Southampton v Leeds Utd Match Thread - Harrison, Roberts and Struijk in for Phillips, Raphinha and Firpo

[Ellandback1]

Saturday 16th October 15:00 | St Mary's Stadium

Influential winger Raphinha is set to miss the trip down to the South Coast on Saturday when Leeds face Southampton at St Mary's. Leeds leading scorer is set to make his third International appearance for Brazil against Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier at 1:30am on Friday (UK time). By the time he arrives back in England, he is likely to be drained.

He could fly straight to Southampton airport, then rest at the team hotel, but Bielsa would have to be desperate for that to happen. If Dan James can transfer his recent Wales form to Leeds and build on his performance against Watford, he will cause the Southampton defence all kinds of problems. If as expected, Harrison plays on the left wing, with James on the right, his paths will cross with Romain Perraud, who was heavily linked to a move to Elland Road in the Summer.




Leeds welcome back Kalvin Phillips to the starting line up. The England midfielder missed International duty with a calf strain, but unnamed sources from Elland Road indicate he'll start. Luke Ayling went under the surgeon's knife earlier this week following his knee injury. He is set to return early in December. This gives Jamie Shackleton an opportunity to make the position his own! Patrick Bamford is 'vying to be fit for Saturday', let's hope our only striking (scoring) option can at least make the bench. Southampton will be without James Ward-Prowse. The England midfielder was sent off at Stamford Bridge for two bookable offences. Che Adams and Armando Brouja are both doubtful as they both look to return from injury. Jack Stephens knee injury will keep hiss sidelined until the New Year.

Whilst Leeds earned their first win of the season last time out, Southampton fans are still waiting for a victrory this season. In 7 games they have lost 4 and drawn 3 leaving them 17th in the table. Their stats for 2021 don't make pretty reading, in 29 games they have ammased only 24 poiunts shipping 58 goals in the process. Last season Leeds were 3-0 victors at Elland Road, winning the retuern fixture at St Marys 2-0. Leeds will be hoping to bring back three more points from the south coast this season!



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[White Riot]

I recently posted these stats for the Saints in 2021:
Played 29
Points 24
For 25
Against 58

That's diabolical form which probably only Norwich and Watford will do worse than this season.

As well as WP and probably Adams missing, they sold Gunn, Vetergaard, Bertrand, Ings and a number of others in the summer.

So we should be going there looking for three points against a team that are prime candidates for relegation.

I expect Bielsa will go with:

Meslier
Shackleton
Llorente
Cooper
Firpo
Phillips
Klich
Dallas
James
Bamford
Harrison

If Bamfords not fit Rodrigo will start and I don't expect MB will risk Raphinha unless we're behind and he brings him off the bench.

If we're cruising, which I think we should be against a team as poor as them, then maybe MB will give Gelhardt, Bate and Jimmy some minutes. I hope he does, as if these kids can prove themselves good enough we can save some money in the short, and long term.

I really fancy us to smash these lot

[1964white]

I'll be extremely disappointed if we chuck points away in this game

[mentalcase]

3 points, a dodgy offside penalty own goal, don't care as long as we win.

[Cjay]

Bamford, Koch, Ayling definitely out.

Phillips has a chance of being available (Have to say players who only have a chance imo shouldn't play, it risks further injury)

Dallas, Summerville available . . . . . . . . . . .


AND FORSHAW

[1964white]

Bamford, Koch, Ayling definitely out.

Phillips has a chance of being available (Have to say players who only have a chance imo shouldn't play, it risks further injury)

Dallas, Summerville available . . . . . . . . . . .


AND FORSHAW

I 'll feel less confident of a Leeds victory if Raphinha, Phillips & Bamford are missing, two of our three best players plus our two likely goalscorers. We always miss Kalvin.

[Lumiukko]

More than happy to have James and Harrison start with Raph and Summerville on the bench. What a thing to bring Raph on against tiring Saints legs if we need him! If we're comfortable, let him have his rest and give Summerville some minutes (or Roberts on the wing, j/k).

Not expecting this to be a walkover however. I'm more than happy with Rodrigo up top and the general balance of the team as long as KP plays. Without KP it might be a struggle though, but a chance for Struijk to impress as the DCM. I see the team as:

Meslier
Shacks
Llorente
Cooper
Firpo
Struijk
Dallas
Klich
Harrison
James
Rodrigo

Bench: Klaesson, Cresswell, Gelhardt, Summerville, Raphinha, McCarron, Forshaw, Roberts, Drameh

[BGwhite]

Che Adams is out as well as Ward Prowse, that seriously weakens them , we should be able to cope even without KP. In this fixture Rapha shouldn't be so much of a great loss, let him rest and have him fresh for Wolves.

Sent from my moto g(9) plus using Tapatalk

[The Subhuman]

Gonna miss this game as family meal in a house with no internet. I'll set up the MOTM when I get back in and there's a chance I may catch the last 20 or so

We usually lose when I'm not watching ... fair warning

[1964white]

Gonna miss this game as family meal in a house with no internet. I'll set up the MOTM when I get back in and there's a chance I may catch the last 20 or so

We usually lose when I'm not watching ... fair warning

I'll post up the MOTM thread if you are not back on time, Faaip

[The Subhuman]

Cheers 64 .. Dinner at my partners mums house and she's nearly 90, still the matriarch and I love her to bits. But no mod cons really still has the same telephone they had put in in 1970, no computers, no mobile phone, tele is probably the newest thing and that's 15 yrs old only gets the free stuff and not even a recorder. Great old fashioned cook though, looking forward to a roast

At 89 she still mows her third of an acre of lawn regularly, I get to cut the hedges though once a year, 200 yards of fast growing conifer, 12-14 foot high and 10 foot across the top. Takes me a couple of weeks and around 120 large compost bags full of trimmings to the recycling centre

[1964white]

Cheers 64 .. Dinner at my partners mums house and she's nearly 90, still the matriarch and I love her to bits. But no mod cons really still has the same telephone they had put in in 1970, no computers, no mobile phone, tele is probably the newest thing and that's 15 yrs old only gets the free stuff and not even a recorder. Great old fashioned cook though, looking forward to a roast

At 89 she still mows her third of an acre of lawn regularly, I get to cut the hedges though once a year, 200 yards of fast growing conifer, 12-14 foot high and 10 foot across the top. Takes me a couple of weeks and around 120 large compost bags full of trimmings to the recycling centre

What a grand old lady

I reckon Jill will be mowing lawns for years to come.

[The Subhuman]

What a grand old lady

I reckon Jill will be mowing lawns for years to come.

Still swims every week for an hour (with rests) ...

[hector]

I drove past St Mary's today, when I was about 1/2 mile past it, a police car with lights and sirens went rushing past me towards the ground, closely followed by another...

I found myself wondering if they were practicing for tomorrow, or some of the guys were down 24 hours early..

[Irish Ian]

I drove past St Mary's today, when I was about 1/2 mile past it, a police car with lights and sirens went rushing past me towards the ground, closely followed by another...

I found myself wondering if they were practicing for tomorrow, or some of the guys were down 24 hours early..

Of they had been called to escort the ambulance for Forshaw after he tripped on the carpet in the changing room

[hector]

Of they had been called to escort the ambulance for Forshaw after he tripped on the carpet in the changing room

[John in Louisiana]

I will not get to see the game, alas.

I’m the faculty advisor for the student barbecue club and we’re serving pulled pork to 400 people tomorrow at the university team’s (American) football game. Fortunately I will get to watch a replay.

I will be counting on this page, however, to keep me apprised. So……your usual fine job of commenting, please.

[White Riot]

I drove past St Mary's today, when I was about 1/2 mile past it, a police car with lights and sirens went rushing past me towards the ground, closely followed by another...

I found myself wondering if they were practicing for tomorrow, or some of the guys were down 24 hours early..

They were called to subdue Ralph Hasenhutl after he had got overexcited watching a recording of the Saints victory over Liverpool again

[Leeds1000]

Matt Le Tissier to get a brace. Adam Forshaw to play with one.

Southampton are a team on the slide, this is our time. Don't be concerned if we only start with 10 men, rumour as it that Raphinha in an effort to skip quarantine, Marcelo has arranged for him to parachute onto the center circle before scoring two on the break.

2-2

[John in Louisiana]

Matt Le Tissier to get a brace. Adam Forshaw to play with one.