Southampton V Coventry City The Preview Tuesday, 9th Apr 2024 09:20 In a matter of weeks Saints have gone from automatic promotion contenders to also rans and the defeat at Blackburn highlighted just how low morale seems to be in not only the squad but supporters, now we need to get back on track. Southampton face a Coventry side at St Mary's this evening who are high on confidence and still fighting on two fronts, the first to force themselves into the play offs and the second an FA Cup semi final at Wembley against Manchester United in just 11 days time. As it stands they sit one place behind the last play of spot and are 4 points behind Norwich with a game in hand, they have a lot to play for in the next week or so. But so do Saints, they sit 12 points ahead of Coventry and a win tonight would all but seal our place in the play offs, a win tonight would leave us 15 points ahead of the Sky Blues and they would have only 5 games left in the season and we would have a plus goal difference over them of at least 9 goals.
But as we have faltered we are leaving ourselves in danger of letting even 4th place slip from our grasp, West Brom are now just 6 points behind us, although we have 2 games in hand and time is running out and the Baggies themselves have just 5 games left to play. So we need to get back on track tonight, although Russell Martin still talks about a faint hope of finishing in the top two if we win everyone of our 7 games left, the reality is that at the moment this is pie in the sky, we have to take every day as it comes and win one game at a time. Good sides don't become bad ones overnight, but we have become one without any sort of leadership or identity and more worryingly one that is low on confidence. Up at Blackburn you could see the fear in the side, no one was willing to play the killer ball, take on their man, they were all concerned with not making mistakes and getting the blame.
Recent selections by the manager have put uncertainty into the squad, if a player like Kyle Walker Peters, a player who is in line for player of the year and is the best right back in the division can be dropped for seemingly one error, whose position is safe ! Well seemingly one man is guaranteed to play, but I am desperately trying not to make this preview all about that ! So what team will Saints play this evening ? That is a big big question and one that is hard to answer without bringing up the white elephant in the room. The simple answer is we have to play the best players in their right positions, square pegs in square holes & we have to play to our strengths.
So that means in goal Gavin Bazunu, he has come under fire, but he is still the best option at the club, for 22 games unbeaten in the League Bazunu was a big part of what had become the tightest defence in the league, yes he made the odd mistake, but he also made some vital saves and let's be honest you don't go 22 games unbeaten with a dodgy keeper. Bazunu has not been great in the last month or two in terms of goals conceded, but he has had little cover from his defence either. In defence 3 members of that pick themselves on merit, KWP at right back, Taylor Harwood-Bellis & Jan Bednarek if fit should play.
The left back spot is controversial, Ryan Manning has been the usual incumbent and since his axing we have struggled to mount convincing attacks on the left side, going forward Manning was a key player, yes his defensive qualities lacked a little, but again he wasn't helped by those around him. James Bree is another option and if you are looking to concentrate on keeping it tight at the back then I can see why he would be played ahead of Manning. Of course at Ipswich & Blackburn we had Jack Stephens in what is not being described by Russell Martin as a hybrid role where he starts at left back, but spends most of his time in the centre of the midfield. I am not sure about this role, when you are playing well it can work, but we are in a run of bad form so it should be back to basics, stick with the formation that got us through 22 games without defeat, keep it simple so everyone knows there job and where their team mates are going to be at any given situation. So the centre of midfield should be Flynn Downes, Will Smallbone and Stuart Armstrong, end of this is the proven trio and it has a balance with both Stuart & Will having an eye for goal and surging forward to create chances. If one of them isn't fit then either Joe Aribo who I could be persuaded should start before Smallbone or Joe Rothwell are the men or even Shea Charles, what is not the answer is a central defender, who as a midfielder is behind all 6 in his ability in that position.
Up front it is a little more difficult, Adam Armstrong should be in week in week out and I find it worrying that in recent weeks Russell Martin has taken off his leading scorer just when we need goals as he did on Saturday at Blackburn. WE have two options the first is to start as we did on Saturday with Adam Armstrong in the centre flanked by David Brooks & Ryan Fraser, the second is to play Adam out wide with Che Adams in the middle and Fraser on the left.
That was the most successful formation in that run, but the reality is that we have so many options, Russell Martin isn't sure which one is the best and so the temptation too often is to make changes just because he can. This is a vital game for Southampton, not just because by getting 3 points we will have virtually guaranteed a play off spot, as well as put distance behind us in 4th and West Brom who now see us in their sights. But also because we have to get back our momentum and build that in the run in to hopefully the play off finals. This is a key moment in Russell Martin's season, he has to show leadership, sometimes the Wisdom of crowds, the theory that large groups of people are sometimes better than a few people or indeed a single person in making judgements, can be a good barometer, but I fear that at the moment Russell Martin has backed himself into a corner with some of his recent comments.
It will be very difficult for him to now back down from his recent team selection without publicly admitting his own mistakes or hanging out one particular player to dry. Therefore I think that our starting line up will be nearer the one at Blackburn than it will be most of our 22 game unbeaten run. Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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