Official Match Thread: vs Southampton (A)

I expect a midfield of Gerrard, Henderson and Allen too.

 

Jimmy, you been practicing double-think or something?

 

we'll see what happens.

we've last year to stew over on the way down and this year to wind us up in the dressing room.

WE need to focus on US. play negative, play introverted and play like we are away and we can't... well we will lose.

play positively, press hard and don't give them space and we can win.

after all SAS just need supply. if we sit too deep they are cut off so we need to play high and be damned with the risk

 

Rickie hasn't been at his best for the last few games but he should be right up for this one. Can see it being a you score we score type of match.

 

Agger and Toure wouldn't win a ball between them.
That pairing would really scare me.

 

It scares me as well but the truth is, they are our most successful partnership this season. Skrtel is the one constant in our defence and it's been a shambles.

The defence lacks a leader - Toure has made mistakes but he's the one leader who is vocal and can organise. Put him as RCB (his natural side) and he will be a lot better.

 

I believe BR will field the same team and set-up as with Swansea, and then bring on Allen at some point. I think he wanted to test a system to take on the road with Swansea. I might be wrong.

 

IMO we should go with...

-------Mingo
Flanno Skrtel Agger Cissokho
Hendo Gerrard Allen
-----Coutinho
---Studge Suarez

 

Undoubtedly

 

# I agree with you with this formation Cissokho is not the best LB in the world.He is learning and improving also.We need him (air onslaught} for Southampton.

 

I'd go with that, Luv. MY only concern is that BR took off Agger in the last game and wonder if he'll do the same in this game.

 

I don't reckon Agger will start.

#seriousrift

 

That would mean dropping one of our most in form players, in sterling. I agree to an extent though with that team, I think Coutinho may make way though.

 

Skrtel is making mistakes because he's trying to do everyone's job and be a one-man defence. He's still the only one who really attacks the ball and has been our best defender this season, imo.
Agger, though good with the ball at his feet, is nowhere near aggressive enough at winning it. Toure has lost confidence and wanders round with a permanent expression of amazement on his face, as though he's just woken up and found himself on the Somme.

 

Aren't Sakho and Lucas meant to be back for this game?

 

#analogiesrus

 

Toure in the RCB position is completely different and one who organises and instills confidence IMO.

Skrtel is the only one in the defence has had things go his way - everyone else has had to be shifted around or been injured.

He attacks the ball really well - shame it's only for our set pieces. When we're defending, he is hell bent on grabbing the opposition.

This isn't a personal attack on Skrtel by the way - the whole defence and def mid has been a shambles this season. But our defence has been changed so many times and nothing has worked - the one constant in that has been Skrtel. I don't see the harm in changing things slightly and going back to our most successful partnership which was Toure and Agger.

My logic is that it can't do any worse ...

Sakho will be back in training next week I think?

 

Swap GJ for Cisko and that's what we played against Swansea from the 58th minute on.

 

What's Sterling done wrong to warrant being dropped

Drop Coutinho and bring in Allen if needed and keep the SASAS upfront.

Our best for of defence is to score more goal.

 

Can't see Li'l Raheem being dropped at the moment.