Unavailable:
Norwich – Jarvis
Southampton – Forster, Gardoş, Rodriguez, Pellè,
Soares, Romeu
As the ‘Games Played’ column ticked over onto
19 for all teams in the Premier League, it signified that the season has
reached its halfway stage – a convenient point to ponder over Southampton’s
mid-table position. Ahead of Saints’ trip to Norwich on Saturday afternoon, Ronald
Koeman will no doubt feel discontent with his team’s current standing, but he
now must seize the opportunity to soar into the top half of the table, with “winnable”
games on the horizon – although nothing is certain in this most capricious of
seasons. Saints’ current effort for 2015/16 has reflected that pattern with
inconsistency plaguing their attempts to build a run of form, and the festive period
has proved to be a microcosm of that issue. A colossal win over Arsenal has
been eclipsed by defeats to Crystal Palace, Tottenham and West Ham.
As the run of games against London clubs
comes to a close, Koeman will take his side to Carrow Road in Saturday – if they
were to come away with nothing; their hosts would lie a mere point behind them.
The Arsenal match was a stunning example of how they have the ability to
catapult themselves up the table, yet Saints remain grounded and stuck at a
crossroads. If the Canaries were victorious, Koeman would anxiously be craning
his neck back to survey what lies below them.
The hosts will inevitably feel encouraged
enough by their recent efforts that they can retain top tier football in Norfolk.
Rigid organisation and experience has paved the way for this to be a genuine
possibility, and while he is criticised by pockets of the Norwich faithful,
Alex Neil has been a huge factor in their successful re-acclimatisation to the
Premier League. The Scot may have a somewhat frosty demeanour, but under great
pressure, he is on course to secure that key second season in the big time for
the Canaries – allowing the club to lay the foundations for future years with
the added benefit of extra TV money sliding into the coffers.
This Saturday’s hosts are also gifted with
pace and creativity in forward areas – liberated by a solid central midfield
where Alex Tettey has been strong this campaign. Goals have been hard to come
by though, with Cameron Jerome often being unable to cope with his tag of
Striker No 1. Forward Dieudonné Mbokani has stepped into the breach well when
called upon though, and he netted a header against Aston Villa on Monday with
aplomb. The Congolese striker also has a significant physical presence,
therefore Southampton will have to fortify their defensive line which was
strained by Andy Carroll and Michail Antonio in East London. The two attackers
ganged up on the Saints rearguard to great effect, and Koeman knows that if his
team remain composed at the back in Norfolk, it would hand them the ideal
platform to attack their hosts.
Key
Battles
R.
Bennett v Long: Ryan
Bennett continues to prove his worth to Norwich as a sturdy if not spectacular
option at centre-back. However, the Grimsby academy graduate can sometimes be
guilty of not being able to turn at an adequate speed to combat strikers
blessed with genuine pace. Shane Long is such a player, who smelt blood last
weekend as Per Mertesacker stumbled. The Irishman can hustle and harry to the
extreme, and will cling onto Bennett if he senses that the centre-back is
unable to track his runs, and will no qualms in dragging the Canaries man into
the channels to present more space for Sadio Mané et al to sprint into.
Hoolahan
v Wanyama: Now
aged 33, Wes Hoolahan still only shows signs of progression. The playmaker may
have zigzagged through the leagues with Norwich since 2008, but he has always
belonged in the top tier. Slotting into the No 10 role, he consistently
confuses defensive midfielders and centre-backs with his positioning – leaving players
unsure of how to combat the threat in the hole, as he supplies his teammates
with opportunities. Victor Wanyama must restrict the midfielder’s hold on the
game on Saturday. The Kenyan was excellent against Arsenal as he outfoxed Mesut
Özil before striding away with the ball on multiple occasions, but that was
followed by a disappointing display at the Boleyn Ground. Consistency is now
key for the defensive midfielder.
Possible
Line-ups
Norwich:
Rudd
– Martin (C), R. Bennett, Bassong, Brady – Howson, Tettey, Odjidja-Ofoe,
Redmond – Hoolahan – Mbokani
Ruddy, Wisdom, Jerome, Dorrans, Lafferty,
Olsson, O’Neil
Southampton:
Stekelenburg
– Martina, Fonte (C), Van Dijk, Bertrand – Wanyama, Clasie – Mané, S. Davis,
Tadić – Long
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