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Saints vs Ipswich - Build Up


Lighthouse

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Really? That's not how I remember it. I recall him being dire along with everyone else against City and average against Palace. He runs about a lot but in reality does very with the ball. He needs 8 attempts to get one decent cross in. Don't get me wrong, if they can do a bit of work with him on the training ground would could have a hell of a player on our hands. Right now though he isn't getting near our first team and rightly so. He is popular with a lot of fans because he's quick, just like Antonio was and for some that is all that seems to matter and in far more important than what they do with the ball when they get it.

 

He had a good game against Bristol City, but not outstanding tbf. There is a reason he's not in the 16.

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These next few games are an interesting challenge. We've had two tough games with a bit of pressure off us. Now its time for a new, different challenge; top of the table at home against two teams from who 6 points is the bare minimum.

 

Anything less than two wins would be poor. Even a win and draw would be below par. Very demanding I know but thats the standard you need to be at if you want to win the league.

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Just a few points: -

 

Cork is human and can have a bad game once in a while.

 

Look at our team that beat Ipswich away 2-5. Connolly was fantastic in his link up play with Lambert & Lallana. Guly played well.

 

Puncheon cannot replace Lallana on the left.

 

This is a home game and will be totally different to playing Leeds away.

 

We may need a freshen up. We certainly don't need a shake up.

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This is going to be a wake up call - Ipswich are on a good little run and we're due a loss. 0-2 Ipswich. De Ridder deserves a start ahead of Guly who has contributed little over the last few games, losing the ball and not getting into decent positions to receive. Lazy. Sharp probably isn't at fitness level to get the place ahead of Lee yet. Harding will be at LB I suspect.

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This is going to be a wake up call - Ipswich are on a good little run and we're due a loss. 0-2 Ipswich. De Ridder deserves a start ahead of Guly who has contributed little over the last few games, losing the ball and not getting into decent positions to receive. Lazy. Sharp probably isn't at fitness level to get the place ahead of Lee yet. Harding will be at LB I suspect.

 

Don't agree. We put 5 past them earlier this season!

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Agree with most on here: Chaplow was running on empty for last 20 mins on Saturday, and presumably Fox is out if groin injury. Cork also exhausted, as would anyone be had they covered the ground he did. Puncheon deserves another go if Lallana not fit. People have been moaning about him but he's been doing amazingly well for someone who hasn't played in a year. Give Sharp a game too.

 

Davis

Frazer Fonte Jos Harding

Guly Hammond Morgan Puncheon

Lambert Sharp

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As with many fixures, another potential banana skin. Ipswich really on a good run, currently 4th in the form table 5 wins from last 8 and will not have forgotten the hiding we gave them early in the season. Would I take 4 points from the next 2 games? Probably. Least likely result is 0-0 so put your cold hard on that!

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He hasn't been injured so he is 100% fit. The only way he can get any sharper (sorry) is to give him some more game-time.
I've spoken to someone who knows Sharp and he is putting in the extra training to get himself fitter for the run in, we will see a difference Sharp who will take us to the premiership for sure.His words, Adkins is making him hungry for a return as he wants to help us so badly.IMHO I know why Adkins wanted Hooper as he would of pushed us on straight away while Sharp would need at least 3 weeks to understand our system and to get him fitter.I suppose we got lucky that Lee has come in and started with a bang.
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Main problem we had against Leeds was gettting hold of and keeping of the ball. Lallana would make a difference in that regard as often when the ball is played up to him, it sticks like glue and he'll buy us some time to push the back line-up and get players joining in the attack. However, it wasn't just down to the lack of Lallana. Cork didn't have a great game and Chaplow, Puncheon and Guly really aren't doing it at the moment. I'd give Cork a rest tomorrow and bring in Hammond, would probably give Guly a run out down the right.

 

Can't see Sharp getting into the team as the Lambert/Lee partnership is working well.

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Anyone heard if Lallana is back for tomorrow?

 

They won't decide till tomorrow afternoon. But I hope that if there's any doubt he'll be rested to keep him fit for the remainder of the run-in.

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Lallana is fit to start if called upon.

 

I'm expecting a couple of changes after a tough game on Saturday.

 

Harding, Hammond, Guly, Lallana and Sharp all to come in IMO.

 

Assuming Fox will miss out after limping off Vs Leeds. Chaplow and Cork looked shattered after their last outing and Puncheon was poor. Chung has been away on international duty and Sharp must be chomping at the bit.

 

Just highlights that we've got great strength in depth in every department. For me, I'd go with this:

 

------------------------ Davis -------------------------

 

Richardson ----- Fonte ----- Hooiveld ----- Harding

 

Guly ----- Hammond ----- Schneiderlin ----- Lallana

 

---------------- Lambert ----- Sharp ------------------

 

Subs: Martin, Cork, Puncheon, Chaplow and Chung.

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Am I the only one who thinks Connolly might get a start?

 

I expect so! He was good against them away to be fair, but hasn't been up to much in a couple of months. I expect it will be Lee up front but if not I'd be surprised if Connolly gets the nod ahead of Sharp.

 

Saying that I have been surprised when NA brings Connolly on as a sub and not Sharp, like he did on Saturday.

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Ipswich are in a good run of form but their defence is still horrible. If we get control of the ball we'll create a lot of chances whether we play direct or short. We can't let them break as they are having some success playing 4-5-1 with Martin just off Chopra. I believe our quality will see us through this one as long as our energy levels are good and we play a good tempo.

 

Sonko is back from injury but I suspect Jewell will stick with the same backline from the Bristol City game. Edwards -- Smith -- Delaney -- Cresswell. So fragile they have to play two holding midfielders in front of them, and even then they leak goals.

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I just have to disagree Chaplow put in a magnificient shift against Leeds. Look at the ground he covered the tackles. Chaplow did his job! The biggest problem was that the ball wasn't held up at the front and that Leeds played exceptionally well.

Chaplow is the guy with no hair, right? Just making sure we are talking about the same bloke. In that case he was utter ****e in the first half, as were all of the MF except Spiderman. 2nd half I'll grant he was good, but to call the whole performance magnificent is a total joke. He should have been subbed at HT, fortunately I guess NA thought otherrwise. Just because someone runs around a lot does not mean he is magnificaent. His passing, his touch and his vision were all abysmal, perhaps he was still jittery after the morning flight.

Edited by VectisSaint
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I don't get why people are so worried about Ipswich? Yeah they may have won a few games recently, but so have we. We're top of the league with the best home record in the division. We have a fully fit squad.

 

Last 10 games:

Saints - W5 D3 L2

Ipswich - W5 D1 L4

 

They are a lot weaker than a few weeks ago when Andrews went. Now Bullard has been suspended I can't see them much of a threat. Chopra is half decent but we've faced better strikers this season.

 

2-0 Saints

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I don't get why people are so worried about Ipswich? Yeah they may have won a few games recently, but so have we. We're top of the league with the best home record in the division. We have a fully fit squad.

 

Last 10 games:

Saints - W5 D3 L2

Ipswich - W5 D1 L4

 

They are a lot weaker than a few weeks ago when Andrews went. Now Bullard has been suspended I can't see them much of a threat. Chopra is half decent but we've faced better strikers this season.

 

2-0 Saints

 

All fair enough but I didn't realise they have beaten West ham twice - we need to be wary of this and every match!

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Chaplow is the guy with no hair, right? Just making sure we are talking about the same bloke. In that case he was utter ****e in the first half, as were all of the MF except Spiderman. 2nd half I'll grant he was good, but to call the whole performance magnificent is a total joke. He should have been subbed at HT, fortunately I guess NA thought otherrwise. Just because someone runs around a lot does not mean he is magnificaent. His passing, his touch and his vision were all abysmal, perhaps he was still jittery after the morning flight.

 

Game of opinions. We don't agree on Chaplow, but we do agree on which team we support!!!

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Ipswich are in a good run of form but their defence is still horrible. If we get control of the ball we'll create a lot of chances whether we play direct or short. We can't let them break as they are having some success playing 4-5-1 with Martin just off Chopra. I believe our quality will see us through this one as long as our energy levels are good and we play a good tempo.

 

Sonko is back from injury but I suspect Jewell will stick with the same backline from the Bristol City game. Edwards -- Smith -- Delaney -- Cresswell. So fragile they have to play two holding midfielders in front of them, and even then they leak goals.

 

Their defence is getting better - three clean sheets in their last 4 games.

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------------------------ Davis -------------------------

 

Richardson ----- Fonte ----- Hooiveld ----- Harding

 

Guly ----- Hammond ----- Schneiderlin ----- Lallana

 

---------------- Lambert ----- Sharp ------------------

 

Subs: Martin, Cork, Puncheon, Chaplow and Chung.

 

This.

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As much as I'd hate to change a winning team, it would do us no harm to freshen things up & rest some players, especially with the quality we have in reserve.

 

Davis

 

Frazer

Fonte

Jos

Harding (presuming Fox is out)

 

Guly

Hammond

Morgan

Lallana

 

Sharp

Lambert

 

Subs: Martin, Cork, Punch, Chaplow, Lee

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These next few games are an interesting challenge. We've had two tough games with a bit of pressure off us. Now its time for a new, different challenge; top of the table at home against two teams from who 6 points is the bare minimum.

 

Anything less than two wins would be poor. Even a win and draw would be below par. Very demanding I know but thats the standard you need to be at if you want to win the league.

 

You what?

 

Are we supposed to aim for 7 points from the next two games?

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It'll be interesting to see what Adkins does up front. Expect he'll use one of the substitutions to give both Lee and Sharp some time on the pitch but they are both worth a start and a full 90 alongside the undroppable RIckie. Not easy for the manager. Sharp must be 'sharper' after training with Saints for a month, should be fresh and must be raring to go as well as needing to prove to himself and the club that it was right for him to come here. Chung made the goal on Saturday with a devine headed lay-off and has proved his worth to the team, so how do you drop him? I think we will win with either of them in the side so the selection is more about motivation and avoiding demotivation for the future.

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I see in Nigel's Saints Player interview yesterday afternoon that he was saying how Lallana's had a cracking training session...."twisting, turning, raring to go, back to his best....etc, etc" and then gets asked the obligatory "Will he start tomorrow?" question. Cue the equally obligatory Adkins reply: "We don't want to give anything away to the opposition, do we?".

 

But, having gone to the trouble of telling the world and his dog that Lallana was 'back to his best' before being asked said obligatory question, my reading-between-the-lines of the situation is that Adam will start on the bench.....i.e. he wants Jewell to think that Lallana is starting....

 

IMHO of course

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Wouldn't start with Guly IMO. Chaplow is a much better bet for me. Guly is too inconsistent, in the games I've seen this season he seems to panic when on the ball and just seems to want to get it away from him asap. Having said that thought he did a job on Saturday when he came on, no more though. Would also go with Sharp and Lambert up front.

 

Davis

Richardson Fonte Hooiveld Harding

Chaplow Cork Schneiderlin Lallana

Sharp Lambert

 

Subs: Guly, Lee, Hammond, Martin, De Ridder

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