Stoke v Southampton 15.00 hr on Saturday 12/03/16 Venue: Britannia Stadium Officials: Referee Mike Jones; Assistants A Garratt, R West; 4th Official A. Taylor Injuries for Saints: Long (possibly fit for Saturday), Austin, JRod and Gardos Out: Wanyama, Fonte (tut tut). Last 5 Matches: Saints West Ham Won 1-0 Swansea Won 0-1 Chelsea Lost 1-2 Bournemouth Lost 2-0 Sunderland Drew 1-1 Therefore, Saints have taken 7 out of the last 15 points. Stoke Everton Lost 0-3 Bournemouth Won 1-3 Villa Won 2-1 Newcastle Won 1-0 Chelsea Drew 1-1 Therefore, Stoke have taken 10 out of last 15 points.
Both teams are ridiculously inconsistent. We are surely due a good performance, and they are due a bad one, so I'm saying 0-2 saints.
Looking at the table and other fixtures 3 points for us would make things look a whole lot better, just the conundrum of what defence we put out, Bertie at CB and Targett full back again?
the 3 at the back has been working well, apart from Bournemouth where once it was obvious that we were loosing the midfield battle Ron took quick action, just as easy would have been for VVD or Yoshi to step up into the midfield. With Jose out the obvious choice would be to play Yoshi in the back 3, for me this would gain nothing as the season draws to a close and for us maybe the posibility of finishing as high as 6th it is time to try one or two youngsters. Not 100% sure but Cook seems the best CB still with us (correct me if im wrong) so I would play him in the middle of VVD and Berti. Stoke are a good side, like to play football and have flair players, but they still have a couple of lumps from the Pulis era, they should suit our style of play
Some fear Stoke because we haven't been successful against teams like Bournemouth (not as bad as their league position suggested) and Sunderland (a team likely to save themselves), but we mustn't forget our many good results....some against top sides. The question is which Saints team turns up and how will we do without our Captain at the back. All I will say is that I can see no reason that we can't get a result at the Britannia...on the other hand....
I would like us to stick with the 3-5-2, simply because Stoke are so direct and quick on the break. 3 CBs reduce the gaps through the centre, and will give cover for the full backs, when the likes of Shaqiri cuts in, onto his left foot. We absolutely MUST start with 3 proper midfielders, (Romeu/Clasie/Davis) and not ask Tadic or Mane to fill the gap that was evident at Bournemouth, when Ron set up with just two midfielders. Stoke have started to win again, and are in the run of form we were in, a few weeks back. I would be happy with a draw, but (apologies if this is a positive thread) don't think we will get anything. Hope I am wrong.
http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Stok...-Southampton/story-28882798-detail/story.html Charlie Adam played 70 mins in an U21 match so may be back for Saturday.
According to a Stoke fan we won 1-0 in the two matches with this ref, including ManU. Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese can we have that again.
When has a trip to that God Forsaken place ever been easy? I know, I have been to them all...a truly dreadful place
Forster Cedric Yoshida vvd Bertrand target -------romeu Davis classie -------long-----mane----------- Not starting Yoshida gives completely the wrong message. Davis to move forward behind the top 2 in attack. Looks 'negative' on paper but stoke are a real goal threat, we need 5 at back and 2 CDMs
