Not sure about this one. Southampton are on great form having won 4 of their last 5 matches and are currently 6th

However we are on a decent domestic run at the moment so I'm quite optimistic, though I'm not confident.

---------Tibo

Azpi-Cahill-Ivan-Babs

----Mikel-Cesc

Pedro-Willian-Hazard

------Diego

This is a far tougher match-up than Newcastle or Man City were and I expect Guus to play for the draw like he did at Southampton. That means Matic and Mikel in the middle and if JT is fit again, possibly a move back to Ivanovic and Azpi as the full-backs.

 

I don't think you can take anything from yesterday's game and I said that before we played them. Southampton are a good team and a point away to them would be a good result.

I wish we could give them back the 3 goals they scored at Stamford Bridge in the first game but I doubt we can score three times against Southampton. However, I think we can beat them, but it is important to keep our goal scoreless and I am not sure we can manage that. A 1 all draw is possible.

Going to be a tough match! Southampton are playing great football so it's going to be a greater challenge for us than the previous few games.

 

I'd be content with a draw if it played out that way.

Edited February 22, 201610 yr by Jezz

This is a far tougher match-up than Newcastle or Man City were and I expect Guus to play for the draw like he did at Southampton. That means Matic and Mikel in the middle and if JT is fit again, possibly a move back to Ivanovic and Azpi as the full-backs.

 

I don't think you can take anything from yesterday's game and I said that before we played them. Southampton are a good team and a point away to them would be a good result.

Can't take anything from yesterdays game? Regardless of the opposition, the way we played was outstanding. Probably our best creative performance this season. 

Can't take anything from yesterdays game? Regardless of the opposition, the way we played was outstanding. Probably our best creative performance this season. 

 

You could say we played outstandingly well against MK Dons when we faced them in the last round, but did that carry on into the Watford and United games? Not really.

 

Yes it was a Man City side but it was back-ups and under-21s who had never played together. They gave us space, most of their fitness levels aren't yet at Premier League level and we got exactly the result we were expected to.

 

Southampton are an entirely different proposition although Wanyama will be missing which is a boost for us. I think they'll be a tough team to break down and they'll cause us problems at the back, especially if Ivanovic is at right-back. They have a real chance to get into fifth spot so they'll be determined and focussed, completely different from yesterday. 

 

A draw is a good result, a win would be a real turning point in the season.

This is gonna be tough. Since Forster came back he kept 6 straight clean sheets and only dropped 2 points.

Stick with the same team that we played against City, that for me is probably our best team. Obviously JT isn't involved but we look good with Baba and Azpi in the fullback positions, and Brana seems pretty solid at CB.

 

For me we seem a lot more creative, and this will cause teams to be more worried about us rather than the other way around, which is the situation we had for most of the season up until Guus came in.

 

Pedro is really coming into some form so Oscar can stay benched personally.

Edited February 22, 201610 yr by Malcolm9

We are brimming with confidence, this could be a cracker of a game, should be really open.

Could be a 4-3 type match

We are brimming with confidence, this could be a cracker of a game, should be really open.

Could be a 4-3 type match

Would prefer 3-4, but agree this should be a cracker.

This is gonna be tough. Since Forster came back he kept 6 straight clean sheets and only dropped 2 points.

Not to mention all gks who play us are suddenly elevated to God mode for some reason.

I meant us having 4 ;)

We are brimming with confidence, this could be a cracker of a game, should be really open.

Could be a 4-3 type match

 

As someone above said, they're in great form and they've won their last 4 at home.

 

What's impressive is that they haven't conceded a goal in any of those matches. In fact they haven't conceded in their last 6 games and that included a win at Man United and a draw at Arsenal.

 

What Koeman is immensely impressive at is making sure his teams are well-drilled and they'll have had two weeks to prepare for us. Hopefully they're rusty but I'd be amazed if we went at them like that. It'll be interesting to see how Hiddink sets up for this, whether he lets them have the ball and tries to hit them on the counter or if they let us have the ball like they did with Arsenal.

 

Two Dutchmen up against one another is going to be a tactical chess game.

Buzzing for this game! It's gonna be my first ever away game. 

I like the Dutch/former Eredivisie players/manager at Southampton, so this should be a good one.

I predict it's gonna be a 1-2 win!

Edited February 22, 201610 yr by YannickCFC

Not to mention all gks who play us are suddenly elevated to God mode for some reason.

You must have missed the match yesterday then [emoji1]

You must have missed the match yesterday then [emoji1]

Yesterday was a happy day but it was an exception :)

Maybe our players are just adept at shooting straight at the keeper which makes them look amazing[emoji14]

This is gonna be tough. Since Forster came back he kept 6 straight clean sheets and only dropped 2 points.

Since Guss came back, Costa has been banging goals!

Dare I say that having JT fit again might be a bad thing?

Means that Ivan is likely to move to right back and Dave over to the left.

My personal preference would be for JT to replace Cahill in the starting XI with Ivanovic continuing at centre back.

Is this on tele at all, the club site dosen't say anything?

A tough one and no mistake.

1-0 us . Happily take that result.

Dare I say that having JT fit again might be a bad thing?

Means that Ivan is likely to move to right back and Dave over to the left.

My personal preference would be for JT to replace Cahill in the starting XI with Ivanovic continuing at centre back.

 

Don't see how it could be. JT is still our best defeder and when it comes to organising said defence no one even comes close to his ability.

Don't see how it could be. JT is still our best defeder and when it comes to organising said defence no one even comes close to his ability.

It wasn't a knock on JT but I feel like we really unbalance ourselves to allow us to select certain players rather than picking our most balanced/best team.

It wasn't a knock on JT but I feel like we really unbalance ourselves to allow us to select certain players rather than picking our most balanced/best team.

 

JT being fit does not directly effect who the full backs will be. Cahill or Ivanovic can be benched too, not only Baba.

JT being fit does not directly effect who the full backs will be. Cahill or Ivanovic can be benched too, not only Baba.

They can be.

But we've seen with both Jose and Guus that match day form doesn't count for much and Baba will probably be benched.

We are playing well,they are also,should be good.Hoping for the win but a tricky one.....UP THE CHELS!