What ever the score, at least this game will be out the way. Whether the players have had this game in the back of their minds we'll never know. But after Saturday there can be no more excuses. Also, after a full week back in Soton, fatigue can also be dismissed

My appetite for the Cup has been severely downgraded with relegation worries looming.

The FA seem keen to throw the book at us for failing to control our team, after the handbags at Sheff Utd, but had they done their job and looked at the Bournemouth v Watford game, then I'm sure we would have been facing a team with even more suspensions. Their injury time brawl had pushing, pulling and punches being thrown by both teams, yet not a red card in sight.

It is what it is and we can only play what is put in front of us, so hopefully we can muster enough quality to progress to the Semis.

Brentford played their second string against us and still knocked us out of the other cup.. But I see your point. I think the cup has become a welcome distraction for the players and I expect us to show up properly on Saturday and the big prize for Bournemouth is promotion. Fingers crossed!

Well that’s just even more of a reason why we’ve got no excuse to loose on Saturday! I mean if we do well as much as Hasenhurtle has been the best manager we’ve had for a while and one that we’ve all come to like, enough will be enough!

Although if we win well we’re off to Wembley but still for him to keep his job should be getting at least a point against Burnley.

I am sure a betting man would say a semi-final exit is likely for us. Usually that would mean a Wembly trip for thousands - this time a (probably painful) 90 minutes watching at home. So if we do lose I won't be devastated about the cup but more about how rubbish we would be to lose to Bournemouth reserves.

Of course winning the cup would be great but remember Wigan. They won it and went down and haven't been seen since. Alright they are a smaller club than us but nowadays staying up is the most important thing. Not because it wouldn't be fun to play in the second division but because of the financial crisis/turmoil it would cause. We all remember last time...

'Bournemouth Have Selection Crisis'

So have we...........

There is no pressure on boscombe for this game and a lot on Saints and a similar situation applies to each league game - with the pressure increasing with each game without a win.

The question is how much bottle have this team got?

I am a big Southampton FC fan , That now has started Koh Samui Saints in Thailand .
But my house is in Bournemouth , before coming out here my local pub is a massive hang with AFC Bournemouth fans. But over the years I have had the majority of boasting about there only being 1 team on the South Coast ..
I have donated money when Bournemouth were collecting loose change to stay afloat. And my business has provided services to AFC Bournemouth at cost price , only to loose quite a lot of money when they went into administration ... And still carried out my services to them in there moment of need ....
In my local AFC Bournemouth pub (The Broadway Castle Lane) I have argued that they only ever got to the promised land of the Premiership because of Southampton FC loaning player to help them ....
Now we get beaten at home to a very below par Brighton FC team giving away 3 points and now find ourselves playing AFC Bournemouth to get to a semi final at Wembley ....
This is the very first time that we are playing against our noisy neighbors where I do not feel one bit of confidence inside my body that we will win and comfortably ....Even when we have had the occasional slip up against them .....
We are in need of new players and I have done some searching of free agent ex premiership footballers that we could sign until the end of the season to give us some depth and more choices for ‘Wreck It Ralph’ to pick from ... I would offer these players low wages with a appearance and win bonuses and a bonus for keeping us in the Premiership ...
1....Leonardo , Brazilian left winger age 28
2...Nemanja Nikolic, Serbian Striker age 28
3..Wellington Silva Brazilian right winger age 28
4...Sami Nasri , French attacking midfield age 33
5... Daniel Sturridge England striker age 31
6...Ravel Morrison England attacking midfield age 28
7.. Diego Costa Spain Striker age 32
I’m sure they are all looking to prove themselves that they are not finished and have something to offer our depleted squad at the moment ....
#COYS

I'm not too keen on some of the free agent potentials Koh but Diego Costa would almost certainly put our remaining opponents on the back foot - or treatment table. I know his name has come up in previous posts, and he is considered a bit of a risk to dressing room harmony, but what an opportunity to put himself in the shop window by knocking in a few goals at top level. His, almost literal, punch up front is something we have lacked for a long time.

Unless we are say, 4 or 5 nil up at half time, any opposition manager is going to bang on about our poor second half form. Motivated players will grit their teeth and go for it in the second half. Particularly in the cup.

Regardless of who we or they put out, this game will depend on who wants it more.

Hopefully we can show a bit of pride and get the job done.

COYR

Bournemouth didn't have much of a Selection Crisis tonight. They beat a good Swansea side 3-0. Saturdays game might not be as easy as we thought.