06 Sep 2012 12:52:33
Ahead of playing arsenal I believe saints should go to the emerates with a team designed to play to the gunners weaknesses.
Our midfield 3 must stay as it is, with 3 of the hardest working in the epl, as cazola and diaby are the main threats.
I think Lambert should be replaced by lee, mertesaker has bad feet and is serially strong so get lee chasing down the cb pairing and exploit the cbs lack of pace.
Puncheon played well but Ramirez must start. We don't kill off games as we don't take our chances (2-1 united). Ramirez has that quality to created and score, plus a free kick on the edge of the box is suddenly a great chance with him around.
Yoshida needs to replace fonte as we can't give goals to arsenal.
Davis
Clyne
Yoshida
Hooidveld
Fox (if fit)
Davis
Schneiderlin
JWP
Ramirez
Lee
Lallana
Lee instead of Lambert?
You cannot just put out your best team and hope it matches arsenals best team, in the championship we could but not against stronger opposition. Lee can work hard to stop the defence play out to the midfielders and perhaps force the long ball, plus his pace exposes a slow arsenal defence. Lamberts strong aerial ability plays into mertesackers hands.
Shaw and Lambert must start Only should the subs be needed if we are behind or the players are seriously tired
Punch Lee and Jay is a fantastic bench
Cork back and Jose benched
Could be a surprise at the Emerites
I disagree. Lambert is absolutely essential. Not just for his aerial ability and natural goalscoring instinct but for his ability to play with his back to goal and link up the play to the wingers/midfielders. This was something we really missed in the last 15 minutes on Sunday with nobody in the front line able to retain possession (oh, and a certain Scholes running the show). Lee would make a good sub for Lallana to inject a bit of pace late in the game. Lambert made Ferdinand and Vidic look very ordinary so no reason to think Mertesacker will be any different. Excited about seeing Ramirez though I wonder if Puncheon will start given his excellent performance on Sunday with Ramirez on to replace him at some point?
Yoshida is actually a poor signing, we could have had better
You can't know how good Yoshida is until he plays.
Southampton fc is does not revolve around one striker. The market was used so that we can play in a number if ways due to different opposition. Arsenal will be undone by pace and work ethic from the front. Lambert will be wasted in chasing the back 4 down as he is not effective at it. Arsenal will give us little possesion and he will be perfectly used in a similar way as he was at city. If lee cannot play j rod should. Our cf needs to be a worker.
What a crazy set-up. So you want to take off 2 of the best players we had against Man Utd, including our most important player that scores and sets ups most of our goals? Don't you think Arsenal will be looking at us and worrying how to deal with Lambert?
I agree Ramirez must play, but he can play off of Lambert or even on the left if necessary. We now have exciting options for our midfield. We're going to have very good players on the bench.
I would rather see Shaw play. I don't care if he makes the odd mistake. He is unexperienced at this level and will learn fast - just like Wayne Bridge did. I'd rather see a nipper getting better than a useless joker who is experienced enough to know better, keep being caught out of position, standing off wingers so they can easily cross and ultimately costing us points.
Tony
"Arsenal undone by pace" etc - don't you think they get that every week? Lambert WILL cause them problems.
It baffles me that you can say they were our '2 best players'. Did you seen Morgan Schneiderlin in that match. Also, you want to sacrifice a central midfielder so that someone can play off lambert? We need to try and win the midfield battle and MS SD and JWP have really impressed.
I dont argue that RL is premier league quality but we have to learn how to play without him. If he got injured in the championship we went a number of games without winning. What happens in the prem if we have to start with J Rod, Lee or Mayuka who have been making 20 minute cameos all season?
Lambert will cause bigger problems off the bench and Tadanari Lee (who remember is quality btw) will be really effective for this fixture.
Lambert is an essential cog in the way we play. As well as his excellent goal scoring record, he links the midfield and strikers, creates space and generally is a handfull for defenders.
Fox has been caught out way to often and totally agree with the above poster, give shaw a chance, if he makes the odd mistake, he will learn and develop. With Gaston's added creativity and flair, Clyne on the right, Lallana and Ward-Prowse, Fox's creativity going forward is less important, we need a left back who can defend!
I will reserve judgement on Yoshida until he has had his chance, but as Japan Captain, one would assume he will be ok.
Davis; Clyne, Yoshida, Hooiveld; Fox; Davis, Schneiderlein, Ward Prowse; Ramirez, Lambert, Lallana.
Lee, Puncheon and Cork are all positive players able to make a difference and change something if needs be.
To the guy who says Lee is quality, may I remind you he has barely played a handfull of games bit early for that judgement
I think our whole midfield was excellent against United for 75 minutes. For me, Ward-Prowse was man of the match.
I don't see how you can say Tad Lee is quality off the back of a few run out's against lower league opposition. He needs to prove himself at home or make an impact from the bench before he can be considered for starting.
Yoshida has been sought after and highly praised by many Premier League clubs. I can't see him being anything but a positive acquisition. However, I also feel Fonte is getting a bit of harsh critisism. Yes he has made small mistakes, which we have been harshly punished for, but they are mistakes he can learn by and work on. Give the man a chance to get some Premier League games under his belt - he was a big factor in us getting there. (Not that there is much room for sentiment.)
I'll be annoyed if Puncheon doesn't start because he played well preseason, at City and then didn't get a chance against Wigan, but responded with a great performance against United. I was one that was quite happy for him to never wear the shirt again, but fair play to the lad for getting his head down and turning it around from a seemingly impossible situation. He deserves first team place at the moment.
With Song gone, I don't think we necessarily need 5 in midfield - I think 4-4-1-1 would be much more dangerous for Arsenal.
GK - Davies
DEF - Shaw, Fonte, Hooiveld, Clyne
MID - Lallana, Schneiderlain, Ward-Prowse, Puncheon
AM - Ramirez
CF - Lambert
Tony
I like the way you're thinking Tony but I think the 4-3-3 (well more 4-3-2-1) line up works. We're getting good attacking football plus it's good for our defending as it's almost like playing 5 in midfield and pushes back well. I'd suggest:
K Davis
Shaw, Fonte, Hooiveld, Clyne
Lallana, Schneiderlin, S Davis
Ramirez, Puncheon
Lambert.
We also have Mayuka who I can see performing well. He's highly rated. Watched African Cup Of Nations final - Zambia V Ivory Coast and Zambia V Ghana in which he looked superb and in the latter, scored a belter of a goal. He looks good, willing to run, holds the ball up well, and is good with his head. I think he could be a game changer coming off the bench.
You lot make me laugh Arsenal will pass you to death, another defeat looming lol.
I'm not too sure Arsenal are a debatable side and the saints have proven themselves.
Proven side?? played 3 lost 3 soon to be 4