Match Thread Southampton - Coventry City Match Thread - Saturday 20th Dec (25 Viewers)

[kg82]

To back up something @Lamps has mentioned a few times though, Gavin Bazunu’s been absolutely honking this season with a save percentage not much better than Brad Collins last season.

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Made an unreal save at the weekend, although it was offside I think, so wouldn’t have counted, but he wasn’t to know

 

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[Brighton Sky Blue]

Made an unreal save at the weekend, although it was offside I think, so wouldn’t have counted, but he wasn’t to know

True, but over the whole season it’s pretty startling.

 

[Hobo]

We’re top and they’r tenth, I’m shitting this one.

Yes but the form table for last six games has us third and them fourth. So I don't see this as an easy game. I also expect a reaction by them to their unexpected defeat at Norwich and they didn't exactly play badly.

 

[Hutch11]

This is no gimme
Theyre a decent squad with ex prem players so we need to be right on it
Saying that , we are more than capable of beating them
We just need to be at our best

 

[coop]

Just need to take our chances and shoot instead of trying to walk the ball in.

 

[Lamps]

Not sure why the pessimism when they’ve scored 9 in the last 3 home games, but if we go in front early on that crowd’s going to turn on them it seems.

Because their GK is poor and their defence makes plenty of mistakes.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I'm one of the optimists among our fanbase, but occasionally get this fear of capitulation. In those moments I just seek out any of yours or @Mucca Mad Boys posts and calm is instantly restored. Keep up the good work, gents.

Thank you! From my perspective, it’s just reading the data and for us to mess this up, our form needs to collapse and teams like Boro, Ipswich and Southampton need to have flawless form.

Since Lampard has come in, we’ve averaged 2 PPG and in the 2025 calendar year, we’ve got 88 points from 43 game which is right on the money for automatic promotion.

The chances of us messing this up is so remote, the bookies and supercomputers have us going up with 90% certainty. Had it been any other team we’d be saying they’re certainties for automatic promotion.

 

[Lamps]

Made an unreal save at the weekend, although it was offside I think, so wouldn’t have counted, but he wasn’t to know

Collins made some very good saves and even caught the ball occasionally. You never had much confidence in him though and we wouldn't be where we are now with him in goal.

 

[wingy]

Would that 'double hit' pen now be retaken? Or would it not be as it was missed?

Was that the one where the ref interim the take?

 

[Lamps]

Yes but the form table for last six games has us third and them fourth. So I don't see this as an easy game. I also expect a reaction by them to their unexpected defeat at Norwich and they didn't exactly play badly.

Nobody has said it will be easy even though they lost to Norwich last game and that was only the second win for Norwich since August.

It's simple. We have as much chance of winning as losing. I'm expecting a high scoring game.

 

[Robinshio]

5 at the back
Grimes/ Torp/EMC/Eccles midfield
Haji up front

Tats and Rudoni options off the bench

 

[skybluelee]

Thank you! From my perspective, it’s just reading the data and for us to mess this up, our form needs to collapse and teams like Boro, Ipswich and Southampton need to have flawless form.

Since Lampard has come in, we’ve averaged 2 PPG and in the 2025 calendar year, we’ve got 88 points from 43 game which is right on the money for automatic promotion.

The chances of us messing this up is so remote, the bookies and supercomputers have us going up with 90% certainty. Had it been any other team we’d be saying they’re certainties for automatic promotion.

This is my position 95% of the time, then all of a sudden I'll wake up at 3am and think 'but what we if we lose the next 5?'.

 

[quinn1971]

If we follow the 2nd half of last season we picked up 14 wins,that’ll probably be enough we’re a far better side now than we were then, not getting too carried away but hope the game we go ups at home

 

[Bertola]

Saturday before Christmas. Early Kick Off, Live on Sky. Away on the South Coast

Just brings back terrible memories of Pompey last year

 

[MusicDating]

Retaken

Only retaken if they score

Clarification concerning double touches | IFAB

theifab.com

 

[Hutch11]

Saturday before Christmas. Early Kick Off, Live on Sky. Away on the South Coast

Just brings back terrible memories of Pompey last year

Will be a bit of a different team down there this year i reckon

 

[MusicDating]

I still shudder at the thought of Collins inept goalkeeping and a missed penalty by Haji the last time I went to St Mary's in the league. Threw that game away.

The weird way Collins tried to pat the ball away rather than just catch it for their second was the beginning of his downfall imo. Just got worse and worse as his confidence left him.



Forgot their first was handball

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Think we beat these quite comfortably, keep Armstrong quiet and they are pretty toothless

Not sure about that.

Finn Azaz is looking probably as lethal in front of goal currently.

 

[wingy]

The weird way Collins tried to pat the ball away rather than just catch it for their second was the beginning of his downfall imo. Just got worse and worse as his confidence left him.



Forgot their first was handball

Ref gave him the hurry up knew there was something about it, probably should have replaced with a different taker?

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

This is my position 95% of the time, then all of a sudden I'll wake up at 3am and think 'but what we if we lose the next 5?'.

Que Serra, serra… Whatever will be, will be.

Everything points to us standing on business and getting the job done this season. There may be a few blips along the way and whilst the expectation now should be to win the title, it’s automatic promotion that’s the minimum requirement now.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Not sure about that.

Finn Azaz is looking probably as lethal in front of goal currently.

Scienza dangerous also. I’m expecting a goal fest in all honesty

 

[Macca1987]

Bit like Man United and Bournemouth last night

 

[TomRad85]

The opinion of a lot of Boro fans even while he was still there was that Azaz was a bit of a flat-track bully who rarely did much against stronger opposition. Can't say i've followed him enough to know if that's been the case still at Southampton but he's never overly impressed me.

 

[edgy]

Thank you! From my perspective, it’s just reading the data and for us to mess this up, our form needs to collapse and teams like Boro, Ipswich and Southampton need to have flawless form.

Since Lampard has come in, we’ve averaged 2 PPG and in the 2025 calendar year, we’ve got 88 points from 43 game which is right on the money for automatic promotion.

The chances of us messing this up is so remote, the bookies and supercomputers have us going up with 90% certainty. Had it been any other team we’d be saying they’re certainties for automatic promotion.

You see, I can't help thinking that all another team has to do is win 4 or 5 more games than us. Over the course of the next half of the season. And in my head that is entirely possible and wouldn't necassarily take a complete collapse from us.

 

[wingy]

You see, I can't help thinking that all another team has to do is win 4 or 5 more games than us. Over the course of the next half of the season. And in my head that is entirely possible and wouldn't necassarily take a complete collapse from us.

One loss in five is acceptable and a few draws.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

You see, I can't help thinking that all another team has to do is win 4 or 5 more games than us. Over the course of the next half of the season. And in my head that is entirely possible and wouldn't necassarily take a complete collapse from us.

When Lesta and Ipswich had a double digit lead on the chasing pack at the same stage 2 years ago did anyone really think they'd be overtaken?

 

[Gleneagles65]

Yes but the form table for last six games has us third and them fourth. So I don't see this as an easy game. I also expect a reaction by them to their unexpected defeat at Norwich and they didn't exactly play badly.

Norwich fully deserved that win, they weren’t bad in the F/H but nothing really special.

 

[alexccfc99]

I still shudder at the thought of Collins inept goalkeeping and a missed penalty by Haji the last time I went to St Mary's in the league. Threw that game away.

That was game that I gave up on the play-offs that season!

I read the script for the Birmingham game that followed, the players would shirk anything to save themselves for The Cup Semi and by then the Top 6 was pretty much done

 

[Marty]

They'll just do us over the top every time. High line will kill us Saturday

 

[HJones23]

When I saw the line up Saturday I predicted we would score at least 4. I still maintain if we would have if we had scored early when we were on top, I wouldn't have been far wrong. If we stick with the same 11 with the boys having a weeks rest, another weeks training for Haj & Rudi, my prediction is the same for this Saturday, the only minor concern being how many this Southampton team score themselves.

 

[stevefloyd]

I wonder if Arma is still as fast as he was? Could give Bobby and Milan a bit of work to do, hahaha

Have to watch the balls over the top because our 2 slouches won't catch Armstrong for sure

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

You see, I can't help thinking that all another team has to do is win 4 or 5 more games than us. Over the course of the next half of the season. And in my head that is entirely possible and wouldn't necassarily take a complete collapse from us.

That’s more than us. If we win 15 of the next 25, the others need to win 19 or 20. Boro, Ipswich and Southampton all need to play each other again and ourselves away.

They will drop points and given our home form and the respective away form of the chasing pack (not so much Boro here)… I’m confident we’ll do the job.

 

[wingy]

Have to watch the balls over the top because our 2 slouches won't catch Armstrong for sure

Or our three at the back, unless we can harness MVA?

 

[StrettoBoy]

5 at the back
Grimes/ Torp/EMC/Eccles midfield
Haji up front

Tats and Rudoni options off the bench

I think a goalkeeper should be added to those ten

 

[StrettoBoy]

C'mon chaps, let's have a choir rehearsal ahead of the match.