Match Day Thread Southampton vs Crystal Palace 21/09/2016 Kick Off 7:45 PM

Hello all and welcome back to another match day thread by Saintsfcfan. The games are still coming thick and fast before the next international break and next up for Saints is another cup match against Crystal Palace, the third in the past three seasons. Saints go into the game on the back of two straight home wins, with Charlie Austin the man on fire, netting three times. Palace also come into this game in fine form, after spanking bottom of the league Stoke City at Selhurst Park 4-1.

With the EFL Cup likely not to be Saints priority this season, Claude Puel is expected to make yet more rotations. The same cannot be said for the Eagles, with boss Alan Pardew taking the cups very seriously, as was seen with Palace losing out to Manchester United in the FA Cup final last season.

With rotations and priorities, I can only guess at what team we will put out but Alex McCarthy is almost a certainty to start:

McCarthy
Martina Yoshida Van Dijk Targett
Reed
JWP Davis
Sims
Long Redmond

Gunna stay positive and say a 2-1 win for Saints but will be tough with Palace likely to play their strongest side.

Come on you reds!

 

One word;

YOUTH.

Perfect opportunity to give the youngsters a go. Reed, Sims, Hesketh are the lads I want to see.

 

I'd like to see Reed, Stephens & Hesketh get a game. Don't think it'll be as rotated as we might think, though those who played Thurs and Sun (Van Dijk, Tadic, Long) will be rested.

 

My personal view is that this will be our best route back into Europe next season. So whilst I completely understand the logic behind rotating (both in terms of having fresh players, and giving a chance to those on the fringes etc), I would be careful about taking it too far. If we win it, we're in the last 16 already - at least four of whom will be non-PL teams.

 

Will be interesting to see what Claude does with the team selection, but if you're not going to give the youth an opportunity in this one, then when do you?

Not sweeping changes, but certainly Reed and perhaps Isgrove or Hesketh

 

Now this is strange coming for me, but this is the game to experiment in. Starts for McCarthy, Targett, Reed and maybe Stephens (is Gardos fit) ??

Would like to see Hesketh start too.

 

I'm happy with the kids. I want them to go far, blood them and rest the main team.

2-3 loss if we play a youthful side.

 

Team i would play, McCarthy; Martina, Fonte, Yoshida, Targett; Reed, JWP, Hjojberg; Hesketh Austin Long

Subs; Lewis, Stephens, Mcqueen, Clasie, Tadic, Redmond, Isgrove

 

Like the starting 11 - too many young players and it becomes more of gamble, so taking the Europa side and give VVD, Romeu and Tadic a break

 

Those 3 I think are ones who we should definitely rest.

 

Won't be a better chance to see how the kids fit, and while I'd love a deep cup run, I don't think that we can handle another several games between now and early January, particularly if we qualify from our EL group. Would like to see one of the young CBs, Reed and at least one of the young attackers starting.

 

As much as VVD appears to play the game at a canter, we will definitely need him for Israel and the two league games and he'll be off for the international break, so a mid-week off will do him good.

 

Anyone know how Gardos is doing in his comeback from injury......if available I would play him.

 

Also I wouldn't play Austin at all. I want him to start next week and ram the porn kings words down their throats.

 

Been saying the same thing for a couple of seasons now. Play the kids.

 

You don't want 10 kids and McCarthy - imagine if we played our U23s, lost 5-0. That would do so much damage to their development and confidence.

It's a delicate balance between resting first teamers and giving opportunities to youngsters.

 

Normally I would be saying strongest team. Being in Europe changes things for me.

 

Southampton v Crystal Palace REFEREE = JAMES ADCOCK

ASSISTANTS = Nick Hopton and Adam Matthews

Fourth Official : James Linington

 

Unlikely, it's Palace, not one of the really big teams. And for the purposes of this I'd consider the likes of Targett and Reed to be kids, probably JWP too.

You can also include more fringe players like Yoshida, Martina and Gardos (if fit) and then you have players like Gallagher, Hesketh and Isgrove who've already been in match day squads and played the odd game for us plus guys like Stephens who've played a fair few games in the lower leagues. The positions aren't ideal but, assuming we play the diamond, you could have something like:

McCarthy​

Martina - Yoshida - Stephens - Targett
Reed
JWP - Gape
Hesketh
Gallagher - Isgrove​

 

Firstly, the Academy don't play the diamond, so this would be a bad time to introduce them to it. Secondly, Gallagher is on loan at Blackburn!