Free hit now. Nothing to lose because we got the 3 points I expected from Palace against Chelsea (this worked last time)
TBF to MOTD, they praised us a fair bit. Perhaps they were in shock as well I'm counting these as points in the bank ahead of the Palace game...I expected a draw at the very most so the win against Chelsea are the points I was hoping for against Palace. So the Palace game is now the bonus game...if you follow my convoluted logic.
Highlights from the OS: https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/...chelsea-0-2-southampton-premier-league-201920
I thought he was fantastic. Held the ball up really well and was very clever in winning some freekicks and throw ins to help get us out and further up the pitch. Zouma/Tomori/Rudiger aren't exactly small timid centre backs and bullied them a fair bit during the game, was very impressed with his performance and thought he was crucial to our win.
It's ok, but I think I've mproved it a bit by removing all the unnecessary blurb ... Chelsea 0 Saints 2 Chelsea blah blah blah were condemned to consecutive home defeats for the first time since 2011 by an impressive Southampton. They fell behind to Michael Obafemi's superbly taken strike at Stamford Bridge and had fewer shots than in any game since he took charge during the summer. And with 20 minutes remaining, a fine team move saw the ball break for Nathan Redmond and his simple finish from 10 yards wrapped up six points for Ralph Hasenhuttl's side from festive away games at Aston Villa and the Blues. Hasenhuttl was suitably impressed and raced on to the pitch with his fists clenched on the final whistle after a result which moved his side up to 14th in the Premier League - three points above the drop zone. Southampton - on 21 points - are six better off than they were at the same halfway stage last season. Chelsea blah blah blah Blah blah blah Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg found Obafemi, he was allowed time and space to progress, shift the ball on to his left foot and fire high into the net from the edge of the box. Chelsea ran over 5km less than the visitors overall and generally lacked creativity and energy. Arsenal and Liverpool were the last sides to record back-to-back wins at Chelsea in 2011 and Southampton deserved to follow Bournemouth in leaving Stamford Bridge with all three points in December. Hassenhuttl made the brave call to leave Danny Ings on the bench, despite his 11 goals leaving him second to only Jamie Vardy in the top-scorer charts this season. Obafemi - who had not netted in over a year - and Che Adams - who is yet to score for Saints - worked relentlessly up front for the away side, while James Ward-Prowse was the only player on the pitch to run over 12km in a tireless display. The midfielder contributed nine tackles - three more than anyone on the pitch - while the Southampton back four repeatedly seemed well positioned, with Jack Stephens and right-back Cedric Soares constantly turning crosses away. When composure was needed, the away side found plenty and their second goal saw them run the clock down with a lengthy spell of possession that ended with Redmond netting his second league goal of the season. Hassenhuttl will get the chance to strengthen in January but he looks to have harnessed a superb spirit, a feat that looked unlikely after a 9-0 home defeat by Leicester just 10 games ago. His side have now lost just twice in seven league outings. "In the first two or three months we played like a relegation team and now we are playing like a Premier League team," said Hassenhuttl afterwards. Man of the match - James Ward-Prowse
Or you could also credit Che for pulling one of the CBs to him allowing the space for Oba to score. Adams has been disappointing, but I thought that was one of his best games for us, he worked his bollocks off and also is likely to be rusty as you say. Just a little surprised you were disappointed with him yesterday! You are also correct with the Oba goal - he is right footed I believe and a cracking finish.
I saw che at Sheffield and was really impressed by his hold up play and distribution but didn't really get an opportunity to score
I've been amusing myself reading this Chelsea forum. Fans of the top teams sure do have a different view on life in the PL , or may be they are a bunch of arrogant tossers. You decide. http://forum.talkchelsea.net/topic/28766-chelsea-southampton/?page=12 Here's an example of things to come from the opening post of the match thread. "The ambition will be to finish in the top four, which would represent a good season for Lampard in his debut season as Chelsea boss. The expectations were low at the beginning of the season, with many in the media stating that a top six finish would be a success." And these are some snippets from further on in the thread during the match. "West Ham hadn’t won in 7, Bournemouth hadn’t won in like 5, and now were down to mighty Southampton. This is getting ridiculous." "We never turn up against **** teams like this." "The reality is we aren't good to beat the PL beggers let alone the top teams" At least when we lose it's usually because the team is above us in the league. Losing to a team 14 places below must be traumatic.
I don’t see too much wrong with what they’re saying tbh. The Villa forum was funny after we won though. “Getting battered at home to a team that 100% will be going down with us” “Losing like that to the worst team in the league” etc
It's the pure arrogance of it. Obviously we know how **** we've been but anyone who knows anything about the PL accepts that playing against even a smaller team isn't necessarily a gimme, (although I did see that word used in another post). I'm under no illusion about our place in the scheme of things but they don't even consider anything but a win. Chelsea haven't exactly been pulling up trees lately either. Before yesterday their last six games were won two, lost four. Worse than ours.