Although losing Pelle for the game at Sheffield United will be a big blow, it might actually work in Saints favour.

The last few games have seen Saints stuck in a rut, they have played well but the luck has deserted them and games that were comfortably being put to bed are now being lost.

Losing Pelle for the trip to Yorkshire might have a silver lining tough, Saints need to break out of their circle of complacency and now they are being forced to change the formation with the loss of the Italian striker.

Ronald Koeman will have to try something different and this might just b the kick start needed to get us bank on course, sometimes in football things change not because of managers but because of circumstance and this might just give us fresh impetus.

So who will Koeman put up top ? he has two choices, either Shane Long or Sadie Mane.

My betting is Mane up front, this could offer the African the chance to show Saints fans what he can do, one thing he hasn't lacked is enthusiasm and although things haven't been happening for him he hasn't stopped trying.

Now he could play with more freedom and this could be to Saints benefit in more ways than one.

Photo: Action Images

Jesus_02 added 11:18 - Dec 15 Not a Mane fan, by any stretch of the imagination. Havent seen anything from him and Gardos that has warented the net 16m (x2 wages) that we parted with for thier services. Im not even sure they are good enough to loan to Juve or Inter!
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SaintDownUnder added 11:45 - Dec 15 Mane pace could be interesting up top, as long as we play him through the channels rather than expecting him to hold it up and bring others into play, he's not built for that. Mane's a mystery though, his first two or three games looked really encouraging, like he'd make the transition effortlessly. But his touch, positioning and decision making seems to be getting progressively worse, not sure if this is fatigue or him trying too hard? I wonder if he's not settling in England or the club, you have to be mentally right off the pitch to produce on it, not sure if anybody's got any insights here? I do agree that this situation will force us to mix things up, it also highlights our woeful lack of depth up front and consequently the lack of options for RK to change things if games aren't going to plan.

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SonicBoom added 11:52 - Dec 15 Lets be honest Pelle was a prat. Running thirty yards to get involved and getting himself booked over nothing was stupid. Ruled himself out of a very important game. If it was a tackle fair enough.
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saintmark1976 added 12:55 - Dec 15 Let's not get too down beat.Yes we were poor on Saturday but Sheffield could not beat Fleetwood town in their last game. As long as we play our best team available with both Mane and Long then we will be OK.This is certainly not a game to blood any more emerging talent or understudy players. Keep the faith.Things should look much brighter on Wednesday morning.
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schatfield added 13:31 - Dec 15 how about Mayuka up front on his own :)
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brady100 added 14:09 - Dec 15 Im not sure how we come to the conclusion that the absence of our top scorer could help us. Particularly If we suggest that his replacement is Mane, at a league 1 club who will be particularly physical. To early to pass judgement on him, for sure he shows potential but is not the answer up front at this moment in time imo.
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ItchenNorth added 14:48 - Dec 15 Not sure why so many fans in general get so down on Mane; its his first season in the Premier League and it can take time to adjust. On the other hand look at Shane Long; he's been playing as a forward in the Prem for years but still can hit a cows ass with a banjo in front of goal but I don't hear hardly anyone moaning about him (I like him too though !). I've said this before, we need another striker in Jan as the past few games have highlighted.

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ItchenNorth added 14:49 - Dec 15 Can't hit (not can hit !!!!) a cows ass
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VeloSaint added 14:49 - Dec 15 Long is the better option to start IMO, possibly play Mane just off him but I'd have thought playing Mane on his own up front would be a disaster.
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davepid added 16:12 - Dec 15 Hope to see some of you at the Devonshire cat, Wellington st before the game. When SLynch last posted on this site we were second. We haven't won since . So SLynch please post soon.
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SaintGeorge added 18:03 - Dec 15 Mané. Oh for gods sake please not another match with Sado-Mascochané pishing everything down the toilet. It's getting so yawn.
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SaintGeorge added 18:09 - Dec 15 I forgot big Vic, OK rest Jayrod for this one after all, push JWP up into the forward wide role and Vic in front of the defence.
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Jesus_02 added 08:59 - Dec 16 Bert and Victor have been the best players for the last couple of matches. If Sam is fit again it has been kept quiet. Apart from that (and missing out Morgan) St Goearges squad looks great
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