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Saints V Leicester City The Preview
Friday, 24th Aug 2018 14:41

Tough game for Saints but they really do need to win this one to get some faith back into the fanbase and kick start the season.

In many respects outside of playing one of the big 6 Saints could not have had a tougher start that the two opening fixtures they have had, although only 1 point was gained from those fixtures there were mitigating circumstances in both.

Now though hopefull Mark Hughes is at the crucial moment where he knows his best team, has an injury free squad to choose from and now has to put it all into practice and make it work.

If we can beat Leicester then we have a solid start behind us, anything less and questions will start to be asked.

The key will firstly be having Jannik Vestergaard back in defence, in the opening game he formed a good partnership with Wesley Hoedt and we kept a clean sheet, at Everton we were all at sea at the back, but we can't judge this season on that display, it was the same issues as last season, we have to judge the Vestrgaard/Hoedt partnership on its merits after several games not just one.

In central midfield it will be more difficult Hughes has plenty of options yet can't seem to decide, I would expect Stuart Armstrong to start and I would also like to see Pierre Emile Hojbjerg alongside him, but after that it's not so easy, Lemina has not been consistent, he really shouldbe our best player, but his flaw is that he is very hit and miss either absolutely brilliant or rubbish, Romeu hasn't quite hit the heights of a couple of years ago yer, for me I would stick with Lemina.

Out wide I would go with Nathan Redmond with Moi Elyounoussi on the other side and play Danny Ings up front.

This would be a solid 4-3-2-1 with an attacking set up, Ings unlike eitherAustin or Gabbiadini has the right combination of height strength and pace to play as the loan striker.

The key is get the ball down and earn the right to play, then build on the foundation and win the game, if it doesn't work out then we have plenty of options on the bench to change the game.

But mark Hughes has to get the basis of it right first time, he can't keep getting the starting line up wrong as he has done in the last two games, he has to get it right from the off, we need to make substitutions so that we can stretch the opposition, not because we ourselves are all at sea.

So my side would be

McCarthy

Cedric, Hoedt, Vestrgaard, Bertrand

Elyounoussi, Lemina, Hojbjerg , Armstrong, Redmond

Ings

Subs

Gunn, Bednarek, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Gabbiadini, Austin, Long

An attacking bench, but we have to win the game and the three attackers give us that right balance with the option of the scoring knack of Austin and Gabbiadini and the work rate of Long if we need to close the game out.

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Wembley76 added 14:55 - Aug 24
You'll be accused, now, of NOT selecting TWO upfront!

Personally, I'd like to him him keep faith with three at the back to encourage Saints to 'bomb forward' and create pressure high up the park. Then Cedric & Ryan can slot in to a five if/when needed to defend.
1

highfield49 added 15:55 - Aug 24
No doubt we've all got various combinations that we favour to start the game but the one change that I would consider is getting Gallagher on the bench. If he isn't going out on loan again surely he should be getting some game time soon and Austin has done nothing to convince me that he should be first choice. If not tomorrow maybe Sam will get an opportunity in the cup game at Brighton? Anyhow, what's really important is those three points and a convincing performance no matter who plays.
2

halftimeorange added 16:32 - Aug 24
Maybe Hughes has got his selections wrong for the first two games but the new key signings have to play in a settled team for it to blend and they can't if they are injured, as per last week. I really do wonder if our squad is as fit as it ought to be - we will see tomorrow. I am sure that Elyounoussi will turn out to be a class act and Ings, too when he finds his shooting boots. Armstrong needs to play in the centre because his distribution is better than that of the other midfielders. Vestergaard is not a Van Dijk but should dominate in the air if and when he jumps. Just need Ryan to act like a captain and marshall the troops. The big personalities have to stamp their mark on the game tomorrow. That's why I'd play Hojbjerg.
4

helpineedsomebody added 17:01 - Aug 24
the club shops in lidels & we now play the type of football thats played in the EFL . as long as yoshida & stephens are not on the bench or worst playing then that will be some consulation. it would be interesting to see if sam could start up front with danny that would reilly open leicester up with his pace & energy im sure MP/RK would but we will have to see what dreary mark decides .
-1

aceofthebase added 17:10 - Aug 24
Play Cedric at left back. That is left back in the changing room!

Drop Hoedt, he has not proved himself a Premier League player and get Yoshida back in the side.

Bertrand is no inspirational captain but who in the team is and a regular starter.

We can get a win but we must control the game especially in midfield. Time for PH and I agree Sam needs a few minutes, if only we were three up with ten minutes to go.
1


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