they did a great job for 65 minutes and by that time they were ****ed. The tactics of just hoofing it out of defence to no one also made the job of Scholes much easier. Playing 433 means with 20 minutes to go you us all three subs of 1 midfielder and 2 pacey players to get fresh legs on (baring no injuries) and the ball has to be played through the midfield
Adkins said Mayuka came back earlier than the others and Ramirez came back this afternoon. He said it would be a challenge for Gaston to play on Saturday but that he will embrace the challenge...sounds like he could play, but more likely from the bench. See Cork was training with the U21s prior to their trip to Newcastle, so I wonder if he will be going with them. Anyone got any news on Tadanari...he wasn't in any training shots. Is the broken arm true?
That's something we know will happen in these tough games and is something we'll need to prepare for. -------------------Davis--------------------- Clyne-----Yoshida-----Hooiveld-----Shaw ------------------Morgan-------------------- --------------Davis-----JWP----------------- Puncheon---------------------------Lallana -----------------Rodriguez------------------ 60 mins: Lambert on, whichever of the front 3 is most knackered/least in the game off 65 mins: Ramirez on, JWP (he'll probably be the first to tire at his age) off. 70-90 mins: Anyone on/off as the game dictates. A plan like that one gives us a great opportunity to play more expansively and take the game to Arsenal as time wears on. Arsenal will have a fair bit of the ball and chasing will be tiring, so we need to make sure that we can spread our efforts over 90 minutes. If we finish strongly, I fancy us to nick a late winner.
I thought we beat them in August 88, I remember us beating west ham and QPR too to lead the table after three games. We struggled a little that season, so another indication of what the 1st three games mean. Chaplow on the bench would be my only request. I appreciate Adkins wants the new signings involved but with cork out we need midfield energy off the bench
Even if we lose (as we probably will) I'm happy to let Portsmouth fans enjoy it. I mean, which club do you think has more to celebrate: The one visiting one of the best stadiums in the world against one of the best and biggest teams in the world, or the one playing, erm, Walsall (no disrespect to Walsall, gave us a great day on our last day in League One, but let's call a spade a spade)
No that was a 2 all draw that 1 - 0 win is the only one in recent history. I've seen us draw there a few times but that was the only win!
Good article about Gaston Ramirez for those interested: http://www2.premierleague.com/en-gb...-could-be-new-le-tissier-for-southampton.html
is any one else having problems with the preparation for arsenal article i open it and its just one picture??
I have never seen us beat Arsenal away, but was at Highbury one night many seasons ago when Nick Holmes scored a screamer at our end to earn a 1-1 draw. It was a good trip home that night after a few pints in London and then a late lock-in at the Oxford pub when we got back ! I would be quite happy with a similar score line on Saturday - who will deputise for Nicky Holmes though ?
Good read...should be a great asset for us as we attempt to up our game. Strangely enough Lawrenson's remark that Ramirez would never join Southampton suggested that he was a coup for us...showing how we've moved on.
