Slightly surprised that our new 'Manager' came out today with a press conference since this morning was the first time, because of the International break, that the squad were all together. The word 'ambitious' was heard quite a few times and once attributed to Joe Bryan who Ranieri said was his kind of player. However, he wasn't quite sure whether Joe was yet ready to start 90 minutes. Anguissa and McDonald he said are definitely not available. 'Ol Sparky' according to the rumours is walking the plank with this game possibly being his last for Southampton, if he doesn't get a result. Last time out he changed tactics somewhat; playing a 4-2-3-1 formation, allowing the full backs to attack and get in crosses. It earned them a positive draw against Watford, which the buccaneering Charlie Austin believed was day light robbery thanks to the officials. On Saturday Hughes is likely to revert to his preferred away from home 4-4-2, still using the backs to get in crosses but also relying heavily on long balls into the forward channels. Good chance he'll partner Ings (if fit) and Austin up front. Bertrand is out suspended and ironically, that could well mean Matty Targett making an appearance. For us, it would all be conjecture who the Manager selects first time out anyway but it is compounded with him having had little time to assess players just back from their travels. The word on the street is that he will play two up front and the only clue from his press conference was when he said, "I hope to maintain a clean sheet, and then if we score, even better." So, giving it a go - ............................Rico..... ..Christie.....Mawson..Le Marchand..Odoi.. .........................Chambers.. ........Ayite..........Cairney.......Sessegnon... ....................Vietto.........Mitrovic..
It feels even more like shooting in the dark this week, with a new manager bringing a blank slate in terms of precedent, but here's my hostage to fortune: ............................Rico Fosu-Mensah...Odoi...Mawson...Bryan .......................Chambers .......Cairney........Seri......Sessegnon ..............Vietto...........Mitrovic I'm not saying it's the best line up - I always think that when Cairney has played on the right we don't get the best out of him - but I think Ranieri will want to get Seri's quality in, and a new manager will amount to a blank slate for Seri and others whose commitment has been questioned in recent weeks. Then again, we know even less than normal and I have a dreadful record of predicting the line up at the best of times!
The man looking after things today is Michael Oliver. The last time we saw Newcastle supporting Oliver was against .... Southampton. Back in January in the Cup defeat at the Cottage. The 1-0 scoreline didn't really reflect the game and it was pretty easy-osey for Oliver, although he did manage to book two. McDonald for us. Oliver does have a bit of history with Sparky though. Back in 2011 in a game at the Cottage against Wolves and when Hughes was our boss, Oliver sent him to the stands for kicking a water bottle in anger. Oliver was subsequently relegated to the Championship for a week after Hughes then claimed he "wasn't up to the job". For the record, Oliver has reffed 10 games in the League so far, handing out 24 yellows and 3 reds.
The dilly ding dilly dong treatment seemed to work after going 1-0 down. Hopefully more to come in the 2nd half.
Well that was tense. Thought the effort and desire was there and made a difference, particularly after going down first. I think ironically we have played better and lost but it is all about small margins and today we wanted it more. Defending was difficult to watch at times but we did it, just. Mitrovic I thought was the difference, TC had a good 2nd half, Sess fantastic for our 2nd and overall the result which will boost our confidence no end. Great to see Target get a good reception and just how good is it to at last win. Ranieri will have time now with the full squad back from international duty so onwards and upwards.
Obviously a lot of the plaudits will go to Mitro (and rightly so), but I wanted to mention a few other performances: - Rico was tremendous, his positioning is very good and he is vocal. - Cyrus Christie had his best game for Fulham today (maybe not hard!), and his crossing seemed decent. - Tom Cairney marauded through the middle several times and was definitely playing further forward. Once the rest of the midfield settles down, he'll pull the strings. - Schurrle & Kamara both declined to take their usual long/tight angle shots. The Ranieri effect?
Agreed with the above comments. It wasn't a polished performance, despite some lovely moments (it's a cliche, but if Barca had scored our first goal, the media would be purring), but the attitude and the intensity was much more like it. I think the best thing about the way we played was that we had more urgency going forward. The things that some of us have said about previous games - too many players being too reluctant to pass forward, or taking fractionally too long to make a positive decision resulting in the opportunity passing - were much better. There was one moment early in the first half where we passed it all along the back four three times, before playing back to Rico who leathered it up the pitch and lost possession, but as the game settled, we did less of that. There wasn't anyone who I thought was bad (despite what the idiot in front of me was yelling at various of his regular hate-figures) and some of the players who haven't convinced in the past had good games. Best of all, the result means that confidence will start coming back now. Dilly ding, dilly dong!
Agree with what everyone has said. However, did have a few of reservations so watched the match again today. Pleased to say none of those doubts were really borne out and would just make a couple of observations: Mitro was absolutely tremendous. His goals were from a true striker but it was his other play that impressed; looking to receive the ball, holding, turning and more. I'd gone for Rico as MOTM but having seen Mitro again, changed my mind. Cairney struggled in the first half to come to terms with his new forward role. Often playing pretty much level and to the right of Mitrovic. Although he did have that pass from a central position out to Le Marchand for our first goal. Don't know who said what at half time but in the second he played that little bit deeper - like an old inside left - started working around Mitro and was much more effective. Particularly notable were the two or three strong runs, taking on and beating opponents. Seri I'll admit was one of those I had misgivings about. But in fact he did okay. He still seemed to be playing as an individual though and what I'd like to have seen was more awareness of what Chambers was up to. This was the first outing for the pair of them together of course and at best one day of training. And that leads me to what was so significant about Saturday. Ranieri got them not only playing with more urgency and moving the ball forward, as the Captain says, but he also got them playing to a different formation and for some, different positions - despite having the whole squad together for only two days. Just think of the impact he can make now he has them for a full week !
