Understrength Southampton on a sharp decline
The first of 2020/2021's FA Cup quarter finals kicks off on Saturday lunchtime at The Vitality Stadium, in a game pitting a resurgent AFC Bournemouth side against their south coast rivals Southampton, who are spiralling badly after what looked like a really promising campaign just a few months ago in the Premier League. Three of the last four wins for the visitors have come in the famous cup competition (the other was against bottom side Sheffield United), whereas the hosts are going well under the auspices of new manager Jonathan Woodgate, who has taken them to the cusp of the play-offs following an excellent 3-0 midweek win over top six outfit Swansea City. The confidence will be with the Cherries, and with several big names missing for the Saints, it could go from very bad to worse for them. Read our preview here:
The Long and the short of it
Curiously, Irish striker Shane Long will be cup-tied for this encounter, which pits his temporary club against his parent one. However, the home side shouldn't suffer too much in his absence, and possess three players on their books who have racked up double figures this season. Indeed, many of the likely XI have top flight experience, even if they weren't part of the team that were relegated last year. Moreover, on paper, there's little difference in quality, and Woodgate has at his disposal a good mix of youth, potential and experience, and there are units in the squad that would be the envy of lower half Premier League outfits; the most notable example of this is with the double pivot at the base of midfield - despite missing David Brooks and Lewis Cook, Bournemouth can still boast the duo of Jack Wilshere and Jefferson Lerma in the middle. The pair have excellent options ahead of them to pick out, including Nigerian-born winger Arnaut Danjuma. The twice-capped Dutch international has excelled from the left this term, possessing everything required to give defences headaches whilst being effective in more than one phase of play. Dominic Solanke will also worry the static Saints defence with his pace and movement, and has come back into a semblance of form after a barren spell.
You can Tella lot
Meanwhile, Ralph Hasenhüttl will persist with a 4-4-2 shape that has had more than its fair share of drawbacks of late, and that's been with a full-strength squad to choose from. He doesn't have that comparative luxury on Saturday, and in turn, he will be forced to deploy two relatively untried members down the spine. In central defence, Mohammed Salisu will partner Jan Bednarek; the tall Ghanian is not renowned for either his passing or concentration, and that could prove fatal. Up top, shorn of Danny Ings, Theo Walcott, and Takumi Minamino, Che Adams will be guiding 21 year old Nathan Tella, who has split his scant time on the pitch in midfield and attack. Although he has barely had 500 minutes of football under his belt, he has shown little to get fans excited or even hopeful about, and in a team that already lacks goal threat, that could blunt their efforts even further.
Sweet, not sour
There's a narrative that suggests Southampton have been on the beach for sometime now. Were it not for the 'distraction' of the FA Cup, there'd be very little to get worked up about, besides the obvious downturn in form in 2021. Bournemouth, of course, have plenty to play for on two fronts, and are the sole representatives of the EFL remaining in the famous old cup. Woodgate has inherited a squad not in his own image, but one which had previously underdelivered on the promise throughout. This will still be a tight affair, but bet365 have very generous odds of 3.75 for the Cherries to be dreaming of who they can draw in the semi-finals.
