In his press conference today Ranieri said, "everyone is available". Will give him 'journalistic' licence for ignoring our long term injured. So, Seri wasn't injured when taken off at half time last Friday night and Schurrle has overcome his mysteriously recurring virus.
Southampton started well under their new boss but in recent weeks have drifted back into trouble. Something, Ralph Hasenhuttl acknowledged in his press conference - and boy how refreshing those are compared to what our man spouts. For example, he openly explains why he 'experimented' in playing Redmond at centre forward against the Arsenal and tactics in general. Not a soundbite in sight !
Against us he'll change things he says and the primary aim will be to put "stress" on us. So we can expect a high tempo game. Southampton's big problem though is the lack of a striker and they've only the hit and miss Danny Ings or Shane Long to fall back on. The danger man is James Ward-Prowse.
Ranieri appears to decide on his formation then his preferred people to fill the slots, regardless of whether they are playing out of position. With everyone apparently available that's a lot of dice to throw for this one.
On the face of it he started with four at the back against West Ham but if you watch a replay of the game, after we scored the opener, it was in fact six at the back. Of the initial four, newby Harvard Nordtviet did okay and should keep his place, but with whom? Ream and Bryan were shaky to put it mildly. Whatever he does at the back the key however, will be getting the midfield correct. If we can't hold our own with Southampton there ... it's trouble. Chambers will get the nod for his defensive stuff (although his distribution is woeful) and if Ranieri doesn't also place Cairney there .... well, it will be double trouble. Who else is anyone's guess.
Might be more fun trying to pick the second half team since Ranieri has changed things at half time so often. But no, the starting line up:
..............................Rico.............
...Christie....Nordtveit....Ream....Bryan....
..........................Chambers....
..................Cairney.....Anguissa...
..........Babel.......Mitrovic....Schurrle..
[Yup, no Sessegnon !!!]
Southampton started well under their new boss but in recent weeks have drifted back into trouble. Something, Ralph Hasenhuttl acknowledged in his press conference - and boy how refreshing those are compared to what our man spouts. For example, he openly explains why he 'experimented' in playing Redmond at centre forward against the Arsenal and tactics in general. Not a soundbite in sight !
Against us he'll change things he says and the primary aim will be to put "stress" on us. So we can expect a high tempo game. Southampton's big problem though is the lack of a striker and they've only the hit and miss Danny Ings or Shane Long to fall back on. The danger man is James Ward-Prowse.
Ranieri appears to decide on his formation then his preferred people to fill the slots, regardless of whether they are playing out of position. With everyone apparently available that's a lot of dice to throw for this one.
On the face of it he started with four at the back against West Ham but if you watch a replay of the game, after we scored the opener, it was in fact six at the back. Of the initial four, newby Harvard Nordtviet did okay and should keep his place, but with whom? Ream and Bryan were shaky to put it mildly. Whatever he does at the back the key however, will be getting the midfield correct. If we can't hold our own with Southampton there ... it's trouble. Chambers will get the nod for his defensive stuff (although his distribution is woeful) and if Ranieri doesn't also place Cairney there .... well, it will be double trouble. Who else is anyone's guess.
Might be more fun trying to pick the second half team since Ranieri has changed things at half time so often. But no, the starting line up:
..............................Rico.............
...Christie....Nordtveit....Ream....Bryan....
..........................Chambers....
..................Cairney.....Anguissa...
..........Babel.......Mitrovic....Schurrle..
[Yup, no Sessegnon !!!]
