On the face of it with so many players missing from the team, this doesn't look like it is going to be a good night for Saints, but if Russell Martin can play to his available players strengths, then we might just spring a shock.

As mentioned in a previous article Saints could have as many as 14 members of the squad missing from the game against Chelsea with Suspension, injury & seemingly being out of favour with the manager.

But the truth is perhaps only 4 or 5 of them will be truly missed, Tyler Dibling, Flynn Downes & Taylor Harwood-Bellis who are all suspended after picking up yellow cards at Brighton will of course be big misses, as will Aaron Ramsdale and Jan Bednarek, but after that few of those who may miss this game have played regularly this season.

So how will Russell Martin rejig his squad to take on a Chelsea who are now up to 3rd in the table ? That is the big question Southampton fans will be asking and most are not expecting to be pleasantly surprised.

I would suspect that Martin will try and play a similar formation as the one he employed at Brighton on Friday night.

That saw a fluid back five, employing wing backs that could change as the situation needed, four in midfield and just one up front.

First question is going to be the keeper, Joe Lumley surprisingly replaced Alex McCarthy who dropped to the bench , will Lumley keep his place for this one, there were rumours that this was not completely tactical and that McCarthy had a niggle hence he was on the bench, so who will play in this one ?

At the back I would expect Jack Stephens to play in the centre and hopefully Jan Bednarek will be back, if he isn't then we are in trouble, we would have effectively just one central defender who is either proven or in favour, personally I would like to see Armel Bella-Kotchap brought in , but it seems that Russell Martin has fallen out with the player.

That could also be the case with Charlie Taylor who could be employed either in the centre or as a full back.

These are two proven Premier League players but I suspect that Russell Martin will still ignore them and got for the untried at this level Nathan Wood & perhaps even Ronnie Edwards.

In midfield Matteus Fernandes will play, as will Joe Aribo in the centre, Ryan Fraser could start wide on the left with Adam Armstrong on the other flank with Cameron Archer up front.

So I would expect us to line up something like this

Lumley

Suguwara Walker Peters, Bednarek, Stephens, Manning

Armstrong, Aribo, Fernades, Fraser

Archer

On the bench, McCarthy, Sulemara, Brereton Diaz, Amo-Ameyaw, Bree, Wood, Edwards & Cornet plus probably a youngster.

As mentioned though surely Russell Martin has to put the team first and change and adapt and that means recalls for Taylor & Bella-Kotchap at least on the bench.

On paper we should be able to give Chelsea a game, but only if we are disciplined and we cut out the suicidal passing at the back.

I think we have done better in the games against the better sides than those down the bottom, we held Manchester City for over 90 minutes after conceding an early goal and showed we can keep it tight against Liverpool & Brighton, it is the suicidal possession game we try to play that is costing us dearly.

Realistically though it is going to be tough and we are going to miss the suspended trio big time, but sometimes teams find an inner strength in games like these and our side do not lack fighting spirit.

All we can do as fans is turn up in our numbers and get behind the team, over the years it is often games like this that throw up performances both individually and as a team that surprises everybody and that is why we go to football.

All Photos Via Reuters

onetowatch added 11:49 - Dec 4 A reasonable overview, particularly of the CT and ABK status - but, to bring them in, as you state, would be putting the team first, not RMs ego....which is the flaw in that option....
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kenchilds70 added 13:02 - Dec 4 Im afraid with Russell Martin " if yer face dont fit yer not in it" attitude will ensure relegation at the end of the season. ABK should have been nurtured into the side ages ago instead of his chum Stephens, Pick the best not your best fried Sir or go elsewhere. For half a season Ive heard your admit your mistakes but you Never learned from any one of them. Time to fall on your sword before you stab all the fans that support our beloved club

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