Cheers. The sentiments from your fans (save Singing Blue) makes it hard to wish against your lot. Here's hoping the blue few survive...both because your fans have earned survival, and because perhaps it'll allow us to put together a couple better results against you than we've managed in recent times!
Here's my team... Formation: 1-1-0-6-4 (we can sneak somebody on without the ref noticing) ----------------------------Davis----------------------------------- ---------------------------Hooiveld-------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------Lambert, Lallana, Van Persie, Jay-Rod, Tadanari, Calamari------- ------------Guly, Sharp, Le Tissier, The Kitchen Sink------------------ Let's ****ing have 'em. 10-0 to the pinstripes! And then Champion's League, ****ing Jason Doddle! Who's with me??
I still believe we should start with Lallana in his LW position. For me J W-P looks a much more natural CM player and he will improve further. For us to play Adam in the centre we must give him two strong ball winners alongside him to bring the best from him. It is difficult to see who will play as we don't yet know how Nigel sees the new system has been working. If he chooses to go with the new system I hope that we can move the ball a lot quicker. The back 5 seem to be automatic selections so it is the rest we have to consider. - - - Davis Clyne, Jose, Jos, Fox Guly, Davis, Morgan, Lallana, Jay Rod, Lambert Gazaniga, Seaborne, Hammond, J W-P, Puncheon, Sharp, T Lee
Well I must say there is an awfull lot of negativity out there re our ability to take on Man City. We have a few things going for us. First. we are the new boys on the block and not a lot to lose and a lot to gain. Secondly. when playing at this level, at the start of the season is a bit like playing in a cup match, anything can happen. After all both teams are new to each other and we do have the goal scoring capability. If things click on the day I honestly believe we will be a match for them. If we come out with a respectable draw it will be hailed as a victory. Even with a 1-0 result to City, most of us will think we have done well. A win is not altogether unrealistic score line for Saints, but if that happens it would be one for the record book. After all David was not given much chance against Goliath! So lets be a little more optimistic.
Let's see how we compare to the teams who won at the Etihad last season - Man City - far better than us. And that's it for teams that won at the Etihad last season.
I dread to think what Yaya Toure would do to a 2 man Saints midfield. We'd see none of the ball and City would walk through with ease. Teams we have a chance of picking points off will do the same if we don't master the 433. Staying with 442 would leave an awful lot to chance and without the change, our chances don't look great. The opposition in this league are better than what we faced last year and we can't rely on individuals to get results. The only way to make a 442 work at this level is to play two very rigid banks of 4 with wide midfielders shackled to the touchline planting rangey crosses into the box (Roy Hdgson style). We've seen enough of Saints under Adkins to know that that's not going to happen and I don't think we have the players to do it either. The only way of getting fullbacks and wingers bombing on is to keep possession of the ball, otherwise they'll have to be back where they started to fend off the opposition running at them. Keeping possession high up the pitch presses the opposition back and wide men can bomb on because the gaps in behing aren't full of opposition forwards. In L1 and the Championship, the midfield 2 were mostly fairly comfortable. In the PL, they won't be and they'll need the help of a 3rd man.
I shall be there in row B. Openers are generally odd affairs. At anytime in the season i would have to agree that we would be on to a hiding but I'm not so sure in the first game. Our spring tide will still be there (if only in spirit) city are slow starters and maybe a light hangover from the drama of their last game. Having said that i can't see us keeping a sheet so will be looking for a Lambo penalty to even things out. I'm going for 1-1. COYR
I could be totally and utterly wrong here - and I probably am - but I get the feeling that S Davis still isn't match fit, in which case I'm expecting: Davis Clyne Fonte Hooiveld Fox JWP Morgan Lallana Guly Lambert Rodriguez Gazzaniga, Richardson, Seaborne, Hammond, Chaplow, Puncheon, Sharp (With Guly and Jay out wide)
I hope Johnson plays on Sunday- he was shyte today, always caught with the ball. Davis and Fox finish safe and sound. Tim Sparv scores for Finland. Defoe shows the quality of shooting we will face this season, if we do not learn to defend and close down on the edge of the box, we are going to conceed alot of goals
In reality we are likely to get soundly beaten on Sunday, but the real measure of success will be how we come back from that, Nigels got to be able to take his lessons, draw his line and make sure that they are up for the Wigan game, thats where our season really starts. Frankly the result against City is of no real concern, everyone we are competing against will lose there, I just dont want us to get a whipping so a nice defensive and tight line up please!!
