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Soton (A)

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dmishra said:
8 wins and 3 draws would be unreal - that's 27 points.

We have a very difficult run in.

Realistically, we should hope to continue our season average of 2 points per game. That would leave us on 78 points, and about 3rd place I'd reckon.

Still think it's too early to think about the title. I don't even think 4th is yet assured - 30% of the season is yet to be played.

United lost the title to City in 2011-12 after being 8 points ahead with 6 games to go.
Click to expand...

I agree, way too early to be thinking about the title, however for the last 6 (could be more, not sure) games we have achieved a 2.5 point average, so I see no reason why we can't capitalise on that given we'll have a near full squad after this next game.
 
If we get to 73 points (which we will) then the mancs would have to get 29 out of 33 points to get ahead of us, not a fucking chance.


Dont worry about them, just carry on laughing.

rz0Jv.gif
 
Rodgers is 0 for 2 against Pochettino, so this is a good time for him to fix that. Soton are a bit like us, looking at the stats - they're the 6th best goal scoring team in the league, but have conceded just 3 goals fewer than us. In their last 6 league games, they've scored 11 and let in 9. They've let in 10 goals in their last 5 home league games - 3 apiece to Chelsea and Spurs with their amazing strikers. Their last game is a 1-3 hammering by Allardyce's brutes. So, defending isn't exactly their strength.

The good thing is that up front, they don't really possess a physical, strong, built like an ox type swift striker which is the nemesis of our centrebacks (see: Benteke, Walters, Bony, Caroll, Lukaku, Anichebe). Lambert isn't really in that class when it comes to appearing intimidating. Sometimes, it feels like Skrtel and co. look at the teamsheet, see the name of that sort of striker, and start pissing in their shorts and go weak in the knees.

So, signs are good, though I'm a bit nervous. Let's start with 2 quick goals and not let them equalize this time.
 
A win for us & a defeat for Arsenal away at Stoke would make for a interesting table.
 
We surely can't be afraid of anyone at this point. You score 2 we score 3 seems to be our MO. Southampton don't have a great defence either so it's who scores the most. Should be an entertaining game.
 
studsup said:
Rodgers is 0 for 2 against Pochettino, so this is a good time for him to fix that. Soton are a bit like us, looking at the stats - they're the 6th best goal scoring team in the league, but have conceded just 3 goals fewer than us. In their last 6 league games, they've scored 11 and let in 9. They've let in 10 goals in their last 5 home league games - 3 apiece to Chelsea and Spurs with their amazing strikers. Their last game is a 1-3 hammering by Allardyce's brutes. So, defending isn't exactly their strength.

The good thing is that up front, they don't really possess a physical, strong, built like an ox type swift striker which is the nemesis of our centrebacks (see: Benteke, Walters, Bony, Caroll, Lukaku, Anichebe). Lambert isn't really in that class when it comes to appearing intimidating. Sometimes, it feels like Skrtel and co. look at the teamsheet, see the name of that sort of striker, and start pissing in their shorts and go weak in the knees.

So, signs are good, though I'm a bit nervous. Let's start with 2 quick goals and not let them equalize this time.
Click to expand...

I'm hoping that due to Southampton getting the better of us recently that Rodgers will have thought long and hard about this one and will be very well prepared and not taking anything for granted. I'm also hoping that Southampton won't be playing for anything, and that they're not at the races. Gerrard is going to be vitally important for this one, and I worry that he'll get overrun, for that reason we need Henderson at 100%, and it might even be worth bringing Allen back into the side. My other worries are Lambert, who is a great striker, and Lallana, who will be a very tough opponent for Flannel Again, so he's going to need lots of support from Sterling or whoever plays ahead of him. I'm not confident at all about this game, and a draw would be a great result, however we're aspiring for greater things, we need to keep pace, and for our hearts sake, not allow those behind us to catch up, so we have to push for that win.
 
Southampton will press us so we need either Coutinho ON IT in the middle e.g. Everton game, or Allen to come back in.

I think Allen earned a start and I think Sterling should remain in the team to keep track of their full back.

----------------Mignolet----------------
Flanno---Skrtel---Agger---Johnson
---------------Gerrard-----------------
----------Allen------Hendo-----------
Sterling---------------------Suarez
----------------Studge


Personally, I am getting fed up with Skrtel's mistakes, but when the only option to replace him is Toure I think he is a safer option.

Coutinho has the ability to be a complete game changer off the bench which would be a nice change from Victor Meldrew coming on.
 
--------------Mignolet-----------------
Flanno--Skrtel--Agger--Johnson
---------------Gerrard----------------
--------Allen----------Hendo--------
-Sterling----Suarez----Sturridge
 
I'd definitely go with this team due to Allen's performance when he came on and to strengthen the midfield. It is a tough break on Coutinho and I wouldn't be too upset to see him in MF instead of Allen. Not much between them for this game.

Anyone saying Johnson should be dropped is off their heads, and he most certainly did not have a bad first game back when he would be understandably a little rusty after a long layoff. Going forward he noticeably strengthened the attack far more than Cisshoko or Flanno could/would and is just as good a defender as either. This is a moot point though because quite obviously Rodgers rates him so it's just whether he starts at RB or LB (with Flanno on the other flank) to counteract Lallana, Johnson's experience (and I think he is a tad faster than Flanno) may win out in that case.

I would start Agger simply because, although a fan of Toure, he is a natural LCB whereas Toure is naturally a RCB and note that Toure's best performances have come when he is at RCB and vice versa. Agger must be embarrassed at being withdrawn (especially when Skrtel was far worse than him against Swansea) and should be up for this one. Skrtel vs Toure at RCB is a tough one but Rodgers seems to have confidence in Skirts so I've no doubt he'll start.

Allen played well at LCM so he stays there and Hendo covers the RCM spot which he does so well.

The only variation I'd consider on the team below is Coutinho for Sterling, putting him ahead of Hendo & Allen and in a pyramid between Sturridge and Suarez. We'd miss Sterling on the break but strengthen the centre of midfield. However Sterling has very good defensive ability too and can help whoever is at RB counter Lallana and possibly force him deeper than he'll want to be. So Sterling keeps his place.

----------------Mignolet----------------
Johnson---Skrtel---Agger---Flanno
---------------Gerrard-----------------
-------Hendo----------Allen---------
Sterling---------------------Suarez
----------------Studge
 
Lallana is the main threat, he doesn't just hang out wide, he regularly comes in field and makes late runs into the box to get on the end of flick-ons from Rodriguez or Lambert. Can we rely on Hendo or Gerrard tracking his runs? It might be better to make sure he has nothing to run onto but this would involve Skrtel (or Sakho if available) winning every header against Lambert or Rodriguez.
 
I'd tell Coutinho he'll start on the bench and come on after 20 minutes, seeing as it normally takes him that long to get into a game. Then hopefully he'll pull his finger out.
 
Agger will most defineltly leave this summer. When Sakho is back he'll be first choice.
 
Sakho really needs to work on his passing. It's no good getting in someone who's more aggressive but worse in possession. That isn't tinkering with the defence - it's tinkering with the way we concede goals. If Sakho was three years younger and less experienced he'd be dismissed by some on here as being technically inept and therefore doomed not to make the grade. That one match when he seemed pre-programmed to pass to opponents - imagine if Ilori had done that, that would have been him 'finished' as far as some were concerned. I don't get the easy ride he gets: yes, he's incredibly strong and combative, but at his stage he ought not to still be diving into tackles as often as he does, and his distribution is very suspect, so as far as I'm concerned he's got plenty more work to do before he's earned the right to be a regular.
 
gkmacca said:
Sakho really needs to work on his passing. It's no good getting in someone who's more aggressive but worse in possession. That isn't tinkering with the defence - it's tinkering with the way we concede goals. If Sakho was three years younger and less experienced he'd be dismissed by some on here as being technically inept and therefore doomed not to make the grade. That one match when he seemed pre-programmed to pass to opponents - imagine if Ilori had done that, that would have been him 'finished' as far as some were concerned. I don't get the easy ride he gets: yes, he's incredibly strong and combative, but at his stage he ought not to still be diving into tackles as often as he does, and his distribution is very suspect, so as far as I'm concerned he's got plenty more work to do before he's earned the right to be a regular.
Click to expand...
couldnt agree more, I think we are so scared about our defense and we are just being hopeful that somone will save us. Tbh with you guys, BR and his staff need to work on closely with defenders and I am sure BR's man management will help them a lot
 
Yes, he'll get it right, I think, long term. For the rest of the season I think we just need to make a choice, stick with it, and shout at them a lot!
 
@gkmacca not even Ilori - imagine the flak Wisdom would get if he'd made some of Sakho's errors. That lad seems to get so little grace from our fans.

Funny, I've heard Sakho complimented loads on being excellent in possession and never understood it myself - I think he looks ok, but very error prone and a bit clumsy. I thought it was just me.
 
gkmacca said:
Yes, he'll get it right, I think, long term. For the rest of the season I think we just need to make a choice, stick with it, and shout at them a lot!
Click to expand...



I wonder what difference Carra would have made if he'd stayed on in a coaching capacity?
 
gkmacca said:
Sakho really needs to work on his passing. It's no good getting in someone who's more aggressive but worse in possession. That isn't tinkering with the defence - it's tinkering with the way we concede goals. If Sakho was three years younger and less experienced he'd be dismissed by some on here as being technically inept and therefore doomed not to make the grade. That one match when he seemed pre-programmed to pass to opponents - imagine if Ilori had done that, that would have been him 'finished' as far as some were concerned. I don't get the easy ride he gets: yes, he's incredibly strong and combative, but at his stage he ought not to still be diving into tackles as often as he does, and his distribution is very suspect, so as far as I'm concerned he's got plenty more work to do before he's earned the right to be a regular.
Click to expand...

Sakho actually has the best passing completion stat in the whole squad mate. 91,8 % in his 12 games played so far.
His passing and distribution isnt a problem as the stats shows. It was the Spurs away game were he had a bit of a brainfart.

Edit: He's also 4th in the squad with the amount of passes attempted pr game.
 
Winning it means that we overhaul both Citeh AND Chelski. That seems unlikely given our revolving back four and the slightly shaky form of our GK at the moment, and the fact when we play Citeh they are the only team capable of out-scoring us, and when we play Chelski they are the only team capable of stopping us from scoring. Top four is a must now though, and overtaking those Arsenal cunts would be ace.
 
Silver Sean said:
Winning it means that we overhaul both Citeh AND Chelski. That seems unlikely given our revolving back four and the slightly shaky form of our GK at the moment, and the fact when we play Citeh they are the only team capable of out-scoring us, and when we play Chelski they are the only team capable of stopping us from scoring. Top four is a must now though, and overtaking those Arsenal cunts would be ace.
Click to expand...

Largely agree. I don't think we can outperform all 3 of those teams, but I think we will outperform at least one of them and will finish 2nd or 3rd.
 
Hansern said:
Sakho actually has the best passing completion stat in the whole squad mate. 91,8 % in his 12 games played so far.
His passing and distribution isnt a problem as the stats shows. It was the Spurs away game were he had a bit of a brainfart.

Edit: He's also 4th in the squad with the amount of passes attempted pr game.
Click to expand...


Thats what i thought, never seen Sakhos distribution as a problem at all, its been excellent if anything, it was the City game where he lost it for 20 minutes but apart from that abboration its been spot on.

The diving into tackles he wasn't doing as much either compared to when he first played.
 
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