Few teams use the 4-4-2 game-in and game-out, that's true; I doubt that we will, either. But many use it when the situation is right, and this strikes me as a situation where it is right...it's a match in which we should be looking to attack and play to our strengths, and our strength is having two (three, really) good strikers, and a squad that can move people about the pitch to find openings. Wigan uses the 3-4-3 because it's an effective counter to the 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 revolution, with their wingbacks finding plenty of space against the former, and their centerbacks overloading the lone striker in the latter; seems odd to play into their hands for the sake of being doctrinaire.
If Davis starts, I can see us scraping it by a goal (Lambert pen). If he doesn't, I think we might be in for a difficult afternoon, lose by a couple. I can't stress enough how important I think he will be to us this season. Massive player. Would rather see Guly on the right than Puncheon too, but whatever happens, marathon not a sprint, etc
I really rate Davis as well. Confident about tomorrow though. Want a win double Saints and Hants to win the 20/20!
The difference between a 343 and the 433 in the main is swapping a midfielder for a defender. I see that as an opportunity to control midfield and press them back into their half. Then we can get joy from Clyne overlapping and Rodriguez getting at them. At the weekend, Chelsea started off by grabbing the game by the balls and walking through Wigan. When they took their foot off the gas, Wigan got bodies around the ball and started playing. To win, we'll need to maintain our intensity. That's very difficult to do with a 442 against a good side..
Agree with this. We need to get a bit aggro with teams like Wigan. Martinez isn't the type of manager to play dirty, so maybe we can take advantage. So who do you think would do the best job of this? For me this is not the strength of either JWP or Morag. I'd go Davis (see above), maybe Hammo in there with him.
I really hope we win tomorrow, mainly cause the last home premier league game I went to we won that one too! If you were there, you'll never forget... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoUOD-h6N6w
Yep not good glad I didnt buy a ticket. Still means we are in with a chance. On our curent batting form we should last 10 overs!!
As much about hard work and quality as well as getting down and dirty. JWP and Morgan are both good at the former, so I'll trust Nigel's judgement.
Haha! Merson really doesn't like us does he. Dirty ex-skate. Southampton v Wigan PAUL PREDICTS: 1-3 Southampton had a free swing last week. They went to Man City with nothing to lose because everyone expected them to get well beaten, but the pressure is on this week because there are different expectations. Wigan can beat Southampton because they'll have the pace to pick them off. After the first 10 minutes, there wasn't much between Wigan and Chelsea last week, although the loss of Victor Moses may hurt them!
Apart from Chelsea being 2 nil up after 7 mins and them pretty much dominating the game! He must be back on the coke again!
On OS, says South Africa cricket team will be guests. They will learn it's better to play a game that can carry on in the wet.
Obviously I don't want you to win. For the obvious reason and also I quite like Wigan due to their style of play, loyal manager and my mate supports em. In all seriousness it will by no means be an easy game. They gave Chelski one hell of a game last week, and have more than shown their potential to be a decent team. You only have to look at the results from the tail end of last season.
absolutely. Your mate supports them? My wife, tather in law and brother in law support them. Two of them season ticket holders! It's going to be dirty here Saturday night.
Opta Facts Southampton v Wigan Athletic This will be the first league meeting between Southampton and Wigan Athletic, their only previous encounter coming in the FA Cup in January 1986. Wigan have kept just one clean sheet in their last 18 Premier League away games, though that did come in their last road trip; at Ewood Park against Blackburn. The Latics have only failed to score in one of their last 14 Premier League away games. Southampton have won 27 of their last 35 league home matches, though 12 of those games were in League One and 23 in the Championship. Saints were the top scorers on home soil in the Championship last season, netting 49 goals. Southampton scored from their only two shots on target last weekend against Manchester City. Wigan have committed more fouls than any other team in the Premier League since the start of the 2011-12 season (502). Rickie Lambert has scored 12 goals in his last 14 leaque appearances for Southampton. Wigan (21 points) have won seven of their last 10 Premier League matches (losing the other three), meaning over the last 10 games only Man City (23) and Everton (22) have accrued more points. There have been nine goals scored inside the first 15 minutes of Wigan's last seven Premier League games.
