Southampton (a) pre-match thread

[The Preacher]

Have a feeling it will be a very tense and close affair but I think we’ll edge it.

 

[Newtoncc]

I watched Southampton the other night and thought they were pretty average at best. Having had an extra days rest, I think we will have enough to beat them but I doubt it will be an easy watch. 1-2

Yes i watched the game VS West Ham and your right they looked average, although i suspect they will play a lot deeper than that game , thye did look wide open at times something we never see due to set up of opposition.
Hopefully new manager may try something more positive if that's the case we have a better chance given our pace wide, IMO.

 

[jimmygrimblesboots]

The left hand side of our defence is a problem due to injuries and suspensions and we need a natural experienced defender in that position so i would play Laporte with Stones and Otto in the centre , we will always dominate possesion and create chances , but conceding a goal to the oppositions first shot on goal has to stop , and his has to stop today. NO idea who is fit but presuming KDB.Dinho,Gundogan,Vinny arent fit would like to see EDERSON - WALKER ,STONES, OTTO ,LAPORTE --- MAHREZ , FODEN , SILVA , SANE ---- STERLING , AGUERO starting without a defensive minded midfielder is a massive risk , but we havent got a player who can cover that position.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

I watched Southampton the other night and thought they were pretty average at best. Having had an extra days rest, I think we will have enough to beat them but I doubt it will be an easy watch. 1-2

By all accounts Leicester were appalling yesterday but dealt with us easily.

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

By all accounts Leicester were appalling yesterday but dealt with us easily.

The three teams that beat us couldn’t score in their next game. All at home and two of them were against Cardiff!

 

[Eaglechief]

We just need to get back to the short quick passing and constant off the ball movement of last season (and parts of this season), we've started playing crappy hopeful high balls far too much over the last 5-6 weeks with virtually no movement from our central midfielders, this needs to stop.

Just get back into our natural rythm and the result will take care of itself.

 

[Packrat]

By all accounts Leicester were appalling yesterday but dealt with us easily.

Funny thing football tho. You could just imagine Chelsea fans saying their defeat to Leicester wasn't so bad, as they just beat the Centurions.
I'm hoping for a confidence boosting win at Southampton, but not taking anything for granted.

 

[aguerooooo]

Pep's talk is all about moving the ball to move the opposition. Now that everyone seems to be going at least 2 on 1 against our wide players, is it now time to have a couple of lads in disguise running straight through the middle and scoring? I'll give pep a buzz in the am to let him know what to do.

Dont leave it to late

 

[mosssideblue]

The three teams that beat us couldn’t score in their next game. All at home and two of them were against Cardiff!

Just shows how hard you have to work to beat us

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

The three teams that beat us couldn’t score in their next game. All at home and two of them were against Cardiff!

I've long since given up trying to make a shred of sense of this game.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

We just need to get back to the short quick passing and constant off the ball movement of last season (and parts of this season), we've started playing crappy hopeful high balls far too much over the last 5-6 weeks with virtually no movement from our central midfielders, this needs to stop.

Just get back into our natural rythm and the result will take care of itself.

It has to be quick. If a move goes belly up because of the pace we adopt we should continue with it and not revert to a slow, slow and even slower pace that just accommodates the opposition and gives them every chance to counter! Please God, put Ferny in the starting eleven!

 

[Blumers Bloomers]

I watched Southampton the other night and thought they were pretty average at best. Having had an extra days rest, I think we will have enough to beat them but I doubt it will be an easy watch. 1-2

I also watched and thought if we can’t beat these we don’t deserve to win the league .

Problem is they will undoubtedly raise their game against us ....

 

[richards30]

Not feeling confident today as we just don’t have the wounded animal fight back mentality this season imo. We haven’t played great for weeks now and De Bruyne still missing, now gundogan and no genuine LB means it’s all mish mash again. Hopefully the lads shove this post up my arse later! Lol

 

[york away to this!]

Dont leave it to late

Pep likes the plan... He says if it works I will be offered the post of chief tactical genius.

What colour do you think for my Aston? ...

 

[Roachy]

I know people on here scoff at the old "this is a must win" phrase. I think today is one of those games though and not just for the points. We really need to up our game collectively after the past month. The past 2 results were shockers and this team need to respond. I know the injuries are a big factor but our 2nd string should be giving the bulk of the other prem teams the runaround. The stats may prove different but we just don't look right. I hope we can put this little slump behind us starting today. We could all do with a morale boosting performance and victory.

 

[hcblue95]

I hope we see this team:

Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko, Foden, Bernardo, SIlva, Sterling, Aguero, Sane. (Fern in for Foden if he's fit, give him 60 before Liverpool)

Sane was poor against Leicester but he rarely has two bad games in a row. Does anyone know Mendy's expected return date?

 

[Gray]

Sane was poor against Leicester but he rarely has two bad games in a row. Does anyone know Mendy's expected return date?

Not as bad as Sterling - I for one would swap him for any of the Scouser's front three.

 

[dronefromsector7G]

Losing three in a row is surely not feasible for this team?

 

[Blue Bogey]

Under new Manager Hassenhuttl Southampton have reverted to 3 CB’s and 2 DM’s, I expect the same today. The bad news is they willl sit deep, but the good news is they don’t have a lot of pace at the back, so when we break up Saints play we need to use pace up front to exploit this. The front three for Saints is likely to be Redmond, Ings and Gallagher. Our Defence should be able to handle them. Stick Laporte on Ings. Job done keep clean sheet and win 2-0.

Only slight concern is midfield, Saints could exploit us if we don’t move the ball around quick enough as they have plenty of ball winners in the middle of the park. If there is no outlet when a challenge comes in then we will have to invite Saints into commiting a foul.

 

[hammocity]

I hope we see this team:

Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte, Zinchenko, Foden, Bernardo, SIlva, Sterling, Aguero, Sane. (Fern in for Foden if he's fit, give him 60 before Liverpool)

Sane was poor against Leicester but he rarely has two bad games in a row. Does anyone know Mendy's expected return date?

If Ferdy is fit I would like to see him “replace” Sterling just to try and get some solidity to breed confidence, there’s plenty of time for Sterling to regain his form in other games.