Southampton V Wigan, The Preview

Southampton certainly made a statement on Sunday afternoon when they lost by just the 1 goal against Manchester City. At one point Saints ‘dared to dream’ as they took the lead at the Eithad before coming of the pitch empty handed as they lost 3-2. Throughout the game, Saints showed they are here to stay since returning to the big time. With some good counter attacking play and at times some strong defending they showed enormous amounts of passion as they really did give the Champions a go.

Moving on from that impressive performance, St Marys Stadium welcomes back Premier League Football after a seven year absence this weekend. Expected to sell out, the Saints will be looking to please a crowd of 32,000 and register their 1^st points in the Premier League this season.

TEAM SELECTION?

Looking back to Sunday, many people questioned Nigel Adkins when everybody couldn’t understand why so called ‘Goal Machine’ Rickie Lambert was on the bench. Furthermore, many people thought that giving James Ward-Prowse his league debut against the reigning champions was also a mistake with new signing and experienced Steve Davis left on the bench.

That backfired on the doubters as young 17 year old Ward-Prowse put in a solid performance against the likes of Ya Ya Toure and Jack Rodwell. After the game, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp stated his thoughts on the youngster. He seemed to have numerous amounts of praise for the lad and he feels he could be one for the future.

Also, leaving Rickie Lambert & Steve Davis on the bench was questioned. However, that was silenced when they both came on to score! Many still say if Rickie Lambert started then Saints could have got something. However, I disagree as I feel Adkins knew if he brought on Lambert, instead of starting him then he would be fresher with the City defence tiring as the game went on. Obviously, it will be questioned like I’ve said but to come on, change the entire game and beat Joe Hart like he did, you can’t complain.

So as Wigan approaches, we are all wandering who will start for the Saints.

It’s unlikely that Olympian Jack Cork will be fit with him out for a week or 2 due to an ankle injury. Other than that, it seems the Saints have an injury-free squad. In Last week’s game Richard Chaplow, Steve De Ridder & Dean Hammond all missed out on making the squad so I’m sure there be eager to make their way into the team.  Pre-Season hot shot Billy Sharp will also be looking to get a start with him playing around 3 minutes on Sunday.

Leading on, Fan Favourite Rickie Lambert and Steve Davis will both be pushing for a start having both scored against Man City.

What System will Adkins play?

At the Weekend, Saints played an unfamiliar 4-3-3 with new skipper Adam Lallana having a free role in behind and round the front 3. Looking into this fixture, I could see Saints playing the usual 4-4-2 with us being on home soil. I feel Rickie Lambert will start alongside Jay Rodriguez with Lallana just behind. If Lallana plays the free role you’re looking at 4-3-1-2 formation.

Possible Starting 11?

4-3-1-2

Davis, Clyne, Hooiveld, Fonte, Fox, Schneiderlin, Ward-Prowse,Davis, Lallana(c), Rodriguez, Lambert.

THE OPPOSTION:

Injury News;

Jean Beausejour missed Wigan’s opener but he is expected to be fit to face Saints whilst midfielder James McArthur seems to be giving Wigan boss Martinez the most concern, he said: 'James was starting to feel his back that has given him a problem in pre-season, but he did so well to last over an hour.
'We never expected him to last that long, but it shows once again his character and what a strong-minded boy he is.'

Also, Shaun Maloney had to leave the Chelsea game early, being substituted shortly after the restart for the second half with what was described, at the time, as a dead leg last weekend but once again Roberto Martinez feels he will be back for the Saints game.

He is not injured but it is questionable whether Victor Moses will play with speculation continuing to grow on him ahead of a possible move to Chelsea.

Danger Men;

If VICTOR MOSES is still a Wigan Player by Saturday then with is abundance of pace and variety of skill, he will certainly be a huge threat on the right hand side.

Also, despite not knowing whether he is going to be fit, I feel SHAUN MALONEY will be a threat in the Centre of Midfield as he is full of experience and he is player that can change a game with a single pass or effort on goal.

SCORE PREDICTION;

SAINTS 3-0 Wigan;

I expect a highly contested game to start off with but I feel if Saints break the deadlock early then they will go on to win convincingly.

This is the 1^st Time Southampton and Wigan will meet in a competitive fixture.

COYR.

Match Report; Man City 3-2 Saints

Southampton, a team oozing with pride and confidence after back to back promotions with manager Nigel Adkins has seen them reach top flight football once again, but this trial may have come so far so soon. They take on the champions, Manchester City, at their own ground, the Etihad. It would be a suprise not to see City triumph here, but does fate have another card it wishes to play? Manager Roberto Mancini has been frustrated with the new policy denying him from making further additions to the team, but a settled side may deem formidable as players improve their rapport with one another.

Having written his name into the history books at the end of last season, Aguero started the new campaign with a moment that he will hope will not last so long in his memory.

The Argentine forward appeared to twist his knee under the sliding challenge of right-back Nathaniel Clyne – who cleanly won the ball – and, after one attempt to get back to his feet, left the Etihad Stadium on a stretcher.


Almost unnoticed amidst the worries of Aguero, Southampton had settled into the game nicely, with Ward-Prowse rushing forward with confidence from central midfield and Joleon Lescott under scrutiny for a tackle on Rodriguez in the City box.

Soon after Dzeko had replaced Aguero, Nasri flicked David Silva's pass into the path of Tevez, who spun past centre-back Jos Hooiveld into the box and was tripped by the Dutch defender's outstretched leg, leaving Howard Webb no choice but to point to the spot.

With Aguero withdrawn and other regular takers Mario Balotelli and James Milner on the bench, Silva had the chance to send City in front but his penalty was poorly struck and Kelvin Davis saved to his left.

Southampton found breaks forward more difficult to come by as the half wore on but defended resolutely, keeping Dzeko away from crosses aimed by full-backs Pablo Zabaleta and Gael Clichy.

Southampton were five minutes away from reaching the break with the deadlock intact when Nasri, allowed too much time and space in the visitors' half, picked out Tevez with a chipped pass that the Argentine scurried on to – just staying in line with Jose Fonte – and rifled past Kelvin Davis at the near post.

Southampton did make it to the break trailing by only a goal but the game was almost put to bed shortly after the restart. Nasri, perhaps only second to Tevez in influence exerted in the first half, fought off Clyne on the left-hand side before directing a low cross into the path of Dzeko, but the Bosnian failed to get proper contact on the ball from point blank range.

Adkins had seen enough, calling Lambert to the touchline in one of two moves that would turn the game on its head, but the striker was still waiting to replace Rodriguez when Silva passed up another golden opportunity. Tevez sped down the right and forced Kelvin Davis to parry his powerful cross before the Spaniard volleyed on to the crossbar after Nasri had controlled the rebound.

It took Lambert less time to find his range and make his mark on the top flight. Guiding a Southampton attack forward, the 30-year-old superbly steered home a precise shot from the edge of the box after Lescott had blocked his attempted through ball back into his path.

The Saints' second-half possession had hovered around the 20 per cent mark and from that point it seemed that preserving their point at all costs would be the order of the day but, once again, Adkins found a way to inspire his team from the bench.

Steven Davis was brought into the fray this time and when Rodwell's poor pass sparked a counter-attack, the former Rangers midfielder took advantage of Adam Lallana's lay-off to find the bottom corner with another fine finish.

The story, with City trailing 2-1, seemed a familiar one and it was to take a familiar next step. This time, it did not take as long for the man who gave the fans inside the Etihad Stadium back in May a shred of hope to find an equaliser. Vincent Kompany returned Nasri's corner to the penalty area with a low shot and after Toure had scrapped for the ball it fell for Dzeko to slam home.

Substitute Balotelli failed to convert a sublime low cross from Nasri as City searched for another dramatic third goal before Dzeko glanced a header narrowly wide.

Once Dzeko had equalised, a winner seemed almost inevitable and City found it with 10 minutes still to play. Clichy's cross from the left was poorly dealt with by his opposite number Danny Fox, with Nasri making no mistake after the defender had headed the ball directly into his path.

Fonte had one chance to grab a point as Southampton pressed for a late leveller but City held out to register their first points of the new campaign.

A promising game from the visitors as they gave city a real fight and more than likely frightened the home fans when they took the lead. But of course, this was the champions they were playing and City quickly rallied their men and began piling on the pressure once again, giving them another late drama come-back.

A good result for newly promoted Southampton and the champions scraped their first win of the campaign to defend their title as 'The champions of England.

For us Saints Fans, if the boys produce performances like that every week then it could be a very happy return for us.

COYR.

Then,Now and the Future

If you’re a Saints Fan then you know that over the past several years it has been an emotional rollercoaster of extreme lows and recently extreme highs. It seems like a distant memory when Southampton were once days away from being liquidated after a turmoil few years of relegations which led to them being sat at the bottom of the third tier of English Football with a -10 points deduction. Like I said, it is now a distant memory with the Saints now being in the elite league of Football with no money troubles whatsoever.

Southampton is now a club fulfilled with ambition and hunger as they look to secure a place in the Premier League for years to come. Manager, Nigel Adkins has done tremendous to bring this club so far in such little time. The former physio therapist has led the Red and White Saints to back to back promotions and shown that his positivity and calmness is what really has spurred the club onto achieving massive successes. Looking into the new season, everyone knows it’s going to be a stern test for the Saints as their 1^st match is against reigning Champions Manchester City. The Club are going there with no fear as they look to show the world what they can do on their overdue return to the Premier League.

Being back in the big time,Chairman Nicola Cortese has expressed how he wants Southampton to be one of the biggest teams in World Football in the near future. He feels the resources are there for The Saints to achieve this so called ‘big ask’. The Saints have always been known for their Academy with it already producing some of the most talented footballers within the Premier League; The likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain,Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale all came from that academy and Southampton will certainly be looking to emulate that success by producing more players with exceptional talent that will in fact stay at St Mary’s to become possible stars on the South Coast in the future. Nigel Adkins has expressed how he would like to see Southampton have 50% of their 1^st team players being graduates from their academy. Reading it, it seems like a massive ask but the way Southampton are going that seems like it is highly possible! With the Saints already renovating their training ground so it suits the Premier League and furthermore, so it gives youngsters the opportunity to maximise their full potential whilst there, they certainly look like they have plans for a successful future after also releasing sketches of Stadium developments a while back which means they are looking to increase the capacity of their ground so that more fans can experience the on-going success of the club. All this is easier said then done and everybody knows that Southampton must stay in the Premier League if they want to achieve, what they have planned.

Saints to Watch

There are a number of players to keep an eye on when the new season begins for Premiership New Boys Southampton;

RICKIE LAMBERT;

The so called 'Goal Machine' has silenced critics by scoring 31 goals all together when stepping up a level to The Chapionship. Having a phenomenal 87 goals in total for the Saints in 3 seasons, many fans are hoping he can prove himself at the top level and going into the season, many teams will fear him. Being 6ft 3; Lambert is a handful when going up against defenders with his strength and power and not only that he has phenomenal accuracy with his head and his right boot. He is certianly Southampton's biggest goal threat and from a personal point of view i hope he proves himself at the top level,not only for Saints,but for himself.



ADAM LALLANA;

Another player who has been one of Southampton's most talked about players over the years. Adam became a fan favourite after staying with the Saints even when they experianced relegation to League 1. Lallana has an abudance of skill and he scores numerous amounts of goals from midfield. Coming through the Saints' youth ranks with the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott,many expect Lallana to be a threat in the Premier League and im sure many managers and former team-mates of Adam will know that.


MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN;

This central midfielder is another one who has featured in Saints' ups and downs in the last several years. From a personal point of view i believe Morgan is a terrific player and he is one of those players who can make a pass that can change the game. A fantastic playmaker,Schneiderlin could really flourish in the Premier League as his vision is fantastic and he certianly knows how to bring others in play in a blink of an eye. He could be a key player this season for the Saints and people should keep an eye on him.




JAY RODRIGUEZ;
Having signed for £7m, alot is expected of the young english striker. Many are expecting Jay to line up next to Rickie Lambert up front. Jay has an abundance of pace and he works extremely hard off the ball. If he is able to work well and build a good partnership with Lambert then not only could they be a dangerous pair but Rodriguez could certainly show why he has a big price tag.



and JAMES WARD PROWSE;
This is one of Saints' latest young prospects. Another central midfielder,James certianly seems to have sublime work-rate off the ball and if he continues to gain experiance next to the likes of Jack Cork and Steve Davis then he could really improve his game and earn a 1st team spot for the future.

The Saints' New Boys

 

Its been a dramatic last number of years for Southampton fans as they have experianced pure heartache and yet pure excitement as they have been taken on an emotional rollercoaster. It seems like a lifetime ago when Southampton were on the verge of becoming extinct from Football with them staring into liquidation. With the Late Markus Leibhurr saving the club just in time, The Saints are now living the dream for themselves and their fans as they are now back in the bigtime after succesfully sealing back to back promotions under Nigel Adkins. With the Saints being on cloud nine for the past seasons it is now time for them to think 'Are They Good Enough?.

If you ask numerous Southampton fans.they will all tell you that they still need to spend money for their squad to be good enough. Since being promoted, Nigel Adkins has brought in just 4 new signings; Nathaniel Clyne,Paulo Gazzaniga,Steve Davis & Jay Rodriguez. From a personal point of view i believe Southampton still need to bring in either 1 or 2 CB's as there are only 3 permantently at the club due to Aaron Martin being on loan to Crystal Palace for the season. Jos Hooiveld and Jose Fonte are set to be The Saints' first choice pair with Dan Seabourne being in the wings. If Southampton dont bring in one then if injury hits one of the 3,the Saints could be in trouble. Furthermore, apart from the addition of Nathaniel Clyne who has bags of pace,Southampton seriously lack pace going not only down the wings but throughtout the whole team. Everyone knows that when you go into the Premier League, most teams have 2 or 3 players that have tremendous pace which helps when going up against defences. So as a whole,Southampton should still look to bring in 3 or 4 players so there squad is more than good enough to withstand Premier League opposition.

With the players that have been brought in,all eyes are on JAY RODRIGUEZ due to the Saints smashing their Record fee to get the young striker. Costing £7m everyone is expecting Rodriguez to show something different in the Premier League and by that all fans are hoping he will flourish and in the near coming future, be there replacement for Rickie Lambert who is likely to be retired. The striker has already impressed by scoring on his debut in a pre season game against Arsenal so, so far
he is certianly looking like he is going to show why he cost such a large amount.

Another addition is Central Midfielder STEVE DAVIS who in my eyes has been brought in due to his wealth of experiance. Not only can he score goals but he also is a very good defensive player. Being captian for Rangers and his country; Steve certianly has leadership qualitys which could help spur on some of the younger players within the squad.

Furthermore, Full Back NATHANIEL CLYNE is someone who is already rated from the likes of Man Utd who were in for him not to long ago. Many Saints fans are already impressed by the young star as he put in a very promising performance against Ajax at the weekend. With an abundance of pace and some great attacking abilities he is sure to be a great addition to the squad.

Lastly, Goalkeeper PAULO GAZZANIGA is the latest signing after being brought in as what maybe soon the new 'No 1'. To be honest i dont know much about him but he did come through the youth academy of Valencia. From what ive seen i can only say his distrubition looks fantastic.

Many Saints fans are looking forward to the Premier League and being one of those fans i am very excited to see what the new season brings.