Southampton, England's southern gateway to the world.

And the most commendable thing about Southampton is not the beautiful and bustling port, nor the starting point of the Titanic, but the pride of the city - Southampton Football Club!

Southampton has long been known for developing young players in England and European football as a whole.

There have been many outstanding stars who have shone in the Premier League, such as Lallana, Bale, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Luke Shaw, Ward Prowse and so on.

However, as a small club, it is difficult for them to retain the best players from their own academy.

In the face of poaching by the giants, they can only sell these stars for as good a price as possible, and then continue to look for cheap alternatives in the transfer market, or directly promote from the youth team.

And this is also the way for small and medium-sized clubs to survive and operate!

This is their third season in the Premier League since returning to the Premier League with a triple jump in the 11~12 season.

Their own excellent hematopoietic ability, combined with the club's very rational operations, allows them to remain competitive in the Premier League.

Even last season, the "Five Tigers" composed of Lallana, Lambert, Luke Shaw, Lovren, and Chambers were poached, and head coach Pochettino was poached, and he was almost dismembered by the major giants.

However, in terms of transfer recruitment, they added strong reinforcements in time, and under the leadership of Koeman, they played beautiful attacking football!

Moreover, their defense is also impregnable.

After ten rounds, with the fewest goals conceded in the league, it ranks fourth in the league!

Suffice it to say, this is definitely a strong team!

Therefore, when he saw the starting lineup from Southampton, Ling Feng couldn't help but sigh in his heart:

It's going to be a tough battle!

Southampton's starting goalkeeper was the Great Britain substitute goalkeeper, Vrazer Forster.

In national team training, he is responsible for shooting with the players.

Therefore, Ling Feng knows this old brother's strength very well.

Although it is not as good as Joe Hart, it is definitely the starting level of the mid-table teams in the five major leagues.

The four members of the back line are all well-known Premier League players:

Bertrand, who made his Champions League final debut, Portugal international Fonte, Belgium international Alderweireld, and England new international Klein;

In the midfield, it is French defender Schneiderlin on the left, Northern Ireland international Steve Davies on the right, and Kenyan beast waist Wanyama is slightly behind to protect;

On the left and right, there is Mane, one of the future Red Arrows Three Heroes, and Serbian magician Tadic.

At the forefront, it is the Italian big center Luneng famous Pelle!

The overall strength of the starting lineup in a single round, Southampton is not only fiercer than Leicester City, but can definitely rank in the top six in the league!

Perhaps Leicester City's front line is slightly stronger than Southampton's front line.

However, the strength of the midfield and backfield is much worse.

The former is to replace defense with offense, and the latter is both offensive and defensive!

That's why, after ten league games, Leicester have conceded thirteen goals, while Southampton have conceded just five.

Of course, there is not much difference in the strength of the two sides, only between the two sides.

Judging from the score predictions of football experts before the game and the odds of Spinach, they are unanimously optimistic that Southampton can win.

This season, Leicester City's record on the road is not good.

It may be a bit of a conflict with the word "West", the only two defeats were away to Chelsea and Swansea!

On the road, when the opposition dominates home field and thus dominates possession, Leicester City will be in a situation where they are beaten passively.

Leicester's backline is not solid.

Even if you have the ability to counterattack, you often can't hold back and the defense line will be breached by the opponent.

Since you can't defend it, then attack!

That's why Leicester City, both at home and away, will use attacking tactics of high pressing.

As the saying goes, it is to respond to all changes with the same, and a set of tactics to fight the world!

And this away game at St. Mary's Stadium, in Pearson's view, if you want to get out of the way, you must be anti-guest and stick to your own offensive football!

"From the first second of the game, we had to keep Southampton down!"

"Press aggressively up front, don't let them easily control the ball and organise the attack."

However, just as Pearson was giving the crowd a pre-game tactical set-up, another assistant coach, Shakespeare, walked briskly into the dressing room and whispered something in Pearson's ear.

Then, Pearson frowned, then looked around and said in a deep voice:

"It's raining outside."

"Our tactics need to change a little!"

The negative impact of the rain on the football game is obvious.

Rain-watered grass becomes silky, the ball is faster, and the players' feet are prone to slippage.

Because the jersey is wet by the rain, it becomes heavier, and the player's ability to run on the field will also be greatly reduced, and the physical consumption will also be doubled.

If the drainage system of the stadium is good, the stadium does not accumulate much water, and you can also play and cooperate.

If there is too much water, it will be a disaster for a team that is good at ground coordination!

This is also why in many classic battles, the originally inferior team will reverse the game because of the rain.

Rain is an important factor that affects the direction of the game and the outcome of the game!

"Hit more direct passes!"

"Jesse, Riad, you guys go to the front of the penalty area and make more inverted triangle crosses."

"Ling, you're welcome this time, shoot more!"

On a rainy day, a long-range shot is a very effective way to score a goal!

Because the ball moving at high speed will become silky after being stained with rain, there will be unpredictable changes in trajectory, and it is easy for the goalkeeper to make a mistake in making a save.

Therefore, every time there is a rain battle, both teams will increase the frequency of long-range shots, and reduce short-distance short passes, and directly play long passes and rush to hang in a simple and rough way!

If it weren't for the fact that the starting line-up could not be changed at the last minute, Pearson would have even planned to replace Lingard with a big centre-forward Ulloa to start.

In this way, the front court can have a fulcrum for teammates to make the ball, and the whole offense can be more three-dimensional.

It's a pity that I can't change it.

Hearing the head coach's instructions, Ling Feng, who was taking off his gloves, couldn't help but nodded.

Ever since he saw Mahrez wearing gloves as if he had been on a BUFF, Ling Feng had also learned that he wore gloves during the game.

Although there is not much noticeable effect for the time being.

But he really felt that his hands would be warmer, and the heat in his body would not be lost from his hands.

Moreover, when someone knocks over and falls to the ground, wearing gloves can also cushion it, and it is not so painful.

However, if it rains, there is a high chance that the soaked gloves will become another burden on the body.

That's why he decided to take his gloves off

After setting up the tactics and making the routine pre-match mobilization, the Foxes slowly walked out of the visiting dressing room.

At this time, Lingard, who was walking beside Ling Feng, suddenly asked:

"Ling, I have a hunch that you will score this time!"

Hearing this, Ling Feng couldn't help but be stunned.

On rainy days, the probability of scoring from a distance is indeed higher than usual.

Coupled with the unlimited firing rights he received from the head coach in this game, it increased his chances of scoring.

Thinking of this, Ling Feng made a "yes" gesture, and then pretended to be serious and said:

"Well, I also have a hunch, in this game, I will score two goals!"

After saying that, he couldn't hold back a smile himself, patted Lingard on the shoulder, and then walked forward.

Originally, Ling Feng was just joking with Emperor Lin.

But it didn't come to pass, the latter took it seriously.

Looking at Ling Feng's slightly forward back, Lingard's eyes became firm.

At this moment, Lin Huang couldn't help but secretly make up his mind that this time he must pass the ball to Ling Feng more and let him score!

In return for taking care of him on the first day he was on loan here!

。。。

When the players from both sides lined up into the St. Mary's stadium, the stadium immediately resounded with enthusiastic cheers.

The drizzle in the air could not dampen the enthusiasm of the fans!

And Ling Feng raised his head, only to feel the raindrops lapping on his face, a little cold.

The rain wasn't heavy, just a drizzle.

As we enter November, there are fewer and fewer sunny days in the UK.

The British have long been accustomed to this.

It's just that Ling Feng has never tried to play a game when it's raining.

So, this will be the first rain fight of his career so far!

After the pre-match ceremony and the referee's whistle, the 11th round of the Premier League, Southampton's home match against Leicester City, officially began!

Southampton's attack relied mainly on two flanks.

Mane on the left, although he is not yet the "fiery King Kong, smoky Tai Sui" of the Liverpool period,

However, excellent speed and breakthrough are already emerging.

Pushing forward with the ball on the left flank is a sharp weapon for Southampton to start on the wing!

On the right, Tadic, although not an orthodox wide player, has average speed and explosiveness.

However, his ball protection and passing are top-notch.

Especially with an open field of vision, he can always catch his teammates who are open and pass the ball out.

In the 8-0 slaughter of "Black Cat" Sunderland, he contributed an assist hat-trick!

It is also currently ranked third in the league assist list, second only to Ling Feng, who is far ahead, and Xiaofa, who is second.

The Serbia international is a source of creativity for Southampton, on par with Leicester City's Lingfeng.

Therefore, Pearson also pointed out the importance of Tadic, allowing Schlupp, the "body monster" who guarded the left flank, to defend him closely.

Then he ordered the experienced Cambiaso to be in charge of the defense, and he was bound to lock up the Southampton frontcourt commander!

As for the big center forward in front, Pelle, belongs to the typical standing center forward.

As long as Tadic's ball is limited so that he can't touch the ball, with his speed and running off the ball, there is basically no big threat.

Southampton kicked off first.

As soon as Pelle passed the ball back, Schneiderlin, the back who took the ball, immediately found that the Blue Fox players in blue clothes pounced at once!

In response, he couldn't help but turn around and pass the ball back to central defender Fonte.

In the next second, Snyderlin felt a light breeze blowing around him, and a blue afterimage ran quickly past him.

And behind that afterimage, there is the number seven!

As the game wore on, the Leicester players became more and more tactical about the team, and the pressing distance between them was very good.

However, in the face of the Blue Foxes' frontcourt pressing, the Saints' backcourt players did not panic and passed the ball to the two wings.

Meanwhile, two midfielders, Wanyama and Sneidlin, both returned.

Then, they were surprised to see that there were players in blue jerseys everywhere they looked!

The entire formation of the Blue Fox was extremely forward.

Even the central defender Morgan has even pressed to the vicinity of the center circle arc!

Seeing this, Southampton coach Koeman, who was on the sidelines, couldn't help frowning.

The formation is pressed so high?!

Are they crazy?

Although I have studied the tactical play of the opponent.

However, he didn't expect that Leicester City's frontcourt pressure would be so violent!

You know, this kind of pressing is extremely physically demanding.

It is truly the youngest team in the league with an average age!

After a difficult pass at the back, the ball finally reached the feet of left-back Bertrand.

He first glanced at Snyderlin, who had come to pick him up, only to find that Andy King was closely behind him.

Seeing that Mahrez had already pressed in front of him, he had no choice but to make a long pass and hit the front.

At the same time, left winger Sadio Mane immediately started to cut forward.

Thankfully, right-back Danny Simpson was quick and quick enough to chase back immediately.

In a wave of body collisions, Simpson took the lead in catching the ball and then passed it to Morgan at centre-back.

The captain of the Blue Foxes made a direct pass and handed it to Cambiaso.

The latter glanced up and forward, then directly passed the ball to Ling Feng, who received it, and he organized it.

However, before Ling Feng could get the ball with his back, Wan Yama behind him came up directly to the top.

In the next second, Ling Feng felt a huge force behind him, and he was immediately pushed to the ground.

Beep!

The home whistle blew!

And Wan Yama, who committed the foul, did not defend himself, but gave a thumbs up to the referee and stepped back directly.

Obviously, this black and hard Kenyan beast waist is the player who was arranged to stare at himself in this game!

In this regard, Ling Feng just smiled, patted his buttocks, and stood up.

He has gradually become accustomed to this kind of treatment

However, after five minutes of mutual temptation, the rain did not stop.

On the contrary, it is getting bigger and bigger!

However, with the heavy rain, Leicester City took the lead in using a simple pass to play a wave of threats:

In the tenth minute of the game, Ling Feng hit the wall with Lingard on the left side of the front, and the latter received a through ball, and after dribbling the ball down the side, he directly crossed with his left foot without raising his head!

"Lingard!"

"Inverted triangle!"

The ball rolled over the slightly slippery turf and flew straight to Ling Feng, who was in place outside the big penalty area!

Seeing that there was no one to guard him, Southampton captain Fonte's eyes widened, and he immediately shouted:

"Lower back!"

"Prevent him from passing!"

Perhaps Ling Feng's passing skills were so powerful that they overlooked a very important thing for a while.

That's it:

Ling Feng's long-range shot is also quite threatening!

Therefore, the two centre-backs did not step forward to block, but prevented him from sending a through ball to the diagonal Vardy.

And Wan Yama, who was chasing back, pounced at high speed from the left,

However, from before receiving the ball, Ling Feng never thought about passing the ball!

Seeing that there was no one in front of him, he did not hesitate, stopped with his right foot, and stopped the ball in front of him.

Then take a step forward, grab the slide before Wan Yama lands on the sliding tackle, and shoot directly with his feet!

(End of chapter)