Time to build some league momentum, here's hoping for a good run ! Kick off: Saturday 19th January 3 pm Location: St. Mary's Officials: TBC [cue St Don !] Southampton: After a midweek defeat to Championship promotion hopefuls Derby, Southampton will be looking to wipe the result out of their memory by beating Everton and secure only their second home win of their league campaign. Hasenhüttl is likely to return to a back three and will be looking to keep the Saints scoring goals while shoring up the defence at the other end. Team news: Ings, Obefami and Bertrand are out injured, Yoshida is on Asian Cup duty and both Long and Lemina are doubtful. Win probability: 35 % Top scorer: Danny Ings (8) Games since a clean sheet: 2 Games since a Saints home win: 3 Current position: 16th (woohoo!) League form: WLLDW Everton: Are an unpredictable side away from home and despite a 5-1 thrashing of Burnley at Turf Moor they have picked up less points on the road than their hosts Southampton. Everton have a gifted attack but Marco Silva's style does leave them vulnerable at the back. Team news: No injuries. Win probability: 36 % Top scorer: Richarlison and Sigurdsson (both 9) Games since a clean sheet: Games since an Everton away win: 2 Games since an Everton away defeat: 0 Current position: 10th League form: LWLLW Outlook: Both sides will see this as a good opportunity to take three points, as Southampton have terrible home form and played 120 minutes in the week and are missing some key players. Meanwhile Everton are poor on the road and have lost three of their last five matches. Southampton's pressing style, if employed correctly will give them chances, however they will have to be more clinical than on Wednesday. Everton's tricky wingers Richarlison and neat playmaker Bernard will have to be kept under close attention. Key battles may include Targett and Valery against their wingers. A draw beckons. Never give up hope of a league win
So busy talking to myself on the Derby thread, that I didn't realise this one had gone up! This will be a tad controversial, but I'd leave Ings out this weekend. Give him a complete winters break & get him and his hammy back in peak fitness. Can't keep getting these injuries every few weeks, it will start creeping into his mentality. The Derby game may well hamper our preparation for Everton. But not playing in the forth round next Saturday, should stand us in good stead for the Palace game on the following Weds. They have Spurs on the Sunday, and they will go strong, one would presume. Zaha watch should be thrilling!
Saturday 19th January 2019 15:00 KO Southampton v Everton Referee: Graham Scott Assistants: Harry Lennard, Andy Garratt Fourth official: Lee Probert It was there ready on the Saints Stuff thread!
After the farce of var last night I've fully rejoined the hope we go down brigade. 'Mon the blue scousers.
VAR is a total crock, and will probably pay a part in us never winning a final ever again. But I don't want a Championship adventure for a while. Lets first enjoy the Ralph journey. Plenty of time for giving up when he gets rudely taken from us in 2.5 years!
Pick a historic match etched in time. Re-watch it applying VAR, and I bet you can change the out come. I might start with the Champions League final 1999.
Imagine having to wait 3+ minutes for Long's goal at Anfield to be awarded, or Gabbi's second at Wembley? Never again will you get the emotion and tension release of those moments. It will only get worse too, mark my words.
It is very concerning. Feels like there's a guy in a room deciding who wins. Take any goal/penalty incident, rewind 20 secs and look for anything that could be construed as a fool, any minor contact or 50/50 coming together. After 270 seconds of atmosphere killing, painful waiting. The man picks a winner. And that is what VAR means to me. I didn't like it in the summer, & I dislike it even more now its reached my club.