Saints drawn at home to Chelsea in FA Cup (From Daily Echo)

Oh well, focus on the league then :)

Great draw!

Very winnable and they'll probably have a new manager by then.
Hopefully it'll be on telly

That will be on telly then, no doubt!0

Shame about the bluephew having no interest!

Mmmm - confidence booster if we win!
Not quite tie of the round - but near enough to be televised?
I expect Chelsea to turn it around by January - so with our squad a decent Cup run would be a distraction from the relegation battle ahead.

I think this draw will tempt Nigel to play his strongest 11. Sooner have got a lesser team and run out the squad players.

A chance for Torres to get his confidence back.

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
A chance for Torres to get his confidence back.

Ha ha !!!!

yessssssssssssssss!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

costa gaz!!! get a sombreo youve had too much sun!!

Oh well! sigh..
Play as we can who knows, show (undue) respect we showed to LFC we are screwed..

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
A chance for Torres to get his confidence back.

Or switch teams first!!!

Whoever we put out, some will be playing to ensure they aren't sold or replaced, so bring it on.

Costa Baz wrote:

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
A chance for Torres to get his confidence back.

Or switch teams first!!!

Whoever we put out, some will be playing to ensure they aren't sold or replaced, so bring it on.

What we can't keep doing is to completely give up on the Cup Competitions ....

WE FIGHT IN THE LEAGUE ..

LET'S GIVE THE FA CUP A GO !!

RED ARMY. NUMBER ONE TEAM IN THE SOUTH.

What a shame it could not have been Poopey! Maybe next year....if there is a next year.

Great Home draw for us.....we have nothing to loose.

Our boys will enjoy playing this one against top players. If Wet Spam can put 3 past them...so can we.

Hopefully they'll turn up for this Cup team and go for it....and not play like the team did at Leeds !!!

I wonder who'll be managing Chelsea in January.

DisplacedFan wrote:
What a shame it could not have been Poopey! Maybe next year....if there is a next year.

There will be a next year, God willing.
What there may not be is a money laundering, success buying on the never never, charity cheating, slum dwelling bankrupt rabble at the smelly end of the M275.

Now that is a prospect worth hoping for.

Baddesley Bill wrote:
I wonder who'll be managing Chelsea in January.

Hope its not Nigel.

Personally this is the best draw we could have hoped for bar man u. A good home tie should bring a full house and then onwards with the league. A good day with sunderland losing aswell. CMON U REDS!!

Our Season is starting to look fixed!!, first we had to play the League Champions for our Season opener, Now we have to play the Cup Champions for our first cup game!. Could not make these fixtures up. Anyway wonder if we will give our Youth squad a run out!!. But to be realistic i fancy us getting something from this game, i just hope Benitez is still in charge when we play them.

Lets just concentrate on staying in the league.
I think the Reading and Sunderland
games will tell us if we have a realistic
chance of staying up.
Win these then hopefully we can carry
on to the transfer window and sign
a defender and goalie with experience
to help our youngsters who are talented
but lacking advice and leadership from
"old heads".
Lose or only draw these matches
then the Club will have real problems
attracting class players and some of
our players may well start to think about
their futures.
Also NA needs somebody to advise
him. His interviews are frustating and
he seems unable or unwilling to change
the team/tactics when required.

warrens 76 wrote:
Oh well! sigh..
Play as we can who knows, show (undue) respect we showed to LFC we are screwed..

I think it's a great draw personally. Home against a top team, if we win it's a great confidence boost, if we lose then at least it wasn't against Notts County
COYR

It's a great draw, quit moaning!

That's you out the cup then woo hoo!!!

PTID1898 wrote:
That's you out the cup then woo hoo!!!

and your be finished by then a much bigger waaahaaaay for 91 other clubs

The next few games look good for THE MIGHTY SOUTHAMPTON ...

reading home WIN
sunderland home WIN

fulham away WIN (good away support)
stoke away WIN (good away support)

ars*nil home WIN

chelskum FA CUP WIN

villa away WIN (good away support)

WINNING IS EVERYTHING.

WE HAVE PLENTY TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

THE FUTURE IS RED AND WHITE.

RED ARMY. NUMBER ONE CLUB IN THE SOUTH.

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
Oh well, focus on the league then :)

sod the silverware , concentrate on survival , we should of secured at least a point from scouse land

SPIKEISLANDTRADER wrote:

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
Oh well, focus on the league then :)

sod the silverware , concentrate on survival , we should of secured at least a point from scouse land

Survival is the main thing. I didn't go but listened on the radio, sounded like we got off lightly at 1-0.

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:

SPIKEISLANDTRADER wrote:

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
Oh well, focus on the league then :)

sod the silverware , concentrate on survival , we should of secured at least a point from scouse land

Survival is the main thing. I didn't go but listened on the radio, sounded like we got off lightly at 1-0.

Yeah .. but unlike QPR we didn't have the dominant fan support and we were not set up to FIGHT AND WIN.

4-5-1 was never going to produce the WIN.

Survival is crucial - but with the run of games ahead - we should pick up lots of points.

Regarding the CUP - the Manager and Players are on a tonne of money and the players should be able to play a couple of additional games and WIN - otherwise they are ripping off the fans and the Club.

Yesterday was not good enough - WE HAVE GOTTA BE BETTER THAN THIS and be set up to competitive and WIN games.

WE ARE SOUTHAMPTON.

RED ARMY. UP THE PREMIER LEAGUE WE GO !!

THE SAINTS GO MARCHING ON-ON-ON !!

With the absence of a credible pompey as a rival ...

no-one will want the blue chel.. skum come to St Mary's and knock us out ..

I remember being on this site with the reaction after going out to mill wall in the Cup last year and the reaction ...

There will be a fan backlash if we put out a weak side and get hammered and it will not be good enough.

LET'S GET A F*CKING GRIP AND START WINNING GAMES ... starting with plastic reading ...

AND LET'S HEAR YOU AND SEE THE PASSION ON THE TERRACES ... starting off in the Pubs near the ground.

WE ARE RED ARMY - FIGHT AND WIN !!

word is romans offski , they are imploding.

RedArmy1 wrote:

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:

SPIKEISLANDTRADER wrote:

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
Oh well, focus on the league then :)

sod the silverware , concentrate on survival , we should of secured at least a point from scouse land

Survival is the main thing. I didn't go but listened on the radio, sounded like we got off lightly at 1-0.

Yeah .. but unlike QPR we didn't have the dominant fan support and we were not set up to FIGHT AND WIN.

4-5-1 was never going to produce the WIN.

Survival is crucial - but with the run of games ahead - we should pick up lots of points.

Regarding the CUP - the Manager and Players are on a tonne of money and the players should be able to play a couple of additional games and WIN - otherwise they are ripping off the fans and the Club.

Yesterday was not good enough - WE HAVE GOTTA BE BETTER THAN THIS and be set up to competitive and WIN games.

WE ARE SOUTHAMPTON.

RED ARMY. UP THE PREMIER LEAGUE WE GO !!

THE SAINTS GO MARCHING ON-ON-ON !!

I've always loved a good cup run. But if you're going to put out the first 11 when does the likes of Tad Lee, JWP and Mayuka get a game? Or Jay Rod upfront without Rickie rather than on the right?

excellent draw imo , we're at home first and foremost and chelsea ain't all that .......COYR !!

slugger wrote:
excellent draw imo , we're at home first and foremost and chelsea ain't all that .......COYR !!

The Home Fans will want the WIN and rightly so ...

Who the f*ck are Blue Chel .. skum ??

WE ARE SOUTHAMPTON.

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:

RedArmy1 wrote:

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:

SPIKEISLANDTRADER wrote:

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
Oh well, focus on the league then :)

sod the silverware , concentrate on survival , we should of secured at least a point from scouse land

Survival is the main thing. I didn't go but listened on the radio, sounded like we got off lightly at 1-0.

Yeah .. but unlike QPR we didn't have the dominant fan support and we were not set up to FIGHT AND WIN.

4-5-1 was never going to produce the WIN.

Survival is crucial - but with the run of games ahead - we should pick up lots of points.

Regarding the CUP - the Manager and Players are on a tonne of money and the players should be able to play a couple of additional games and WIN - otherwise they are ripping off the fans and the Club.

Yesterday was not good enough - WE HAVE GOTTA BE BETTER THAN THIS and be set up to competitive and WIN games.

WE ARE SOUTHAMPTON.

RED ARMY. UP THE PREMIER LEAGUE WE GO !!

THE SAINTS GO MARCHING ON-ON-ON !!

I've always loved a good cup run. But if you're going to put out the first 11 when does the likes of Tad Lee, JWP and Mayuka get a game? Or Jay Rod upfront without Rickie rather than on the right?

If we had been drawn at home against League 2 or 1 Opposition - then Steeeve and Co could have been played...

It would be naive to just say ... CUP ... and play second string ...

We did that against leeds away which was suicide and the result and the manner of the performance was a disgrace ....

WEARING THE SOUTHAMPTON SHIRT SHIRT SHOULD MEAN EVERYTHING TO PLAYERS AND FANS ALIKE !

We should beat plastic reading at Home and We should all be in the Pubs before-hand and have real passion to beat those f*ckers ....

WE should beat sunderland and then on to Boxing Day where we aim to rule the roost ....

remember charlton .. QPR ... mill wall .. etc

NOTHING LESS THAN A WIN AWAY ON BOXING DAY WILL DO !!!

No-one is posting that the League in not Number One and Survival is everything - however WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIGHT ON TWO FRONTS AT ONCE !!

WE ARE THE MIGHTY SOUTHAMPTON.

RED ARMY. THE PRIDE AND THE PASSION.

p.s The fans have been fantastic this Season - and the Players react to good support. Flood fulham and we will come back with the WIN.

Do everything to go to villa AWAY and we will come back with the WIN.

FIGHT AND WIN. NO FEAR.
NO SURRENDER.

RedArmy1 wrote:
The next few games look good for THE MIGHTY SOUTHAMPTON ... reading home WIN sunderland home WIN fulham away WIN (good away support) stoke away WIN (good away support) ars*nil home WIN chelskum FA CUP WIN villa away WIN (good away support) WINNING IS EVERYTHING. WE HAVE PLENTY TO LOOK FORWARD TO. THE FUTURE IS RED AND WHITE. RED ARMY. NUMBER ONE CLUB IN THE SOUTH.

It's sad isn't it, but this is what accountancy does to people.

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:

RedArmy1 wrote:

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:

SPIKEISLANDTRADER wrote:

Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:
Oh well, focus on the league then :)

sod the silverware , concentrate on survival , we should of secured at least a point from scouse land

Survival is the main thing. I didn't go but listened on the radio, sounded like we got off lightly at 1-0.

Yeah .. but unlike QPR we didn't have the dominant fan support and we were not set up to FIGHT AND WIN.

4-5-1 was never going to produce the WIN.

Survival is crucial - but with the run of games ahead - we should pick up lots of points.

Regarding the CUP - the Manager and Players are on a tonne of money and the players should be able to play a couple of additional games and WIN - otherwise they are ripping off the fans and the Club.

Yesterday was not good enough - WE HAVE GOTTA BE BETTER THAN THIS and be set up to competitive and WIN games.

WE ARE SOUTHAMPTON.

RED ARMY. UP THE PREMIER LEAGUE WE GO !!

THE SAINTS GO MARCHING ON-ON-ON !!

I've always loved a good cup run. But if you're going to put out the first 11 when does the likes of Tad Lee, JWP and Mayuka get a game? Or Jay Rod upfront without Rickie rather than on the right?

Jay Rod is an Option to play up front -
also consider Mayuka for pace as a Sub ... Nigel has choices at least !!

There are players we can play like JWP and Tad Lee ? and WIN.

BIG CROWD FOR THIS ONE !!

There is only one game this Season where there may be trouble and that is playing Chel... skum.

WE RULE AT ST MARY'S - the blue skum will be sent packing - I repeat no-one in the league bothers THE MIGHTY SOUTHAMPTON.

RED ARMY RULE THE SOUTH. COYR.

More Glory wrote:

RedArmy1 wrote:
The next few games look good for THE MIGHTY SOUTHAMPTON ... reading home WIN sunderland home WIN fulham away WIN (good away support) stoke away WIN (good away support) ars*nil home WIN chelskum FA CUP WIN villa away WIN (good away support) WINNING IS EVERYTHING. WE HAVE PLENTY TO LOOK FORWARD TO. THE FUTURE IS RED AND WHITE. RED ARMY. NUMBER ONE CLUB IN THE SOUTH.

It's sad isn't it, but this is what accountancy does to people.

ssssshhhhhhhhhh

RED ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRMY.

WE ARE NUMBER ONE !!

Being the devils advocate what about the possibility NOTE NOT A PROBABILITY that come January NC decides on a change of manager and one ROBERTO DI MATTEO becomes SAINTS manager and his first match in charge is v Chelsea in the FA CUP.

RedArmy1 wrote:
The next few games look good for THE MIGHTY SOUTHAMPTON ...

reading home WIN
sunderland home WIN

fulham away WIN (good away support)
stoke away WIN (good away support)

ars*nil home WIN

chelskum FA CUP WIN

villa away WIN (good away support)

WINNING IS EVERYTHING.

WE HAVE PLENTY TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

THE FUTURE IS RED AND WHITE.

RED ARMY. NUMBER ONE CLUB IN THE SOUTH.

Can i have the number of your supplier please?, whatever it is your on I want some, they sound epic!

CB FRY LIVES wrote:
Being the devils advocate what about the possibility NOTE NOT A PROBABILITY that come January NC decides on a change of manager and one ROBERTO DI MATTEO becomes SAINTS manager and his first match in charge is v Chelsea in the FA CUP.

Stranger things have happened in football. I suppose it depends how he does over next few games. After 4 straight losses we've gone DWWDL which is much better.

CB FRY LIVES wrote:
Being the devils advocate what about the possibility NOTE NOT A PROBABILITY that come January NC decides on a change of manager and one ROBERTO DI MATTEO becomes SAINTS manager and his first match in charge is v Chelsea in the FA CUP.

You'll be in trouble for suggesting that.

Costa Baz wrote:

CB FRY LIVES wrote:
Being the devils advocate what about the possibility NOTE NOT A PROBABILITY that come January NC decides on a change of manager and one ROBERTO DI MATTEO becomes SAINTS manager and his first match in charge is v Chelsea in the FA CUP.

You'll be in trouble for suggesting that.

why ? ..... it's a "what if" and nothing more .

We're 6 points ahead of QPR and 3 ahead of Reading who have a game in hand so whilst we really need to win it's a mustn't lose game for sure. We're 1 point behind Sunderland who also have a game in hand so that's a must win game. We're 2 behind Villa, Wigan and Newcastle. I think the toons will move up so it's looking like any 3 from the 6 for the dreaded drop.

Nice easy draw for us,,,,Chelsea are shambolic,,,I reckon we can rip them apart,,,if we play our 1st team

slugger wrote:

Costa Baz wrote:

CB FRY LIVES wrote:
Being the devils advocate what about the possibility NOTE NOT A PROBABILITY that come January NC decides on a change of manager and one ROBERTO DI MATTEO becomes SAINTS manager and his first match in charge is v Chelsea in the FA CUP.

You'll be in trouble for suggesting that.

why ? ..... it's a "what if" and nothing more .

would we still win?

InCortesewetrust wrote:

RedArmy1 wrote:
The next few games look good for THE MIGHTY SOUTHAMPTON ...

reading home WIN
sunderland home WIN

fulham away WIN (good away support)
stoke away WIN (good away support)

ars*nil home WIN

chelskum FA CUP WIN

villa away WIN (good away support)

WINNING IS EVERYTHING.

WE HAVE PLENTY TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

THE FUTURE IS RED AND WHITE.

RED ARMY. NUMBER ONE CLUB IN THE SOUTH.

Can i have the number of your supplier please?, whatever it is your on I want some, they sound epic!

:O) LOL

We should be looking to beat plastic reading and sunderland at home.

I am travelling on Boxing Day and with the dominant AWAY support am expecting nothing less than 3 Points vs fulham.

WE ARE RED ARMY

circa 66 saint wrote:

slugger wrote:

Costa Baz wrote:

CB FRY LIVES wrote:
Being the devils advocate what about the possibility NOTE NOT A PROBABILITY that come January NC decides on a change of manager and one ROBERTO DI MATTEO becomes SAINTS manager and his first match in charge is v Chelsea in the FA CUP.

You'll be in trouble for suggesting that.

why ? ..... it's a "what if" and nothing more .

would we still win?

i think we can win every game ! ........ the fact that we don't is what being a supporter is all about ............. imo .

slugger wrote:

circa 66 saint wrote:

slugger wrote:

Costa Baz wrote:

CB FRY LIVES wrote:
Being the devils advocate what about the possibility NOTE NOT A PROBABILITY that come January NC decides on a change of manager and one ROBERTO DI MATTEO becomes SAINTS manager and his first match in charge is v Chelsea in the FA CUP.

You'll be in trouble for suggesting that.

why ? ..... it's a "what if" and nothing more .

would we still win?

i think we can win every game ! ........ the fact that we don't is what being a supporter is all about ............. imo .

Eight Bells before the fulham game - then onto the terraces ...

RED ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRMY.
WE RULE THE SOUTH !!

Reading is a must win, anything less then 4 points from Reading, Sunderland and its bon voyage Nigel

techsture wrote:
Reading is a must win, anything less then 4 points from Reading, Sunderland and its bon voyage Nigel

We really need 6 points from those two games but if it's only to be 4 i'd sooner have 3 from Sunderland.

CB FRY LIVES wrote:
Being the devils advocate what about the possibility NOTE NOT A PROBABILITY that come January NC decides on a change of manager and one ROBERTO DI MATTEO becomes SAINTS manager and his first match in charge is v Chelsea in the FA CUP.

Interesting thought but mega bucks for a manager means less loot for players.

Kelvin
Butterfield, Jos, Stephens, Fox
JWP, Cork
Mayuka, Davis, Tad Lee
J. Rod

That should be the team v Chelski IMO. Some will say its the reserves I say they are all from the first team squad and they all need match practice.

I was struggling to see how we were could stay up because of 2 poor performances recently but look at the teams around us fixtures for the next month and theyre a lot harder than ours! we have to beat Reading and Sunderland no excuses! if we do so we could be out of the bottom 3 for a very long time just check out their fixtures. Come on you Saints 3 points saturday!

CB FRY LIVES wrote:
Being the devils advocate what about the possibility NOTE NOT A PROBABILITY that come January NC decides on a change of manager and one ROBERTO DI MATTEO becomes SAINTS manager and his first match in charge is v Chelsea in the FA CUP.

Didnt he get sacked from West Brom for being pants.

i blame NC for this cup draw! his shambolic running of our once great club has left us a laughing stock. remember big mac and ted bates would never have let the team be drawn against chelski in the third round before. mac always used to say a good goalkeeper is worth a 3div team in the 3rd round any year! NC is spending money we simply have on things we actually need, how can he be allowed to spend £15mill on the training ground? how can he spend £30mill+ on players that i dont think are better than we had? how can he not spend on players that i wanted? the man is an omnishambles, even if the word dosent work! have Solent Interior Systems been payed the £55k remaing of the £315k+ contract yet? how can he live with himself, putting good hard working skates on the dole? yes i know i have no facts for that statement, but it sounds good. how can this man who is on £600k+ a year and who could have left for A.C. Milan, who saw how well he runs a club, but as ML`s trusted friend decided to stay and finish the job with saints, be allowed to run the club as he sees fit, despite being told to do so by ML and then by his estate? why does no one listen to me? i told you this would happen and now look, chelski at home in the third round, how can we ever make money from that game?

i think theboooooooorer has finally got to me

saintshorse101 wrote:
i blame NC for this cup draw! his shambolic running of our once great club has left us a laughing stock. remember big mac and ted bates would never have let the team be drawn against chelski in the third round before. mac always used to say a good goalkeeper is worth a 3div team in the 3rd round any year! NC is spending money we simply have on things we actually need, how can he be allowed to spend £15mill on the training ground? how can he spend £30mill+ on players that i dont think are better than we had? how can he not spend on players that i wanted? the man is an omnishambles, even if the word dosent work! have Solent Interior Systems been payed the £55k remaing of the £315k+ contract yet? how can he live with himself, putting good hard working skates on the dole? yes i know i have no facts for that statement, but it sounds good. how can this man who is on £600k+ a year and who could have left for A.C. Milan, who saw how well he runs a club, but as ML`s trusted friend decided to stay and finish the job with saints, be allowed to run the club as he sees fit, despite being told to do so by ML and then by his estate? why does no one listen to me? i told you this would happen and now look, chelski at home in the third round, how can we ever make money from that game?

i think theboooooooorer has finally got to me

ha ha...... quality mate.
but you know It wont stop him posting his usual bo!!ox.

saintshorse101 wrote:
i blame NC for this cup draw! his shambolic running of our once great club has left us a laughing stock. remember big mac and ted bates would never have let the team be drawn against chelski in the third round before. mac always used to say a good goalkeeper is worth a 3div team in the 3rd round any year! NC is spending money we simply have on things we actually need, how can he be allowed to spend £15mill on the training ground? how can he spend £30mill+ on players that i dont think are better than we had? how can he not spend on players that i wanted? the man is an omnishambles, even if the word dosent work! have Solent Interior Systems been payed the £55k remaing of the £315k+ contract yet? how can he live with himself, putting good hard working skates on the dole? yes i know i have no facts for that statement, but it sounds good. how can this man who is on £600k+ a year and who could have left for A.C. Milan, who saw how well he runs a club, but as ML`s trusted friend decided to stay and finish the job with saints, be allowed to run the club as he sees fit, despite being told to do so by ML and then by his estate? why does no one listen to me? i told you this would happen and now look, chelski at home in the third round, how can we ever make money from that game?

i think theboooooooorer has finally got to me

TEBOURBA wrote:

"sainthorse - it is my job to spout cr@p on this site. Why can't you be original and say something sensible?"

Not sure on this really, I want us to concentrate on getting a few points under the belt and put a nice buffer between us and the relegation battle.
Is a cup run going to distract from that?

great to see RedArmy1 has dusted off his caps lock and come back on here! motivation at its best!! COYR!

saintsupnorth wrote:
Our Season is starting to look fixed!!, first we had to play the League Champions for our Season opener, Now we have to play the Cup Champions for our first cup game!. Could not make these fixtures up. Anyway wonder if we will give our Youth squad a run out!!. But to be realistic i fancy us getting something from this game, i just hope Benitez is still in charge when we play them.

I understand the sentiment, yet when we THE MIGHTY SAINTS aspired to become a European qualifying club three years ago when Marcus saved the club and the five year plan was implemented we inherited the size of the challenge.
That means Chelski will have to become grist to our mill. The original target was to become a top flight club, I believe we are on target in the medium term yet have some ground to make up in the short term.
Transfer window for top flight defensive depth looks sensible.
COME ON YOU SAINTS.

RedArmy1 wrote:
The next few games look good for THE MIGHTY SOUTHAMPTON ... reading home WIN sunderland home WIN fulham away WIN (good away support) stoke away WIN (good away support) ars*nil home WIN chelskum FA CUP WIN villa away WIN (good away support) WINNING IS EVERYTHING. WE HAVE PLENTY TO LOOK FORWARD TO. THE FUTURE IS RED AND WHITE. RED ARMY. NUMBER ONE CLUB IN THE SOUTH.

How delusional can you be? Have you had your medication yet? Stripey fool. You know we won't win with negative Nigel deploying such negative tactics! Anyway theplayers aren't up to it, ...are they?

This is a very important game.

Chelsea are a team of very good individual players that do not work as a team of 1 player, but as 11 seperate players. The opposite of this is West Brom. If their players were top players as well as playing as a team, they would win the League.

We can beat Chelsea, as long as we play very defensively and hit them on the counter. Against Newcastle we were absolutely fantastic on the counter attack but not very defensive. If we are not very defensive against Chelsea then Hazard and Mata will flatten us. If we are defensive (ie Cork and Steven Davis playing just in front of the defence) we can shut them out and hit them on the counter with Gaston, Rickie and Lallana and Puncheon pushing forwards on the counter, but Lallana and Gaston defending before counter.

If we do this we can win, particularly if Chelsea play a weakened side because it is the FA Cup, thus they will underestimate us and want to rest players. On the other hand Benitez might want a cup run to try and not get sacked if his League form continues to be poor (although with Chelsea's reputation he will be gone long before then), and they might want to defend the trophy they won last year.

I feel sorry for Nigel because he will want a Cup run to try and keep his own job alive if Cortese has lost faith in him by then. Gaining Chelsea is one of the worst scenarios he would have wanted. If we continue in this form and fall at the first hurdle to Chelsea then I expect that Nigel will be sacked, and I now expect Cortese to wait until the result of this game before making his sacking decision

This is an extremely important tie as it could be the start of a run that means our season doesn't end as badly as it could do. It also may be the difference between whether Nigel stays or goes. If we are attacking we will most likely lose, but defensive then counter then we can win. It may be a major turning point in our season.

4th Jan 2003 Saints 4 Spurs 0 in the 3rd round and we ended up in the final.

5th Jan 2013 Saints vs Chelski ?

COYR