Southampton

[CHRed]

The Southampton is BIG. A real test of where we might end up. Lose and Utd win, 8 points with Old Trafford next and they will want to win at all costs to either catch us or prevent us fighting for title. Could then be 5 points diff with 9 games 27 points to play for. Utd can play without fear rest of season

[Zoob]

We have a poor record generally at Southampton, and having been out pressed / and tactically well beaten the last two games (against them), I expect a more sensible line up. Some real defending would be nice too.

 

I expect Allen, Gerrard and Henderson to all start. Likely Coutinho on the bench.

Edited February 24, 2014 by Zoob

[CHRed]

We have a poor record generally at Southampton, and having been out pressed / and tactically well beaten the last two games (against them), I expect a more sensible line up. Some real defending would be nice too.

 

I expect Allen, Gerrard and Henderson to all start. Likely Coutinho on the bench.

 

 

I agree. Anything other than that would be suicidal

[Rory Fitzgerald]

2 week break to Utd after this. Could be a chance to get away for a week and then back for a weeks build up in prep for that game. Last year Rodgers cancelled that trip after the Oldham performance.

 

As for this game, I think Sterling may miss out. If they are going to press hard then the likes of Coutinho and Allen can take the ball in and move it quickly when under pressure BUT from a deeper position. It also leaves us with 2 strikers. After the last 2 games against these we learned that we need a platform to build with options ahead of the defence and that those players need to be comfortable playing it and receiving it in tight spaces. As such I think we'll go with 4 midfielders and have Sterling's pace from the bench.

[Swipe]

Gonna be tough this.

[Maldini]

The Southampton is BIG. A real test of where we might end up. Lose and Utd win, 8 points with Old Trafford next and they will want to win at all costs to either catch us or prevent us fighting for title. Could then be 5 points diff with 9 games 27 points to play for. Utd can play without fear rest of season

 

United? What is this?

[Hassony]

Southampton will be difficult, probably our most tricky game remaining

 

However, we will win at old trafford, scoring 4-5 goals at least, sadly though, that will mean the end of the road for Moyes at manchester

[Bigal]

United? What is this?

 

I was going to say something similar.

 

Tough game but one the champions elect will steam roller to a 6-9 win.

[David Hodgson]

2 week break to Utd after this. Could be a chance to get away for a week and then back for a weeks build up in prep for that game. Last year Rodgers cancelled that trip after the Oldham performance.

 

As for this game, I think Sterling may miss out. If they are going to press hard then the likes of Coutinho and Allen can take the ball in and move it quickly when under pressure BUT from a deeper position. It also leaves us with 2 strikers. After the last 2 games against these we learned that we need a platform to build with options ahead of the defence and that those players need to be comfortable playing it and receiving it in tight spaces. As such I think we'll go with 4 midfielders and have Sterling's pace from the bench.

 

Our most balanced and devastating performances this season have come when we've played a lot of attacking players, but set them up, narrower, deeper, and with one of the central strikers starting out wide. A kind of 41311 formation. Where we get the balance wrong, at times is, when the surfeit of attacking players start defaulting to positions too high up the pitch.

 

Henderson was lauded yesterday for his two goals, but his overall game was tactically risky (reckless ?). Same with Coutinho. They continually left a massive gap between themselves and Gerrard and the centre backs. Contrast this with Everton & Arsenal, where they sit deeper and have Sterling almost directly alongside them and central. They formed a solid central block that could spring forward with pace when required, but never left the midfield short of numbers when the ball was lost.

 

Yesterday, it looked like a 41041 formation. Four players were giving themselves license to play around the central striker and abandon central midfield. We were trying to smother Swansea in an attacking blanket, but when they kept their heads and passed through out attacking bank of 4 , we were left totally exposed. Not identical, but not too dissimilar V Southampton away last year, and Villa at home recently.

[RP]

Yesterday did have a very similar feel to the Villa (home) game for quite a while.

 

 

 

More importantly ... what kind of thread title is this?? It is evident that important tasks need to be picked up by those able to shoulder the responsibility. When starting a thread about the next match, we need at least the time, date and venue, if not tv details also.

 

And in the initial post, you can't just say it's gonna be BIG ... we need reference points.

 

It's a shambles.

[Red Yoda]

-------------------------Mignolet

 

Flanagan--------Skrtel--------Toure--------Johnson

 

----Henderson------Gerrard-----------Allen

 

-----Suarez----------Sturridge--------Sterling

 

Bench

 

Jones, Kelly, Agger, Cissokho, Coutinho, Moses, Aspas

 

Switching Allen in for Coutinho would completely be down to tactical reasoning.

Southampton are going to play a very similar style to Swansea, lots of pressing, lots of movement, we need to be a little bt more solid and a little less open.

[CHRed]

2 week break to Utd after this. Could be a chance to get away for a week and then back for a weeks build up in prep for that game. Last year Rodgers cancelled that trip after the Oldham performance.

 

As for this game, I think Sterling may miss out. If they are going to press hard then the likes of Coutinho and Allen can take the ball in and move it quickly when under pressure BUT from a deeper position. It also leaves us with 2 strikers. After the last 2 games against these we learned that we need a platform to build with options ahead of the defence and that those players need to be comfortable playing it and receiving it in tight spaces. As such I think we'll go with 4 midfielders and have Sterling's pace from the bench.

 

Maybe go with a diamond with PC up top. Maybe that's why he substituted Sterling yesterday

[Cam]

I expect Allen, Gerrard and Henderson to all start. Likely Coutinho on the bench.

That's what we need for the game. I actually think this game is the biggest & toughest of our remaining aways.

[cocknose]

I would bring Cissokho, Toure and Allen in for Johnson, Agger and Coutinho.

[Dan]

Sothampton's form is very patchy. They aren't as good as back in the autumn. On their day though they can be brilliant.

[honourablegeorge]

Sothampton's form is very patchy. They aren't as good as back in the autumn. On their day though they can be brilliant.

 

 

At home against a big club thy beat away form home, they'll be up for it. Busy midfield too, they'll be hard to dominate.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Our most balanced and devastating performances this season have come when we've played a lot of attacking players, but set them up, narrower, deeper, and with one of the central strikers starting out wide. A kind of 41311 formation. Where we get the balance wrong, at times is, when the surfeit of attacking players start defaulting to positions too high up the pitch.

 

Henderson was lauded yesterday for his two goals, but his overall game was tactically risky (reckless ?). Same with Coutinho. They continually left a massive gap between themselves and Gerrard and the centre backs. Contrast this with Everton & Arsenal, where they sit deeper and have Sterling almost directly alongside them and central. They formed a solid central block that could spring forward with pace when required, but never left the midfield short of numbers when the ball was lost.

 

Yesterday, it looked like a 41041 formation. Four players were giving themselves license to play around the central striker and abandon central midfield. We were trying to smother Swansea in an attacking blanket, but when they kept their heads and passed through out attacking bank of 4 , we were left totally exposed. Not identical, but not too dissimilar V Southampton away last year, and Villa at home recently.

 

We were very naive against Southampton last year at St Marys, not just in the sense of the set-up but the manner in which we thought we could play. It was like we weren't expecting their pressing game which was strange.

 

There is definitely a 'mental' issue against this team and I expect Rodgers to set up - either like you said or with another midfielder in there.

 

I think the shape is even more of an issue when we have the ball than when we are without it. The lack of options was staggering in the past 2 games against these. We need alot of movement and players moving it quickly and accurately.

 

I can see the merits of Allen starting in midfield alongside Gerrard with Henderson to the right and Coutinho towards the left. If Southampton want to push up and overload us in our half, then Coutinho is a player that can hit the space behind their back line whilst Henderson is a good runner from deep.

 

All that said, this is a game that should need no team-talk, if for nothing else, these aren't as good as us yet have beaten us in the last 2 games. I imagine this is one monkey the players and managing staff want off their backs.

[baz2107]

No way I would play Toure, Agger was awful yesterday, but they will squeeze us as high up the pitch as they possibly can, need our defenders to be comfortable on the ball esp with a goalkeeper behind them who isn't

[Leo No.8]

17 points out the last 21, eleven points ahead of United and we're looking back? We should be looking forward, we're well capable of beating both Soton and United because we're a far better side than either of them at this point in time. What's with the loser attitude?

[johngibo YPC]

Abar 10 posts and he starts a match thread

I like this kids moxy

[Sion]

Lose and Utd win, 8 points with Old Trafford next and they will want to win at all costs to either catch us or prevent us fighting for title. Could then be 5 points diff with 9 games 27 points to play for. Utd can play without fear rest of season

 

They don't have a game as they were due to be playing City this week.

[uppsala]

It's our cup final this yano.

[Swipe]

This one on tv?

[uppsala]

Bt sport

[Candystore]

Bt sport

 

Southampton game is on Sky - Sat 5:30pm KO