bank for the second leg. Hope the team have now regained some confidence.