New Southampton supervisor Ivan Juric has promised followers “dying metallic” soccer as he goals to tug the Saints to security.
Juric was instilled as Southampton’s new boss final week within the wake of Russell Martin’s dismissal.
The Croatian, who was sacked by Roma earlier this season, watched on from the stands throughout Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Fulham.
Subsequent up are West Ham on Boxing Day, as Juric makes his Premier League bow, and he has vowed to carry an all-action type of play to St Mary’s.
“Once I was younger I favored dying metallic music so much, and that’s one thing I feel my type of soccer is like,” Juric mentioned.
“Work exhausting, press exhausting, play good, be intense, all these things. I feel (the gamers) can do it. They’re younger, they’re constructive, they need to work exhausting. It’s not straightforward to alter the type instantly, however we’ve to be intelligent.”
Attending to work pic.twitter.com/dXDs8BsyCG
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) December 24, 2024
Whereas Southampton have now made a managerial change, West Ham stood by Julen Lopetegui, who has been underneath strain following a poor begin to the season.
After a 1-1 draw with Brighton, West Ham are unbeaten in three matches heading into Thursday’s conflict.
Lopetegui, although, is coping with a number of accidents, together with the long-term absence of Michail Antonio, who underwent surgical procedure after he was concerned in a highway site visitors accident earlier in December.
Niclas Fullkrug, who West Ham signed from Borussia Dortmund in the summertime, has been unable to cement a beginning spot due partly to harm, however Lopetegui will not be wanting to place strain on the Germany worldwide.
“It’s true we didn’t have Fullkrug in his greatest means, and Danny Ings is doing properly, so we will use Jarrod Bowen too, so we’ve totally different choices [up front],” he mentioned, by way of WHUFC.com.
“We’ve to attempt to benefit from the most effective choices that we perceive in every match, in every second, understanding that every one of them need to be in the easiest way to assist us so much. Typically the timings didn’t assist us as Fullkrug was out for three-a-half-months and now he’s again and able to assist us within the second half of the season.
“There may be not just one rule in soccer. Typically he [Fullkrug] can begin within the line-up for us and typically he can begin on the bench. The extra vital factor is that the entire gamers have to be prepared now to play a whole lot of matches in a row.”
Lopetegui seems forward to Southampton #TalkingPoint with @LycaMobileUK pic.twitter.com/NE2SmvVSen
— West Ham United (@WestHam) December 23, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Southampton – Tyler Dibling
One main constructive from the primary half of the season for Southampton has been the type of teenager Dibling, and Juric shall be seeking to get the most effective out of the winger after Martin launched him into the facet.
Dibling has performed 13 key passes within the league this time period, with none of his team-mates managing extra.
West Ham – Mohammed Kudus
Kudus has accomplished extra dribbles than every other participant within the Premier League this season (42). He has additionally been concerned in 4 objectives in his final six Premier League video games (three objectives, one help), having failed to attain or help a aim in any of his first six appearances this time period.
MATCH PREDICTION: WEST HAM WIN
Juric would be the fourth supervisor whose first Premier League match is on Boxing Day, with every of the earlier three remaining unbeaten (Roberto Mancini 2-0 v Stoke in 2009, Mikel Arteta 1-1 v Bournemouth in 2019 and Lopetegui 2-1 v Everton in 2022).
Nonetheless, West Ham are unbeaten of their final 5 away league video games towards Southampton, with every of their final three visits ending in a draw (W2).
Southampton have gained simply one in all their final 11 Premier League video games towards West Ham (D3 L7), although that victory did are available in a Boxing Day fixture (3-2 in 2021-22).
The Hammers are unbeaten of their final 20 Premier League video games towards sides beginning the day backside of the desk (W14 D6), since a 2-1 loss at Leicester in April 2015. Each of their such video games in 2024 have completed 2-2 (v Sheffield United in January and Burnley in March).
Southampton have, although, misplaced simply one in all their final eight house league video games performed on Boxing Day (W5 D2), although that defeat did come of their final such match within the Premier League (1-3 v Brighton in 2022).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
West Ham – 43.1%
Southampton – 31.1%
Draw – 25.8%
