I want to keep giving JWP game time as this could be a crucial period in his development. So he doesn't necessarily get in ahead of Romeu on merit. I just like to see us play the youth.
Fair enough, normally I agree I just don't think this game suits him massively, we need to win the midfield battle and think a 3 of Romeu, Clasie and Davis would do that better. Would have him start against Sunderland/Stoke for sure
Really looking forward to this. I'm not too fussed about Chelsea's resurgent form, because it has come against two very weak sides. If we give them the same amount of time and space, as they received in the aforementioned games, then we deserve to get beat. I don't think we will give them that level of freedom, and with their recent league and CL results having been mediocre, I see no reason why we shouldn't win this one. I can see Fabregas trying to manufacture a penalty, to make up for the one he might have had last season. It goes without saying that Costa will be in his usual wind up mode, but if I was sending a team out, to face him, I would be telling each and every player, to respond to anything he tries - shirt tug, push, kick, mouthing off - by winking, smiling and blowing him a kiss. He is one player I would LOVE to see red carded.
I don't think one CL game is enough to judge 'form' either haha. People can say they haven't been that impressed etc. which is fair enough but they haven't lost a domestic game since December 14th, you don't do that with luck.
In this crazy season, 2 wins and 4 draws from last 6 games is enough to put Chelsea 4th in the form guide. Incidentally Palace have 5 losses and a draw from their last 6
Koeman must be fed up with all this talks of records. He must think the media are obsessed with it....fans also enjoy talking about it. Records are good in the sense that they reflect how well the team are doing, but have little importance in themselves. As Ron said, the result is the main thing, so a 4-3 win will do.
Bearing in mind we have the small matter of the "pretend South Coast derby" on Tuesday I would save Austin for that. Austin on the bench Saturday and start Tuesday. Mane and Long up front on Saturday with Davis, Clasie and Romeu in midfield. Stay with a 3-5-2 formation.
Had forgotten we are playing on Tuesday as well....good chance for us to build on a win or play again quickly if we lose.
Fran you should know that despite your contributions no one is too big for the board and this will not be tolerated!!
You just can't beat a 3 pm Saturday kick off against a 'big' team. I am sticking to my ongoing strategy of saying we will lose (which has coincided with this great winning run we are on). So 2 - 0 Chelsea - come on! Win this and we defo finish above them come May. Also gives us a serious sniff of 4th??
I don't care what the result is on Saturday; I just want to get up into the stands and sing and shout. As for the team selections listed on this thread, I still think it's wonderful that the team no longer picks itself because we now have options. Myriad. Vin
Article lists the best and worst refs for each club in FourFourTwo. Good news is that we win most games when Atkinson refs our games. Hero: Martin Atkinson (9 games, +0.841) Since their return to the Premier League in 2012, Southampton have won seven out of eight matches with Atkinson making the calls. Home wins over Newcastle and Manchester City in their first season back in the top flight were probably the most precious of the lot. Villain: Mark Clattenburg (15 games, -0.643) Southampton wrote a letter to the Professional Game Match Officials Board two years ago requesting that Clattenburg no longer referees their games, the crux being that, in seven winless matches, they were on the wrong end of too many decisions. Since then, the County Durham official has reffed them another eight times. Saints have lost six.
