Saints vs Sheff Utd — Build-up

[John Boy Saint]

1 hour ago, Sheaf Saint said:

I'm hoping the ex-player curse is going to work in our favour for once.

Edit: But of course they have Sharp and McGoldrick don't they.

Think we might have played that Joker with Che on the last day of last season when he bagged a brace. One of which he had no right to get but he managed to slide the ball through an impossible gap between keeper and post.

[whelk]

About time we gave someone a hammering. 5-0

Morale must be dwindling in their camp and will takes it toll

[darren2]

Utd haven't won all season, so with how we've been performing this year I'd say it's nailed on for a Southampton Slip Up.  I followed us long rnough to know these are the games we lose. 0-1 🤣

[Totton Saint]

On 08/12/2020 at 21:40, Avenue_Saint said:

“Why on earth?” Keep your hair on lighbeam. Only some pregame thoughts. No need for the heightened stress levels. Doesn’t befit someone of your authority nowadays on here.
 

Who says we are weakening the team by playing Salisu? Have you seen him at close quarters then?

Did you assume Diallo would be shitt too?

Get a grip old boy. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

why don't you both wait until the teams are announced- no need for two fans of same club to upset one another

[Charlie Wayman]

We have no reason to fear the Blades, we are a much better side than they with better players in most positions. We have not performed well since the international break so our match performance can only get better and surely our automatism will click again soon. We should have too much pace for their defence based on how they have performed so far and we can score goals. I'm guessing we will win and win well, 4-0 if it all comes together with a home crowd urging us on for the first time in ages.

No doubt Ings will start so chances are Hasenhüttl will start Walcott on the left and Armstrong on the right. Redmond looked a lot more comfortable on Monday evening when he came on but not sure he can displace Theo just yet. Cannot see a starting place for Djenepo sadly. Armstrong is undroppable at the moment because he brings some steel to our attack and we will need to graft a bit against their physical style. Rest of the defence as per normal.

Edited 10 December, 2020 by Charlie Wayman

[sydney_saint]

Sheffield United come across as a plucky team fighting against the odds. Which is somewhat true. But it has gone a bit under the radar that they have spent a reasonably amount of money since coming up. They spent 64m last season, and 56m according to Transfermarkt. That's with very little recouped in sold players. In the same period we have bought 52m and 35.2m respectively, and received 24.5m and 23.6m. Of course, we have built up a more developed squad over a number of seasons, and that the money that they have spent is still little compared to most other sides. But I think it would surprise people how much they have spent and a 1 point return is pretty fucking dreadful for that outlay. 

I think we will win this one. We have scored in all EPL games this season except the opening game and have scored 2 goals in a match 8 times. Ings back, Che looks the business, JWP freekick threat, and even Vestegaard threat off set pieces and I think we should be okay scoring a couple. I look at Sheffield United's attack and think, will they score 1, let alone 2 against us? Probably not in all honesty unless the defense does something dumb (Bednarek I'm looking at one of your little air swings). Especially if Vestegaard plays like how he did Monday night. 

It'll be tough, they will fight and scrap. But ultimately we will win. 2-0.

Edited 10 December, 2020 by sydney_saint

[the saint in winchester]

10 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

We have no reason to fear the Blades, we are a much better side than they with better players in most positions. We have not performed well since the international break so our match performance can only get better and surely our automatism will click again soon. We should have too much pace for their defence based on how they have performed so far and we can score goals. I'm guessing we will win and win well, 4-0 if it all comes together with a home crowd urging us on for the first time in ages.

No doubt Ings will start so chances are Hasenhüttl will start Walcott on the left and Armstrong on the right. Redmond looked a lot more comfortable on Monday evening when he came on but not sure he can displace Theo just yet. Cannot see a starting place for Djenepo sadly. Armstrong is undroppable at the moment because he brings some steel to our attack and we will need to graft a bit against their physical style. Rest of the defence as per normal.

Really? At his best, Armstrong would be in the team. But he's not been at his best for a few games, staying in because we needed him. Now we have Redmond and Ings back, I would play Theo on the right, Redmond on the left, Danny and Che up top.

[skintsaint]

Just now, the saint in winchester said:

I would play Theo on the right,

he has been just as bad as Armstrong.

[John Boy Saint]

2 hours ago, Danbert said:

I thought Djenepo was very poor against Brighton, even basic ball control seemed to elude him at times. He's still young, but I would far rather have Redmond in there at the moment. He is a much better player IMHO.

Bit of a conundrum with both Djenepo and Redmond. Djenepo plays by the seat of his pants and you could say his footballing brain works faster than his already fast feet, on the flipside Redmond is less frantic but his brain doesn't work as fast as his feet have the potential to do. Djanepo will take the risk to take someone on without hesitation, when he gets robbed of the ball he will instantly go to win it back, but his over exuberance if his first attempt fails, sometimes draws the foul and possibly a card. Then we become hamstrung as his immaturity puts him on a knife edge not for him but keeping 11 on the pitch. Most teams have worked out when Redmond has the ball no matter how fast he is going - double up on him and 9 times out of 10 you will just stop him in his tracks, while he ponders what to do, the oppos defence can set themselves, if he throws caution to the wind and doesn't think, just lets his ability take over like Djenepo he can be a proper handful. But if he loses the ball if you are paying attention to him, he stops and starts pondering what might have been, or "what if I had done....." suddenly he remembers that the boss wants him to pressure the ball at all times whenever its in his zone by which time the ball is already 1/4 of the pitch away and he has to sprint to where the work is needed.

They both have qualities otherwise they wouldn't be playing in the Premier League, one is random like dropping a match head of Sodium metal in water, the other is a bit more cautious. Both are capable of producing that perfect moment.

[Saint Keef]

I have to disagree with those calling for Armstrong to be dropped. He may not have been at his best in the last 3 games, but he is still bringing a lot to the team, his work with KWP on the right, chasing back and helping out has been good. And this might just be the game where he gets his mojo back. For me, Walcott on the left and Stu on the right, with Djenpo and Redders as options later on. If Oriel can avoid a card and we can get a 2-0 lead I would bring him off and save him for the Arsenal/City games and get Diallo on playing with JWP. Start with Ings and again if we can get a 2-0, bring him off to save him, move Walcott to the middle and bring on one of the other wingers. It all depends if we can get a 2-0 lead. I can't see Sheff Utd scoring more than one at our place. 

2-0 Saints for me  

[OttawaSaint]

I would drop Walcott. I don’t think he’s been very good at all. I know this will offend a few but I find him frustrating, he constantly runs into trouble and misses easy passes to teammates. Ings and Adams up top, Djenepo and Stu, with Redmond to come on at around 70-75 minutes.

[WALK DMC]

44 minutes ago, OttawaSaint said:

I would drop Walcott. I don’t think he’s been very good at all. I know this will offend a few but I find him frustrating, he constantly runs into trouble and misses easy passes to teammates. Ings and Adams up top, Djenepo and Stu, with Redmond to come on at around 70-75 minutes.

I have mixed feelings about Theo. Like you, I've noticed the number of times that he gives the ball away cheaply, but I also recognise he always seems to offer a goal threat (Chelsea (assist), Villa (strong chance), Newcastle (assist), Wolves (goal, missed chance), Brighton (strong chance). He may be one of those players that doesn't look great, but somehow is always involved in the "business end" of the game. On the whole, I'd keep with him for a few games more games to see how it goes, but I understand the frustrations. 

Djenepo is best with the ball (rather than chasing back all the time) and against Sheff U we will probably have more possession so having someone with a bit of magic might help. For Arsenal, I'd bring back Redmond to add better balance against a team who are likely to have more of the ball (even if they're not playing great)

[verlaine1979]

Keep Djenepo, possibly swap Armstrong for Walcott on the right. All Redmond did when he came on against Brighton was lean back and smack one miles over the bar, as usual.

[alehouseboys]

3 hours ago, Charlie Wayman said:

We have no reason to fear the Blades, we are a much better side than they with better players in most positions

I remember some of our fans thinking the same when we played them in the League Cup quarters almost exactly 6 years ago (FFS 6 years ago!), what could go wrong?

But we do still owe them for 1902 though.

[Dark Munster]

I wonder if Romeu could pick up a yellow before the match starts, get suspended for this one, and so would be definitely available for Arsenal and City. He could shove the ref just before warm up. But not too hard. He doesn't want to get a red.

[Charlie Wayman]

18 hours ago, the saint in winchester said:

Really? At his best, Armstrong would be in the team. But he's not been at his best for a few games, staying in because we needed him. Now we have Redmond and Ings back, I would play Theo on the right, Redmond on the left, Danny and Che up top.

As you say Armstrong has not played particularly well since contracting Covid and seems badly in need of a rest and recuperation but Sheff U are a strong physical side and strong runners and Armstrong offers more physicality than Djenepo and will get stuck in in the midfield to help outs well a his attacking duties. For that reason I think he will get the nod over Redmond as well.

[sydenhamssocks]

No need to rush Ings or for that matter Redmond back. Same starting 11 as Sunday will give us a bench that’ll worry Sheff U, the same as it did Brighton, who couldn’t handle the second half.  Then switch it back to our ‘default’ 11 for Arse & City

A win and Armstrong will be fine. He’s a very good player who creates so much but tires late on. ralphs sub timings are crucial for players like him. He's been left on bit too long recently. 

[JRM]

25 minutes ago, sydenhamssocks said:

No need to rush Ings or for that matter Redmond back. Same starting 11 as Sunday will give us a bench that’ll worry Sheff U, the same as it did Brighton, who couldn’t handle the second half.  Then switch it back to our ‘default’ 11 for Arse & City

A win and Armstrong will be fine. He’s a very good player who creates so much but tires late on. ralphs sub timings are crucial for players like him. He's been left on bit too long recently. 

Agree I'd go with that. We've been poor in last 15 mins of games where we've had limited options on the bench and players knackered from pressing. Ings and Redmond to come on helps us with that. Sheffield United are still a good defensive outfit, just without the Great goalkeeper they had last season, therefore they are losing games by single goals rather than winning them by single goals. Fine margins. Not a team to be taken lightly, they'll be physical , important we get the first goal. Anyone expecting an easy win for us is wrong in my opinion. 

[Neef]

Hope we go back to our 1st choice front 4 - Redmond, Ings, Adams, Armstrong. 

I think we are at our most balanced with that line up. Maybe Djenepo in place of Redmond, but I wouldn't start Walcott. His performances have been frustrating - lacking a little composure with the final ball.

[sydenhamssocks]

43 minutes ago, JRM said:

Agree I'd go with that. We've been poor in last 15 mins of games where we've had limited options on the bench and players knackered from pressing. Ings and Redmond to come on helps us with that. Sheffield United are still a good defensive outfit, just without the Great goalkeeper they had last season, therefore they are losing games by single goals rather than winning them by single goals. Fine margins. Not a team to be taken lightly, they'll be physical , important we get the first goal. Anyone expecting an easy win for us is wrong in my opinion. 

Absolutely. When Ings starts, then any two from Djenepo Redmond and Walcott on the bench gives us a chance to keep up the pace and continue to have threat over the last 15/20 mins without much drop in quality. 
Long etc off the bench to replace the tiring pressers doesn't cut it.

[skintsaint]

Just watching the last game against us, we could have been 3/4 goals down by halftime, seems we pushed the full backs up and sorted that issue out. Hopefully do that from the 1st min this game.

[trousers]

Thought for the day...

Given we're playing 3 teams this month whose managers are possibly on borrowed time (Sheff Utd, Arsenal & Fulham), what are the odds of us achieving a hat-trick of managers "getting sacked in the morning" in the aftermath of their game against us...? 

(MLG notes: yes, I know individual results don't get an opposition manager sacked, per se. It's more about straws and camels backs. I get it. Calm down... It's just inane small talk on an internet football forum...  )

Edited 11 December, 2020 by trousers

[waylander]

Fully fit squad says Ralph.

[Lets B Avenue]

23 hours ago, alehouseboys said:

I remember some of our fans thinking the same when we played them in the League Cup quarters almost exactly 6 years ago (FFS 6 years ago!), what could go wrong?

But we do still owe them for 1902 though.

Didn't we pay them back for that in 2001?

[cloggy saint]

Sheff utd score less than a goal every 2 games, it should be straight forward .....

[waylander]

1 hour ago, cloggy saint said:

Sheff utd score less than a goal every 2 games, it should be straight forward .....

This is Southampton we're talking about. It is never straightforward!

[Toussaint]

On 10/12/2020 at 14:26, skintsaint said:

he has been just as bad as Armstrong.

I think Armstrong is improving slowly  whilst Theo is regressing a little.

[SNSUN]

Theo is a squad player, IMO that is what he was brought in to be - with everyone fit he shouldn't get a look in, but we've so far lost Ings, Armstrong and Redmond at various parts of this season so he has played - but for me he's not done enough to keep his place with everyone fit. He's been OK, I'm not knocking him, and for the money we spent loaning him (wages I mean) you could even say he's been a success covering when other players are out. I suppose a lot depends on whether you favour Djenepo or Redmond on the left, but Armstong, Ings and Adams are first choices for their positions, which answers the Theo debate. 

 

It's a long season however and he's definitely a decent versatile addition to the squad. Better than Long anyway.

[cloggy saint]

2 hours ago, waylander said:

This is Southampton we're talking about. It is never straightforward!

I don't buy into the whole 'This is Southampton, a game we're certain to lose, typical Saints' thing. We will win this game.

[Lighthouse]

1 hour ago, Toussaint said:

I think Armstrong is improving slowly  whilst Theo is regressing a little.

He isn’t regressing, he just isn’t that good and never has been. There is a reason Everton, a team around us in the table, let him go basically for free. What we’ve seen of him so for is exactly what I’d expect; plenty of direct running, poor decision making and running into tackles.

[Toadhall Saint]

24 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

He isn’t regressing, he just isn’t that good and never has been. There is a reason Everton, a team around us in the table, let him go basically for free. What we’ve seen of him so for is exactly what I’d expect; plenty of direct running, poor decision making and running into tackles.

No football brain - same as it ever was.

[austsaint]

1 hour ago, SNSUN said:

Theo is a squad player, IMO that is what he was brought in to be - with everyone fit he shouldn't get a look in, but we've so far lost Ings, Armstrong and Redmond at various parts of this season so he has played - but for me he's not done enough to keep his place with everyone fit. He's been OK, I'm not knocking him, and for the money we spent loaning him (wages I mean) you could even say he's been a success covering when other players are out. I suppose a lot depends on whether you favour Djenepo or Redmond on the left, but Armstong, Ings and Adams are first choices for their positions, which answers the Theo debate. 

 

It's a long season however and he's definitely a decent versatile addition to the squad. Better than Long anyway.

Exactly right.  It's going to be interesting to see whether he gets a contract extension.   Theo's a very handy attacking player to bring off the bench, a big upgrade on Long these days.

[whelk]

53 minutes ago, Toadhall Saint said:

No football brain - same as it ever was.

Unlike Djenepo eh

[Lighthouse]

10 minutes ago, whelk said:

Unlike Djenepo eh

You mean the guy with 17 starts in English football, compared to 15 years for Walcott?

[niceandfriendly]

5 hours ago, cloggy saint said:

I don't buy into the whole 'This is Southampton, a game we're certain to lose, typical Saints' thing. We will win this game.

It's very understandable though right!

I mean, this is Southampton 😝😜

[BERMUDASAINT]

On 10/12/2020 at 10:31, John Boy Saint said:

Bit of a conundrum with both Djenepo and Redmond. Djenepo plays by the seat of his pants and you could say his footballing brain works faster than his already fast feet, on the flipside Redmond is less frantic but his brain doesn't work as fast as his feet have the potential to do. Djanepo will take the risk to take someone on without hesitation, when he gets robbed of the ball he will instantly go to win it back, but his over exuberance if his first attempt fails, sometimes draws the foul and possibly a card. Then we become hamstrung as his immaturity puts him on a knife edge not for him but keeping 11 on the pitch. Most teams have worked out when Redmond has the ball no matter how fast he is going - double up on him and 9 times out of 10 you will just stop him in his tracks, while he ponders what to do, the oppos defence can set themselves, if he throws caution to the wind and doesn't think, just lets his ability take over like Djenepo he can be a proper handful. But if he loses the ball if you are paying attention to him, he stops and starts pondering what might have been, or "what if I had done....." suddenly he remembers that the boss wants him to pressure the ball at all times whenever its in his zone by which time the ball is already 1/4 of the pitch away and he has to sprint to where the work is needed.

They both have qualities otherwise they wouldn't be playing in the Premier League, one is random like dropping a match head of Sodium metal in water, the other is a bit more cautious. Both are capable of producing that perfect moment.

Well said! 

 

[Toadhall Saint]

8 hours ago, whelk said:

Unlike Djenepo eh

Been watching Walcott since he first played for us - he’s done nothing to change my mind.

[egg]

10 hours ago, cloggy saint said:

I don't buy into the whole 'This is Southampton, a game we're certain to lose, typical Saints' thing. We will win this game.

There isn't a "typical saints thing", just wet fanny fans flapping about a game we could lose if we have an off day. We'll win. The front 4 has real competition for places and we'll score a few. 

[sfc4prem]

59 minutes ago, egg said:

There isn't a "typical saints thing", just wet fanny fans flapping about a game we could lose if we have an off day. We'll win. The front 4 has real competition for places and we'll score a few. 

How many have Sheffield Utd conceded on average per game? Not sure we'll score 'a few'

[Convict Colony]

14 hours ago, Toussaint said:

I think Armstrong is improving slowly  whilst Theo is regressing a little.

Snap put Armstrong into the fantasy team this week, this is his sort of 2 goal match

[Mr X]

On 10/12/2020 at 12:37, whelk said:

About time we gave someone a hammering. 5-0

Morale must be dwindling in their camp and will takes it toll

Most people only think of one team when you say "United" 😂

[Mr X]

Ignore that wrong quote 🤦‍♂️

[Professor]

I've been a Saints' fan since before we got promoted to Div2 in the 1960s.  I don't remember the pessimistic element that some fans have today as always being there, even when we had the spell back in Div2 in the 1970s.  Perhaps today's fans have been affected by the relegation struggles of the 1990s and the drop to League1.  We had the bounce back after Marcus bought the club but recent years have mostly been in the lower half of the Premier League table.  But 2020, has been a revelation with no reason the expect anything other than a good win tomorrow. This is an ideal time to play at home against a struggling side like Sheffield United, and a golden opportunity to improve the goal difference.    

Sadly, I'll be digging up a Christmas Tree tomorrow and unable to follow the match live, but very much looking forward to seeing the highlights.

[Master Bates]

Seems Obafemi and N'Lundulu will be on the bench tomorrow

[Totton Saint]

6 hours ago, Toadhall Saint said:

Been watching Walcott since he first played for us - he’s done nothing to change my mind.

You must have seen the hat trick he scored for England then

[Totton Saint]

1 hour ago, Professor said:

I've been a Saints' fan since before we got promoted to Div2 in the 1960s.  I don't remember the pessimistic element that some fans have today as always being there, even when we had the spell back in Div2 in the 1970s.  Perhaps today's fans have been affected by the relegation struggles of the 1990s and the drop to League1.  We had the bounce back after Marcus bought the club but recent years have mostly been in the lower half of the Premier League table.  But 2020, has been a revelation with no reason the expect anything other than a good win tomorrow. This is an ideal time to play at home against a struggling side like Sheffield United, and a golden opportunity to improve the goal difference.    

Sadly, I'll be digging up a Christmas Tree tomorrow and unable to follow the match live, but very much looking forward to seeing the highlights.

I remember the old  Div 3 South days. Reading were in the same league too. 

[Toussaint]

20 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

He isn’t regressing, he just isn’t that good and never has been. There is a reason Everton, a team around us in the table, let him go basically for free. What we’ve seen of him so for is exactly what I’d expect; plenty of direct running, poor decision making and running into tackles.

It was an attempt at diplomacy, there is a lot of love on here for him, but since you’ve flushed me out, I don’t think he’s very good. Players whose success is largely based on pace often decline in the last years of their careers unless they can adapt their style, but I don’t think he has the football acumen to do that.

[trousers]

3rd place beckons... COYR!!

 

[hypochondriac]

32 minutes ago, trousers said:

3rd place beckons... COYR!!

 

Would finish the day 4th at worst if we win. Huge game. 

[Super Carlton]

I would drop Djenepo. He has a lot of potential, but his decisions are quite bad most of the times. He tries sometimes too much and he has a potential straight red card in him.

 

I would replace Djenepo with Theo. Armstrong should start albeit the obvious effects of covid. Redmond and Djenepo in for Stu and/or Theo, if they fail to deliver.