Match Day Thread Southampton away

EFL cup defeat was a reality check to measure our roster depth.
Will help the team grounded & more focused.

Back to our starting 11 - Willian instead of Pedro - All set. Cannot wait for Zouma to return.

Southampton look decent formidable. I had them for relegation due to their Europe commitments & new French guy. That guy looks like a mini Arsene. He has done ok thus far.

Will be another stern test especially away.

 

Yes I think we will be put to the test, but I think last nights result will give us greater determination. After all it was basically a reserve side playing in the plastic cup which clearly isn't a trophy we arent desperate to win.
The PL is our only focus this year and a return to Europe next year.

 

Puel is a big fan of rotation and up to now it is working a treat. We rested 9 players last night so expect us to field a strong team on Sunday, that being said we have a massive game next thursday against Inter and for me that is a more important game for us at this stage of the season.

 

Do you lot think Terry will play?

He's obviously still a great cb but don't think he can play in a back 3

 

I don't think he will play. I think it'll be the team that beat United save Pedro out, Willian in.

 

Tbh as much as i love Willian, i'm a big fan of Pedro. Willian is the better passer and better at retaining the ball. better defensively and i would argue the better dribbler.

I just prefer Pedro in this system though, he's still fairly hard worker, you know he will try stuff and will provide additional width and he runs at players. Most of all you know he will get into the box and he'll make forward runs to stretch the opposition that you know Willian won't

 

Ivan & Cescy is back. Ivan can be fit into this system as a CB. Hope his lack of pace is shielded by Moses / Alonso / Kante & Matic.
Cescy - I am not sure. Matic is producing assists on par with Cesc already. He is lot better than Cescy defensively.

 

I really hope Ivan isn't put into this back 3. From what i can see we have a good balance in there. Luiz to do what he wants and win headers. The 2 CBs on either side of Luiz are expected to press and float out wide for when the FBs go forward and need to be good at 1 on 1 defending from runners into the channel. Ivan and Terry are both too slow for this. Cahill isn't the quickest but is doable whilst dave we all know is the best 1 on 1 defender.

 

Agree, Dave is the best 1on1 and pretty fast.
However, Dave is a suspect with crosses. Jose almost exploited that by sticking Zlatan on Dave.
we were not a goal down, thanks to that awful header from Zlatan.

Moses came inside Dave & Luiz to protect Dave from crosses in the second half.
That is the only weakness I am worried.

But Ivan's lack of pace is a serious issue. Fine margins.

 

To be honest, most defenders struggle against Ibra. A ball to the back post is normally dealt with by the RBs anyway. Thats how Carroll gets most of his goals.

In this sort of situation i think you hope dave can deal with it or courtois claims it. In any event, it was a great ball over and i think any CB would struggle with such a ball (either you split your CBs wider so that he can cover far and cb is near, or you have them closer one to the middle and one at the near post).

 

true CBs will be back tracking and hard to pin a forward down in the box.
However, Dave has serious issues with any crosses - Not just on the back post.
Thibo used to "pull trees out" to collect crosses - when he was at Atleti. That used to be the difference between him & De Gea.
He is shadow of that self. If he's more commanding - we don't have to worry about most of the crosses / set pieces.

 

Yea, that is so true. It's sad to say that De Gea is a better keeper than him now. He was never the shot stopper that De Gea was but still solid but he used to grab everything that came into the box when he first started with us. I even rated him the best keeper cause of this skill. Since the downturn with Mourinho and he dropped a few high profile ones and has lost some of that confidence, he just does't command his box as well anymore.

 

true and pity is Cahill is yelling at Thibo frequently to correct his s#!t. That is real sad.

 

De Gea has gone down this season. He is lazy and was reason for some of their goals.

 

Why is this a sunday game? Im sure saints ate playing inter on Thursday, it doesn't sit well with me that the fa aren't helping a team that has no guarantee of European football next year.

 

since when FA actually helped teams in Europe?

 

I'd also start with Pedro as I believe Willian is still bereaved and not quite match fit yet.

 

Jose factor.

 

13 Courtois

• 28 Azpilicueta

• 24 Cahill

• 30 David Luiz

• 15 Moses

• 7 Kanté

• 21 Matic

• 3 Alonso

• 11 Pedro

• 19 Diego Costa

• 10 Hazard
• Looks like you got it right Ginge.

 

It's going to be a toughie this one.