Man City 1-0 Southampton - Match Thread

[OldNick]

I would like to have TP in the middle with Adam and Archer each side. The 2 on the wings can go back and help with the defensive duties.

Flynn, Fernandes, Aribo

THB Bednarek and KWP and Suga ( I think hes injured) so as Taylor played for the Under 21's I assume we only have Jack or Manning as the other option.

[Weston Super Saint]

17 minutes ago, Jack said:

…take off any remaining in form players around the 60-70 minute mark, regardless of situation. Replace with Championship level dross. Concede further goals. Complete capitulation by conceding late goal from undefended set play to edge of box. Praise performance. 

Ask for more of the same next week.

[Saint NL]

Team will be announced in 10 mins so I'd assume the tombola is currently turning and picking the team

[sfc4prem]

This'll be a pile of painful shite.

[Bad Wolf]

9 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

Team will be announced in 10 mins so I'd assume the tombola is currently turning and picking the team

Why have they started announcing it at 14:50 this season?

[Lighthouse]

https://x.com/SouthamptonFC/status/1850156674830545091
 

roughly what I expected, although slightly surprised to see Lallana ahead of Aribo.

[obelisk]

Aribo dropped to bench 😐. Stephens starts, as does Lallana.

[Edmonton Saint]

Captain Jack Waltz’s straight back into the side 

[beatlesaint]

Just now, Lighthouse said:

https://x.com/SouthamptonFC/status/1850156674830545091
 

roughly what I expected, although slightly surprised to see Lallana ahead of Aribo.

So he doesn’t bring Lallana on to try and see us through against Leicester but starts him away to Man City?

I give up 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Suhari]

Oh good., Stephens. At least we'll not lose by 5-0.

 

 

[Jack]

So so strange that Ryan Manning is what we’ve obviously been missing all season. He wasn’t even any good in the Championship, they’ll have him on toast here 

[Ken Tone]

Surely should be taylor ahead of manning for defending today..

[davefizzy14]

Just now, Ken Tone said:

Surely should be taylor ahead of manning for defending today..

Can't believe Taylor isn't playing today and not in the squad.

[WGC Saint]

Anyone else triple captained Haaland today in their fantasy team?🤣

[Edmonton Saint]

And on another note , what a waste of loan spot Cornet was. He’s been hopeless.

[Saint NL]

It's weird it's not working, because when you read through the teamsheet and see Downes, Lallana, Fernandes and Dibling, on paper, that's pretty decent.

 

[James]

Lallana starts, good but why not use him in the more winnable game? Aribo doesn’t deserve to be dropped, bizarre decision that.

[The Kraken]

3 minutes ago, WGC Saint said:

Anyone else triple captained Haaland today in their fantasy team?🤣

Very much considered it but as they were in Europe I wondered if Pep would even play him, any may take him off if/when City are light years ahead.

[hypochondriac]

Just now, James said:

Lallana starts, good but why not use him in the more winnable game? Aribo doesn’t deserve to be dropped, bizarre decision that.

Agree with this. Not sure why we would play him at city instead of the previous week. 

[OldNick]

What a way to treat Aribo who has given his all. I hope he proves me wrong but it seems to me RM has fallen for the charm by Pep about playing good football. 

Dibling and AL together not sure enough endeavour, strength, there for me

[Dark Munster]

9 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

https://x.com/SouthamptonFC/status/1850156674830545091
 

roughly what I expected, although slightly surprised to see Lallana ahead of Aribo.

Not really surprising. He played well last week and scored, so it makes sense that Russell would drop him. 

[Jack]

4 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

It's weird it's not working, because when you read through the teamsheet and see Downes, Lallana, Fernandes and Dibling, on paper, that's pretty decent.

 

It’s not that weird, tactically we’re absolute garbage. If those players had the freedom to receive and move the ball quicker, it might be more interesting 

[Lighthouse]

7 minutes ago, Ken Tone said:

Surely should be taylor ahead of manning for defending today..

I can see the logic in going for a more attacking option if we're playing a back five and need the FBs to get forward. That said Manning is hopelessly out of his depth against anyone in this league, let alone Man City.

[hypochondriac]

It was inevitable but I just don't understand Martin's love for Stephens

[Harry_SFC]

4 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Agree with this. Not sure why we would play him at city instead of the previous week. 

Makes zero sense.

[Sheaf Saint]

Oh goody. yet another change in formation just to shoehorn Stephens back into the side.

Not convinced a midfield pair of Downes and Lallana is going to put up much of a fight against City's attack. Seems far too lightweight for my liking.

[Lighthouse]

5 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

It's weird it's not working, because when you read through the teamsheet and see Downes, Lallana, Fernandes and Dibling, on paper, that's pretty decent.

Three players completely unproven in this league and one whose legs are well past it. There's potential in TD, FD and MF but it's far too early to say they're decent.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

19 hours ago, Harry_SFC said:

Taylor, SAA, Wood, Edwards and BBD all playing for the Under 21s. Taylor playing is a bit of a shock. Personally think he should be playing at left back tomorrow! Goes to show we signed some real poor players in the summer.

 

19 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Stephens is available, and will be first on RM's list for that left back/3rd centre back position. 🙂

No surprise at all. If Taylor isn't going to put the work into his stubble grooming and being shouty at training, this is what happens. 🙂

[bugenhagen]

Just now, Sheaf Saint said:

Oh goody. yet another change in formation just to shoehorn Stephens back into the side.

Not convinced a midfield pair of Downes and Lallana is going to put up much of a fight against City's attack. Seems far too lightweight for my liking.

Nah, we are going to dominate the ball, it's their midfield that looks a bit lightweight 😉

[derry]

🏳️

[Jack]

3 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

It was inevitable but I just don't understand Martin's love for Stephens

Great banter, apparently. And brave 

[davefizzy14]

Aribo should be starting as he's been one of our best players in recent weeks. I would have brought Lallana on around sixty minutes for his class and composure. 

[OldNick]

Seeing that Taylor was dropped to Under 21@s last night, is that punishment as he was supposed to be marking the edge of the box. I thought it was Sully but I find it strange that Taylor was there last night

[Football Special]

Martin Out 

[Football Special]

Just now, OldNick said:

Seeing that Taylor was dropped to Under 21@s last night, is that punishment as he was supposed to be marking the edge of the box. I thought it was Sully but I find it strange that Taylor was there last night

Definitely feels like a punishment, dropped from first team squad completely is making a point 

[beatlesaint]

1 minute ago, davefizzy14 said:

Aribo should be starting as he's been one of our best players in recent weeks. I would have brought Lallana on around sixty minutes for his class and composure. 

Or saved him for next week if we are 4 or 5 down after the hour.

Edited 26 October, 2024 by beatlesaint

[bugenhagen]

[kitch]

11 minutes ago, James said:

Lallana starts, good but why not use him in the more winnable game? Aribo doesn’t deserve to be dropped, bizarre decision that.

Gotta get Stephens in somehow.

[St. Ciervo]

7-0 City minimum.  Martin keeps his job on Monday. 

[Whitey Grandad]

Not Shoehorn Stephens again!

🤯

[LGTL]

What a total div Russ is 😂 Stephens and Manning are barely L1 standard.  And playing Lallana away at City, a game which we’d lose if they had 8 players, instead of the perfectly winnable home game. You know, the game where we had a 2-0 head start and needed to get control of the midfield so he brought on fucking Smallbone. 

Utterly out of his depth. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Martin has identified that we only conceded 3 to Leicester due to lack of shoutiness.

Not in any knee jerk way whatsoever, we have both our shouty ones on the park, under the guise of leadership.

[Winnersaint]

Here endeth any interest I have in this, this afternoon. I look forward to the post 5pm meltdown on here.

[Weston Super Saint]

1 minute ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Martin has identified that we only conceded 3 to Leicester due to lack of shoutiness.

Not in any knee jerk way whatsoever, we have both our shouty ones on the park, under the guise of leadership.

Should never have got rid of Lyanco.

[RedWillie]

In the absence of a suitably sized sofa to hide behind, I'm going for a long walk without my phone. 

[OldNick]

Man City dressing room

[Saint NL]

Man city feeling confident, they only named a few subs 😂

[Holmes_and_Watson]

5 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Should never have got rid of Lyanco.

Pick a team, the Martin way.

Pashun = Places

 

[CylonKing]

2-0 Saints! 😁

[Obstacle1]

The age old debate of when a back 5 becomes a back 3 may be solved by the inclusion of Stephens and Manning