Welcome you patience with a Saints crew. You hardy, well-worn travellers of the path of misery, disappointment and terrible signings. It's time for another game in the endless cycle of horror that is the Premier League season, 24/25. And in today's instalment of "brave but ultimately pointless", we travel to this season's runaway WTF team, Nottingham Forest. Forest have taken the unusual route to a genuine shot at the Champions League places, of getting a clever tactical manager to set them up in an incredibly organised, efficient and powerful way. Big bastards at the back with a 'you shall not pass' mentality, tricky speedy wingers, and a goalscoring lump up top who knows where the net is. It'll never catch on. So how does Ivan Juric attack Forest? Juric Attacking Forest Well after a couple of games where unusually we can genuinely take a few positives, the main route to success seems to be the fact that in the past couple of weeks, Kamaldeen Sulemana has gone from Neco Williams to Nico Williams. In fact he's more Nico Williams than Nico Williams is right now. How will he fare against a defence including ball magnet (Is This The Way To) Murillo, and the Serbian monster, Milenkovic, who looks as likely to eat you as anything else. And not in the fun way. In fact, it may just turn out that Russell Martin's mismanagement of Sulemana, in favour of Rusky's Social Club, starring Frazmeister, Flynnstone, Little Bonez and 'Shoulders' Armstrong is the most telling black mark in a book that runs you out of dark Sharpies by the end. What a bellend he was. Russ gazes longingly at a picture of Ryan Fraser outside his club. Members only. In reality we have little chance of penetrating one of the best defences in the league, but still we'll go into the game thinking "maybe this could be the day". Maybe it could. Hopefully Tyler is fit. I'd go with: Rambo Wood Bednarek THB KWP Les Aribo Manning Dibling Fernandes Sully Either way, COYR!
Could be, yeah. They're precisely the type of team we don't want to play. Compact, organised, dangerous, with a CF that will bully you.
**** VAR Missed the last two games where we've actually played pretty well (not that I saw it last night ) so no doubt we'll be back to utter turd on Sunday and I'll be nearing the M1 by the time the final whistle goes. 3-0 Forest.
I've got tickets so I'm expecting us to get tonked. The last PL win I saw in person was Chelsea in 2023. (Still have a spare if anyone wants one)
Nottingham Forest v Southampton Referee: Anthony Taylor. Assistants: Gary Beswick, Adam Nunn. Fourth official: Andrew Kitchen. VAR: Graham Scott. Assistant VAR: Craig Taylor. Credit Tom24
I do fear that this will be the game I was concerned about yesterday. The stadium will be bouncing, Forest will be raring to go and they will come at us from minute one. Our defence is far far too fragile to play a team like this. Have a feeling it'll be an alright opening 10, we will lose a goal and then chaos will ensue.
Sutton's prediction: 2 - 0 Southampton put up a decent fight against Manchester United but Tyler Dibling went off with an ankle injury in the second half and if he is missing here then that is a massive blow. Let's face it, it is going to be hard for Saints even if Dibling does play. Forest are playing so well and Chris Wood keeps on scoring, so this should be a routine home win for them. Ed Patrick, who supports Nottingham Forest. prediction: 3 - 0 I feel like the test of a team is not just how they do in the big games but the ones that come after them. Following up our draw against Liverpool will be hard but we have been so consistent all season that I think we will win this one, and quite comfortably too. I am backing Callum Hudson-Odoi to get a goal because he is due one, and he is in my Fantasy team too.
I would liken this game to my attempt at garden football with my 10 year old daughter last month. She hated every minute and I took no pleasure in victory. Poor thing.
I just hope he's realised that poor old Will Smallbone is about as useful as a white crayon (in this league).
Not expecting any points. I am expecting some grit, passion and for us to be competitive. If not I will get the hump. Forest Hump.
The least likely game for us to get anything from for the rest of the season I’d say and there’s some competition If we do I’ll be astounded If we play well and stay in the game to any where near the end I’ll be surprised I’d go with LTL’s lineup It would be good to see Lallana at some point, and maybe Cam, our only vaguely competent striker at this level COYS
