Match Day Thread Southampton v Chelsea 30/10/16 16:00 KO

After the EFL cup games this week which saw Saints triumph over Sunderland thanks to a stunning st Mary's debut goal for Boufal to win 1-0 and a host of academy players on show, and Chelsea lost 2-1 away to West Ham with a late goal from Cahill, we return to premier league action.
Last time out saints earnt a good point away at Man City thanks to a goal from Redmond, and Chelsea gave Man Utd a 4-0 tonking with goals from Pedro,Cahill,Hazard,and Kante.
I am expecting Long to miss out through injury and we should see the return of Bertrand.
Our friend Mr Lawro predicts us to lose 0-2.......... So home win it is then

My predicted line up is.....
Forster,
Cuco,Fonte,VVD,Bertrand
Hojbjerg,Romeu,Davis
Tadic,Redmond
Austin.

Ref: Mike Jones
Assistants: A.Holmes,D.Bryan
Fourth official: G.Scott

 

Is Bertrand back for this one then? Great news if so.

Clasie instead of Pierre and that's the team we'll see imo.

 

Merson has gone for 1-1. I'm going for 2-1 Saints.

 

Rumour had it he was fit a few days back but obviously Sam has stepped in and done a sterling job but he has played nearly 4 games in a short space of time.....so Ryan for me for this one.

 

http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php#c4

This lot say Bertrand, Cedric and Targett all due back.

 

You wait bloody weeks for a full back then three turn up at once.

 

Puel has slowly built a great team - I think this is the match where we show just how good we are - for every star we've lost we've found a better one - playing for Chelsea doesn't make you better: 3-1 (if Boufal plays) 2-1 if he doesn't.

 

Just seen Oriel's Halloween face on Saints website. Could he keep it for the match? Are there any rules against it?

 

Hard to call this one.

I hope Terry plays as part of a back 3

 

Alongside Kompany and Stones.

 

Some crackers there. Kevin Davies was such a good player at times. JayRod at the peak of his powers, Sadio Mane doing his thing of seemingly wanting to quieten the crowd. And a lovely free-kick from Beatts, where he'd obviously studied from the Maestro.

 

Their last three PL games has seen them score nine goals and concede none. This is arguably our biggest test to date, but although they are in good form so are we. If Oriol makes another MOM performance against his old team, then the game is ours.

 

Didn't see their lineup v West Ham - did they put out a strong side or reserves?

 

Need to keep our concentration this time.
I thought we were comfortable, at 1-0 last season, and then Costa did his job and unsettled us, giving them a boost.
The fluke equaliser from a Fabregas cross, iirc, didn't help either.

 

Hazard & Costa came off bench.

6/7 changes I think.

 

Absolute nonsense why those teams not playing in Europe should be making so many changes in the League Cup. Another reason for me to hope Chelsea do poorly this season.

I think this game looks very even. Chelsea have marginally the better squad, but of course we are at home.

EDIT: Just looked at their team sheet from Tues and to be fair that's still a strong team.

 

I'm going for a 2-1 away win.

 

I will say 2-2 and suspect boufal to get one of them.

 

Big test for our selected RB. Apart from that, this will be an interesting battle. Difficult to call and certainly no reason to be writing this game offf.