Taking Southampton North!

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English Premier League - Game 3 - Stoke City (Away)


It’s never easy to travel to Stoke, but I’m still targeting 3 points. We have a superior side, we just need to make it count! Asensio and Clasie are huge misses, but I’m confident we can find a way.

In the 10th minute Vardy dribbled across the top of the box before twisting and firing a snapshot into the bottom corner.

Olsson made it two 3 minutes later with a close range finish after a free kick was cleared twice, but was sent back in again.

Only a quality save from Dragowski prevented Williams putting the game out of sight in the 32nd minute.

We went to 4-2-3-1 in the 42nd minute.

Dragowski denied Vardy with a diving save in the first minute of stoppage time.

In the 57th minute Ward-Prowse’s shot was saved and Pjaca turned home the rebound, but he was offside!

Milik replaced Vietto in the 62nd minute.

A minute later Jamie Vardy scored one of the best solo goals I’ve ever seen, running rings around both centre halves and eventually slotting home.

Dragowski denied Williams in the 66th minute after more brilliance from Vardy.

De Paul and Palombo replaced Pjaca and Wanyama a minute later.

Vardy was still causing havoc, and he played Sarabia through in the 77th minute, but Dragowski tipped his shot over.

Ward-Prowse sent a great ball through for Milik in the 79th, but Krul made the save.

Campbell scored from a corner in the 83rd minute to make things worse.

Only Dragowski stopped us losing by more today, as Jamie Vardy carved us open at will. This is a worse result than the loss to Chelsea, and I’m having serious doubt already. We actually outshot the Potters, but didn’t look anywhere near as dangerous. Krul did make a few good saves, and received a match rating of 7.8, but this was still unacceptable. Our goal difference takes another battering too.


POM: Jamie Vardy (Stoke City - 9.2, 2G, 0A)

Best Southampton Player: James Ward-Prowse (7.1, 0G, 0A)
 

English Premier League - Game 4 - Crystal Palace (Home)


Milik starts up top against Palace today, whilst Cahill makes his first appearance for the club in central defence. Asensio has also been fast tracked back to the starting lineup after his injury.

We certainly started the right way, as De Paul won a free kick almost immediately. Asensio sent the ball forwards, Cahill knocked it down, and Ward-Prowse opened the scoring! Immediate impact from debutant Cahill!

Siem de Jong equalised in the 9th minute however, slotting home from Bakambu’s killer ball.

De Paul put us back in front in the 21st minute, pouncing on a loose ball at the edge of the box and slamming it into the roof of the net!

In the 29th minute Milik intercepted a throw in and was through on goal, but he couldn’t beat McCarthy.

In the 34th minute De Paul’s sublime through ball went to waste as Milik failed to beat McCarthy yet again.

Milik was replaced by Sindelar in the 56th minute.

In the 59th minute Wanyama went for his trademark 25 yard strike, and this time found the net! An absolute beauty!

In the 65th minute Cedric raced down the right and whipped in a near post cross, and Sindelar slammed it past McCarthy!

In the 69th minute Ward-Prowse and Asensio were replaced by Iniesta and Gitschier.

A great result which helps the goal difference as well as the confidence. Gary Cahill enjoyed an outstanding debut, and the whole team played well, with the possible exception of Milik, who extends his goal drought, I think to 12 matches. We still have a long way to go, and with Barcelona up next, we could well receive another kick in the teeth if we’re not careful.


POM: Victor Wanyama (8.7, 1G, 0A)
 

UEFA Champions League Group Stage - Game 1 - FC Barcelona (Home)

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(Apologies for the screenshot)

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It’s a big match for Iniesta, as he starts against his boyhood club Barcelona, at St Mary’s. It’s a different side to the team that took apart Crystal Palace, but I still feel if we play our best we can get a result here. Who am I kidding? This is Barcelona!

Apparently Vietto didn’t get the memo though, because in the third minute he half-volleyed Kurzawa’s low cross past ter Stegen to open the scoring!

And just a minute later, we came forward again, and Tadic chipped a ball to Pjaca, who powered a header into the bottom corner! What a start!

In the 14th minute we countered swiftly, and Chambers sent in a cross, which Vietto met with a bullet header! 3-0! What is going on?!

In the 23rd minute Suarez hit the underside of the bar with a close range header from a Vrsaljko cross.

In the 25th minute Wanyama, having been booked just a minute earlier, tripped Neymar and was shown a second yellow! Going to have to park the bus now.

Iniesta was sacrificed for Palombo a minute later.

Messi decided to run past 4 players on his own a minute after that, and drilled it into the bottom corner. Game well and truly on.

34th minute, and Messi curled a 25 yard free kick into the top corner. **** it :(

Pastore then nailed a first time shot from 25 yards in the 53rd minute. Another world class goal. **** **** ****!

In the 63rd minute I replaced Balic and Jurcik with Ward-Prowse and Upamecano.

Dragowski made a double save on Suarez and Messi in the 77th minute to keep our slim hopes alive.

And we held on!

Wanyama’s card threw us under the bus today, and I’m really frustrated. It’s not often you have a 3-0 lead against Barca, and we ended up sharing the points. In saying that, we didn’t do a great deal wrong, they just scored 3 world class goals to get back in the match. A point against Barcelona isn’t so bad, but it should have been more.


POM: Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona - 9.0, 2G, 0A)

Best Southampton Player: Luciano Vietto (8.7, 2G, 0A)
 

Wanyama was unhappy for being fined, but thankfully, he was understanding when I spoke to him about it.



And now Süle is complaining about a lack of first team football? 6 competitive matches and he has 4 starts and a sub appearance? I don’t see the problem? He was talked around too, fortunately.

Here’s something cool - a Brazilian regen called Ronaldinho Gaucho. And he’s good!
 

English Premier League - Game 5 - Burnley FC (Away)


Clasie is immediately back in the starting lineup for today’s trip to Burnley. Let’s see if we can end our away woes today. Burnley are flying high at this early stage, sitting pretty in 6th, so we can’t take them lightly.

In the 13th minute Asensio dribbled in from the right flank before squaring for Vietto, who slotted home his first league goal!

A minute later we were let off the hook as Berisha fired over after being picked out by a long ball.

In the 36th minute Rossiter swung in a free kick, and Wanyama gave away a penalty by pushing Cooper. Chalobah restored parity from the spot. Wanyama turning into more of a hindrance than a help!

Vietto slipped a brilliant ball through for De Paul in the 48th minute, but his cracking shot was turned aside.

Tadic replaced De Paul in the 59th minute.

In the 64th minute Tadic was played through by Augustinsson, and he drilled a cross into the 6 yard box, where it hit Cooper and went in! I’ll take it!

Chambers replaced Upamecano in the 72nd minute.

Gitschier replaced Ward-Prowse in the 84th and switched with Asensio.

Finally, a road win! We played well and possibly deserved to win by more, but we’ll take the three points all day! Vietto and Asensio were a constant threat, whilst Augustinsson played well and Wanyama recovered after giving away a cheap penalty to put in a good performance.


POM: Marco Asensio (8.6, 0G, 1A)
 

Capital One Cup - Third Round - Blackpool FC (Home)


A chance for youngsters to impress today, as we take on Blackpool in the League Cup. Niclas Larsson is one in particular who I’m keen to give a chance to, as he has the makings of an excellent defensive midfielder.

It was a combination of first team players who created our opener though, as Kurzawa, Sindelar and Chambers combined for the latter to cross for Pjaca at the back post.

In the 46th minute Muller played an excellent raking ball for Pjaca, who touched it across for Sindelar, who duly finished to double our lead.

Muller was replaced by debutant Prins in the 55th minute. Larsson moved forward into central midfield and Balic dropped to DM.

Another debutant, Richards, and Jack Lovell replaced Chambers and Upamecano in the 68th.

Gitschier made it 3 in the 79th minute from an excellent Prins pass with a classy finish.

An efficient performance from the boys today, and I was pleased with the efforts of all of the young kids. Balic was outstanding, running the show from midfield, and all of the youth players impressed too. Through to the next round!


POM: Andrija Balic (9.0, 0G, 0A)
 

English Premier League - Game 6 - Watford FC (Home)


Hopefully we can keep up our recent good form with another win today. We’re at home, so anything less than 3 points against a mid table Watford outfit would be a major disappointment.

Demarai Gray pounced on a loose ball in our box in the 6th minute, but fortunately hit the post.

In the 8th minute a gorgeous first touch pass from Vietto sent the ball into the path of Ward-Prowse, who fired us in front!

Asensio was denied from the tightest of angles from a 40th minute Augustinsson cross.

In the 56th minute Wanyama received a second yellow and was sent off! Man oh man!

Balic replaced Pjaca in the 71st as we went to a 4-2-2-1.

Palombo replaced Clasie in the 78th.

In the 81st minute Cedric won a free kick. Asensio sent the ball in, and Cahill nodded a header past the keeper! Vital goal, and I had almost subbed Asensio just minutes earlier!

I did sub him in the 88th minute. Gitschier was his replacement.

A great win today, and a triumph against adversity. Wanyama really needs to stop getting himself booked. We’re up to 5th on the ladder, though Everton can overtake us if they win their game in hand.


POM: Gary Cahill (8.7, 1G, 0A)
 

UEFA Champions League - Game 2 - Spartak Moskva (Away)


Spartak Moskva were silly enough to not appoint Alexei Ivanov in this universe, and so therefore they’re the weakest team in our group, on paper at least. Still, a trip to Russia is never easy, particularly to the domestic champions, and it’s a pretty strong team that lines up today. Iniesta and Palombo don’t have a great deal of speed between them, which is a bit of a risk. Players like Nabil Fekir and Simone Zaza could hurt us if we’re not on our game.

A Chambers cross to the back post in the 8th minute found Tadic, but Parshivlyuk was with him and stuck a leg out to save a certain goal.

A minute later Kurzawa’s cross for Asensio was headed by Bocchetti, but only as far as Sindelar, who powered a header goalwards. It was brilliantly saved by a diving Kritsyuk, but Tadic was fastest to react and slotted the loose ball home.

In the 37th minute Parshivlyuk’s cross was headed clear by Jurcik, but then headed back in by Popov, and Fekir should have scored from inside the 6 yard box, but Dragowski stuck out a hand and palmed his shot wide!

In stoppage time Asensio swung in a corner which was headed on by Süle, and Tadic got a touch to deflect it into the net for his and our second!

Zaza pulled a goal back in the 55th with a close range volley from a Fekir cross.

Balic and Ward-Prowse replaced Clasie and Palombo in the 61st. An incredible 5 simultaneous substitutions there, as our opponents made all 3 of their changes!

Gitschier replaced Asensio in the 78th minute.

Bocchetti picked up a yellow in injury time which should have been red in my opinion, as it prevented Tadic breaking through on goal.

No complaints from me as we return home with all three points thanks to a Tadic brace. Incredibly, Barcelona were held to a scoreless draw at the Camp Nou by Celtic, which sees us join the Scottish champions at the top of the group.


POM: Dusan Tadic (8.7, 2G, 0A)
 

English Premier League - Game 7 - Derby County (Away)


Laporte is back from injury and starts as we travel to Derby County in the last game before the international break. We will face these guys in the League Cup soon, so it will be good to get a measure of them today.

In the 25th minute Canales sent a low free kick to the near side of the players, and Rog escaped unmarked, yet somehow failed to beat Dragowski with all the time in the world to pick his spot!

A long ball in the 29th minute beat the leap of Süle, and Larrivey nutmegged Laporte before picking out the top corner! Ridiculously good goal.

Pjaca equalised in the 38th minute with a close range header from Cedric’s cross.

Iniesta and Balic replaced Tadic and Clasie in the 60th minute. Asensio went to the wing.

Ince put Derby back in front after a free kick was partially cleared, and sent back in to the unmarked man.

Sindelar replaced Vietto in the 75th as we went to 4-2-3-1.

Ward-Prowse found our equaliser with a low finish from Asensio’s chipped pass in the 80th minute.

A disappointing match that is certainly 2 points dropped rather than a point gained. Laporte was understandably rusty, though he hasn’t lived up to his price tag so far, even before his month long injury. Still struggling away from home in the league.


POM: Tom Ince (Derby County - 8.8, 1G, 0A)

Best Southampton Player: Marco Asensio (8.7, 0G, 1A)
 

English Premier League - Game 8 - Manchester City (Home)


It’s never easy facing a team like City. They have underperformed so far but it’s early days and they’re bound to click into gear at some point.We are handed a boost as Vietto has recovered in time to start up top.

In the 9th minute Vietto cut the ball back for Tadic, but Hart tipped his shot wide.

How does Agüero do it? An insane solo goal in the 16th minute to fire City in front. He just turned 4 players inside out!

Hart made a fingertip save to deny Vietto from range in the 25th minute.

In the 51st minute some crazy zig zag passing from one side of the area pulled the City defence and keeper out of position, and De Paul finished with a lovely volley from a very sharp angle after Vietto put the ball across for him!

Ward-Prowse replaced Tadic in the 59th minute.

Balic replaced Clasie in the 79th minute.

Look at those match stats! We outshot City 17-3, yet could only manage a draw, thanks to the sheer brilliance of Agüero! So frustrating that he had to pull it out against us. We deserved to win as they barely threatened us all game. Joe Hart taking home the match ball says it all.

POM: Joe Hart (Manchester City - 8.2, 1 Conceded, 7 Saves)

Best Southampton Player: Luciano Vietto (7.8, 0G, 1A)
 
Looking like it could be a good year but, what have you been feeding Wanyama to get him so pumped up
 

UEFA Champions League - Game 3 - Celtic (Away)


Celtic are top of our group, ahead of us on goal difference. It would be great to knock them off that perch with a win today. A loss would almost certainly see us fall to third, and leave us in a difficult situation.

Sow should have scored from point blank range in the 16th minute but he fired tamely at Dragowski.

In the 28th minute Kakuta cut inside and blasted the ball into the top corner from outside the box! Unbelievable strike!

Sow showed impressive skill to get past two defenders in the 33rd minute, before unleashing a venomous strike which cannoned off the bar.

In the 43rd minute Kakuta breezed by Cedric again before crossing for Sow, but Laporte made an excellent block to deny him.

Sindelar equalised for us in the 44th minute with a low half volley from a Kurzawa cross!

Wanyama replaced Iniesta in the 56th minute.

Tadic and Gitschier replaced Pjaca and Asensio in the 66th minute.

Ambrose nutmegged Kurzawa in the penalty area in the 72nd minute but was denied twice by Dragowski from a sharp angle.

In the 76th minute a woeful back pass from Cedric gifted Brown the ball with an open net, and Dragowski had no chance.

We can’t really complain about the result at all, despite the winner coming from a terrible mistake, but I’m very disappointed with the performance, as Celtic were the more threatening team all game. Kakuta ran rings around Cedric, whilst we failed to create many significant opportunites when we did attack.


POM: Gäel Kakuta (Celtic - 8.9, 1G, 0A)

Best Southampton Player: Layvin Kurzawa (8.2, 0G, 1A)
 

English Premier League - Game 9 - West Bromwich Albion (Away)


West Brom are on fire this season, and sit above us in 4th place after a fantastic start to the season. We can’t take them lightly, particularly on their own turf. A change in tactic as I look to find the right formula. Süle’s suspension means Cahill starts next to Laporte.

In the 19th minute we hit the lead, as Ward-Prowse sent in a powerful low cross, which Asensio helped on it’s way to the bottom corner with a volley!

Clasie doubled our lead in the 45th with a lovely strike from the top of the box after another great ball from Ward-Prowse.

Yoel denied Vietto in the 62nd minute after a ball over the top from Clasie sent the striker through.

Sindelar and Tadic replaced Vietto and De Paul in the 69th minute.

Gitschier replaced Ward-Prowse and switched with Asensio in the 78th minute.

Asensio picked up his second just a minute later as Gitschier slipped him a lovely pass, and he hammered it into the roof of the net!

Our most convincing road win in recent memory! We were far too good for the Baggies today, and leapfrog them in the table as a result. Our goal difference is also back on the positive side for the first time this season! Also worth noting that Asensio scored both of his goals with his weaker right foot.

I’d also like to give an indication of just how good Chelsea are this season. We’re the second top scorers with 17, they have netted 25. In addition, they’ve conceded just 4, and the next best is Arsenal who’ve shipped 7.


POM: Marco Asensio (9.0, 2G, 0A)
 
Last edited:
ninjaskill said:
Looking like it could be a good year but, what have you been feeding Wanyama to get him so pumped up
Click to expand...

Hahaha no idea mate, our second season we didn't pick up a single red card but last season 5 different players were sent off, and Wanyama's already had two this season!
 
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