Saints v Man City match thread

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Saints v Man City

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Sunday 30 November 2014 13:30 Live on Sky


Match officials - Referee Mike Jones Assistants R West, A Nunn 4th Official P Dowd


So Sunday brings us the first of three massive tests to our top 4 credentials with the visit of Man City closely followed by Arsenal away and Man United at home. City will arrive on the back of a morale boosting win against Bayern last night and with Aguerro in seemingly unstoppable form.

Saints have still only lost twice this season and we are unbeaten at home with the best defensive record in the league. Hopefully there are no new injury worries and there is a chance Davis could be fit to return. Its going to be vital that we stop the supply through to Aguerro though so I'd be tempted to start with Morgan Jack and Vic in the middle and Long up top.


My starting 11

Fraser

Clyne Fonte Toby Bertrand

Cork Morgan Vic

Tadic Pelle Long


Subs KD Targett Gardos Reed Davis Mayuka Mane


City are very vulnerable defensively imo and I'm confident we can score and if we play to our best get a positive result.Should be another full house and a cracking atmosphere. Saints to win 2-1.


COYR!!

 

A shame we couldn't go into this match with no risk of losing 2nd place. We know we will lose it sometime (even if we regain it), but a pity none the less. A late equaliser must be good for morale. I'm hoping for better, but 3 points would be okayish from these 3 games...especially if that comes from 3 draws . Am hoping for a win and a draw though. We are at home and a team in form, so a win against City would do nicely.

 

How to beat Man City - Do not make individual errors when Aguero is ten feet from you.

 

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Oh...the curse of being on the Programme cover! We should put Aguerro on it

 

I remember the game last year so clearly and would comment the following:

1) Cork did an outstanding job on Yaya
2) Lallana destroyed City down their right although Kolarov did get forward to provide an assist
3) We were the better team in midfield

I still think Vic has to play but would love to see Cork incorporate somehow, although Davis must start if fit. Zabaleta struggles with pace (Moses gave him a nightmare earlier this year) so I'd start with Mane and Tadic either side of Pelle.

 

Zabeleta didn't start last night.

 

Should be a good game, nothing to lose really so hopefully Ron will go for it!

My Team: Forster, Clyne, Fonte, Alderweireld, Bertrand, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Davis, Mane, Tadic, Pelle.

Subs: Davis, Cork, Gardos, Long, Targett, Yoshida, Reed.

 

This the type of game for Mane, Citys FBs both push up that could leave space to exploit. Just hope his delivery has improved

 

If Davis isn't fit Cork will almost certainly start. We can't go out as offensively as we did against Villa.

 

It really didnt feel like the villa selection worked that well to me and although I know some disagree I reckon we play better when Cork is on the pitch. He works as hard if not harder than Davis and he's got scoring boots this season, he needs to start for me.

Long has a role in the team but he doesn't offer enough as a starter, bring him on to cause headaches and win set pieces after we've got a couple as a cushion : )

City have had their slumps this season, watching their last game against swansea and now Bayern, they seem to have left those behind sadly. I cant see us getting away with a clean sheet so we better find the back of the net once or twice. The service to Pelle needs to get better and Mane was pretty.. whats the word?...rubbish in front of goal against villa. Hope to see an improvement there.

As long as there's abit of fire in the belly we'll be in for a good watch at least.

 

2-0 saints

 

1-2.

 

Tadic has to play on the left. He's looked so much better there than on the right. Tadic on the left and Long on the right for me. Mane drops to the bench. Victor in the middle, as the anchor midfielder. Morgan as the left central mid and Davis as the right. 4-3-3.

 

2-1

 

Draw.

 

3-1

 

I'm sticking my neck out, a draw.

 

A few people questioned me when I mentioned this several weeks ago. You could instantly see that Tadic is less effective on the right and they don't switch sides very much either.

 

I see Clichy as a weak link for City. We need to put him under pressure early.