Southampton (a) Pre Match Thread

[Bert]

3 hours ago, danny2997 said:

Just cause its not fault doesn't mean he couldn't have done more and if Enzo seen anything in the cup matches and training to favour Stolarcyk then why wouldn't he change things?

 

For Coventry goal, could he have saved it given what had happened? Probably not, but he could have taken ownership and grabbed it himself. Think his positioning was a bit off for Cardiff's. Hull although deflected didn't have lots of pace on it, could you have seen Schmeichel save it? Maybe. For Rotherham's could possibly have claimed it himself also, seen Iversen get criticised for a similar sort of goal last season.

Wow. 
 

Watch the Hull goal back. His positioning is right. There’s no way on earth any goalkeeper saves that. You’re also living in cloud cuckoo land if you think any goalkeeper comes and claims a ball whipped in like that for a corner. You’d expect the near post defender to be the first contact and also not let a defender have a free run. 

[danny2997]

39 minutes ago, Bert said:

Wow. 
 

Watch the Hull goal back. His positioning is right. There’s no way on earth any goalkeeper saves that. You’re also living in cloud cuckoo land if you think any goalkeeper comes and claims a ball whipped in like that for a corner. You’d expect the near post defender to be the first contact and also not let a defender have a free run. 

Fine, whatever, he's perfect then and never done anything wrong.

[TamworthFoxes]

I have a bad feeling this will be the game when it starts to unravel. We have been average to poor against some of the worst teams in he league and needed luck and poor finishing in every game.

Pessimistic part of me says we get done by 2 goals, probably 3-1. 

[cityfanlee23]

8 hours ago, Chelmofox said:

Hopefully he starts the game on the bench.

 

When the alternative is playing Ndidi deeper?

The alternative would be keeping Ndidi in his current role and playing Winks and Casadei. 
Or dropping Casadei and letting Mcateer play Ndidis position. 
 

Either way KDH does not deserve to be in the 11 imo. 

[STUHILL]

We still look vulnerable at the back, whilst also not creating that much. 

It has been a similar story for years now. Weak underbelly and no penetration. 

I just hope that Enzo is acutely aware of this and we will see step by step improvements from now on. 

No more distractions now on who is staying or going. Coady will be back shortly and everyone should be fit and well aware what Enzo wants. 

Southampton have had a weird start and will be similar to us in the development stage.

Genuinely got no idea which way this will go, but no doubt we will have to see a much improved performance from what we have seen so far.  

[Bob Weasel Fox]

Tough game and obviously they will want to bounce back after being trounced by Sunderland 

[Pliskin]

7 hours ago, danny2997 said:

Fine, whatever, he's perfect then and never done anything wrong.

There was nothing he could have done about the Hull goal. The deflection took it beyond his reach.. Doyle let him come inside far too easily and Yannick made a piss poor attempt to block it. What we need is Coady back, and those chances shouldn’t even be created. 

 

Anyway, what people keep failing to see is that Enzo will not start anyone ahead of Mads when he is fit. He is the best we have with the ball at his feet, so unless he is injured, he’s going nowhere.  

[Pliskin]

This will be tough. 
 

 

However, Southampton has shown defensive fragility this season themselves. 
 

What worries me is that Yannick is just waiting to be crucified….. the amount of pace in their team frightens me, because they could quite easily destroy us if we’re not careful. 
 

But their manager is also very keen on possession based football, and wants his sides to dominate the ball. 
 

Hull have proven that we’re unlikely to win any tight games when we concede first as well. 
 

This game boils down to which manager learned from the last defeat….. their manager is likely to change something which may benefit them, whereas Enzo will more than likely carry on….. the only changes I can see are Coady in if he is fit, and changes in the flanks…. Other than that I can see no changes to the tactics. 
 

 

Has the potentially to go anywhere this game, I’ve no idea, but I think it will tell us a lot about how things will go, we could lose 6-0 and could win 0-6….. so, who knows. I just hope we win, kick on and sail out of this league easily. 

[ClaphamFox]

7 hours ago, STUHILL said:

We still look vulnerable at the back, whilst also not creating that much. 

It has been a similar story for years now. Weak underbelly and no penetration. 

I just hope that Enzo is acutely aware of this and we will see step by step improvements from now on. 

No more distractions now on who is staying or going. Coady will be back shortly and everyone should be fit and well aware what Enzo wants. 

Southampton have had a weird start and will be similar to us in the development stage.

Genuinely got no idea which way this will go, but no doubt we will have to see a much improved performance from what we have seen so far.  

We do indeed look vulnerable at the back at times. However, Southampton have actually conceded 12 goals in five games. Russell Martin teams invariably leave a lot of space at the back and concede a lot. If our attacking play is a bit more clinical, we’ll score goals there. 

Edited 5 September 2023 by ClaphamFox

[Bert]

9 hours ago, danny2997 said:

Fine, whatever, he's perfect then and never done anything wrong.

Don’t think anyone is saying he’s perfect. 
 

In football, it takes a hell of a lot for a goalkeeper to get dropped, (we should know that more than anyone) let alone for a team 3rd in the league. 

[Nod.E]

19 hours ago, NewquayFox said:

Would prefer to see Justin or McAteer on the left side in place of Mavididi, Doyle doesn’t look great as a left back unless the wide man tracks back which unfortunately on Saturday no one did… 

Solution has to be to resolve at source rather than weaken our attack.

 

Justin in for Doyle.

[FoxesWalk]

9 hours ago, danny2997 said:

Fine, whatever, you’re perfect then and never done anything wrong.

This is how my wife ends arguments 

[danny2997]

3 hours ago, Pliskin said:

There was nothing he could have done about the Hull goal. The deflection took it beyond his reach.. Doyle let him come inside far too easily and Yannick made a piss poor attempt to block it. What we need is Coady back, and those chances shouldn’t even be created. 

 

Anyway, what people keep failing to see is that Enzo will not start anyone ahead of Mads when he is fit. He is the best we have with the ball at his feet, so unless he is injured, he’s going nowhere.  

Fair enough, I think you are the first one to come back with a measured response. I can see what you mean about Vest and Doyle and definitely blame them more than Mads, just think a top top keeper would have moved his feet quicker and got back across, not that we can expect that in the championship. As a professional I’m sure he will be critical of himself similarly.

[Bert]

6 hours ago, Pliskin said:

This will be tough. 
 

 

However, Southampton has shown defensive fragility this season themselves. 
 

What worries me is that Yannick is just waiting to be crucified….. the amount of pace in their team frightens me, because they could quite easily destroy us if we’re not careful. 
 

But their manager is also very keen on possession based football, and wants his sides to dominate the ball. 
 

Hull have proven that we’re unlikely to win any tight games when we concede first as well. 
 

This game boils down to which manager learned from the last defeat….. their manager is likely to change something which may benefit them, whereas Enzo will more than likely carry on….. the only changes I can see are Coady in if he is fit, and changes in the flanks…. Other than that I can see no changes to the tactics. 
 

 

Has the potentially to go anywhere this game, I’ve no idea, but I think it will tell us a lot about how things will go, we could lose 6-0 and could win 0-6….. so, who knows. I just hope we win, kick on and sail out of this league easily. 

Coventry was a tight game as well? They went 1-0 up and did exactly the same as Hull. Defend deep and his us on the counter. 

[Tommy G]

Safe to say there will be goals.

[ClaphamFox]

4 hours ago, FoxesWalk said:

This is how my wife ends arguments 

I do hope you respond with, "Good - I'm glad we've finally got that straight. Now you've acknowledged that, I'm prepared to end this foolish quarrel..."

[OntarioFox]

Nah, this is the one where it clicks. Excited to hopefully see Fatuwa from the start against a defence that shipped 5 to a bang average Sunderland team.

 

Sure, we'll probably concede, but I reckon we put 4 past them and finally stamp our authority on this league. 4-1.

[filbertway]

1 hour ago, Tommy G said:

Safe to say there will be goals.

You'd think so wouldn't you.

 

Usually when I'm this confident it'll be a goal-fest both teams defences turn into mid 00s AC Milan and it's a dull as dishwater 0-0

 

[StonyFox]

50% - 50% draw. No idea on the number of goals. 

[Bluearmyfox28]

22 hours ago, The Blur said:

According to FotMob, KDH is second in terms of chances created.   I say this with the caveat that I haven't watched a single game yet so it could be all 3 yards lay off for long range shots.  KDH also has second highest average rating as well.

 

A surprising stat considering the criticisms he gets on here.

I think the problem is KDH is trying to hard to force chances either for himself or others. It’s affecting his decision making and I think ultimately will see him out of the side for a few games.

 

For example, again this weekend, KDH had a simple lay off for Mavididi but instead forced the chance for himself and put it over.
 

I know Enzo said he wants goal contributions from his No.8’s but personally I think KDH is doing too much to try and impress the gaffer and subsequently is making his performances poor.

[Bluearmyfox28]

21 hours ago, danny2997 said:

Think his positioning was a bit off for Cardiff’s.

You lost me here. I think the majority of keepers in the world weren’t stopping that screamer. I have no idea what your expectations are for a keeper but they need to be lowered drastically. 

[Staff]

7 hours ago, Nod.E said:

Solution has to be to resolve at source rather than weaken our attack.

 

Justin in for Doyle.

I would like to see Doyle moved inside with Justin left back 

[Chelmofox]

3 minutes ago, Bluearmyfox28 said:

I think the problem is KDH is trying to hard to force chances either for himself or others. It’s affecting his decision making and I think ultimately will see him out of the side for a few games.

 

For example, again this weekend, KDH had a simple lay off for Mavididi but instead forced the chance for himself and put it over.
 

I know Enzo said he wants goal contributions from his No.8’s but personally I think KDH is doing too much to try and impress the gaffer and subsequently is making his performances poor.

I agree. He was better with Mavididi after that chance. I think better understanding with the new players and a word from Enzo about being less selfish become tweaks that make him much more effective. 

[Drink Water]

2 minutes ago, Chelmofox said:

and a word from Enzo about being less selfish

This really needs to be drilled into the players. Selfishness costed us the game against Hull.

[Chelmofox]

19 minutes ago, Drink Water said:

This really needs to be drilled into the players. Selfishness costed us the game against Hull.

Largely cost us relegation last season too. There is plenty of time to tweak his role in the system rather than making gut reactions.