Article: Saints v Spurs match thread | Southampton FC, Football

Betfair implied chances suggest it's a pretty open game:

39% Saints win
32% Spurs win
29% Draw

Implied chances of particular scores:

1-1 14%
1-0 11%
0-1 10%
2-1 9%

So the odds are with us but not heavily so.

Vin

 

I note that on oddschecker about two thirds of all bets are on a Saints win (for what its worth).

 

Confirmed that Sherwood is in charge for the visit to St. Mary's.

 

Adebayor won't close down so should be plenty of time for Lovren and Jose to buid from the back.

 

Hope you guys are looking forward to your biggest victory of the season.

99% of Spurs fans are dreading this match. The remaining 1% need to give me what they're taking.

Any chance Poch can just play a reserve side, just to make it an even game?

 

Are those Spurs fans forgetting we haven't won in 5 league matchines (D2, L3) and have a number of key players out injured and are playing our 3rd choice goalkeeper?

This will be a close one, can't see us bettering the 4-1 we beat Hull on Sunday!

 

You're due a win, then again, so are we!

 

Like Sam Allardyce did last night you mean?

 

We've been without four or five first teamers sice Arsenal so a reserve team wont help.

 

Spurs have quality in their squad, they might not be in great form but if we aren't totally on it they will punish us.

Given the situation at Spurs currently, I'm hoping for a win, but I'm not taking anything for granted.

 

When did the Saints ever do what was expected of them? I for once would settle for the headline "A routine win for Southampton".

 

If Southampton the same tactics and personel as they did in the second half against Newcastle then we have a good chance. Especially if we keep them hemmed in their own half as I am not too sure how comfortable they will be playing on the ball at the back. Nevertheless it is difficult to guess what sort of side or mood Tottenham will turn up in either.

Secondly Spurs' away form has been very good, however the last week may have changed all that. An early goal for us or at least the first one may see heads in the oppositions ranks dropping.

 

Yeah, go 1-0 up and we'll win as they'll drop their heads. If we park the bus, Tottenham won't score past us, but we won't score either!

 

Not sure we've been parking any buses. Thats a West Spam tactic.

 

Exactly, but we'd be guaranteed a point because their attack is awful (hope I don't eat my words).

 

So do I !

 

Spurs tend to try to monopolize possession; they've been below 50% only four times that I can find all year (win over Swansea, draws against Everton and Man U, the loss against Liverpool). They take a ridiculous number of shots, though, not all of them well-aimed or particularly rational, but Gazzaniga's decision-making will need to be sound.

I'm hopeful that we can disrupt their possession, and they cannot so easily switch to the route one counterpunch that Chelsea used so effectively. But if they can evade the press enough to set up their shooting gallery, and we cannot get behind their high line, it could be pretty nervy.

 

I would feel disappointed if we didn't win, only because of their recent form. They may been on a downer but we still need to be on form. Im hoping the managerial change and upheaval means they wont have had time to prepare.

 

Will Spurs go with a 4-4-2?

 

Hopefully Schneiderlin, Lallana and Fonte are all fit to play. With them in the squad, things are looking up.

Gazza
Chambers - Fonte - Lovren - Shaw
Schneiderlin - Cork
Lallana - Davis - Rodriguez
Lambert/OSvaldo​