Ah feck, just realized this game is on Monday. This is two games I'm going to miss in a row.
FA Premier League
Southampton 1:2 Manchester United
St. Mary's
- Kick-off
- Mon, 8 December 2014 @ 8:00pm GMT
- Status
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Closed
Discussion Live Updates 56 Your Lineup Prediction
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I don't know whether it was their plan to just concentrate on defense in an away match but they looked pretty terrible in attack all match, only 1 shot on target all game.
Defensively incredibly solid though, as you would expect the current tightest defense in the league to be, will cause us a lot of problems especially if we're still without Rooney.If we pull off this away win we'll be sitting in third with most of our players back for the Liverpool game, I'm a bit nervous without full backs and Di Maria (possibly Rooney too) but it could be a huge win for us!They're incredibly solid with a magnificent keeper. When they were undone tonight (11 vs. 11) it took some exceptional Arsenal football.
I think it will be difficult without the genius of Di Maria and Rooney. May just need some luck. They're looking flat up front though which suits our resurgent defence.Alderweireld just limped off against Arsenal, leaving them with 10 men for last 10 mins. He'd be a significant loss to them on Monday if still out. Arsenal scored after he went off.
Hopefully Rooney & Rafael come back. Fingers crossed Falcao gets at least 45 mins, hopefully he starts. Can't see Angel returning until Pool game.I watched today's game with Arsenal. Their attack looks awful and build up is only along the wings through Tadic or Long. Hope we dont leave too much space with our Diamond formation. Their defense looks decent, compact and composed, not to mention Arsenal awful play. Arsenal players are out of sync for almost 85 mins. Saints Goal keeper made some good saves from Welbeck and Giroud. I guess we can win this game provided we show up with our A game.I don't think it will be a diamond formation. Probably a 3-5-2, similar to the Arsenal game.
de Gea
Smalling - McNair - Rojo
Valencia - Carrick - Fellaini - Young
Herrera
van Persie - Rooney/WilsonThis will be a hard one for us and the whole Koeman v LVG subplot will be interesting.
I hope Falcao starts tbh. Southampton are hard enough to break down (outside of the citeh game) And Falcao in the box would be more effective than a young Wilson just nowThis has 1-1 written all over it for me. Southampton need a response and their fans will be in full voice.
What's with the obsession with McNair? He's a young lad that did well when he came in but he's still well short of finishing his education. Now that we have Smalling and Rojo fit, Evans nearly back and Jones not too far off its time for McNair to finish his education with out reserves and then look for a suitable loan.
It'll be the same 4-1-3-2/3-5-2 hybrid it's been the last couple of matches.
It's a 6 day break between the last match and this one and a 5 day break until Liverpool so we won't be resting anyone yet.
DDG
Valencia - Smalling - Rojo - Young
Carrick
Fellaini - Herrera - Mata
Rooney - Van PersieWaiting for a more reliable source, but looking like Rooney will be fit to play which is a massive boost for us:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...mpton-news-captain-Wayne-Rooney-fit-play.htmlSouthampton could be missing a bunch of key players. We are perfectly capable of winning this match..Doubt lvg will change much of the squad or formation... To be honest.... I wouldn't even say we have a formation.... The team rotates so much that it's hard to pic out a formation... Players are so versatile... We see even fellaini on the wing. Most we will do is bring in Rooney and or di Maria if fit... And play our game. As mentioned there attack is quite disjointed... And without schneiderlin they look lost going forward. Still Confident of a hard fought 3 pointsCork got injured, and Alderweireld, so if they are not ready with Morgan, I think that Saints will be in big problems.
Looks like they're going to be missing a large chunk of their midfield for the match.
Welcome to our world of constant injuries in key positions Southampton.We really have to grab the 3 points here. Set up the way we did against Arsenal. Could Januzaj start for a bit more pace?We're going to dick them, they're an over rated sack of shite. 0-3.
They are not, but they don't have proper cover for the players they have.Can see us drawing this. Defense needs to stay tight and hit them on the break. Like to see Januzaj start this one and use his pack with Falcao up front.
Be amazing to get a win at St Mary'sI would prefer us to play a 4-3-3 but I wouldn't be surprised if we go with the 3-5-2 or continue with the diamond.
De Gea
Valencia--Smalling--Rojo--Young
Fellaini--Carrick--Herrera
Mata--Rooney--Januzaj
or
De Gea
Smalling--Evans--Rojo
Valencia--Carrick--Fellaini--Young
Mata
Rooney--Wilson
or
De Gea
Valencia--Smalling--Rojo--Young
Carrick
Fellaini--Mata
Herrera
Rooney--Wilson
Can you explain why you think this, just interested.Last edited:Ddg
Valencia Smalling Rojo Young
Carrick
Fellaini Herrera
Mata
Falcao Rvp (rooney if fit)Our lucks looking like its changing
They picked up a few injuries against Arsenal right? We're playing them at a good time.Important game!
Obviously we have to beat Southampton and then fight with City for second place. Chelsea will win it, but it is important to claim second place.Well looking at physioroom; We already know who won't make it
- Di Maria, minor ligament tear = 3/4 weeks out excluding training.
- Luke Shaw has a minor ankle ligament damage = 2/3 weeks including training due back on 14/12 to training
- Jones indefinitely crocked along with Daley Blind
- We know Evans played a reserve game with Herrera and Januzaj. We know Falcao is building up his fitness and match sharpness.
- Rooney only has a bruised knee and a few lumps to bury.
- While Rafael has been making a slow recovery but nonetheless has been spotted training.
I would predict we should expect to see;
------------ DDG
Rafa--Smalling--Rojo--Young
-----------Carrick
-----Fellaini----Herrera
--------Mata--Rooney
------------ RVP
But seeing as we have a terrible away record, and the saints will be tough opposition, I would prefer to see LVG gamble with Rojo at left back over Young and throw Paddy McNair/Evans into that central defense.
Then again this cautious away game may require the spontaeneous dribbles of say Ashley Young + Valencia, rather than fullbacks such as Rafa and Rojo that maybe more conservatively inclined to play to their known strengths; playing to position and hold their line rather than breaking rank as AV + AY do in order to achieve some sort of gratification of fulfilling their wingers dutys simultaneously.
-I'm thinking we could do with Janzuaj for this one to play in the 'Robben role' seeing as Di Maria will most likely be out. We need to stretch teams by using some width.
I would go for:
De Gea
Valencia - Smalling - Rojo - Young
Carrick
Herrera - Fellaini
Mata
Januzaj - Rooney
Evans has played two reserves games now and he played full 90 min on Monday. I would have him as LCB and Rojo as LB. Need to negate Clyne's threat on that side and Clyne will be tough for Young to handle. Otherwise, would like to see Falcao-Rooney upfront.They have no depth and some of their first choice are injured. City dismantled them with 10 men, their keeper turned into Superman against Arsenal and they still lost. Expect at least a 3-0 win.
That's a good shout, to be fair. Be a shame to drop Young after such a good performance against Stoke, but Rojo, as you said, should hopefully negate Clyne's threat down the right hand side.
As for Falcao, I still don't think he's at the stage where he should be starting games yet. Looked very rusty when coming on the other day against Stoke. Yes, only match time will give him that sharpness, but I still think he should be eased in, which is why I'd personally start Januzaj to give us that width and directness. Doubt it's going to happen, mind.
We'll most likely see Rooney and Van Persie up top, although I found it interesting that before Di Maria got injured against Hull, Van Gaal put Rooney and Di Maria up top (Di Maria pulling out wide) with Van Persie in behind them, which is why I suggested Januzaj to start up top.
With Alderweireld out, and few good midfielders missing from Southampton team, I believe we can have better control of midfield and create chances for Falcao. Only goals and start will help in getting in groove I suppose. Coming on at 70 min is not helping whatever the scenario.
Ya it is likely that RvP will again be in contention to start, but I am hoping finally Falcao gets an opportunity.I'd be shocked if Southampton don't line up like this:
Forster
Clyne - Yoshida - Fonte - Bertrand
Davis - Wanyama - Ward-Prowse
Long - Pelle - Mane
Lack of depth beyond the first 11 starting to show. That is still a good team but Alderweireld and Schneiderlin will be big misses. Yoshida is poor. Southampton will miss the defensive stability provided by the defensive nous of Wanyama and Schneiderlin/Cork. I rate JWP but he is only young and neither he nor Davis are particularly defensively-minded. Wanyama is a beast but we should still have the upper hand in that midfield battle.
If nobody is back, I'd go with the same team that started vs Stoke.Last edited:DDG: Obvious Pick
Rafael: Been reading here on the caf that he will be ready for this game
Smalling: Obvious Pick these days
Rojo: No other choice
Young: No other choice
Carrick
Fellaini
Valencia: Right Wing, provide pace and power to the right wing. Will add width and also help Rafael out defensively
Rooney: CAM/CF
Mata: On the left side, supported by Ashley Young. Not the best out and out left winger. But with the right wing providing the width and Ashley Young growing in confidence, we can afford to have Mata drift in a lot.
RVP: Falcao not ready yet, Wilson did next to nothing in the game against Stoke.
Formation:
---------------DDG--------------
Rafael---Smalling--Rojo---Young
--------Fellaini----Carrick--------
Valencia----Rooney-------Mata--
--------------RVP----------------Assuming Rafael & Evans will be back as per return dates.
---------------DDG--------------
Rafael---Smalling---Evans---Rojo
--------Fellaini----Carrick--------
Herrera----Rooney-------Mata--
--------------RVP----------------
This will do the job. But i prefer playing falcao for RVP.Can anyone clear up who is out or doubtful from Southampton's First XI?
Don't think Schneiderlin, Cork or Alderweireld will make it.To be honest the points and position they are in makes them seem they are a bigger threat than they are, they will be a tough team to break down but if we bring our A game i think we can do it convincingly, really missing rooney last game his integral to how we move the ball in final third, he disrupts defences RVP not so much.we coonceeded a stupid goal against stoke, carrick shouldnt have been suckerd into bojans run if he sticked to his position he wouldnt have scored. thats what van gaal meant by playing your position.- Status
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Compiled from 552 ratings.
Score Predictions
567,59,130
- Man Utd win
- Southampton win
- Draw
Detailed Results
- 31% Southampton 1:2 Man Utd
- 16% Southampton 1:3 Man Utd
- 12% Southampton 0:2 Man Utd
- 9% Southampton 1:1 Man Utd
- 6% Southampton 2:2 Man Utd
- 5% Southampton 0:1 Man Utd
- 4% Southampton 2:3 Man Utd
- 3% Southampton 2:1 Man Utd
- 3% Southampton 0:3 Man Utd
- 2% Southampton 0:0 Man Utd
- 1% Southampton 0:5 Man Utd
- 1% Southampton 1:4 Man Utd
- 1% Southampton 3:1 Man Utd
- 1% Southampton 2:0 Man Utd
- 1% Southampton 1:0 Man Utd
- 1% Southampton 0:4 Man Utd
- 1% Southampton 2:4 Man Utd
- 1% Southampton 5:0 Man Utd
- 0% Southampton 3:0 Man Utd
- 0% Southampton 3:2 Man Utd
- 0% Southampton 3:4 Man Utd
- 0% Southampton 3:5 Man Utd
- 0% Southampton 4:0 Man Utd
- 0% Southampton 4:1 Man Utd
- 0% Southampton 4:5 Man Utd
Match Stats
- Southampton
- Man Utd
- Possession
- 52% 48%
- Shots
- 15 3
- Shots on Target
- 4 2
- Corners
- 5 1
- Fouls
- 12 9
Referee
Kevin Friend
Man Utd Lineup
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replaced by Jonny Evans
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replaced by Ander Herrera
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replaced by Darren Fletcher
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