Having watched the game back today, a word for Romeu who absolutely bossed their midfield yesterday. He was everywhere, at one point he came from his position just over the halfway line to win the ball on the edge of their box when it wasnāt even his challenge to make. When he plays like that, heās absolutely unstoppable.
I reckon that 3 in midfield is our best selection as well. Hopefully they all stay fit and motivated for the final!
I can understand the thinking behind taking Gabbiadini off too.
āDid you see that? Weāve actually got someone who can score goals again! Get him orf before some bastard crocks him ahead of the finalā.
Maya and Virgil?
Reminds me of a Jack Dee joke about Middlesbroughās time on the edge.
They lost two cup finals, got relegated, and to cap it all off, had to go back home to Middlesbrough. I hope they got a hot meal.
That was great fun!!! 
No idea, so iāll go for Tadic and Gardos. Same age i believe.
Clasie and Gabbi ?
Bertrand and Gabbi. Ryan cleared off the line from Gabbi in a 2-1 win for England apparently.
A shout out to Shane Long as well.
Thats four goals in the last 6 games and he hasnāt even started all of those. When you consider the terrible first half a season heās had, it says something about him, that he hasnāt let his head drop and is once again proving the doubters (including myself) wrong.
Iām pretty sure most of those goals (exception of the last minute scrap against Norwich) have come in a counter attacking move. That is his strength and he is great when we play that way, especially late in the game or when the opposition are chasing and tiring. That was why it was a good decision to bring him on yesterday at 2-0. His pace and workrate gives the opposition something to think about when theyād rather be pushing on.
In all honesty Sunderland had downed tools at the 3-0 point and were a shambles.
The problem Long had in the earlier part of the season is that we werenāt attacking quickly enough and we werenāt playing to his strengths. He is effective in those situations but his overall lack of goal scoring instinct means he is ineffective in games we are dominating possession and the opposition are sitting in deep.
For me, the number of games and the rotation policy did not help Long or Rodriguez. It meant that Long wasnāt selected for games on a tactical basis or for games where his skill set would be utilised. He simply played against whoever because Rodriguez played the previous game! That also didnāt help Rodriguez because heād score a goal and then be rested, never building up any real momentum.
With Gabbiadini, so far, we seem to have found some nice balance and a greedy goalscorer. More mobile and skilful than Austin. Both could probably play in the same side though. āInteresting possibilitiesā indeedā¦
That said, Long has his worth as an impact sub or in the games where we are going to be dominated by the opposition. That is quite clear.
What is less clear is where Rodriguez now fits in. I donāt recall Puel ever playing him wide left so must only really be considering him for a CF role.
Shane Long in the team/squadā¦impact sub is a must for meā¦the man busts a gut for the mighty Saints.
Star man 
Totally agree with the above post
A good point Simon and judging by Jays reaction yesterday, something he is very conscious of himself
No doubt heāll still have a part to play this season but provided Gabbiadini stays fit it will most likely be a bit part.
Saying that, Iāve read a few posts and an Adam Leitch article claiming we reverted to a 4-2-3-1 yesterday. Jay could happily fit in to that system should he be called upon. We may even see the best of him again. This would mean leaving out Redmond though and we all know how impossible Claude finds that prospect!
As you all know by now, Iāve been calling for a return to this for quite some time! I must admit though, it still looked like 4-3-3 to me. Although Tadic did spend quite a lot of time centrally.
If it indeed was 4-2-3-1 then we kept a clean sheet and scored the most goals in a game this seasonā¦ whoād have thought! Ha
I like the option of having both Boufal and Tadic alternating from left/right to the central no.10 position as the game suits.Both top class players who will cause many teams major problems for the remainder of the season and into next.
I would still have Long and Gabba as our main strikersā¦Long more often than not as impact subā¦depending on the opposition .
Hopefully we can hold onto JayRodā¦as I think he still has a lot to offer our squadā¦Looks like he will be off in the summer???
Redmond is a much more valuable player than given credit by some of our supportersā¦big things to come from Simms and we have a great attacking groupā¦Messi would be a useful aquisition 
Claude may have to look at the extra CB and MF player and we could have a great squad next season.
COYS 
Gabbiadini and Austin could be a dream partnership. Austin, although slow, is very intelligent with his movement and demands close attention. With Gabbiadinis speed and agility, they could be a nightmare for opposition defences. Add Tadic, Boufal, Redmond, Long and Rodriguez playing in any formation you like and we have some good possibilities.
Agree about Redmond. He works very hard. A lot still to learn, but looks very willing and more importantly very gifted.
The same words fit Simms. Iād love to see him get some playing time in the final.
No speaka da lingo mateā¦
Bodes well for what he could do when he understands the rest of his team mates!
They look to have goals in their side with the Ā£15m addition of Gabbiadini, who is keeping Long and Jay Rodriguez out of the starting line-up and has scored three times in his two appearances.
Winger Nathan Redmond said: 'Weāve seen straightaway that his finishing is top-drawer ā thatās his big strength, but he can come in and link the game as well.
'Obviously heās struggling with the language barrier, but we have an Italian physio here who does a lot of the translating and heās picked up a few English phrases already.
āHeās still tactically aware and understood what we wanted to do here. Three goals in two games is a great return and the language of football is universal. If you go abroad and start kicking a ball around, people understand. Heās hit the ground running.ā
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Perhaps he is doing so well because he doesnāt understand āpass it back to Fraseā yet.
Oh god I can imagine the kind of āEnglish phrasesā theyāve taught him in the dressing room.
Just like my old mateās German pen-palā¦greeting him off the Cross-Channel ferry with his parents in close attendanceā¦
āHello Nick you old Cunt!ā holding out his hand in greeting. 