Bar stewards! Ok it's 1st v 4th(?). But they are just a load of spammers so we are the moral winners.
I wouldn't go as far as saying we will definitely win but I'd be very surprised to see you keep a clean sheet. Debut for your keeper and he's facing an attack that's scored 13 in the last 8 league games.
Elliott has done well when he's stepped in. And........ our defence is far better now than it's been all season. You'll have your work cut out tomorrow. Hopefully...............
This one will be won or lost in midfield...Newcastle's strength there may make it difficult for us to win the ball with the frequency we have in recent weeks. Sissoko is probably the most dangerous player, simply because he can pop up anywhere on the pitch to receive the ball, and we tend not to be at our strongest when players at running at our back four. Still, we can certainly get something; if they're forced to hoof it upfield, that puts an awful lot of pressure on Cisse to generate attacking intent, and he has not been good. And if they go to a 4-4-2 with Ameobi alongside to provide a release valve, we'll outnumber them in midfield. Tough game to predict.
Should be a cracking game with lots of chances for both teams. Very hard to call, although both sets of fans 'generally' seem to think their own team will win. I can see a 2-2 or maybe somebody sneaking it 3-2. Either way, good luck for the rest of the season (after Sunday) Saints fans!
Don't know if anyone else just saw, but on the Fantasy Football show Mikel Arteta had to name his all-time XI of players he has played with. He had Pochettino at CB and as his captain. He said a few words on him: "You could always see he was going to be a manager." "What he doesn't know about football isn't worth knowing." "He's like a chess player, always four moves ahead of you."
Just to be contrary, despite the two teams probably being in their best respective forms of the season, we'll stall after our two week break, and they'll be tired after their Europa League exploits... 0-0.
Either Reading or Wigan (or both) will gain points okay, so our match tomorrow is vital for both teams. It's one of those weeks where we each desperately need to win, but today eyes will be on other results. A good set of results this weekend could see one of us jump about four places. A bad run could mean being level with Villa, just one point ahead of Reading and a bigger gap in front of us. We need Arsenal and Man United to do us favours against Vile & QPR (what's the betting they lose when we actually want them to win). Could also do with Baggies beating Sunderland, Everton beating Norwich (sorry Canary-Dave, needs must) and Fulham dropping points against Stoke. Anyway, I hope both teams stay up, so good luck after Sunday Saints. For now, it's dog eat dog.
How true is that.......truly is dog eat dog. I think we will just about scrape a score draw. It is going to be a tough match for both....After Sunday....... good luck Newcastle for the rest of the season!
Bar Krul we will have our first choice defence available and and our first choice centre midfield in front of them. Not sure how many times that's happened this season but you could count it on one hand and it's always been with one or two of them coming back from injuries and suspensions. These partnerships are the main reason we done well last year and although I'm by no means writing off Southamptom as an attacking force i just think now we've got a bit momentum and consistency in the team we can start keeping clean sheets again. If you look at the team we played at your place, you can take pretty much all the weaker links out of that - Williamson, Simpson, Jonas, Ferguson out for Debuchy, Coloccini, Cabaye and Sissoko and although we will still have Ben Arfa and Gouffran out I think our team will be one of the strongest we've been able to field all season and it's giving me a bit of confidence. Elliott has (surprisingly, admittedly) been excellent any time he has played this season which is a massive stroke of luck for us, we're all looking forward to seeing him make his EPL debut rather than dreading it. Hope he doesn't make an early clanger or something and get the fans on his back. Anyway 2-0 is just my prediction but it doesn't mean I'd be at all surprised if you took points off us. Like I said, you're a good side with some excellent players
