yeah its a bit of a problem because those block are behind the goal so on tv it looks like we cant fill our ground but its just those blocks!
Apologies if this has already been mentioned, but even Paul Merson has predicted Saints to win. He thinks it will be 2-0 to us, so maybe people are taking us seriously. Apart from Lawrenson, obviously
Well I take whatever Merson says with a pinch of salt. Lawro has a little bit of substance to his opinion, but I think he's wrong in this case. Merson will happenchance on the correct result here.
Been reading the odd report that Koeman is saying that the players are thinking about playing in European competition. The various articles say Champions League, but I doubt if Koeman was that specific. However, it does highlight something that I especially like about the man. He exhibits no limits. He talks about realism, which is fine, we know that. But nothing is excluded. He comes with no baggage that, say a British manager would have. Even if Alex Ferguson in his pomp came along to manage Southampton he would say we had no chance because we're not a big enough club. And that's what's missing from Koeman. Instead of saying we can't, he says why not..? Very refreshing and I love that attitude.
Pochettino also used to say why not, so not just RK. It is realistic for the players to talk of Europe...we are showing we are not a flash in the pan. Top 4, whilst unlikely, is not beyond the realms of possibility, but more likely we could make the Europa via the league or the cups. One game at a time is the way to approach it...Toby said recently that you shouldn't get too far ahead of yourself.
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/527088/Dusan-Tadic-Champions-League-Southampton-Koeman Koeman talking about players' dream of CL football and Tadic, Pelle and Bertrand. Nothing new, but still nice read. Also nice, hearing Mancini (on Sky) praising his defence, adding we are second only to Southampton.
Let's just beat Stoke first, before dreaming of Europe. That's a game guaranteed to bring everyone down to earth. I reckon we can break the cycle of draws, I'll go for 2-1, Pelle (of course) and Mane.
I feel much like i did at this time last Saturday. Couldnt see beyond a hard fought 1-0 win or 1-1 draw then, and thats how i see this game today against Stoke City. Think that we will have to be on top of our game to force a win over them - the good thing is, providing that they dont have an off day this Saints team has the ability to be able to do so.
No games in the PL are certs, so a decent side like Stoke could win. We have already had games which could have gone against us...after all, QPR nearly gained a point (and Stoke are better than QPR). Van Gaal has just been talking about luck and he is right...sometimes a match is decided by the thickness of paint on a goal post. Overall we will do well, but every game has to be approached with confidence sprinkled with caution. Winning today will suggest we could be on the edge of something good, but a loss isn't the end of the world....though personally, given the choice, I would rather lose an away game and not one immediately after an exciting victory.
We were slow out the blocks last week which RK has pointed out to the team. Expect us to come out fired up today, if we hurt them early on I can see us winning comfortably. Saints to win 5-1...
Lawro is at it again with his stupid comments, saying that there is no way we will destroy Stoke like we did Sunderland as Stoke have only conceded 9 all season. Now I don't think for one minute that it will be anywhere near that score but before we played Sunderland, the goals conceded by stoke were 1 less! I remember everyone saying that Sunderland were good defensively etc and look what happened. I'm going for a 3-0 win to us with Long, Pelle and Fonte to score but in the words of RK(Koeman not Krueger!), why not(win by 8).
I am craven too...not a loss will do for me (that's what I went for before the Sunderland game as well). So far on Sky, we have seen Saints goals when they are talking about us, talking about Stoke, talking about Sunderland and even when talking about Arsenal (who play Sunderland).
Stoke are going to be tough, physical in defense and have alot of pace on the counter. Nzonzi will prob get senter off. I think as long as we keep the wingers quiet we should win. I'm going hard fought 2-0
Mane to start? Or bring him on as their defence is tiring? Can't decide, either mane or long will be great tbh.
