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

I am thoroughly looking forward to Thursday. Such a huge game and would be so nice to take an early lead just like against Everton. However, a 1-0 lead will be just as nervy seeing as they would be through if they equalised. So, dear Saints, dear all the gods, dear lucifer, dear anyone, please, let saints score 100. Cheers.

And even at 100 I wouldn't pass back to Fraser.

 

I will be there for this one.
Hoping for a win, obviously, but as much as anything I am hoping for the type of performance that, win or lose, has me walking home knowing that the team has given everything.
For me, the midfield players MUST be more adventurous than they were at Palace.
When we have the ball, they MUST be bold enough to step out of their defensive shape, and push forward, and not just stand still waiting for a square, or even backward pass.
They MUST also get involved with the forwards and get into the penalty area, to give crosses/passes more chance of finding a red and white shirt.
The midfield can do this, as was evident at Arsenal, last week, which is why I get so frustrated when I see them play the way they did at Palace, where the midfield just didn't push up, as often as it could have.
I don't think for one minute that we will play for a 0-0, which is just as well, since in our last two away games (Hull and Palace) we have become the Saints of old - conceding a second goal within minutes of the first.

 

Group K, 8 December 2016, 21:05 CET
St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton (ENG)
Southampton FC - Hapoel Beer-Sheva FC
Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Alessandro Costanzo (ITA)
Assistant Referee 2: Matteo Passeri (ITA)
Additional Assistant Referee 1: Marco Guida (ITA)
Additional Assistant Referee 2: Davide Massa (ITA)
Fourth Official: Mauro Tonolini (ITA)
UEFA Referee Observer: Kristinn Jakobsson (ISL)
UEFA Delegate: Jean Paul Mievis (BEL)

 

Italian officials has to be a good thing, right? They'll be alert to niggly fouls and all round cynicism. Which I'm not really expecting from our opponents, much.

 

Any news on Tadic playing?

 

cup competitions are big for saints this season with our league form a bit stop starty (i should be a football correspondent I know).

And progress in Europe is a must for me - this game is massive and the biggest game of the season so far

Come on saints

 

His name apparently means nose cap! Dusan would find him useful, but is a major doubt to play accoirding to the injury web site. His surname actually translates as "windbreaker".

 

Injury web site? Is this Saints website or an official every team web site. Old gadgie here, so isn't up with apps, whatchat etc. There a whole world of sites out there just waiting to be ignored.

 

I'm at heathrow tomorrow dropping off one american, one brit and one half and half

 

http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php

You could wait for the rest of your life for official information from the Saints OS!

 

Sounds terribly depressing! Who's top of the table!

 

Do they water the pitches there as much as Premier league teams do?

 

If I start reading that I be down the doctors with a whole new set of aches and pains.

 

Glad to see we are mid table for this one. That's a table we don't want to top.

 

We've managed very well. The rotation has played a large part of that. Thank goodness for the youngsters saving us as well!

 

I understand what you mean but sod the performance for this game. Result all that matters.

I'd rather play **** and score from a 1st minute penalty when Jrod is felled by an old bloke from the crowd and a 3 yard off side goal with Longs hand. Than where we play brilliantly in an entertaining 3-3 draw.

Both would be nice though

 

I'm half expecting to see an old pitch invader on Thurs, I'm going to be disappointed if I don't!

 

Is old pitch invader a bit like an old space invader, only closer to home?

 

Sshhhh. Don't want Saints internet spies finding out. I'm a marked man as it is. I will be probably be in disguise. Maybe pretend to be a professional footballer. I'll get some tips on how to do it from Jay Rod.

 

Benny Hill music on the tannoy.......