Match Reports
Spurs Away Lost 5 – 2
The row of cameras lined up behind Forster’s goal showed where the press expected the action to be at Tottenham’s temporary home, and of course they were there for the day’s likely big story: an ultimately meaningless stat concerning Kane’s goalscoring exploits in 2017. Saints looked comfortable enough to begin with, but when Højbjerg failed […]
Huddersfield Home Drew 1 – 1
With both first choice full backs injured and Van Dijk on househunting leave, there were always going to be changes to the side to face Huddersfield, but the omission of Romeu was a surprise: I can’t believe the quality of the opposition required an extra level of tinkering and suspect that at the end of […]
Leicester Home Lost 1 – 4
In recent games Southampton have adopted a twin track approach to Premier League opponents, especially at St. Mary’s: a cagey strategy to counter high-budget teams, but something more expansive to cope with those who park the bus. Opponents Leicester fall into neither category, but unnoticed by Saints who paid the price big time. After eleven […]
Arsenal Home Drew 1 – 1
It was almost as if the side to face Arsenal was selected by TV punditry as the players singled out for criticism in the last game, Hoedt, Pied and Boufal, were all left out. That appeared to lead to a back three with Stephens returning, but he ended up as an orthodox right back as […]
Bournemouth AFC Away Drew 1 – 1
Looking at upcoming fixtures, the Southampton line up at Manchester City is unlikely to be a one-off, but we were back to a more recognisable formation (including Pied for the injured Soares, and Lemina only fit enough for the bench) at the place most of us still like to refer to as Dean Court. Saints […]
Manchester City Away Lost 2 – 1
Romeu and Lemina duly returned to face Manchester City but rather unexpectedly Højbjerg kept his place and there was a recall for Yoshida as Saints fielded three centre backs. That left other recalled players, Redmond and Long, as the only creative threat, but the team seemed to know what they were at, possibly a legacy […]
Everton Home Won 4 – 1
With Romeu suspended and Lemina only fit enough to make the bench, Højbjerg was included in the starting XI to face Everton, with Austin receiving a similar promotion to lead the attack. Whether tactical tweaks or the ineptitude of our rudderless visitors turned goal-shy Saints into free scoring winners isn’t entirely clear, but Austin managed […]
Liverpool Away Lost 3 – 0
The international break still didn’t give Lemina enough time to get fit again, but the side at Liverpool went about doing what they do best without him – and what they do well is make it very difficult for the other team without necessarily having much of the ball themselves. An alarm when a deflection […]
Burnley Home Lost 0 – 1
This is beginning to sound like a broken record: Southampton made changes in defence and midfield (Yoshida and Redmond returning) in an attempt to solve the goalscoring problem in their latest match – home to Burnley. The visitors, meanwhile, have stumbled on a settled side and a now proven strategy that has perplexed sharper tactical […]
Brighton Away Drew 1 – 1
Saints took on Brighton in the first south coast derby of the season without Yoshida, a self inflicted change that may have been as much a subtle part of the latest complex plan to make the team more creative as defensive tinkering. They were also missing Lemina, and will be for some weeks, whilst accommodating […]
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