Southampton Pre Match.

[TamuffFox]

2 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

If he changes formation instead of starting Aluko then that should be the final straw in bouncing him out of this club.

Guarantee he will.

 

He will do anything to not accommodate him in the XI.

[whoareyaaa]

1 minute ago, honeybradger said:

To be fair the only game we've won starting with the Winks, James midfield is Swansea. On paper and on the eyes it's the best but something goes wrong more often than not.

How many times have they started without Skipp or Soumare ? 

 

We won against Norwich when Skipp went off and we had James and Winks and BDCR in the 10 so not sure what you mean ?

[honeybradger]

32 minutes ago, whoareyaaa said:

How many times have they started without Skipp or Soumare ? 

 

We won against Norwich when Skipp went off and we had James and Winks and BDCR in the 10 so not sure what you mean ?

Im just saying that the games we had our best midfield starting havent always been great, such as milwall, wrexham or portsmouth, all of which started without Skipp or Soumare.

 

It's not quite the golden bullet to success that it's made out to be.

[whoareyaaa]

10 minutes ago, honeybradger said:

Im just saying that the games we had our best midfield starting havent always been great, such as milwall, wrexham or portsmouth, all of which started without Skipp or Soumare.

 

It's not quite the golden bullet to success that it's made out to be.

If you include Norwich that's 2 wins 2 draws 1 loss.. although Daka should probably be starting when we play like this 

[Gazza M]

With Ricardo seemingly unable to play 2 in a week and VK injured, I think Aluko might get the nod tomorrow with Okoli playing RB. 

 

                     Begovic 

   Okoli    Faes     Vesty   Aluko

              Skipp     Winks 

     Fatawu   James  Mavididi 

                      Daka

[RowlattsFox]

I think we have to risk Ricardo. Aluko at left back. 

 

[Sankey93]

I think we get a pasting we’re due one how bad we are and these definitely owe us one 😂 we’re absolutely dog poo.

 

[lanefox]

37 minutes ago, Sankey93 said:

I think we get a pasting we’re due one how bad we are and these definitely owe us one 😂 we’re absolutely dog poo.

 

You and Trickett have the same optimism about us🤣

[FoxesTalker]

Good to go into this on the back of two straight wins, but there still hasn't been enough (performance wise) to suggest we'll get points from tonight and Saturday. I think Southampton will win, potentially quite comfortably, and put an end to our good recent record against them. The 2-3 win there last season turned out to be one of the few highlights of Cooper's reign.

[Ric Flair]

This is going to be an interesting one. I'm as disgusted by our football club as the next man and think we are way off it this season but Southampton being free scoring recently who create a lot of chances doesn't necessarily present us with major problems, we cause those ourselves.

 

 

[Reg Vardy]

Chilwell, Tielemans, Perez, Vardy Maddison, all scored in the 9-0 win….compare that to tonight’s line up……we have lost so much quality……and to think on here Tielemans was overweight, Perez overpriced, and Chilwell just pants……we would take every one of them tonight……all good/great players…..come on lads….a win tonight would be brilliant……

[Chelmofox]

32 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

This is going to be an interesting one. I'm as disgusted by our football club as the next man and think we are way off it this season but Southampton being free scoring recently who create a lot of chances doesn't necessarily present us with major problems, we cause those ourselves.

Agree. As we saw against Cov, we are capable of limiting the chances of the better teams. Our issue will be when we are dicking about and making mistakes. Still not convinced Mavadidi or Daka are 'fixed' either, although i thought Mavadidi had a good game against Stoke.

 

Really interested to know what the line up will be. Defence is a real headscratcher tonight. I just cant see this being Aluko's first start for us - its such a risk.

Edited 25 November 2025 by Chelmofox

[Rubbersoul]

Southampton really do owe us a battering. 

[pmcla26]

13 hours ago, honeybradger said:

Im just saying that the games we had our best midfield starting havent always been great, such as milwall, wrexham or portsmouth, all of which started without Skipp or Soumare.

 

It's not quite the golden bullet to success that it's made out to be.

I agree, Winks isn't able to shield the defence by himself in Marti's system. Skipp has to start next to him for this one. 

[Gamble92]

35 minutes ago, Reg Vardy said:

Chilwell, Tielemans, Perez, Vardy Maddison, all scored in the 9-0 win….compare that to tonight’s line up……we have lost so much quality……and to think on here Tielemans was overweight, Perez overpriced, and Chilwell just pants……we would take every one of them tonight……all good/great players…..come on lads….a win tonight would be brilliant……

As good as those players were when they were on form, they all contributed to us being where we are now. 

[Chelmofox]

3 minutes ago, Rubbersoul said:

Southampton really do owe us a battering. 

No they don't. 

[moore_94]

11 hours ago, Gazza M said:

With Ricardo seemingly unable to play 2 in a week and VK injured, I think Aluko might get the nod tomorrow with Okoli playing RB. 

 

                     Begovic 

   Okoli    Faes     Vesty   Aluko

              Skipp     Winks 

     Fatawu   James  Mavididi 

                      Daka

Would be Hamza at right back

 

Would not be surprised at all if he goes with Okoli in centre back and Faes at left back (he specifically mentioned Faes as an option at left back)

[Chelmofox]

11 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

Would be Hamza at right back

 

Would not be surprised at all if he goes with Okoli in centre back and Faes at left back (he specifically mentioned Faes as an option at left back)

If Okoli is fit then im certain thats what he will go for. It becomes really interesting if Okoli isnt ready yet.

Edited 25 November 2025 by Chelmofox

[ClaphamFox]

55 minutes ago, moore_94 said:

Would be Hamza at right back

 

Would not be surprised at all if he goes with Okoli in centre back and Faes at left back (he specifically mentioned Faes as an option at left back)

Southampton play three at the back and a packed midfield. Cifuentes is a cautious manager and it wouldn't surprise me if he decides to match their shape to avoid being overrun in the middle. 

[TheGoldenGod]

We won even under Cooper against these lot. Last 4 games...4 wins. If Abdul turns up we'll be fine! 2-1 win to the Forkses!

[Rubbersoul]

1 hour ago, Chelmofox said:

No they don't. 

I just mean we’ve taken the piss out of them in recent years so if it was the other way round I’d be wanting us to batter them eventually if that makes sense.

 

Was talking more from their perspective. 
 

I apologise for positing. 

Edited 25 November 2025 by Rubbersoul

[Bert]

Wouldn’t mind seeing Faes at left back. Carries the ball out well and then we can almost shift to three centre halves with the right back going into central midfield at times to help combat them packing the middle out. Would be surprised to see Ricardo start again given there’s another game on Saturday, along with how many games we’ve got until the turn of the year. 
 

[Ric Flair]

15 minutes ago, Bert said:

Wouldn’t mind seeing Faes at left back. Carries the ball out well and then we can almost shift to three centre halves with the right back going into central midfield at times to help combat them packing the middle out. Would be surprised to see Ricardo start again given there’s another game on Saturday, along with how many games we’ve got until the turn of the year. 
 

If you go Faes at LB then who's playing next to Vestergaard? Okoli? Then who's playing RB if its not Ricardo? Aluko hopefully but you could well see 

 

Faes LB

Vestergaard

Okoli

Hamza

 

Aluko will get 90 seconds as long as we are either 5 nil up or 5 nil down 

[Finnegan]

15 hours ago, honeybradger said:

Im just saying that the games we had our best midfield starting havent always been great, such as milwall, wrexham or portsmouth, all of which started without Skipp or Soumare.

 

It's not quite the golden bullet to success that it's made out to be.

 

Correlation =/= causation. 

 

Especially against such a ridiculous sample size. 

 

[HedgeEnd]

1 hour ago, Rubbersoul said:

I just mean we’ve taken the piss out of them in recent years so if it was the other way round I’d be wanting us to batter them eventually if that makes sense.

 

Was talking more from their perspective. 
 

I apologise for positing. 

I understand. I don’t think a fanbase really gets over a 9-0 drubbing, plus we’ve put 5 past them and arguably got lucky with the ref at their place last season. Living down on the south coast, they are a rather pessimistic bunch and I think I would be too if I’d only seen 6 league wins in 50 odd games. 

Edited 25 November 2025 by HedgeEnd