Southampton 1 Chelsea 5

[JaneB]

Please use this thread for all posts relating to our Premier League match against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium before, during and after the game.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 19:30 hours on Wednesday, 4th December 2024 (Local UK time/date) (Live on Prime Video)

[Ham]

In the words of Thom Yorke, no alarms and no surprises please.  

[CarefreeMuratcan]

No holds barred let's annihilate them and punish them for not taking points off Liverpool. 

[Miguelito07]

Is this a match to rotate?  Not B team rotation but 5 or 6?

Edited December 2 by Miguelito07

[Sciatika]

If we get a good lead, I'd want to make several changes to reward players for their performances in Europe.

[VA96]

40 minutes ago, Miguelito07 said:

Is this a match to rotate?  Not B team rotation but 5 or 6?

Jackson is 1 yellow off a suspension, but he has been since Utd (a)

If we could play Nkunku / Felix down the middle and keep him away from the team that might be best although he has managed to maintain his discipline the last 3 games

No Harwood Bellis, Dibling or Downes for Southampton (arguably their best 3) 

[My Blood Is Blue]

Another test for Maresca here, as we have a midweek game that isn’t Conference League, so he’ll need to be smart about managing minutes for the players.

I wouldn’t change too much as we don’t want to disrupt anything, but I’d give Lavia a rest, due to his recent injury record and give Nkunku a start up front as his form in Europe deserves it and Jackson being a booking away from suspension, we need to make sure he’s available for Spurs. Fofana needs a rest even if he’s fit.

If we get a comfortable lead then get Cucurella, Caicedo and Palmer off.

[CarefreeMuratcan]

32 minutes ago, Sciatika said:

If we get a good lead, I'd want to make several changes to reward players for their performances in Europe.

Yes, Felix and Nkunku looked hungry when they came on yesterday, unlucky not to score. Loved Felix's yellow card sliding tackle.

[paulw66]

3 hours ago, My Blood Is Blue said:

Another test for Maresca here, as we have a midweek game that isn’t Conference League, so he’ll need to be smart about managing minutes for the players.

I wouldn’t change too much as we don’t want to disrupt anything, but I’d give Lavia a rest, due to his recent injury record and give Nkunku a start up front as his form in Europe deserves it and Jackson being a booking away from suspension, we need to make sure he’s available for Spurs. Fofana needs a rest even if he’s fit.

If we get a comfortable lead then get Cucurella, Caicedo and Palmer off.

the good thing with 5 subs is that you can go strong, get a lead, and take half your outfield players off. 

I'd endorse something similar to the above, get 3-0 after an hour, and take off Palmer and Caicedo, Cucurella and 2 others. 

[Sciatika]

5 Man City vs 6 Forest
11 Newcastle vs 1 Liverpool
20 Southampton vs 2 Chelsea
2 Arsenal vs 9 Man United

Another must-win game.

[KingThistle]

IMHO, it's a 25 game season now - I personally don't care for the FA Cup this season and the ECL has it's own team/squad so if everyone is fit, play the strongest available in every Premier League game incl. this one. 25 games to finish top-4, 25 games for our strongest XV or so to play - we're mad to take foot off gas when facing any PL opponent. The midweek jaunt around Europe the place to rest and rotate so with that in mind, check on Fofana but the rest of yesterday's starters start again. I know it's Spurs this weekend, but it could be much more negative to go into that game after a lazy draw vs Southampton due to unnecessary juggling about just because we have a sizeable squad.

Edited December 2 by KingThistle
Wrote Colwill, meant Fofana

[CarefreeMuratcan]

1 hour ago, KingThistle said:

IMHO, it's a 25 game season now - I personally don't care for the FA Cup this season and the ECL has it's own team/squad so if everyone is fit, play the strongest available in every Premier League game incl. this one. 25 games to finish top-4, 25 games for our strongest XV or so to play - we're mad to take foot off gas when facing any PL opponent. The midweek jaunt around Europe the place to rest and rotate so with that in mind, check on Fofana but the rest of yesterday's starters start again. I know it's Spurs this weekend, but it could be much more negative to go into that game after a lazy draw vs Southampton due to unnecessary juggling about just because we have a sizeable squad.

FA Cup can just be used as another game for the Conference squad, I see no problem with that, I think even with them we will still progress far in it (even if we get tough draws, our rivals will be fielding 2nd string squads too).

[chara]

9 hours ago, CarefreeMuratcan said:

No holds barred let's annihilate them and punish them for not taking points off Liverpool. 

Goodness me,,you youngsters are getting soft on the opposition ..sigh,

[east lower]

Personally, this is one to be wary of. Saints have just started to appear to be getting to grips with the PL and were really hard done by not to get a win away to Brighton on Friday night.

They gave the league leaders a decent game too and got on the wrong end of a debatable VAR call. 
 
Could be a really difficult game. 

 

[east lower]

1 hour ago, east lower said:

Personally, this is one to be wary of. Saints have just started to appear to be getting to grips with the PL and were really hard done by not to get a win away to Brighton on Friday night.

They gave the league leaders a decent game too and got on the wrong end of a debatable VAR call. 
 
Could be a really difficult game. 

 

Just remembered that Dibling, Downes plus one other are missing this game - banned, so that might work in our favour?

[asvaberg]

2 hours ago, east lower said:

Could be a really difficult game. 

 

Definately. However, I would have been more worried if it was at The Dell with Le Tissier or Channon in the lineup. Those were dangerous quality players in a very difficult stadium.

Edited December 2 by asvaberg

[Sciatika]

1 hour ago, east lower said:

Just remembered that Dibling, Downes plus one other are missing this game - banned, so that might work in our favour?

They have ten out. Ramsdale, Lallana,,  Bednarek, Bazanu, Downes, Harwood-Bellis, Dibling, Stewart, Smallbone, and possibly Onuachu. Big Les won't be able to play against the parent club, either,

[paulw66]

3 hours ago, Sciatika said:

They have ten out. Ramsdale, Lallana,,  Bednarek, Bazanu, Downes, Harwood-Bellis, Dibling, Stewart, Smallbone, and possibly Onuachu. Big Les won't be able to play against the parent club, either,

5-0 away win.

[CarefreeMuratcan]

13 hours ago, paulw66 said:

5-0 away win.

Yes please.

[KingThistle]

Fofana out for "weeks" with latest set back. Badiashile in for Wes (likely) but I do hope the other starters from Sunday - if they train today/tomorrow - all start vs Southampton.

[CarefreeMuratcan]

58 minutes ago, KingThistle said:

Fofana out for "weeks" with latest set back. Badiashile in for Wes (likely) but I do hope the other starters from Sunday - if they train today/tomorrow - all start vs Southampton.

Tottenham play Thursday, a day less rest than us (and against tougher opposition), so we should be able to afford to not make too many changes and still have a leg up on them on Sunday.

[CarefreeMuratcan]

Calendar year 2024 table:

[east lower]

20 hours ago, Sciatika said:

They have ten out. Ramsdale, Lallana,,  Bednarek, Bazanu, Downes, Harwood-Bellis, Dibling, Stewart, Smallbone, and possibly Onuachu. Big Les won't be able to play against the parent club, either,

Heard a rumour today that Big Les will be getting sent back to us next month. It’s not been a happy time there for him.

[Chelsea_Matt]

Let’s not get complacent eh. 👀😬💯

[chara]

25 minutes ago, Chelsea_Matt said:

Let’s not get complacent eh. 👀😬💯

Agree absolutely Matt..... treat every opponent with caution (not fear)....no side wants to lose!