Southampton (H) FA Cup 5th round build up

[Deutsch Wolf]

It's more that every build-up thread he gets in loads of suggested teams, I'm not quite sure why?

I like him, he's got loads of ability but I think people are seeing what they want to see. As I say he isn't getting any game time at all presently, whatever the game situation.

 

[PuntsWolf]

I think we can afford to look at fringe players when the rest of the team is close to full strength.

There's a difference between saying you love a player and just wanting to see more of them so you can make your mind up

Think Nuno has seen enough and made his decision!

I struggle with the love in. His best performance was Chelsea, and the first goal he had a large part in us conceding it.

He looks technically weaker than Donck, certainly less experienced, and doesn’t have the same energy. Only 19 so time to develop aspects of his game, but not sure we should be chucking him in when he’s not good enough, just so TWF can make a judgement.

 

[prawnking]

It's more that every build-up thread he gets in loads of suggested teams, I'm not quite sure why?

I like him, he's got loads of ability but I think people are seeing what they want to see. As I say he isn't getting any game time at all presently, whatever the game situation.

I think there was a recent period when lots of people were 'done' with Donk in midfield, so maybe that's why a few people have put him in.

I think he's worth looking at with more experienced players around him, especially as we haven't been particularly blessed in central midfield form-wise this season. Difficult to gauge Nuno's plans for him

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Just checked and since Christmas he has seven minutes vs Spurs and three minutes vs Brighton (the aforementioned miss that cost us two points).

That's it. Not a single minute in over a month. Even allowing for the fact that he was unavailable for a couple of games (ill I believe), he isn't going to come straight into the centre of our midfield.

 

[prawnking]

Think Nuno has seen enough and made his decision!

I struggle with the love in. His best performance was Chelsea, and the first goal he had a large part in us conceding it.

He looks technically weaker than Donck, certainly less experienced, and doesn’t have the same energy. Only 19 so time to develop aspects of his game, but not sure we should be chucking him in when he’s not good enough, just so TWF can make a judgement.

Considering most of our summer signings were that age, I'd say we need to play our young players (at the right time), or we'll never know who's good enough. Doesn't mean it's a 'love in'.

I'm not saying Nuno is wrong if he doesn't pick him again, just that I haven't seen enough of him to be as confident of my appraisal as you are.

 

[prawnking]

Just checked and since Christmas he has seven minutes vs Spurs and three minutes vs Brighton (the aforementioned miss that cost us two points).

That's it. Not a single minute in over a month. Even allowing for the fact that he was unavailable for a couple of games (ill I believe), he isn't going to come straight into the centre of our midfield.

OK cool, I'm not dying on this hill anyway, I already have my headstone reserved on the Adama one

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I'm sure my banterific mates will invite Saunders, Doherty and Olofinjana to my funeral.

 

[Paul]

I'm sure my banterific mates will invite Saunders, Doherty and Olofinjana to my funeral.

So my Rankine suggestion will be ignored, your mates are b#stards

 

[PuntsWolf]

Considering most of our summer signings were that age, I'd say we need to play our young players (at the right time), or we'll never know who's good enough. Doesn't mean it's a 'love in'.

I'm not saying Nuno is wrong if he doesn't pick him again, just that I haven't seen enough of him to be as confident of my appraisal as you are.

Well yes, but Otasowie is in a unique situation where he hasn’t really played any proper 11 a side football anywhere. Wasn’t in any academies or anything like that.

I can’t say I’ve seen enough to make a proper answer, but from what I did see, the fact he’s very raw in 11 a side experience and the fact that Nuno doesn’t even bring him on for 5 mins regularly suggests he probably isn’t good enough/ready at this stage.

 

[Derby Wolf]

Full priority on the Cup game for me.

I'd go full strength with the same planned sub for Jonny. We aren't going down and Arsenal effectively saved their season last year by winning it*

*I know in all likelihood City win it again but they are long overdue a nightmare draw, give them Leicester in the quarters and United/Chelsea in the semis. Raul to return for the final and score the winning goal aaaaaaaand fade to reality.

 

[The Bear]

Otasawie showed some promise so naturally we want to see some more of him.

 

[AndyWolves]

I've always thought the league has been the priority but circumstances mean we can have a right good go at this

 

[Tony Towner]

Play the kids and rest the first 11 for the league game. With Fulham about to embark on their run of 6 consecutive wins we need to focus on the points

 

[Templeton Peck]

Otasowie gets mentioned because he's got something the other midfielders haven't. Donk is at RCB, Moutinho is old and Saiss doesn't seem to be an option there anymore. He's only looked poor when Nuno had him as some fucked up striker thing.

 

[sycophantia]

Play the kids and rest the first 11 for the league game. With Fulham about to embark on their run of 6 consecutive wins we need to focus on the points

naughty boy

 

[AndyWolves]

Play the kids and rest the first 11 for the league game. With Fulham about to embark on their run of 6 consecutive wins we need to focus on the points

Which kids? The kids in the first team or the kids in the youth teams?

 

[Tony Towner]

Which kids? The kids in the first team or the kids in the youth teams?

Only 1 player under 23 started yesterday

 

[Paul]

Only 1 player under 23 started yesterday

Kids is under 40 to some of us

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Here's a weird one. Southampton are shorter than us with every major bookie to win the cup. But they all have us as favourites to win the match itself.

Pick the bones out of that.

 

[BeaverWolf]

Ruddy

Dendoncker Coady Kilman

Semedo Neves Vitinha Hoever

Adama Willian José Neto

3 changes for me. Ruddy because he seems to be the 'cup' keeper again, as much as I disagree with it there's no point arguing the point now. Hoever for Jonny, give the wee man a week off, maybe bring him on later in the game and then start him on Sunday. Vitinha for Moutinho, partly because I'd like to see Moutinho given a bit of a break, he's been in much better form the last few games and we're going to need him to continue that for the rest of the season and at his age that's not going to happen if we overplay him. I'd also just like to see how Vitinha would fare next to Neves in a 3-4-3.

If Rui gets injured you need a keeper who at least has some idea of how the team plays in real time. Ruddy has done nothing wrong.