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Pre Match Pre Match - Saints (A) - Sunday 2pm

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Brizzle

Brizzle

Deposed match thread starter
Member
Back at work after the weekend means one thing - its time to give us a thread to speculate ahead of the PL returning at the weekend.

As mentioned in another thread - a few of our players are actually getting a whole week off - notably those with England (Jones) and France (Ibu), with some others not far behind (Scotland last game is Monday, Netherlands last game is Tuesday, Hungary last game Tuesday, and then all of the SA chaps play late Tuesday/early Wednseday UK time).

What does this mean? Who knows - but likely another start for Gakpo and maybe a European midfield. The main rotation spot i'm interested in is Robbo - we need him for City, so do we play him against Saints or against Madrid - as I don't think we want to risk all 3.

I think we'll see

Kelleher

Bradley
Konate
Virgil
Tsimikas

Gravenberch
Jones
Szobo

Salah
Nunez
Gakpo


Great team to put out, and lets Macca, Diaz, Robbo all get some much needed rest ahead of the Madrid, City, Newcastle run. Trent presumably back somewhere in that run too.

Injury returners - Elliot and Alisson are possibly back by Saints, I wonder if we'll see both on the bench. I hope we don't rush Ali back, but I would be quite happy to see him back for City.

Other question marks over Chiesa (not holding my breath) and Jota (who could be back for City or Newcastle).
 
Some opposition news

- Ramsdale looks to be out with a broken finger
- Bednarek doubtful with an injury
- Downes doubtful with an injury
 
Nice to play on a Sunday after internationals for a change (although I think we may've played the last 1 on a Sunday too) + live on Sky Sports baby.

0-5 to the mighty red men.

These are absolutely fucking shite.
 
Do we not feel Nunez might be rested from his long trip? Might see some variety up top with gakpo and Salah.
 
binomial said:
Nice to play on a Sunday after internationals for a change (although I think we may've played the last 1 on a Sunday too) + live on Sky Sports baby.

0-5 to the mighty red men.

These are absolutely fucking shite.
Click to expand...

Yep - they are shite and missing their GK, best CB and a regular CM.

They did however keep things tight against City so we can expect a parked bus with Cameron Archer trying to get us on the counter.
 
I'd be surprised if Tsimikas and Bradley play, I think it will be one or the other with maybe Gomez figuring, who knows though. Szobo could come back in, depends who's fresh in training I suppose. He has a real headache though with Diaz, Nunez and Macca. Ideally you want to rest all three, but then Diaz has had a bit of a rest between the last two international breaks, so maybe that was in anticipation of keeping him fresh for the Christmas run-in.
 
------------------- Kelleher

Trent --- Konate ---------- Virgil ---- Tsimikas

---------------- Gravenberch

---------------------------------- Jones

------------ Szobo

Salah -------------- Nunez ------------ Gakpo

It's Southampton so I can't see Gomez starting. I could maybe see Bradley for Trent though.

We really need Elliott and Jota back though for the coming month.
 
Shay_K said:
Unless my maths is wrong Macca is one card away from a ban. We might consider saving him for the City game, am not sure but I don't think a yellow against Madrid counts.
Click to expand...

You would be correct.

Mac has been so far off the pace this season I'm not too sure how big a miss he'd be - the dynamism and athletism just isn't there, that games suspension is coming so only a matter of time before we find out.
 
Shay_K said:
Unless my maths is wrong Macca is one card away from a ban. We might consider saving him for the City game, am not sure but I don't think a yellow against Madrid counts.
Click to expand...
True:

Macca 4
Konate 3
Szobo 3

8 games to go before they're reset so you can pretty much guarantee that they'll all get suspended before the cut off.

But yeah, I'd rest Macca or have him on the bench against Southampton. Only bring him on if he's needed.

I kinda hope that Slot starts Endo, so we can rest Szobo too.
 
----------------------Kelleher-------------------
---Trent-----Konate------------Virgil----Tsimikas----
-----------------------Grav---------------------------
------------Szobo----------------Jones-------------
-----Salah-----------Nunez--------------Gakpo----

It’s crucial to rest the South American players as much as possible. Anyone who remembers Mac Allister struggling post-international break last season can attest to how important this is. Nunez should start—he hasn’t played much football recently—and we can bring on Diaz for the final 30 minutes if or when Nunez begins to tire.

The forward line should be relishing the prospect of their expansive style of play. They recently pushed City, earning praise from Pep and Silva for their performance. They’ve had a couple of red cards this season—one came when they were already well-beaten by United, while another cost them against Leicester.

The main danger lies in their ability to play out from the back, and our high press hasn’t been particularly effective this season, with teams finding ways to bypass the 4-2-4 setup. I don’t want to overstate the risk—this should be a comfortable three points—but Slot needs to find ways to pin them in their half to neutralise whatever threat they pose.

Getting the supporting cast fit again is getting ever important. Slot has done well managing minutes for the core group, but days like this highlight how much we miss players like Elliott, Jota, and Chiesa, at least on paper.
 
Squiggles said:
----------------------Kelleher-------------------
---Trent-----Konate------------Virgil----Tsimikas----
-----------------------Grav---------------------------
------------Szobo----------------Jones-------------
-----Salah-----------Nunez--------------Gakpo----
Click to expand...
Now where have I seen that before 🤔
 
binomial said:
You would be correct.

Mac has been so far off the pace this season I'm not too sure how big a miss he'd be - the dynamism and athletism just isn't there, that games suspension is coming so only a matter of time before we find out.
Click to expand...
I reckon most of our lads are still adapting to the demands of Arne and the new coaches, I still think Dom and Macca will come good.
 
Modo said:
True:

Macca 4
Konate 3
Szobo 3

8 games to go before they're reset so you can pretty much guarantee that they'll all get suspended before the cut off.

But yeah, I'd rest Macca or have him on the bench against Southampton. Only bring him on if he's needed.

I kinda hope that Slot starts Endo, so we can rest Szobo too.
Click to expand...
If this proves anything it's that we need midfield reinforcements, and if we can get someone decent with Premier League experience in the break it would be a bonus.
 
Elsewhere Szobo is playing 90 mins. Well the game isn't over yet but looks likely.

So based on level of "freshness" I'd play this team:

Kelleher

Bradley
Konate
Van Dijk
Tsimikas

Gravenberch
Endo
Jones

Salah
Gakpo
Nunez
(Here's where Chiesa would have been useful)
 
Modo said:
Elsewhere Szobo is playing 90 mins. Well the game isn't over yet but looks likely.

So based on level of "freshness" I'd play this team:

Kelleher

Bradley
Konate
Van Dijk
Tsimikas

Gravenberch
Endo
Jones

Salah
Gakpo
Nunez
(Here's where Chiesa would have been useful)
Click to expand...
👍
 
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