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Southampton – Gardoş, Rodriguez, Wanyama
Chelsea
– Zouma, Falcao
During the two week break between the away
win at Swansea and this Saturday’s encounter with Chelsea, it has been business
as usual at Staplewood. No holiday to Dubai. No jolly in La Manga. Not even a
repeat of last season’s team building session in Switzerland that threatened to
injure as many people as The Jump has.
It has simply been a fortnight spent together at home for the squad to recharge and
prepare themselves for the run in that is to come.
After experiencing what has often been a
disappointing season, I would not be hugely perplexed if Southampton lay in
mid-table, but given the weird, wonderful and fairly wacky nature of this campaign,
Saints are now in sixth, and hounding Manchester United who uneasily sit one
point ahead. Impetus has returned to the south coast, and no doubt the players
will be itching to sink their teeth back into Premier League action this
weekend.
Beyond the excellent form of his side, Ronald
Koeman had another reason for the grin that was stretched across his face in the
pre-match press conference – a return to training this week for Florin Gardoş
and Jay Rodriguez. As ever, it will be the latter who will attract more
attention, but the Romanian is also a talented performer who has not yet had an
adequate opportunity to stake his claim. Clearly, José Fonte and Virgil van
Dijk will continue to act as undisputed top dogs at centre-back, but should
Koeman wish to employ a 5-3-2, Gardoş would be more than able to challenge for
the remaining spot as he attempts to snatch a place in his country’s EURO 2016
squad.
Unfortunately, that possibility is somewhat
more unlikely for Rodriguez. The striker would surely settle for a uninterrupted
run with his club side until May, and grab a few goals to remind the naysayers of
his abilities. The Burnley boy will only turn 27 this summer, and still has another
three years on his contract – leaving him more than enough time to properly gel
with those around him. Neither are ready to play this Saturday, but they will
further complement a squad that currently poses an agreeable test for Koeman in
that it is currently a challenge to pick an 18, let alone his starting line-up.
That will leave opponents Chelsea guessing as
to what tactics the Dutchman will adopt right up until two o’clock on Saturday.
Yet the Blues will come to St Mary’s in improved mood after a mild upturn in
form and a narrow Champions League defeat in Paris – standards have clearly
dropped at Stamford Bridge. Nevertheless, Saturday’s visitors are a different
proposition under Guus Hiddink than they were when Saints last played against
them in October. While José Mourinho appeared to be like the strict, demeaning
teacher who students would lambast behind his back, Hiddink is the calm,
composed sub – respected by his pupils who were disappointed the last time he departed.
The performance levels of numerous players
have shot up since the Dutchman took charge in West London, but progress will
be judged by achievements in the FA Cup and Champions League now, as a spot in
the Premier League’s top four seems heavily unlikely. Regardless of that,
Hiddink will hope to lever his men into the top half at least, and with his
squad buoyed by new arrival Alexandre Pato to relieve some of the pressure on
Diego Costa, they will be troublesome customers at St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon.
Key
Battles
Romeu v
Willian: Handed
off by Chelsea to Saints at a cut-down price, Oriol Romeu has put in several admirable
displays this season, and has been unlucky to have been overlooked on multiple
occasions despite the erratic form of Victor Wanyama. Aggressive in the tackle,
and able to sweep balls forward with accuracy, he is an ideal partner to anchor
the midfield alongside Jordy Clasie. He will face a real challenge on Saturday
though, as Willian will sit in the hole, and inevitably cause some problems for
the Saints rearguard. With his quick feet and exceptional movement, the
Brazilian combines well with Costa, therefore Romeu will have to pester the
attacker throughout the afternoon.
Long v
Cahill: A
large part of the reason why Ronald Koeman has not lost to Chelsea in the
Premier League is his willingness to play direct against them. While others
quaked at the mere sight of the Blues last season, the Dutchman was brave with
Sadio Mané and Shane Long sent to disturb the peace in Chelsea’s backline. Although
Gary Cahill has improved remarkably since Guus Hiddink’s arrival, Long will
hope to run at and unsettle him with his usual uncompromising style. This will
inevitably leave gaps which Branislav Ivanović or John Terry may not be able to
plug – leaving Mané to occupy them if selected.
Possible
Line-ups
Southampton:
Forster
– Soares, Van Dijk, Fonte (C), Bertrand, Targett – Romeu, Clasie, S. Davis –
Mané, Long
Stekelenburg, Yoshida, Tadić, Ward-Prowse,
Pellè, Juanmi, Austin
Chelsea:
Courtois
– Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanović, Rahman – Mikel, Fàbregas – Pedro, Willian,
Hazard – Costa
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