i get that but i dont think NA will risk his star player from the start thats been injured for 5 weeks. Better to ease him in with a run around in the 2nd half.
I've been back and forth in my head on how I would like us to go about tonight. But I've decided I think I'd like to see us start off with 4-5-1, Lambert up top, Lallana left, Puncheon right and then Morgan, Davis and JWP in the middle. Then Mayuka and Ramirez on for Puncheon and JWP, maybe Cork on for Davis or JRod for Lambert, then go out and out attacking 4-2-3-1 and go for it in the last 30. Hopefully if the game is tight with WBA at home they will be similarly attacking, and it will be a risk for us with our shaky defence, but if the game opens up I believe we would pack the greater attacking punch and have a good chance of getting something from the game. When the game opened up against Villa Ramirez took their midfield and defence to pieces with his vision, and Mayuka's pace will alwas cause defences trouble especially late in games, so hopefully we could smash and grab a couple of goals for a 2-2 draw or 2-1 win. At least that's how it went in my dream last night! It would be a risky and very hopeful strategy probably and it could easily go the way of the West Ham game, but I feel we will need to go out on a limb to try and get anything from the game.
He actually did us a huge favour by causing all that trouble previously, going all out to get some Permiership experience, which he is now putting to good use. As for result tonight, I won't bother calling a score and scorers, but will say I think we'll lose, albeit putting in some semblance of a good performance. I just feel that no matter how well we play, there will be someone who makes a stupid error to let West Brom in. Very difficult to account for those errors, but we have more than a few in us every game, unfortunately. Thing is, to actually win tonight, Southampton have to put in the performance of their lives, with no player putting a foot wrong, and playing to the maximum of their potential. NA also has to make every one of his decisions be the right one. Unfortunately, that is how it is when you have lost as many games as us, and confidence is low. Luck is no longer on our side; West Brom, by comparison, know they probably don't have to play all that well - their confidence will be high (despite their recent losses) - because of the power we give them. That's why the first win or point a team like Saints get off the back of a poor run like this is such a scrappy, dirty one - I hope we've got it in us. Never will I be more pleased to be wrong. Am trying for a bit of reverse psychology, but conversely, by my predictions quite often being wrong, I'm giving myself hope now. We are currently in the best period of any Saints fan's week - that moment before the game where hope exists. In about five hours, we'll probably have that other feeling we're very accustomed to.
Just going to throw this out there... IF we get a point tonight it will be a massive boost for the players and us fans. However, I can't see that. But I think we will lose narrowly tonight but beat Swansea on Saturday
Even if we lose, so long as we perform for more than 45 minutes for once - hey, maybe not even perform, just compete; look vaguely like a PL outfit - then I'll be content. I'd argue that the Utd game is the only game this season where we've actually turned up in both halves. Even when we thumped Villa, I didn't rate our first half performance at all, and was quite thankful we were only 1-0 down at HT.
Massive game tonight (but aren't they all). I think this will be a tough game but due to results over the weekend I think we really need to get something from it, a point minimum but ideally 3. It has actually been a long wait all day and can't wait to see line up- personally think that Mayuka deserves a start and would be good to see a half for Ramirez.
My gut feeling is that you're going to come home either vey happy, or very, very, very, very unhappy. I just don't get the feeling that this is going to be a 1-1 or a narrow 2-1 WBA win. Enjoy the game.
If we were to win tonight, we'd have as many wins as Sunderland, Stoke, Reading and QPR put together.
1-3 at 33/1 for me. My logic is threefold: 1. We are due one! 2. WBA as a team have to date performed greater than the sum of their parts. If we play to our strengths, win the individual battles and don't get sloppy, we should win. 3. I'm having some old school optimistic vibes about SFC on MNF.
Just put a tenner on Saints to win 4-1 That shows great optimism....or is it just plain stupidity?? lol COYR's
I have a strangely positive feeling about the game despite West Brom being on a high and us on a low, but I still kind of have the nagging pit of my stomach feeling I've had all season.
please log in to view this image That tall guy towards the right of picture with his back slightly turned looks like Mr Ramirez to me.