Southampton v City pre-match thread

[hinchcliffes bulbous conk]

Sterling has to play. MOM against Hull, he won us the game.

My thoughts exactly!

 

[Scar Tissue]

All season whenever we've played fast, no one has been able to keep up, but for some reason we just can't or won't raise the tempo for long enough.

Agreed. Very frustrating in that aspect. I suppose it has a lot to do with everybody learning. Bound to be inconsistent. As Pep has said, will be better next season.

 

[Kompany is King]

Given our very poor performance at Southampton last season the team owe the fans a professional, high tempo, winning performance.

We have the players.

 

[rnblade]

Southampton are not sh*t. They will make life really difficult for us to play. Our lot need to be on their game from the off or we will get caught out and end up trying to chase the game at 70 mins.
High tempo & directness with ruthless finishing will see them off.
I think we will win, it will be close though.
2-1 city!

 

[goater1985]

Absolutely vital game this. Other than the derby, most difficult looking game 'on paper'. I feel if we get through this with 3 points and they dont beat chelsea, we have one grasp on top 4. Plus we want go into the semi full of confidence and the back of a good win.

They are a good side and redmond and tadic are superb players, with gabiadini bang in form and will finish most chances he gets. Can see a few goals in this. i'll go 1-3

peps team i think will be

bravo
navas stones komp clichy
kdb delph
steling silva sane
aguero

maybe fern for kdb but feel he'll be rested for the semi, with delph making way. personally id put willy in :-)

 

[aguero93:20]

Southampton are not sh*t. They will make life really difficult for us to play. Our lot need to be on their game from the off or we will get caught out and end up trying to chase the game at 70 mins.
High tempo & directness with ruthless finishing will see them off.
I think we will win, it will be close though.
2-1 city!

They're far from shit, but on the other hand they've already reached the 40 point mark yet haven't a hope of catching Everton for a European place. We should want this a lot more.

 

[MarsLlama]

Sterling has to play. MOM against Hull, he won us the game.

And yet some people are still convinced we're going to replace him with Mbappé/Coman/Sanchez next season andd leave him on the bench.

 

[trotsky]

The conspiracy theorist in me suspects we'll get 'done' in this one, setting up the derby to be a top four 'playoff '. Hope I'm wrong.

No trains home - so where is everyone staying? I did Bournemouth last time (but no chance with late k.o.) and I've done the Ibis, but remember that it was in a pretty shit location. I'd like somewhere central to the nightlife with a short stagger back so my kebab is still warm when I fall asleep and leave it ;-)

 

[BlueAnorak]

Pretty sure we'll get done over by the ref, so we'll have to be top of our game.

 

[TBooksbluearmy]

With the ref being Neil Swarbrick I am hoping that this time we will be having ref who is on our side for a change . On 2nd thoughts maybe not, as we are still to close to the rags for that 4th spot.

 

[Marvin]

Good to see Kompany involved in pre-match training. Surely he'll start.

 

[super_city_si]

I think bravo will get the nod again this weekend.

 

[Kokonut1307]

Very unlikely, but is anyone selling a couple of tickets? My brother and I (both seasoncard holders) happen to be in Southampton for the weekend so if you or anyone you know can't make it we'd be happy to buy at face value.

 

[mosssideblue]

I think bravo will get the nod again this weekend.

I suspect you might be right

 

[therealsvenn]

Anyone got a spare ticket for sale? .. desperate to go :-)

 

[kaz7]

I think bravo will get the nod again this weekend.

You have ruined my week now

 

[CrownPointBlue]

I think bravo will get the nod again this weekend.

Complete bloody nonsense. Willy must be sick !!!

Big error Pep.

 

[CrownPointBlue]

Pretty simple mate,

He is fully aware he ain't getting a new contract and no longer has the heart for it. It does make you wonder what his intentions were when he was putting in 100%. In all likelihood he was playing for the contract, but surely he should still be running his arse off even though it is clear he wont still be here

Navas has been garbage for years, and is leaving; but I appreciate the effort he is putting in despite it being so obvious he wont be here next year

I hope people show you more respct when you're getting towards the end of your glittering career as the top person in your role in the world !!

 

[HarrytheBlue]

Just watched Leicester V Atletico (terrible pen decision). Vinnie and Zaba apart, why can't we defend like that against the elite and present an awkward obstacle in and around our own box ? Now a leg race to the finishing line for us. Our better players should be busting a gut to play. Sane has to play against Southampton. Had plenty of time to recharge the batteries. I really don't get all this 'he needs a rest' stuff. We aspire to be an elite club, but we already have an elite training and medical regime designed to strike the right balance to ensure players are as fresh as possible at this stage of the season.

 

[HarrytheBlue]

They're far from shit, but on the other hand they've already reached the 40 point mark yet haven't a hope of catching Everton for a European place. We should want this a lot more.

If Bravo plays, Southampton will target him as the weak link and a lot of our fans will start to fear the worst. Hopefully, we'll get to 3 - 0 up after an hour and Southampton will decide not to waste their energy.