Jason Puncheon: "Southampton is my family too. A draw today would be ideal for me." This was his response to be asked if he has given his Palace team-mates the inside track on Saints.
Yeah definitely, I think there would have to be quite a drop off in performance from the Liverpool game for us not to win, which is perhaps disrespectful to Crystal Palace but we really should win today. I am pretty much convinced that we have a top 6 quality starting XI with excellent options off the bench. If Shaw and Clyne had have played every minute of this season I have no doubt we would have more points and we would quite possibly be 6/6. Every team is going to have injuries but its no coincidence that we have only started to play well with our first choice fullbacks. If they stay fit we will do big things this year.
This game is ideal for us to finally score from open play in the league this season. Our attack hasn't exactly been firing so far and Palace haven't had the best start defensively but feel that we should score 2 or three. Hopefully from attacking players and not CB! Predict a nervy 2-0 win. Both second half goals.
There are no easy games we all know that but failure to win today after the disappointments of Sunderland and West Ham will put doubt in all our minds about our home form.
Tbh I don't care who scores as long as we play well and win. Would love rickie to get one and for osvaldo to open his account.
SAINTS: Boruc; Clyne, Fonte, Lovren, Shaw; Wanyama, Schneiderlin; Osvaldo, S. Davis, Lallana; Lambert. BENCH: K. Davis, Chambers, Hooiveld, Cork, Ward-Prowse, Gastón, Rodriguez.
Diamond formation? Wanyama holding, Schneiderlin and Davis central, Lallana behind Osvaldo and Lambert?
Not a great fan of Davis and I would have had Rodriguez starting if fit (I see he's actually on the bench so must be fit) but Davis has been good whenever called upon this season. It messes with our structure though as Davis is even more central than rodriguez. I was really liking the way we have played recently and I think Davis coming in will upset the balance that took about 4 games to strike. We'll wait and see but if Davis slow our attacks down like he did last year we will once again look fairly pathetic in possession.
Looking at Palace's team, even bearing in mind you can get beaten by anyone at any time, it really would be very disappointing to not beat them comfortably... Wouldn't be hugely surprising to me if we didn't though, to be honest.
