Rovers v Saints

[Boz]

Southampton have scored 5 in their last two home games, tonight against a Huddersfield side, who most reckoned were promotion contenders after their performance at Prenton Park a week ago. They have Ricky Lambert in their line-up, who usually scores for fun against us. Anyone else feeling a touch apprehensive about the way this will go?

I presume that Les will start with a similar line-up to the Udders game, Edds likely to be fit. If the Brentford game had gone ahead, it sounded like O'Neill would have got the nod ahead of Logan and so guess that will be true here. With Gornell's mumps, Bas looks set for a place on the bench. Personally I'd rather McCready than Broomes, but Les doesn't see it that way.

 

[The Bootle Rover]

If ever a team were in form.....

Unfortunate to have Southampton as visitors next but we dont get to choose.

A little apprehensive if you imagine what can go wrong, we can not afford to make mistakes and so I do agree that McCready is the better selection than Broomes.
I hope we adopt a strategy of taking the game to them and going flat out for the points, sitting back playing nervously would play into their hands.
Fingers crossed, you never know

 

[Sparky]

Yeah a point from this game and one from Leeds on Tuesday wouldn't be bad but could see us back in the relegation zone depending on other results.

Part of me thinks Southampton have to lose at some point although they are in a good position in that they know they won't go down and because of the points deduction, they are still way off the play offs. But they can play without fear as no-one expects them to go up, but the way they are going, they may do.

Some of the players they have at this level are quality. Lambert, Barnard, Puncheon and also Lallana who will test our fullbacks no end. Plus the likes of Jaidi in defence.

I think Les will stick to his 4-3-3 but perhaps be a bit more defensive, making it a 4-5-1 more often that not. Being honest, a draw would be a good result.

 

[Ian]

Big test for the defence I think. They have quality forwards as has already been mentioned, and looking back at the 'Uddersfield game, we didn't have enough in the back line to keep them out.

That's certainly a concern for this game.
Possibly, if we score first, that may change the balance of the game, but I would certainly be happy with a point.

I really hope our strikers are on top form, because we need some goals.

 

[roverstillidie]

Hopefully the Saints will be suffering from complanency as I fear we could be on the end of a stuffing otherwise! The pitch at Prenton Park will hopefully work in our favour as Southampton are a passing side. I agree that McCready should replace Antwi Mark II (Broomes) however I don't think that's going to happen.

There's an outside chance of Taylor been back for this one and Savage could start if he comes through the reserve game tonight: http://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/page/ReservesNews/0,,10365~1982473,00.html

I'm not sure if Edds will play as i've heard he's out for 2 weeks, if he's not I would give Barnett ago as we badly need someone to run with the ball who isn't the size of a garden gnome in midfield.

Team I would play:
Daniels

Logan McCready Goodison Bakayogo

Barnett McLaren Welsh

Savage Sordell ITM

Subs: Collister, Broomes, Oneill, Cresswell, Shuker, Bain, Edds/Mahon

If Taylor was fit I would put him in midfield at the expense of Welsh or Barnett, I would only keep McLaren because he adds some height to the midfield and playing Taylor would allow McLaren to play further up the pitch where he might be more effective.

 

[Sparky]

There is a decent article on the BBC website about Southampton but one bit indicates we will all need to do a rain dance on Friday night !

"However, there are two big problems here. The first is that playing on their silky-smooth home surface is one thing; handling the heavy, boggy pitches away from St Mary's has proved to be a totally different proposition.
The point is not missed on Pardew, who said he expected Tranmere to be dousing the Prenton Park pitch ahead of their meeting this weekend, before drily observing: "Southampton are a racehorse that does not like the mud"

 

[Davidchallinor]

I'm normally not like this but I feel that we should say f***-it, let's make this our cup final...with fa cup memories of 2001 let's go for the win. We expect next to nothing from the next two fixtures, at best 2 points, so let's go for three, as our goal-difference is seriously buggered, so it won't matter if they turn us over 1-4 etc etc
I say to Les, be brave, go for the first goal, and then ride the rollercoaster - that way this might 'make' our season

 

[Boz]

I don't think this is a game to be gung-ho. 2 reasons; firstly get hammered here and our morale will be really low going into the Leeds game, second things are so tight in L1 that staying up/going down could be determined on goal difference.

RTID Why Logan ahead of O'Neill? I'd doubt that Bas will start, so like it or not it will be Curran up front as there's no way Bain will be given a start.

 

[roverstillidie]

RTID Why Logan ahead of O'Neill?

Simply because he offers more going forward and possesses more pace, the rest of the team is also more familiar with Logan and he's played well this season. O'Neill has come in and done a good job but I would stick with Logan as he hasn't done much wrong apart from his daft bookings. I would play O'Neill at right back and Logan on the right wing if we played 4-4-2 but I don't think Les will drop 4-3-3.

 

[TheBunnyBellEnd]

Southampton are a prime example of what is wrong with the current set up as regards to going into administration. They cleared all their debts and are then allowed to start splashing the cash again while clubs that adhere to their strict budgets such as ourselves are then left at a distinct disadvantage. If you go into administration you should end up in the conference as simple as that.
Right after that moan I really cant see us getting anything out of this one, we are simply not good enough in so many areas across the park to compete with them. Les will play for a draw however as we have seen this season we are not capable of doing this, so I predict a 2 may be 3 nil defeat. Cant see us scoring against them as we struggle against teams with poor defensive records.
For me the game to target would be Leeds who despite their league position are very beatable and are in stuttering form of late. I agree what someone said about where we could end up by the end of this run of games and think we may well be back in the drop zone. However with Wycombe, Exeter and others still to play we should still be ok. Its just unfortunate how the fixtures have fell playing 3 top sides back to back at home.#-o

 

[Ian]

OK, so Southampton completely destroyed Huddersfield 5-0 on Tues night. I've got a really bad feeling about this one..

 

[bigmart]

southampton didnt splash the cash after coming out of administration, at the start of the season they had to sell players but were there taken over and the new owner has brought in alan pardew as manager and given him money to spend.

Ive also got a really nad feeling about this game and tuesday just hope im wrong but fear we will be i the bottom 4 come 10pm tuesday night

 

[SonkORLY?]

We're gonna get absolutely crushed.

No further speculation.

 

[Boz]

Southampton are a prime example of what is wrong with the current set up as regards to going into administration. They cleared all their debts and are then allowed to start splashing the cash again while clubs that adhere to their strict budgets such as ourselves are then left at a distinct disadvantage. If you go into administration you should end up in the conference as simple as that.

I agree that administration for the bigger clubs doesn't seem to cause much long-term hardship, as our next two opponents demonstrate. However, I'm not sure it's practical or reasonable to relegate every side in such a position into the conference. Fairer perhaps would be a salary cap to operate for say, during and 2 years from coming out of administration, to create more of a level playing field.

Had a look at the goals Saints scored in midweek, 3 from headers, an effort around the edge of the box after good approach play and persistence after a long-ball. Goes to emphasise the point that we didn't pressure the Udders enough.

Two teams beneath us play one another this weekend; Exeter v Oldham, so one or both will get points from that. Oldham also play Tuesday. If we get nothing from the next two games, its almost certain we'll be back in the bottom four.

 

[The Bootle Rover]

The outcome

Lets hope the team dont think we're gonna get crushed.

If you think you can, you can
If you think you cant, youre right

Yes its a game that could go pear shaped for us but I am sure Les will send the team out with more to them than meekly accepting a crushing.

I can take a defeat if its coming but I'm more interested in the manner of our play. As long as the team ALL try.

Fingers crossed though, a little luck would not go amiss.

 

[bigmart]

a penalty wouldnt go amiss neither, we havent had one since february