Southampton v Aston Villa Match Thread - Sat 30 Jan - 8pm - Sky Sports | Vital Football

Southampton v Aston Villa Match Thread - Sat 30 Jan - 8pm - Sky Sports

JuanPabloAngel

JuanPabloAngel

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Got a horrible feeling that Southampton have got our number, last 3 times we've played them they've brushed us aside. We had a good 45 at VP earlier this season but they were sitting back by then.
Surely Deano will bring some fresh legs in for this as well. I'd guess El Ghazi for Bert is the obvious one. Maybe Sansom, but think he will most likely get minutes off the bench to begin with
 
Our zonal marking and their pressing game drawing fouls on the edge of the box for their free-kick specialist will be enough for them to secure the win. If I were Smith I'd play 3 CB's for this one at the expense of Barkley, move Jack into the middle and stick Traore up top with Ollie.
 
Can't see anything but a comfortable home win. We've reverted to a style that is easy on the eye but completely ineffective at grinding out results. Southampton are no mugs.
For me Barkley and Traore should be dropped for Nakamba and Ghazi. If Hause is fit bring him in and reshape . A draw here would be good to stabilise matters but I can't see it happening
 
I will never predict anything but a win for Villa on the Erod. But looking at our progress (which has been good) I see a few teams that have also done so...and will finish above us. Soton and Everton are the main two.

We should study both teams and learn their balance between solid and flair.

On this thread I will say I reckon a comfortable win for them.
But of course if the right Villa turn up and we will stuff them!
 
Southampton are one of the most difficult teams to play against. Are they better than us? No. We need to revert to our successful away approach, starting with a mean defence, for which a solid midfield is needed. Keep it tight and bide our time. So long as we put Burnley behind us we can win this.
 
I was dreading this one, but after last night I think Dean and the coaches will be drilling into the players the need for a response and we will get one.

We will have to be top of our game defensively, I think we will get goals so a clean sheet should see us with the points.

Same team again for me with much of the same play from the first half but for the full 90 this time!
 
I didnt fancy us in this one, and still dont. In recent seasons they have become a bit of a bogey team for us and dont see that changing.
I will take a draw from this one.
 
Amazed to see a comment in the match thread suggesting a comfortable win for Saints as though it’s basically a foregone conclusion.
Saints have lost 3 of their last six games scoring just 2 goals in the process. They’re not playing particularly well at present and have a few injuries. I’d argue that they’d rather play a few other teams as opposed to us on Saturday. I can see us going there and winning the game despite the disappointing second half last night. Reading the negative tone on some posts anyone would think we’re regressing simply based on one disappointing half against Burnley.
 
Truth is I think we are in the correct position in the league, in fact we may well be higher than we should be .

As much as there was the brilliance of Liverpool and Arsenal conceding 3 and losing against Leeds, Burnley and Brighton is crap. As is conceding 4 at home to Saints .

Are we in a good place . Yep. Are we going in the right direction . Yep. But I see this team in the most as progression and not top 6 material. We are not shopping in the right place for that in my humble. If dipping into the championship and plucking hopefuls from the French league is a means to an end. Fine . I can live with that for the time being. But we will have to start splashing on proven high quality every time otherwise what we have now is what we will always have. Presumably that's the plan.

Onto the game . Sorry . More difficult than Burnley away. Saints lost their last game at home so will be smarting. We are still not right defensively. EVERYONE, not just Mings. Not sure why we strengthened midfield when we are crying out defensively for more quality.

I think 4 points from Burnley and Saints would have been great. Behind that now and I think we will struggle in this one and Shane Long to score his one goal this season.
 
Burnley game has knocked the stuffing out of me, just hope the players aren't the same.
Does he change things? I doubt it (as the monkey said pissing on the fire)
I'd leave Ross and Bert out and bring them on at 60 mins but Dean doesn't do that.

Beware of Ward-Prowse free kicks and that 6ft 5in cb at corners, don't expect sjm to stop him.
Play like we did the second half against them from the off, this could be a turning point in our season, no more plucky losers win win win or if not grind a draw which I'd take now but perhaps not at ko
 
Dean Smith and the team are still a work in progress learning as they go along.

We lose when we are expected to win and win when we are expected to lose so on that basis I'm going for Saints 1 - Aston Villa 2.:grinning:

UTV.
 
Same side with Sanson in for Barkley or Traore. Not sure I want to see us start with both of them in the same eleven any time soon.

We're quite capable of a smash and grab, as we are getting turned over by some dodgy set piece defending.
 
crimsondonkey said:
Same side with Sanson in for Barkley or Traore. Not sure I want to see us start with both of them in the same eleven any time soon.

We're quite capable of a smash and grab, as we are getting turned over by some dodgy set piece defending.
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I think it's too soon to be replacing Barkley or Traore with a brand new signing to be honest. However, strategic substitution at 60 minutes with Ghazi, Trez and Sanson available should be high on the planning agenda for the coaches. The biggest issue that needs addressing is playing for 90 minutes in every game. The last two we have failed to show up in the second half.
I also think that SJM should be looking over his shoulder with Sanson on the bench. Aside from two very good passes, he didn't do much at Burnley...
 
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