As detailed here and elsewhere, Southampton (alongside Swansea) are held up as a paragon that we should aim to emulate. And with good reason. Seven years outside the supposed glory-filled, Lineker-fronted, Neville pundited WonderLand, the club tries and succeeds to not only establish themselves in the upper-reaches of the Premier League, but to grow, playing a progressive style of football, carrying on the ethos of the board, as demonstrated by previous and current managers. They continue to establish themselves while somehow remaining a sort-of selling club, albeit with a similar-sounding incoming transfer policy of uncovering rough diamonds, undervalued gems and lesser-scouted talent, all the while promoting talented youngsters from a much-heralded youth system which has produced a large number of Premier League and international players in recent years. There’s lots to admire when it comes to the Saints. Last pre-season's huge upheaval led to predictions of danger and, from some parties, relegation. £90m worth of talent boarded the bus marked Destination Do One which in the last couple of summers has set off towards Liverpool, often stopping at Tottenham. Despite these fears of failure, their rejigged squad improved from 8th in 2013-14 to 7th last season, hugely impressing on the way. In almost every way, Ronald Koeman moved them further than Pochettino. Success this season means another top-10 finish (or higher). Much depends a lot on their Europa League activity. With a potentially far larger number of games scheduled, their squad hasn’t massively improved in depth or quality, although it started from a high base and they’ve mostly replaced like with like. They should still be a strong top-half force. Saints followed up their 2-2 draw against Newcastle by losing 3-0 home to Everton. Interestingly, and relevantly, they conceded from their own corner—which bodes well for our approach to defending set-pieces against WBA. Saints seemed unable to deal with pace and power on the counter. They weren’t particularly aggressive in that game, apart from Oriol Romeu, who was perhaps lucky not to be sent off for two bookings. Looking at their first two games, there is a Schneiderlin-shaped hole in their midfield which we should hope can be exploited by one of our many options there. Much depends on how they approach the game. Everton came at us and we repeatedly hit them on the break. WBA sat back but we struggled to break them down. I suspect Saints will play on the front foot, so we should continue try to stay strong at the back and hit them with pace. Danger men forward Sadio Mané, who scored a 3-minute hat-trick against Villa in May forward Graziano Pellé, who scores bundles at home but relatively rarely away forward Jay Rodriguez, who might have fired the Saints to greater heights last season were it not for long-term injury attacking midfielder Dusan Tadic, a terrifically talented playmaker defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama, who can tackle a lot and pass well enough Upcoming youth products include left-back Matt Targett, midfielder Harrison Reed and winger Lloyd Isgrove. All will be involved this season. Couple of Malteser-esque stats Southampton have now gone eight Premier League matches without a clean sheet, conceding more than once in seven of them They have won just one of their last eight league games; losing five, drawing two and winning one Southampton Factfile Name: Southampton FC Nicknames: The Saints Founded: 21 November 1885 Ground (capacity): St Mary’s Stadium (32,505) Chairman: Ralph Krueger Manager: Ronald Koeman Forums: SaintsWeb, It’s beautiful outside and Southampton Proboards Rivals: Portsmouth (both our main rivals struggle in League 2, thankfully) Previously Head to head: won 25, drawn 17, lost 32 Played for both: Jack Cork, Paul Jones, Carlton Palmer, Grzegorz Rasiak, Fitz Hall and, um, Emma Saunders (geography degree from University of Southampton) Recent signings Jordy Clasie (def midfield): Feyenoord, £8.4m Cédric Soares (right-back): Sporting Lisbon, £6.7m Juanmi (forward): Málaga, £4.9m Cuco Martina (right-back): FC Twente, £1.1m Steven Caulker (centre-back): QPR, season loan Maarten Stekelenberg (keeper): Fulham, season loan Oriol Romeu (def midfield): Chelsea, £4.9m Who’s missing Fraser Forster (knee, returning sometime in 2016) Florin Gardos (knee, Feb 2016) Ryan Bertrand (knee, Sept 2015) Jordy Clasie (ankle, Sept 2015) Gaston Ramires (general disinterest, date unknown) How the season started, as gifs Watford Southampton Predictions Take your pick for the three attackers behind Deeney. I think Ighalo will play as we’re at home, flanked by Jurado and Anya, with Diamante, Layún and Abdi on the bench. Holebas to replace Anya at left-back. Saints play a fluid 4-3-3 bordering on 4-2-3-1, with at least one holding midfielder and two wide attackers. Romeu might get much-needed minutes against Europa League opponents FC Midtjylland, as might Reed. The two-legged tie happens either side of our match. Will they play a full-strength XI against us? One assumes so. Watford (4-2-3-1): Gomes; Nyom, Cathcart, Pr*dl, Holebas; Capoue, Behrami; Anya, Ighalo, Jurado; Deeney Southampton (4-3-3) Stekelenburg; Soares, Yoshida, Fonte, Targett; Steven Davis, Wanyama, Romeu; Rodriguez, Mane, Pelle I’m going for 1-1. Rodriguez with a tap in against the run of play, Ighalo from less than a yard after Saints fail to clear a set-piece. Further listening A Guardian interview with everyone’s favourite ex-Saint, Matt Le Tissier, by Barry Glendenning. Includes life as a Sky Sports pundit, never drinking a pint of lager, nearly moving to Spurs, the whole damn England thing, and sausage and egg McMuffins.
But that's tomorrow by every fixture list I've seen ... However at this stage of the season it will probably do them more good than harm. However we are at home and no doubt they will underestimate us ... it's a definite chance for the 'Orns to bag three points.
Watford 0-3 Southampton Tough afternoon for the hornets as Vydra flicks the v at the Rookery and then throws a punch at Sanchez (but misses obviously and starts mumbling something about 20 goals in a season) for not starting.
2-2 draw. Saints will come to play, unlike the Baggies, so can see us making chances. But they're also great, so will cause Pr*dl & Cathcart all sorts of issues.
Their result against Everton was very interesting last weekend. It'll be intriguing to see how they approach the game, I'm sure they'll be wary of our pace on the counter, but if QSF plays Layun up top we will lose that. Agreed with Holebas back in for Anya at left back, BUT I would have Vydra (right) in behind Deeney along with Jurado (left) and Diamanté centrally. Ighalo hasn't done much wrong, I just feel Vydra deserves a shot and is probably better suited to the role. You can't leave someone like Jurado or Diamanté out either, so Layun and Ighalo would make way. Bench would be; Araluskis, Anya, Angella, Ake, Abdi, Berghuis & Ighalo. Time to get tough, time to be clinical, time to get a win on the board. Watford 2 Saints 1 Deeney & Vydra
What makes you think Vydra is better suited to the role when Quique has come out and said he needs more time to adapt to the system we're playing? Plus I think Anya at full back at home might become a regular thing. Quique said he likes the way he and Jurado combine down the left and although Holebas isn't slow, Anya probably has the better pace to combat Mane.
lol after all the fuss over Watford and Roma transferring Holebas without his knowledge, he loses his place to Anya
He might play Sunday, I think he's really good. I just remember seeing something from Quique saying that Anya and Jurado were a good partnership. That might have just been to play against West Brom though as they were quite narrow.
Fair point, Hornet23. Don't forget Vydra played quite deep at times last season, Brentford at home as an example where he excelled. He's an intelligent player, I'm sure it won't take him long to work it out! I just don't feel Ighalo is that type of player. If Deeney isn't firing he should be used as the replacement directly up top, not in a 'three' behind. I'm utterly unconvinced by Layun. I genuinely don't think he or QSF know what his best role in the side is. He doesn't have pace, he isn't blessed with skill to go past people, he isn't great at tackling and he isn't the best passer either. Really don't think he's suited to the English game at any level, be it Premiership or Championship. I know my opinion will be unpopular with most, I get he's a 'nice bloke' and would love him to prove me wrong and have a great season, I just don't see it. Sorry, I think he will be in Spain by end of January.
My view is that Layun will be dropped for Berghuis, with Diamanté on the bench. I don't think Anya will be dropped as the connection he had with Jurado was excellent at times (just lacked an end product, but I am sure that will be pointed out in training). I cant see Vydra getting any game time at the moment, if QSF does not like his application in training.. he is not going to reward him (to prove him wrong) with game time. There is too many others that have impressed him that are not starting currently. Southampton will be a harder test for our defence, but we do look (at the moment) solid.. compared to the last couple of seasons. I can see this being 2-0, Southampton will come thinking they can just turn up and win... they are in for a shock.
In a season full of unknowns, I have no idea what team QSF will put out. It's pretty mental what options we have at our disposal.
If Abdi is to be included it has to be where Jurado played last week. I'd put Jurado on the right, I'm sure he could handle it. Almen would have buried the chance that Jurado skied horribly.
I'm really looking forward to seeing Layun and Mane on the pitch at the same time. Might even let out a little roar of appreciation.
Normally I make my opinion based on Moog's 'from the dressing room'. Three games in he hasn't delivered. I guess he fell out with Deeney or was lying all along.
I'm sure Anya's lack of an end-product has been pointed out before - but it hasn't made much difference. Frustrating, as he gets into great positions.
That would amost certainly mean two of Igs,Troy or Vydra missing out, are you sure you want to go there?
