Southampton (a) Pre Match Thread

[Clarkey123]

10 hours ago, Foxaholic ME said:

losing twice to the worst side in the division got us relegated

Went the second one, and that was the one I told myself if we lost we were down. 

[CrazyKopCorner]

3 hours ago, Clarkey123 said:

Went the second one, and that was the one I told myself if we lost we were down. 

When I heard Maddisons comments after the game I knew they were fiddling as Rome burned to the ground 

Edited 15 September 2023 by CrazyKopCorner

[Ric Flair]

Interesting game tonight, we still don't know enough about what our capabilities are as a side. I'm neither confident nor downbeat. Logically it would appear we'll have more opportunities to attack and not face a rigid low block but we will also see how our midfield and defence cope with a lot of attacks too.

 

Got a feeling we put down a marker either tonight or vs Norwich. 

[Guest Col city fan]

20 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Interesting game tonight, we still don't know enough about what our capabilities are as a side. I'm neither confident nor downbeat. Logically it would appear we'll have more opportunities to attack and not face a rigid low block but we will also see how our midfield and defence cope with a lot of attacks too.

 

Got a feeling we put down a marker either tonight or vs Norwich. 

I think we either put a marker down Ric or we see how much work we have to do going forward.

Either way, the next two will be illustrative of where we’ve got to.

[foxfanazer]

21 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

Interesting game tonight, we still don't know enough about what our capabilities are as a side. I'm neither confident nor downbeat. Logically it would appear we'll have more opportunities to attack and not face a rigid low block but we will also see how our midfield and defence cope with a lot of attacks too.

 

Got a feeling we put down a marker either tonight or vs Norwich. 

Yeah exactly where I'm at. I feel like we have more stability about us than Southampton but they probably have a higher ceiling when it comes to scoring goals

[CosbehFox]

Watched extended highlights of Saints last two league games

 

• They are at a similar stage as us in terms of a manager imposing a style he wants. However, like us, it has some structural issues and points Martin doesn't have an answer for yet. 
• 4-3-3 is giving them a bit of headache with the midfield 3. Against Sunderland it lacked pace and they could repeatedly drive down the middle. When Alcaraz plays, that leaves 2 in the middle and throw in a couple of wingers who ain't working back leaves them short to central overlap. He's played a right mix of players in that midfield 3 and since Ward-Prowse's departure, it's a bigger problem. 
• Alas, what they try to do in compensation of this without the play is to play narrow - which led to three of Sunderland's goals coming from a cross met at the back post. 
• You question if Martin has the player he wants to play the style. Holgate was a disaster v Sunderland. In possession, the back four goes two at the back and then two full backs split high up. Therefore you lose the ball, you give chances away. This does make you think will Martin move to five at the back eventually. 
• Which brings you on to their strengths and why he hasn't gone three at the back. Samuel Edozie is their biggest attacking threat and his ability on the left wing to cut inside onto his right foot has been their most consistent source of attack. It's not out of the question to see him possibly play on the right today. Equally will Enzo second guess and have Akgun at right wing for us. 
• They also have Ryan Manning here - who's very good on the ball and going forward but he leaves a lot of space behind him - which hints at those structural, formation issues. 
• Their strikers are a higher class than the rest of the division. Given space, they will score in a fashion another striker may miss. 
• Saints do look a bit mentally meh - relationship with Martin doesn't appear there yet and a few players who were after moves/proposed to moves seems to have effected them. Their workmate v Sunderland was notably poor. v QPR, they were poor in physical battles. 

[filbertway]

Think tonight is the night where the massive gaps we leave will finally be punished. 

[Haywood_6]

Still can't believe this lot did the double over us last season. I think this will be a close game tonight but if there anyone in this division I want us to thrash it would be Saints.

[lcfcsnow]

4 minutes ago, filbertway said:

Think tonight is the night where the massive gaps we leave will finally be punished. 

I can see a calamity happening passing out from the back either tonight or against Norwich.

[FoxFossil]

Vesty playing for us or them tonight? How will we tell the difference?

[5waller5]

14 hours ago, Claridge said:

Hopefully there is a plan B somewhere in the pipeline 

We’re a month into learning a new plan A, and currently executing it for 10-20 minutes a game. Why do you want a new plan?? 

[egg_fried_rice]

Gonna be a draw innit

[kingkisnorbo]

Their gaffer seems like a right plum. 

Edited 15 September 2023 by kingkisnorbo

[Pliskin]

57 minutes ago, Haywood_6 said:

Still can't believe this lot did the double over us last season. I think this will be a close game tonight but if there anyone in this division I want us to thrash it would be Saints.

Same could be said about them. They give up a lot of chances! 

[moore_94]

21 minutes ago, kingkisnorbo said:

There gaffer seems like a right plum. 

Brendan Rodgers Mark II

 

He was calling Jan Bednarek “Janny B” in his presser yesterday ffs

Edited 15 September 2023 by moore_94

[StriderHiryu]

1 hour ago, lcfcsnow said:

I can see a calamity happening passing out from the back either tonight or against Norwich.

It's shocking we haven't got done for this yet. Even the very best teams have a few of these a season, see gaffs from Ederson, Allison, etc. My prediction at the start of the season is that we would concede around 10 goals like this.

 

I guess the reason for it is that not many teams are pressing us high up on the pitch, so that's why the most dangerous chances we concede are the ball over the top behind Vestergaard rather than Winks or Riccy P getting pick pocketed, which happened to us against Liverpool pre-season.

 

But even if it happens, if the net result is we score more goals than we concede, then it's an acceptable vulnerability. The two teams you mention are for sure the types that try to press, so most likely to happen against them, Leeds, Ipswich, etc.

[RowlattsFox]

I feel this could be a real statement win. 

 

Or the beginning of the end for Enzo  

[foxfanazer]

5 minutes ago, RowlattsFox said:

I feel this could be a real statement win. 

 

Or the beginning of the end for Enzo  

Or with our fans, both!

[KP Fox]

18 hours ago, Foxaholic ME said:

losing twice to the worst side in the division got us relegated

Yeah. Especially the away game. Kel missed 3 sitters that evening and Harry hit the bar when we had an open goal. If we'd won that game we'd be playing Arsenal at home this weekend. 

[lgfualol]

0-0, 1 shot on target (Vestergaard overhead kick)

[honeybradger]

This is a real marker point for where we are as a side. Sunderland beat them 5-0 last game, if we have anything about us we should put them to the sword.

[Dahnsouff]

11 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

This is a real marker point for where we are as a side. Sunderland beat them 5-0 last game, if we have anything about us we should put them to the sword.

That’s like saying everyone shout beat Saints 9-0 because we did, seriously, I expect them to be fired up and they are at home

[honeybradger]

39 minutes ago, Dahnsouff said:

That’s like saying everyone shout beat Saints 9-0 because we did, seriously, I expect them to be fired up and they are at home

If you are playing Southampton after that 0-9 thrashing anything except for a win is a disappointment. I do not think the logic of your comment makes sense.

[Dahnsouff]

Just now, honeybradger said:

If you are playing Southampton after that 0-9 thrashing anything except for a win is a disappointment. I do not think the logic of your comment makes sense.

To be put to the sword sounds bit more definitive than just beating them, and they did only lose 2-1 to Man City in the next game so its not like free fall (Not good I admit) and certainly hope for at least a draw.

[Noahfence]

I reckon we get beat heavily in one of the next two games