Match Day Thread Saints v Stoke Sponsored by Richard Osman, Alexander Armstrong and Joe Rothwell

I thought that was the point of the game anyway? Certainly more entertaining!!

 

Everyone

Just shut down your laptops and turn off your iphones.

Whatever anyone else has to say today won't be worth reading. See you tomorrow.

 

Flynn Downes in the squad tomorrow, RM not concerned that there is any risk as Saints wouldn't be gambling on him if there was.

Also says that Ross Stewart is available for the Leeds game.

 

Did the journalists give him any hard questions about recent form?

 

Every word Southampton manager Russell Martin said ahead of facing Stoke City in the final home match of the season.


How is Joe Rothwell doing - will he be involved?

RM: He's better. We're hoping to have him involved tomorrow, so we will wait and see how he's reacted from training today.

He didn't do the whole training session, we're trying to manage it through, but yeah, he won't start the game because he had to come off the other night, but hopefully he'll be involved.
Will you risk Flynn Downs with playoffs already secured?
RM: Well, we won't risk him but he's in the squad. It's not a risk if he enters the pitch. I don't think there's any point in risking him.

So if he gets on the pitch tomorrow, it'll be part of the plan, and if he doesn't, it'll be the same, it'll be part of the plan.

How likely are we to see Ross Stewart this season?

RM: Yeah, all being well, Ross will be on the bench next week against Leeds. Hopefully, fingers crossed, he's come through training really nicely.
He'll have a big session in the morning, and then have Sunday to recover and then be fully with the squad next week. So, all being well, we look forward to having Ross in the squad.
And is Sekou Mara coming straight back in after suspension?

RM: Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah.

What reaction have you seen from the players over the last few days to Tuesday?

RM: Well, I've seen a lot of pain, a lot of hurt and a lot of frustration, which I think we have to feel after Tuesday.

Wednesday was definitely that. It was a tough day for everyone. Today, staff and players have a really good feel, focus and intensity to training and acceptance of the situation.


The bigger picture, nothing's really changed. It hurts more than you know, losing a game like that, sitting in this chair and having to lose a game like that.

But we can still achieve what we want to achieve and have a chance to make sure that everyone really forgets about Tuesday night and the course of the season.

What the players have given us has been really brilliant and spectacular at times. And we have had a few painful moments and a few bumps along the road.

That is part and parcel of football and life. How you respond and how you deal with them will always define what you do.

We have a chance to put that right tomorrow and then we are going to have a really interesting and exciting, hopefully, four weeks, but definitely three weeks.

We have to make sure that we finish the season by achieving what we wanted to achieve.

You've got two games coming up against sides that still have something to fight for. How much does that help preparation for the playoffs?

RM: I don't think there's any right or wrong way to approach it or prepare for it.

I actually think the bigger the occasion right now, the better it is for us to help prepare us for what's to come in the playoffs.

I'm presuming that Leeds will win this weekend and we'll go to Elland Road with Leeds needing a win to at least have a hope of getting promoted or to be promoted.

I think it's amazing preparation for us to go and prepare for some really big games beyond that. Tomorrow the same.


But it's not really about preparing for the playoffs tomorrow, it's about winning and getting more points on the board.

It is about finishing the season the right way in front of our home fans who have been fantastic from the start of the season to now.

The connection between them and the team has been amazing, been really brilliant. On Tuesday night they were fantastic, clapping their players, singing towards the end.

I don't think we'll ever take that for granted. I don't think that would have happened at the start of the season.

So it's about finishing things off in the right way, then drawing a line, taking some of the brilliant bits that the players have done and the club has done and then making sure that we are ready for what's to come.

Have you seen an eagerness from the players this week to put right Tuesday night?

RM: I like the way they train. I like the way they interact with each other.

I don't enjoy it, but it's the right thing to feel the pain we did on Wednesday, the players as well. So I expect a reaction.

You've had experience as a player in the playoffs. How does that experience help you and prepare your side for what's to come?

RM: Well, I had one experience in this division trying to get to the Premier League in the playoffs and won that as captain. One of the best days of my life.

I said to the players, we have a chance to create a moment for people to remember forever for a long, long time with their families, with their friends, with their loved ones.


It's an absolute privilege and an honour to be able to give people moments like that and to have them yourself.

To this day, it's still one of the best days of my life. My brothers and my close friends had one of the best days of their lives. So it's a privilege to be able to have the opportunity.

We just need to make sure we get there and we give everyone that.

What sort of approach are you expecting from Stoke for tomorrow's game?

RM: I expect them to approach the game in the same way they have recently and play against Steven's team. Before, they'll be aggressive.

They'll be good. They'll try and play. They're a good side with good players and it is a surprise to me they are where they are in the league and he's a very good manager.

So I'm convinced they're not going to come in and be really negative in their approach.

They're going to have a real go and we have to be ready for that but we have to play the game we want to play. We didn't enough on Tuesday night and tomorrow we have to.

 

I don't have an iPhone, and am not using a lap top, strictly PC me.

 

Wonder if he’ll make the holy grail of >12mins?

 

Seen a few dates bandied about. What are our play off dates?

 

Quite, but for some tomorrow has a additional meaning, thought I’d put it up as one of our relatives knows the family involved:

CJ FENNA ❤️⚽️

PLEASE HELP AND SHARE!

In loving memory of a very special boy who fought a courageous battle against cancer, there will be a dedication to CJ at half time during the Saints game against Stoke this weekend.

His family will be attending the game and it would be amazing to get a huge clap for him during the 7th minute of the game.

Can everyone please share this far and wide on your pages, football groups, with anyone you know attending the game.

A huge thank you from all at Sholing Junior School

❤️❤️ I've been asked to pass this on !

 

Sunday 12th away.
Either Thuesday 16th or Friday 17th home leg, depending on if we finish 3rd or 4th.

 

Away leg - Sunday 12th May, 14:15 KO

Home leg - Friday 17th May, 20:00 KO

 

Pretty much guaranteed we will be 4th

 

I know some idiots (I mean supporters) look forward to playing Pompey but as far as I’m concerned there isn’t a sofa big enough for that match. So all in all I want us promoted, despite ruddy VAR

 

Yep, I think we’ll get smashed in both games, on & off the pitch. They’re on a roll & IF we are playing them, our team will be totally different & RM will be still working out who to play.

 

But we will have more possession than them.

 

Rod Stewart back to save our season

 

Football isn't re

If ever football was irellavant it's when a family loses a child. If that support helps make some noise.

 

If we win 15-0 tomorrow we might still have a chance.

I knew leeds would lose tonight and their 2-0 down at HT. Frustrating really

 

Match day in Tbilisi
Who cares?

 

Matchday and also kingsday here in the Netherlands it'll be a bit raucous in some parts absolutely bonkers.