Southampton v FC Midtjylland (build up/match) thread

Maybe I shouldn’t be the one starting this as I managed a 0-3 defeat with the last one. But I have to break my duck somewhere (and not eat it Balut).

an easy 3-0 win just to make the away tie easier on the nerves.

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So we fielded a strong team on Saturday, same starting line-up for Thursday do we think? Or is Ron going to change it up?

stek

cuco fonte caulks targett

vic romeu davis

mane pelle tadic

100% full strength and nothing less. Really important to steal a march in this first leg. We can rest one or two away if need be.

The ‘squad’, as it were, shouldn’t come into Ron’s thoughts until the group stages - and we still need to get there first.

Bet we concede down the left - Honestly I am not confident after Saturdays showing - Ron gets to show just how good he is at managing now

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

LIVE: @RonaldKoeman and @VictorWanyama will speak to the media ahead of @fcmidtjylland at around 2pm BST – http://youtu.be/Pp2jQm9LeUY #saintsfc

Retweets: 4

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Southampton can surprise some of Europe’s most established clubs and go on a strong run in the Europa League, says Saints midfielder Victor Wanyama.

Southampton
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“We don’t have limits,” adds the former Celtic player ahead of Thursday’s Europa League play-off first leg with the Danish champions at St Mary’s on Thursday.

“It’s game by game. Hopefully we are going to do better and see what happens. I believe in our team in our manager I think we can do better.”

Ronald Koeman
@southamptonfc

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman warns his side that FC Midtjylland will prove more difficult opponents than Vitesse Arnhem.

The Saints defeated Vitesse 5-0 over two legs in the last qualifying round of the Europa League.

“They have played Champions League qualification games,” adds Koeman. “I have mentioned already the draw is more difficult than Vitesse because they are more physical and don’t play so open as a Dutch team does. That makes it difficult.”

Southampton travel to Watford in the Premier League at the weekend. They have just one point from their opening two matches.

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Koeman confirms that Steven Caulker will return to the squad for tomorrow’s clash with @fcmidtjylland. #saintsfc

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We win this game 5-0.

If anybody wants tickets for the away leg (or just to dubiously build your number of aways relatively cheaply), get on the ticket site now.

From 9am they changed the allocation so that you now only require a ST plus 6 aways (since the start of 2014/15).

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Sourced from Daily Echo article

Caulker and Romeu could start for Southampton

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STEVEN Caulker could return to the heart of the Saints defence tonight, after overcoming a sinus infection, while latest signing Oriol Romeu is also in contention to start.

Caulker missed last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Everton, but is available again to partner Jose Fonte at centre-half against Midtjylland.

Romeu, who signed in a £5m deal from Chelsea last week and came on at half-time against the Toffees, could make a first start for Saints in defensive midfield.

Manager Ronald Koeman said: “He’s fit enough. He had a normal pre-season.

“Of course he didn’t have really that intensity in the level of games in the friendlies, but he is ok, he is fit to play, he needs rhythm, game time, that’s for sure, but we will give him that.”

Koeman is expecting Midtjylland to be a tougher opponent than Vitesse were in the last round, describing their Moneyball-style approach – they are guided enormously in all their decision making by in-depth statistical analysis and other data – as “quite unique”.

Nearly half of the Danish champions’ goals from last season were scored from set-pieces, while Kian Hansen possesses a dangerous long throw, and the Saints boss is wary – if not unnerved – of their threat.

“Normally last season we were the best team in defending corner kicks and we know that they have a number two who has throw-ins like corner kicks and we need attention in that, because it is the most easy way to score a goal,” he said.

“You don’t need to create, it’s a long throw in, they have got headers, but we will have enough headers to win the battle.”

But Koeman did confirm he will encourage his players not to give away set-pieces and throw-ins near their own area.

“Of course,” he said. “Of course you have to do everything and don’t make the opponent stronger than they are “They have the qualities, they have the set pieces, they have the throw-ins and, of course, we need attention in that.”

Asked if that approach is a good tactic, Koeman said: “It’s using the qualities. I don’t like to mention it as tactical, but you use the qualities if you have tall people and tall players and you have somebody who throw-in like the distance of a corner kick – it’s dangerous, because if you bring in the box six, seven players then it’s difficult to have a good defence.

“It’s using the qualities and that’s the main job for the manager.”

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Summary of Saints’ focussed Twitter users: 19/08/2015 23:29:18

| Southampton FC @SouthamptonFC | VIDEO: Coach Jess Thorup and ex-#SaintsFC man @TimSparv preview @fcmidtjylland’s @EuropaLeague trip to St Mary’s – http://youtu.be/0kitLtO8eFwan hour ago |

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Southampton FC - (southamptonfc) on 19/08/2015

Ronald Koeman confirmed on Wednesday that @stevencaulker4 is back in training and available for #SaintsFC’s #UEL clash with @fcmidtjylland on Thursday. ( Staplewood Campus )

Likes: 396

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Southampton FC - (southamptonfc) on 19/08/2015

#SaintsFC’s Spanish contingent prepare for @fcmidtjylland in the #UEL on Thursday night. ( Staplewood Campus )

Likes: 410

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How Midtjylland harnessed the power of moneyball

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Southampton’s production line of talent has been admired across Europe.

But tonight they face FC Midtjylland in the Europa League, a club that rolled the dice with their data-driven approach to ­developing players and has already seen the gamble pay a title-winning ­dividend.

Matthew Benham, owner of Championship Brentford, bought Midtjylland last year and ­transformed the club to win the Danish Superliga title – the first major trophy in their history.

Benham’s approach is based on the ‘Moneyball’ statistical method introduced by Major League ­Baseball side Oakland Athletics in the 1990s and favoured by ­Liverpool owner John W Henry.

Key number indicators, rather than traditional scouting systems, are used to identify the right players. A book about the ­so-called ‘sabermetric experiment’ also became an Oscar-­nominated film, starring Brad Pitt.

Benham, boss of SmartOdds, has rolled out the project at ­Brentford, too, and the Bees defied the odds to reach the play-offs last season in their first campaign after winning ­promotion from League One.

Numbers game: Rasmus Ankersen is seeing the benefits of Benham’s approach

Rasmus Ankersen, who works alongside Benham at both clubs, said: “I met Matthew a few years ago. At the time, Brentford were third in League One and there were a couple of games to go. I said to him, ‘What are the chances of getting promoted?’.

“When you ask that question you expect an emotional ‘yes’ or ‘no’ from a football owner. But he just said rationally, ‘At the moment, there’s a 42.3 per cent chance we will get promoted’. I knew then he was a guy who was thinking very differently about football than I have ever ­experienced before.”

Bees boss Mark Warburton was replaced in the Griffin Park hot seat by Dutchman Marinus ­Dijkhuizen this summer as Ankersen and co-sporting director Phil Giles were placed in charge of transfers.

New face: Marinus Dijkhuizen has taken over at Brentford

Midtjylland boast 13 homegrown players in their first-team squad, and Ankersen added: “There are inefficiencies in the transfer market. Lots of clubs pay too much money for players that are low quality.

“We think we’ve got some tools that will make us evaluate teams and players much more accurately with data rather than the human eye is able to.

“The model we are using is something that could be applied in any country – it’s just a different way of thinking about football and trying to do things unconventionally.”

Rising star: Andre Gray was bought for a pittance and is now worth millions

The Bees are set to make a ­staggering profit on Bristol City-bound striker Andre Gray, who was signed for just £500,000 last summer after being identified using the statistical approach. He is poised to move on this summer in a package worth £9million, with Bristol City and Hull both interested.

But Saints boss Ronald Koeman is unconvinced. He said: “It is quite unique. Brentford and Midtjylland are working the model, but I don’t believe always in stats. I believe in my feeling, my eye on the pitch.

“Everyone uses stats about physical freshness of players, but you must choose the best way for what you believe is successful.”

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Interesting read on Midtjland and Moneyball (and Brentford).

Koeman sceptical.

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Southampton FC - (southamptonfc) on 20/08/2015

It’s matchday for #SaintsFC! Ronald Koeman’s men welcome @fcmidtjylland to St Mary’s in the #UEL play-offs this evening. Kick-off is at 8pm BST. ( St Mary’s Stadium )

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Southampton FC - (southamptonfc) on 20/08/2015

Ronald Koeman ahead of facing @fcmidtjylland: “We have to prepare ourselves. They are a strong team and they have confidence. They are physically strong and have good organisation. It will be a difficult one.” #saintsfc ( Staplewood Campus )

Likes: 276

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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

VIDEO: @Prowsey16 can’t wait for more @EuropaLeague action at St Mary’s tonight – http://youtu.be/29m_Hplsiio #saintsfc https://amp.twimg.com/v/3341947f-319c-4730-b526-5235a453e335

Retweets: 23

Favourites: 21

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