Former Southampton manager Gordon Strachan has informed Leicester City what they should expect this week from the Saints.
City head to St. Mary’s for an 8 p.m. kickoff on Friday, with both clubs hoping to build on their great starts to the season following the international break.
Strachan bemoaned Southampton’s failure to put up a “proper fight” in their relegation to the Championship, and he leveled similar criticism at Leeds United. However, he did not say the same about Leicester.
Strachan told Gambling Zone (via Southern Daily Echo) ahead of the clash between the two clubs on Friday: “Southampton are a team that loves to keep the ball.” Their possession-based offense will succeed against certain opponents but not others.I didn’t expect Leeds to lose so many players, which could be a problem for them. There is little doubt that Leeds is the most powerful of the three clubs.
“When I look at the Championship this season, I don’t believe there will be one or two teams that will blow most teams away.” I can’t think of any individuals that would be considered runaway leaders in terms of obtaining those automatic promotion positions.”
“I think it will be really, really tight between the top ten with about eight or nine games to go,” he stated, adding that he expects Coventry, Leeds, and Southampton to be among them. I hope Leeds can sort themselves out by that stage in the season because they have a support that can push them into the promotion race and terrify other teams.
“Southampton did not go down without a fight.” “I believe both (Southampton and Leeds) are suffering from the consequences of poor Premier League finishes and need to pick themselves up.”