Southampton (a) pre-match thread

[Zenmanc]

Kev needs to fill in as DM with the two Silvas in front of him (assuming all 3 are fit). Forget Gundo as a DM he's not up to the physical requirements. Kev is on a different level ability-wise & should offer more physically.

Gundo starts... Domestic cup games as an attacking MF only and never allowed to drop deep enough to be expected to defend.

 

[Bluekiwi]

They will no doubt take a lead out of Palaces book. 4-5-1 formation, balls lumped forward to Ings who will bury the first chance he’s given.
We have to move the ball quickly and more direct when we get near goal instead of trying to walk it into the net.
We MUST win this with a clean sheet. Our superior goal difference has now been collapsed.
If we lose this, we will be destroyed by the dippers and we can kiss goodbye to trying to retain the PL title.
Win, and it should give us confidence to go into the dippers game.

God I hope that doesn't happen. We will have gone from 2 points ahead to 13 (potentially) behind in a month. And even worse only 6 (potentially) in front of the rags.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Big game this. Need to win it.

 

[mosssideblue]

On paper we should murder these but
I’d take a scrappy 1-0 right now.
This is a must win at all costs game no matter what or how.

Partly agree in that we must win but, if we are to give ourselves the best chance on Thurs, we need a convincing win with our tails high again

 

[mosssideblue]

They will no doubt take a lead out of Palaces book. 4-5-1 formation, balls lumped forward to Ings who will bury the first chance he’s given.
We have to move the ball quickly and more direct when we get near goal instead of trying to walk it into the net.
We MUST win this with a clean sheet. Our superior goal difference has now been collapsed.
If we lose this, we will be destroyed by the dippers and we can kiss goodbye to trying to retain the PL title.
Win, and it should give us confidence to go into the dippers game.

I would take 3 points vs a clean sheet any day of the week and so should everyone else

 

[mosssideblue]

Why don't pep try Eric García as holding midfielder ?He had a full game against Leicester, full of confidence, nothing to lose knowing he isn't going to fear physical contacts. It is time for some young players to stand-up and show their value if they get their chance to play.

So I will go with this line up, hoping that we don't concede goals. But surely we can score the first.

Ederson
Laporte
Stones
Danilo
Zinchenko
Garcia
KDB
D. Silva
Sterling
Sane
Jesus ( He has good memories from last game at saints)

So have I but I'm not expected to be selected :)

 

[mosssideblue]

it was meant very much tongue in cheek but maybe our current situation has forced you to open a can or two

If you genuinely meant it tongue in cheek then your timing was awful and with the kneejerk shit that has been posted of late, nothing surprises me anymore as to what actual blues believe these days.

Not pointing this necessarily at you but our fan base has swollen exponentially recently and many of these don't have it in their locker to comprehend and manage poor results and throw almighty hissy fits in bad times, when they have no idea what a bad time actually is.

 

[mosssideblue]

Gundogan is a very easy target.

for so called fans - sadly

 

[supercity88]

The way we are playing makes every game seem tough. Southampton have players that can hurt us but I wonder if the manager will sacrifice playing long ball which would be more rewarding against us, in order to implement the style he wants the team to play longer term...

Either way we need to win regardless of how it comes about. Even if it is ugly. A defensive display would lift everyone for Liverpool.

Danilo at left back has to be tried. He is the best bet in that position against Liverpool. If Ferny isn't fit then De Bruyne has to sit and play a deeper role in this one with Silva and Bernardo ahaead of him and Sane, Sterling and Aguero up front. Need to build confidence and get some cohesion ahead of the dippers. Win this one, hope Arsenal get at least a point and with Spurs likely to win again the gap reduces to 4from them and 5 from us which is nothing at this stage. Then we simply have to beat them. Hope Spurs win to put that gap down to 1pt and 2pts.

The spuds will drop off when Son goes, he is key to them and will be gone for most of Jan.

Recovering the gap to 2pts or 1pt if Arsenal can go further and beat them would be a position we could be happy with considering Aguero, De Bruyne, Silva, Ferny and Walker have all been returning from injury/rested or missing. Even 4pts would be okay.

Lots of football left to play. January tranafer window is unlikely to see us get anyone decent but if there is any chance of bringing De Jong in we need to do it. Playing him and Ferny away in the CL would probably give us the ability to win it. I don't think we have enough defensively to cope with the demands of the season. No true left back replacement for Mendy and Danilo rarely available for cover for Walker.

But football is a funny old game. We could be on top of our game and lose to Liverpool and could be playing as we are and beat them.

 

[Ethan23]

Yeah, lets throw a youngster under the bus and shatter their confidence - great idea

Yeh I guess those things just never work out? Wan Bissaka, Trent Arnold, Kyle Walker-Peters