Match Day Thread Southampton FC v Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Europa League, Thursday 8th December, KO 8.05pm

It'll be armageddon on here though.

 

Well, I'm living safe in the knowledge that our players feel more strongly about this competition than many of our fans. I'm not contemplating anything but a well deserved finish to the group campaign. We've worked too hard to fall at the last.......

 

A word of caution though. Well, two words really;

1) this lot will have a plan.
2) it would be foolish in the extreme to underestimate our opponents.

Pretty sure they will park the bus, Israeli style, aim to frustrate us, and be willing to wait 89 minutes for the chance to land a sucker punch. We may need to be patient. I'm sure Claude and the players know that, I just hope the fans can do likewise.

 

Indeed. And 0-0, although would take us through, it will be so dangerous. We need to score, and we need to put it to bed.
Really looking forward to this tie.

 

Buzzing already for this!! Come on you reds I'm gonna shout myself silly.

 

Forster
Martina Yoshida Virgil McQueen
Davis Romeu Clasie
Long Austin Boufal

We play three PL games in eight days, including two away from home, in the week after this game. Regardless of the importance of the game, if people think that the likes of Martina and Yoshida won't start, I think you're going to be disappointed. I think it might be slightly stronger than we'd usually go for in the EL, but not much.

 

Long and Boufal do not know how to play together.

 

Need to score twice, really. Makes little difference if we go into the last 10 mins at 1-0 or 0-0. They would still only need to score once to knock us out.

 

My hope is Benfica go out of the CL midweek, we win and are rewarded with a trip to the Stadium of Light

Also realised that the end of February is going to be a busy week for us, home EL tie on the Thursday and a cup final on the Sunday... the price of success eh?

 

I'm not going to be able to watch the game, as going to see Lazarus.

It's bad form to keep your phone on in the theatre right!!?

 

Its not the glow from the screen thats the danger, its the jumping up and air punching!

 

At least someone on here is optimistic:

Clearly expects us to get through.

Vin

 

It really is.

 

Bad Form? Doesn't exist in 2016. Put your phone on top of the popcorn, add lots of sweet wrappers and empty crisp packets and scrunch and crunch away. Seems to be the norm. I don't think anyone goes to watch (hear) movies anymore.

Hope we win but I'm not overly confident.

 

It's a live production, not a film, but I take your point! I can't bear noisy people at films/theatres/gigs (during quiet songs).

 

I think I've spotted a flaw in the plan.

 

You have a point. However, we've scored 5 in 2 games at home in this competition...

 

Yeah true. These games with multiple permutations can get confusing, when all the players need to do is play it like any other.

Hang on, I've just realised, we've had a penalty in all 4 of our Europa home games in the last 2 years. Wonder if we can keep that going.

 

Whatever the result people just need to stay level headed. If we win then they as we'll hand us the trophy now. Lose and I just can't see how we won't finish bottom of the league and relegated by April.

 

If we were level-headed we wouldn't attach our happiness to a bunch of men running round a field dressed in polyester chasing a spherical object.