Saints vs Manchester City: Build up & Match Thread

Go on then, I’ve not done one of these here yet, and considering the odds against us, I can’t really jinx our chances anymore than they already are. :lou_wink_2:

Not only have City improved a lot recently following something of a slump into inconsistency following the announcement of Guardiola’s pending arrival – a couple of consecutive 4-0 maulings they’ve dished out indicate that they’ve rallied, and their hunt for the automatic Champions League spaces has regained some steady momentum.

On top of this, we do not have a particularly good recent record against the Sky Blues.

Whilst overall, Won 30, Drawn 24, Lost 29 has us temporarily still marginally in the historical ascendancy – a City win at St. Mary’s will level things up.

We last beat them on February 9th 2013, 3-1 at St. Mary’s, Jason Puncheon and Steven Davis giving us an early two goal lead, with Edin Dzeko pulling one back before the break. A Gareth Barry own goal just after the restart sealing the points in our favour.

That win was followed up by a 1-1 draw, and now four consecutive losses.

Basically, we’re up against it.

However, we have already shown on a number of occasions this season – that this Saints side have some bottle and fight in them, and can indeed turn it on against the bigger sides, as results against Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool etc will testify.

I’d clearly expect Ronald to set us up more defensively than we have done recently, what with the proven quality we’ll be facing – but if that means the three at the back formation with Shlong and Jay-Rod up front, then we could well give their backline some problems of their own with that pace up top, against a defense that is not the most mobile.

Looking forward to it. :lou_lol:

This does allow the Goat to claim the moral high ground of. If you had let him start it we would have won (if we lose)

we will win 2-0 by the way :laughing:

I preferred Bear’s intro from last season, if I’m honest, Jack.

http://sotonians.com/chat/we-play-man-city

Why did you fuck yours up with football talk? :lou_wink_2:

Originally posted by @Jack-Schitt

We last beat them on February 9th 2003, 3-1 at St. Mary’s, Jason Puncheon and Steven Davis giving us an early two goal lead, with Edin Dzeko pulling one back before the break.

That Steve Davis is a bloody superstar. Still first choice midfielder at the age of 43.

:sunglasses:

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we might scrape a draw.1-1

Citeh are the one team that I dont think we will turn over each season. Looking forward to being proved wrong!

Originally posted by @PhilippineSaint

This does allow the Goat to claim the moral high ground of. If you had let him start it we would have won (if we lose)

If Goat is able to claim morality over something, I’m sure that would be a wonderful first-time experience for him. I’d be happy to contribute toward that. :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes:

Originally posted by @pap

I preferred Bear’s intro from last season, if I’m honest, Jack.

http://sotonians.com/chat/we-play-man-city

Why did you fuck yours up with football talk? :lou_wink_2:

Wow! That was funny.

I didn’t realise Bear used be a comic genius. What happened to him?

Originally posted by @Bucks

Originally posted by @Jack-Schitt

We last beat them on February 9th 2003, 3-1 at St. Mary’s, Jason Puncheon and Steven Davis giving us an early two goal lead, with Edin Dzeko pulling one back before the break.

That Steve Davis is a bloody superstar. Still first choice midfielder at the age of 43.

:sunglasses:

Oops. Cheers Bucks. Obviously was meant to be 2013. Amended appropriately.

Originally posted by @ant

Excellent finish.

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Football Weekly were talking about this fixture. They predict that Man City will rest their star names for the upcoming CL tie against Madrid.

Wouldn’t be at all surprised, especiallly with the game being on Sunday. Then again, they do have a pretty decent set of second-choice players. I reckon we can win this one though. But then that’s how I (almost) always feel before a game - it’s my relentless, sunny optimism.

2 Likes

With Liverpool losing today at Swansea 3-1 and hopefully Man U only getting a point or less in the next 10 minutes. A Saints win could give us the chance to leap frog Liverpool and close the gap on the Mancs (both of them) not that we can catch Man City of course.

Fuck yes :slight_smile:

I appreciate I am on this thread alone now, but I’m rather enjoying this .

1 Like

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