Super Duper Branko Strupar

https://www.saintsweb.co.uk/topic/59820-southampton-v-newcastle-league-cup-semi-final/#comment-3116212 Made me chuckle

Please spare us you in a bikini.

Will take that

Would prefer Forest, Wolves have started looking better under Lopetegui

I think he's at a third level increase since his dramatic turnaround last year. Since the WC he's been outrageous. Give me more.

"Caressed it with my right"

Burn's dance

Winner of Forest and Wolves, please.

Nice run by Isak

I love you Bruno

Sexy mother fucker

Get the fuck in Big Dan Burn lad!

Urgh

Yay!

Gorgie Garang

Worst thing about going out early in the FA Cup is the number of weekends where there's no Newcastle game to watch. At least the League Cup is mostly wid-week.

Get fit quick, please.

Wilson looked absolutely done when he came off against Arsenal to me. He's in no position to play more than once a week, he's struggling to make it every 7 days. Only time this striker issue gets rectified is when Isak is up to full speed.

Should be able to get a full first 11 for both this and Fulham with it being Tuesday-Sunday.

I think he took a necessary gamble and it didnt pay off. You look at that team before the game and you think it's strong enough to win and you're also happy we're resting key players with how many games we have had and do have. There was more than just today to consider with that selection. Hope we're looking at stealing some very promising youngsters and an absolute bargain or two in the Demari Gray mould to fill us out a bit, desperate for squad depth. On top of the need for players to come straight in the first 11.

Dont remember that change, but aye, I'm sure that could still well be the case at times now too. But I think over a longer stretch of time, what Wood gave to us as a team and how him doing that allowed us to play a certain way would give us more than not having him and playing the games he would have with no recognised striker. Especially with Maxi's sporadic nature (fitness and performance). We've had bad luck as well with Isak. If he didnt get injured we wouldnt be having this conversation, which would have been nice.

I've thought about the thought process behind this signing more than I should have but I always settle on, given all things, it was probably the best signing we could make at the time. £25m doesnt get you much and we could have spent all month trying to get someone in and failing. I think when we found out we could get Wood tomorrow and this is the fee we just went "Yep, do it". Aye it's mad money for what we got but it absolutely contributed to keeping us up there's no denying that imo. I can live with that. The persistence is a symptom of that decision. I mean he's had no choice. If we'd have bought someone else instead of Wood we'd have had to persist with them too given Isak and Wilson's injuries. All just very indicative of where we still are and where we were not so long ago. There's going to be things like this for a couple of years. Just over a year ago we had fuck all.

I also hope Lascelle's doesnt have to play again this season and then gets replaced in the summer.

It's mad as a PL team we have a solitary youth player to start early round cup games, symptom of our horrific past obviously. I cant be mad at the rotation, we just dont have a squad to compete on all fronts domestically let alone in Europe too. If we get a couple of injuries keeping people out for a couple of months or till the end of season we can kiss goodbye to the LC and top 4 so it has to be a measured decision. Ironic last time I felt this shit was after the Cambridge game.

Win the league cup then concentrate on top 4. Positive thinking.