Southampton (H): Pre-match thoughts, preferred XI, team news & predicted line-ups

Olly Hawkins
The definition of a six-pointer, this one. Win and we’ll go 4 points clear of Southampton, but lose and they’ll be 2 points ahead.
 
As Rafa Benitez will tell you, this game won’t define our season, with us having 24 points available to still be won after it, however there’s no denying that this is a huge chance to get closer to where we want to be.
 
Interestingly, Southampton have had such a similar season to us. Both Benitez and Pellegrino’s sides have virtually the same goal difference, goals scored, points and goals against, however Pellegrino’s pre-game comments make me think they’ll have a far more conservative approach to this game than Benitez’s NUFC.
 
Benitez has vowed to attack, but the Saints boss has claimed pre-kick off that both teams would take a point. They’ve won just 1 in their last 16 and drawn 9 of those, suggesting he often sets up not to avoid defeat, not take all three points.
 
We were criticised at Anfield for not having a go and surrendering to a defeat, but I think we’ll be trying to match that intensity and attacking intent shown in the win over Man Utd last time out at St James’. That’s the plan anyway..

Preferred XI

I’d make just two changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Liverpool last weekend, bringing in Ritchie and Perez for Atsu and Murphy.

We need to approach this game as we did Man Utd at home last time out, so playing practically the same side makes sense to me:

Merino looked off the pace at Anfield, but he’s the best options for me (presuming Shelvey does miss out). Hayden is an alternative, but a midfield combination of him and Diame seems far too defensive in a game we should be looking to attack.

Atsu and Murphy started last time out at Liverpool, however both were pretty ineffective and having Perez and Ritchie back in the side will make sense in a bid to replicate the front-foot performance we put in against Man Utd in our last game at St. James’.

We need more from Kenedy, who was sloppy last weekend, however he’s a player who’s far more suited to playing on the front foot – so this tomorrow’s game should hopefully suit him.

Having Gayle and Perez at it could be key. They had great energy and enthusiasm about them against Man Utd and never gave their centre-backs a moments rest. We need that again tomorrow to unsettle a Southampton side low on confidence.

Predicted NUFC XI – (4-2-3-1) – Dubravka– Yedlin, Lascelles, Lejeune, Dummett – Diame, Merino – Ritchie, Perez, Kenedy –  Gayle

 

The Opposition

Here’s a few players to watch out for tomorrow’s visitors:

Mario Lemina – The central midfielder their best player at St Mary’s earlier in the season and he looks a cut above most of their players when I’ve watched them recently. An impressive all-rounder who looks destined for bigger things to me.

 Ryan Bertrand – An England international full-back whose a threat going forward and often their out ball down the left. Ritchie and Yedlin will need to keep an eye on him.

James Ward-Prowse – Aside from Kevin De Bruyne, I don’t think there’s anyone with better delivery into the box than him. We’ll need to be on our guard from set pieces if he starts.

Dusan Tadic – Has plenty of ability but doesn’t always turn up. Could be a threat from the number 10 role. Another one for Diame to watch.

Predicted Southampton XI – (4-3-3) – McCarthy – Cedric, Stephens, Hoedt, Bertrand – Lemina, Romeu – Ward-Prowse, Tadic, Redmond – Carrillo

For an inside look into this weekend’s opponents, take a look at the latest edition of the ‘Opposition Opinion’ . A great insight into this weekend’s opponents.

 

Form

Newcastle – 16th (29 pts) – Last 5 in the league – Won: 1 / Drawn: 3 / Lost: 1

Southampton – 17th ( 28 pts) – Last 5 in the league – Won: 1 / Drawn: 3 / Lost: 1

 

Team news

Benitez has confirmed that he will make a late decision tomorrow on Jonjo Shelvey, whilst Islam Slimani remains on the sidelines, with Huddersfield hit target on March 31st.

Rob Elliot and Jesus Gamez have been ruled out by Rafa today (what is going on with the latter I will never know!)

For Southampton, Steven Davis and Maya Yoshida are out with hamstring and knee injuries respectively, whilst striker Charlie Austin remains a long-term absentee.

 

Match Prediction

Show the sort of desire, intensity and concentration levels as we did last time out at home against Man Utd and I’m almost certain we’ll get the result we need in this one – but doing that against a ‘lesser side’ just isn’t what we tend to do!

That being said, we can see the finish line now and I think Benitez and the boys will be fully focused here and ready to take all three points.

It’s a huge game, but I have faith in Benitez’s calming influence when it comes to these sort of situations. It’s down to the players to deliver, but I think we’ll have enough.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-0 Southampton

Howay the lads!

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

View all posts by Olly Hawkins →

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165 thoughts on “Southampton (H): Pre-match thoughts, preferred XI, team news & predicted line-ups”

  1. kimtoon: He’s played there in his career mate, so you are right there. But I really would like to see Merino get a chance there. Maybe he’s out as he’s still not totally fit, he didn’t look 100% the last game to be fair. It’s a back injury I believe and that is difficult to rectify, it affects all of you cause your gait goes out of kilter .
    When I did my back I was walking oddly to avoid pain and getting in and out the car was really difficult and led to me tearing the meniscus in my knee as a result. Back injuries are big problems.

    Tell me about it. I threw my back out 15 years ago and it is still a problem. When the club said Merino would be out for 2 weeks with a back problem I was like – 2 months minimum. It is a stress fracture so I am surprised he is back so quickly.

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  2. S’ton have 13 draws. I am going with 1-1. I don’t want to, but, alright 2-1 to the Toon. Forced my own hand.

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  3. Eric Sykes: Tell me about it. I threw my back out 15 years ago and it is still a problem. When the club said Merino would be out for 2 weeks with a back problem I was like – 2 months minimum. It is a stress fracture so I am surprised he is back so quickly.

    spot on mate, 2 weeks was way too ambitious, like you my back and the knee despite the op are still not brilliant.

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  5. Kennedy’s first goal, didn’t even have time to say HWTL 😆
    Hope we ain’t scored too early though.

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  15. Superb counter attack after their corner, must keep Kennedy on the pitch today let him try for a hat trick.

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  22. So important to go into this 21 day break on a high.
    Gonna drive me nuts us not playing for that long.

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  23. For those who don’t get the game live – Southampton have looked totally toothless. Done nothing. Pressed a bit but with no end product. Actually, no product.

    Hopefully it will carry on in the same vein.

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  24. Great first half.. I don’t comment much when I can watch live, but great half and happy for Kenedy. That second goal was a good team effort but first was excellent from Kenedy. More of the same please… maybe I will not have phase 3 after all. ??

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  39. jesus, Hammers fans invading pitch and having a pop at their players 😯 Mark noble in altercation with fan

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  44. Baggies 3.0 down
    West Ham 2.0 down
    Brighton 2.0 down

    More pitch invaders at West Ham, club will get a fine for failing to control the fans at this rate

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  49. West Ham 3.0 down now, joe hart spills a long range shot 😳 So glad we got Dubravka and not him.

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  52. Gold and Sullivan being escorted away from the game for their own safety as Hammers fans stand in front the directors box, ugly scenes apparently.

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  57. And that’s it, good win and great set of results if it stays like this.
    gotta be first up on MOTD surely ?

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  60. I am so happy about West Ham. All of the Fleet Street fan boys can all go and **** off.

    Joe Cole the next Marradonna!

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  62. kimtoon:
    Gold and Sullivan being escorted away from the game for their own safety as Hammers fans stand in front the directors box, ugly scenes apparently.

    They showed it on TV here and the fans were mad as hell.

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  64. Cracking good result that. Other results went our way too. Could not ask for more. Goal difference improved as well, so that’s a plus too. I would still like us to go for it to the end like Arsenal, City and Liverpool do. We could’ve had 5 or 6 today I’d we had really gone for it, but happy with 3 and a clean sheet. ???

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  68. Just run a predictor. To be honest I can see Palace doing well with 5 winnable games. However Stoke might get 4 pts, Soton might get 4 pts, and I doubt that WHU or Huddersfield will get even that. Could be Stoke on 31 pts and Soton, WHU and Huddersfield fighting it out on 32 for goal difference. They all have very difficult run in’s.

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  70. I don’t want the Mackems to get relegated. Midtable Championship for the next 30 years will do me. Not the 3rd Division though.

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  71. Premandup:
    Just run a predictor. To be honest I can see Palace doing well with 5 winnable games. However Stoke might get 4 pts, Soton might get 4 pts, and I doubt that WHU or Huddersfield will get even that. Could be Stoke on 31 pts and Soton, WHU and Huddersfield fighting it out on 32 for goal difference. They all have very difficult run in’s.

    Palace have some tough games coming up.

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  72. Nice way to start the lengthy gap of no games.
    Lets hope Chelsea give us a perfect set of results today by humping palace
    Will Slimani be back after the break

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  73. Premandup:
    Just run a predictor. To be honest I can see Palace doing well with 5 winnable games. However Stoke might get 4 pts, Soton might get 4 pts, and I doubt that WHU or Huddersfield will get even that. Could be Stoke on 31 pts and Soton, WHU and Huddersfield fighting it out on 32 for goal difference. They all have very difficult run in’s.

    That doesn’t happen Prem. 34 will go down and 37 will stay up.

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  74. True but palace play, Huddersfield, Bournemouth, Brighton, Stoke and West Brom. I think the ought to get enough points from those games to survive.

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  75. Premandup:
    True but palace play, Huddersfield, Bournemouth, Brighton, Stoke and West Brom. I think the ought to get enough points from those games to survive.

    Wishful thinking on my part maybe? I want Mr. Roy relegated.

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