Match Day Thread Saints v Burnley, Saturday 23rd October, 3pm

I’m expecting Burnley to fall over near our box, at every opportunity, so they can bombard us with high balls.
It ain’t gonna be pretty.

 

I'm expecting Ralph to surprise us with team selection again. Would not be at all surprised to see KWP and Perraud as wing backs resting Tino (we have to remind ourselves how young he is!). Ely sounds like he might be carrying an injury so a rest there is also quite likely. Armstrong will be eager to get on but it would be harsh to break up the Broja / Redders frontline for this one. So Im going with

McCarthy
KWP Bedders Salisu Perraud
Romeu
Diallo
Stuey Walcott
Redders Broja

Subs: Fraser, Tino, Lyanco, Smallbone, Ely, Tella, Adams, A Armstrong, Djenepo

 

I would be shocked if Ralph didn’t surprise me with his team line up…rarely fails to surprise

 

I think we will need the extra height of Livramento, to help combat the height they will put into our box for set pieces.
Perraud isn’t very tall which might already give them enough of a height advantage, without putting in a second full back who is vertically challenged.

 

MATCHDAY

Relaxation tape to calm nerves-check
Practice frown when see teamsheet-check
Nails to bite-check
Goal celebration without scaring the **** out the dogs-check
Celebratory drink cooling-check
MOTD recorded-check

Ready

 

MOTD recorded for the final two minutes of MOTD - check.

 

Busy all day today so will miss this one. Hope you all enjoy the game!

 

I think my first sentence is supported by the fact that on matchday morning, I'm excited rather than nervous. (A real six pointer, I would be the latter.)

Rarely am I ever excited by a match against Burnley. But the aforementioned opportunity means that I really am. They can't avoid relegation forever, and I don't see them as the sort of side who could have a miracle second half of the season. If they're well adrift come Xmas, that could be curtains.

 

Match day!

 

I had a vision last night - 90 minutes of glorious attacking football, full of goals and drama. Shots from all over the pitch, decisive passes slicing through the defence, and a solid defensive performance.

Then I remembered it was us vs Burnley

So I'm going for a really ugly 1 - 0 and Sean Dyche to eat a raw baby on the touchline.

 

Has 1-0 to someone written all over it, this one. Bout time it was us, but can that happen twice in two weeks?

 

Seems I have the afternoon off after all, so getting excited for this now!

 

A 3-0 win to go above Villa.

I would say that's incentive enough.

Grass not that much greener Ingsy.

 

Ah, but the money …..

 

Ings did us a big favour by going to Villa, hope he does well

 

Not sure Theo is the right choice for a Burnley team who will sit back. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Presumably Stu still not ready for full 90 minutes as he'd have been ideal for this match.

 

Hopefully he'll start on Tuesday.

 

Yay, I called for the whole Moi-to-the-left shift after Leeds. Glad Ralph reads these pages. Hope it works out.

 

Théo? Good grief
Ralph never fails to surprise with his bizarre team selections