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Saints vs Watford - Build Up


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They play 442. No different to us. Hughes and Pereya cut in from wide so we can match them up as long as we are aware they'll play narrowly. And you say that's their primary assets but they play very directly to a target man to get those involved so we have to deal with that. Stephens is ok on the ground but is awful in the air and he and Cedric will be targeted lile all of last season. Deeney or Success will exploit that so Veatergaard will be needed to deal with it and our CM's will need to be on hand to get second balls and deal with the power of Doucoure and Capoue.

 

Looking at their last few games, they seem to play 4-2-3-1 with Delofeu, Hughes and Pereyra playing behind Success.

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They play 442. No different to us. Hughes and Pereya cut in from wide so we can match them up as long as we are aware they'll play narrowly. And you say that's their primary assets but they play very directly to a target man to get those involved so we have to deal with that. Stephens is ok on the ground but is awful in the air and he and Cedric will be targeted lile all of last season. Deeney or Success will exploit that so Veatergaard will be needed to deal with it and our CM's will need to be on hand to get second balls and deal with the power of Doucoure and Capoue.

 

 

 

Since the time they started together, we scored twice and then they didn't start together again until yesterday and we scored for the first time since.

 

The point is, they play 442 but in a way that makes sense. We don't. So going like-for-like seems a bit silly.

 

This would actually be a game where 352 makes sense.

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So err as Hughes job allegedly hangs on him getting a result in this one...I'm guessing most people are hoping for a thrashing by Watford to put the final nails in his coffin....

 

Mixed feelings really. Something DOES need to change if we are to improve our status this season. But, like many of you, I don't believe changing the manager is in itself the be all and end all. Come the end of the season we need to restructure. And if Allardyce is the incoming manager, then I'd rather we held fire.

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So err as Hughes job allegedly hangs on him getting a result in this one...I'm guessing most people are hoping for a thrashing by Watford to put the final nails in his coffin....

 

We won't really need to hope that hard, let's be honest.

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So err as Hughes job allegedly hangs on him getting a result in this one...I'm guessing most people are hoping for a thrashing by Watford to put the final nails in his coffin....

 

Not really. I would never hope that. The reason we're in the position we're in because we keep losing and the reason that people don't like Hughes, is presumably that same reason? So I can't for the life of me figure out why people would be hoping to lose.

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I want us to win but that the decision is made already and Hughes is gone with a new man and new coaching regime set to take over from the muppets we have at the moment immediately. But i expect we will just be 'taking positives' out of a 0-2 home loss. And Hughes will carry on with his progressive style of non-management. What does he ACTUALLY do?

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I would start Gunn. McCarthy now looks a tad fragile. Not surprising given the ****e in front of him. He didn't cover himself in glory v city imo.

 

Cedric has no competition for place so he will continue dishing out sub standard performances.

 

Not a massive fan of Targett but I would admit he can't do any worse than Bertrand. RB looks disinterested and a shadow of his former self.

 

We will get bullied by Watford strikers regardless who starts at CB so that's a lottery position to fill.

 

Lemina and PEH to start with Armstrong alongside them.

 

Ings supported by Redmond and Long. Long seems to make Ings more effective unfortunately. Shame we have no one else that can create and score goals. Long is a waste of space but so are the other dross we have on bench. Clearly we have knocked all of gabbiadini's confidence out of him but imo he isn't that good. He would be more effective in a progressive / adventurous team but clearly that DNA is long gone from our club.

 

Maybe obafemi can give us that raw unpredictability and pace. Bit unfair to throw him into the deep end whilst the team are playing so poorly but can't do any worse.

 

 

Sent from my SM-A320FL using Tapatalk

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No matter what happens this is a pivotal game, win and we could kick on, lose and it's time for change. Strange thing to say, I know - but I would rather lose than draw, I just think that would be a more long term decisive result for the club.

 

I'm hoping for one of those rarely seen good displays where we score more than one goal, control the game, party atmosphere throughout and all nails in tact at the end of the game.

 

But at the same time, I'm also secretly dreading the long drive home.

 

No idea what's gonna happen.

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I would start Gunn. McCarthy now looks a tad fragile. Not surprising given the ****e in front of him. He didn't cover himself in glory v city imo.

 

Cedric has no competition for place so he will continue dishing out sub standard performances.

 

Not a massive fan of Targett but I would admit he can't do any worse than Bertrand. RB looks disinterested and a shadow of his former self.

 

We will get bullied by Watford strikers regardless who starts at CB so that's a lottery position to fill.

 

Lemina and PEH to start with Armstrong alongside them.

 

Ings supported by Redmond and Long. Long seems to make Ings more effective unfortunately. Shame we have no one else that can create and score goals. Long is a waste of space but so are the other dross we have on bench. Clearly we have knocked all of gabbiadini's confidence out of him but imo he isn't that good. He would be more effective in a progressive / adventurous team but clearly that DNA is long gone from our club.

 

Maybe obafemi can give us that raw unpredictability and pace. Bit unfair to throw him into the deep end whilst the team are playing so poorly but can't do any worse.

 

 

 

That encapsulates a lot of my thoughts... so a starting line-up looking something like....

 

 

--------------------------- Gunn -------------------------------

 

Cedric ----------- CB --------------- CB ------------- Targett

 

------------ Hojbjerg --- Lemina --- Armstrong --------------

 

--- Redmond ------------- Ings --------------------- Long ---

 

 

I can't see Hughes ditching Bertrand though, even though he needs a wake up call IMO

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Not really. I would never hope that. The reason we're in the position we're in because we keep losing and the reason that people don't like Hughes, is presumably that same reason? So I can't for the life of me figure out why people would be hoping to lose.

 

You said it yourself. The reason most managers get fired is because they keep losing. Hughes has lost more than enough games already.

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Always thought VVD could do a half decent job as a striker for us.

 

His performance 'up there' on Saturday was evidence that he could. So yes, let's give Vestergaard a go up front. Us older writers will remember when we used to send Michael Svensson up front for the last 10 minutes of games and 'go long'. Let's send a biggun up there again and see what ensues.

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If Hughes has any sense he will start Obifemi with Ings and have Armstrong and Redmond just ahead of Hojberg and Lemina. Although I think Hoedt is a liability, I’m not sure changing things at the back is necessarily the answer. Starting the youngster might keep the boo boys away until the end at least.

 

This game, like many others, will rely on a consistent team based press - if we stand off, let them play and find our defensive weaknesses, they will win. It’s as simple as that. Oh and I hope Hughes played back to the team the Bertrand pass to Ings which resulted in our pen...it was the best forward move I’ve seen all season and I would be encouraging the entire team to do more of it. Score? 1-1 if we’re lucky.

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Gunn

Cedric

Yoshida

Vestergaard

Bertrand

PEH

Lemina

Armstrong

Redmond

Ings

Gabbiadini

 

Changes at GK and CB as shipping 6 cant be good for confidence. Leave Long at home.

 

Hughes will 100% not pick this team because he doesnt rate Yoshi, Armstrong and Gabbi

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Really don't get all the idea of dropping McCarthy.

 

He had little chance with any of the goals, except perhaps the last, which didn't really matter, and he's been the brightest bit of our miserable season so far.

 

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Edited by Shroppie
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Really don't get all the idea of dropping McCarthy.

 

He had little chance with any of the goals, except perhaps the last, which didn't really matter, and he's been the brightest but of our miserable season so far.

 

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

Yeah it's bizarre. Out of all the issues currently, he isn't one of them.

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Really don't get all the idea of dropping McCarthy.

 

He had little chance with any of the goals, except perhaps the last, which didn't really matter, and he's been the brightest bit of our miserable season so far.

 

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

 

Assuming the entire point of buying Gunn was so that we could play him for a season or two and then sell him for 5x what we paid, they're going to have to start bedding him in sooner or later.

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Assuming the entire point of buying Gunn was so that we could play him for a season or two and then sell him for 5x what we paid, they're going to have to start bedding him in sooner or later.

 

You think 'a season or two' playing for Southampton would make him the most expensive goalkeeper in football history?

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You think 'a season or two' playing for Southampton would make him the most expensive goalkeeper in football history?

 

Either your maths or your knowledge of goalkeeper transfer fees needs some work! What would Pickford be worth after playing for Everton for two seasons? Probably more than Kepa cost Chelsea. (Not to say Gunn is any good whatsoever but that sort of inflation is by no means unrealistic these days for an English 22 year old goalkeeper)

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Either your maths or your knowledge of goalkeeper transfer fees needs some work! What would Pickford be worth after playing for Everton for two seasons? Probably more than Kepa cost Chelsea. (Not to say Gunn is any good whatsoever but that sort of inflation is by no means unrealistic these days for an English 22 year old goalkeeper)

 

The latter, I was thinking Kepa cost £65m.

 

The point stands, I don't see either Gunn or Pickford being that good.

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Assuming the entire point of buying Gunn was so that we could play him for a season or two and then sell him for 5x what we paid, they're going to have to start bedding him in sooner or later.

 

I think the point in buying him was to sell McCarthy at the end of the season !?

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