Southampton v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Brend'Watkins]

Anybody else of the opinion that you could give Lambert any random group of 25 professional players and he'd make a decent team/squad out of them within a few months?

Obviously it can't be done with every player as Warnock and Hutton will testify.  But I take your point, if Lambert managed us last season he wouldn't have bought Hutton and would have got more points than McLeish managed.

[not3bad]

or he could take the Turin shroud and bring it back to life......oops hope I haven't started a riot somewhere

It's OK, I didn't see any cartoons.

[DB]

Soton have had a hard start (Citeh, ManUre & Arse) and may see this game as a chance to pick up points and kick-start their season - they will be up for it. Hopefully we will keep our heads and snatch this one 1-2.

[Dave Cooper please]

67% think we will win, only 5% think we will lose

were not going down any more then because the squads threadbare and we havent got enough quality or experience ?

That 5% will be the ones predicting such stuff, they were only ever a very small, but vocal, minority.
Most of us were willing to wait until Plumbutt got his own players in and started to get them to play to his style.

[sonlyme]

I didn't know Claudio Ranieri was a Villa fan!

A little tinker here - a little tinker there. 

As I'm not a Premiership class manager - I'd probably stick with a winning team.

And as for a result?  I'll take a performance first and let the rest lie in the lap of the gods.  Or DB's shin.

Viva la revolucion!

UTV

[Ads]

Soton have had a hard start (Citeh, ManUre & Arse) and may see this game as a chance to pick up points and kick-start their season - they will be up for it. Hopefully we will keep our heads and snatch this one 1-2.

I repeat, why didn't thier season start against Wigan?

Could it be that they're piss poor at the back and will leak goals all season long?

[ozzjim]

Talking to a Wigan fan this week, he said that we need to get NZogbia into the "hole" behind Bent and a centre forward and tell him to just roam about and cause trouble, without limiting him to a position. He was adamant that he is the best dribbler in Europe behind Messi and that given the right freedom he is a brilliant player. Maybe with Ireland looking pretty average last 2 games, swapping him for Charles might be worth a go.

[DB]

Soton have had a hard start (Citeh, ManUre & Arse) and may see this game as a chance to pick up points and kick-start their season - they will be up for it. Hopefully we will keep our heads and snatch this one 1-2.

I repeat, why didn't thier season start against Wigan?

Could it be that they're piss poor at the back and will leak goals all season long?

Yes it could be that, but also they have had a tough start. Only time will tell. It is possible for a team to improve after the first few games, like us.

[Mazrim]

Lambert seems to me like the type of manager who will come up with a plan to win first and then fit the team around that. So if he thinks Bennett will have more joy against their right flank, he'll throw him in, even if Lichaj did no wrong.
Or if he thinks pace and power will win the day he'll throw Benteke and Gabby in and bench Bent. Not as likely, but you get the point.

[N'ZMAV]

I like a manager who has a number of plans, we've seen over the years what a lack of Plan B can do...

[Toronto Villa]

Talking to a Wigan fan this week, he said that we need to get NZogbia into the "hole" behind Bent and a centre forward and tell him to just roam about and cause trouble, without limiting him to a position. He was adamant that he is the best dribbler in Europe behind Messi and that given the right freedom he is a brilliant player. Maybe with Ireland looking pretty average last 2 games, swapping him for Charles might be worth a go.

I agree Ozz. We need to put N'Zogbia in a hole and fill it in with concrete.

[Chris Jameson]

Bet Barcelona are kicking themselves that they didn't sign N'Zogbia,just imagine having the two best dribblers of a ball in the same side.

[mal]

Talking to a Wigan fan this week, he said that we need to get NZogbia into the "hole" behind Bent and a centre forward and tell him to just roam about and cause trouble, without limiting him to a position. He was adamant that he is the best dribbler in Europe behind Messi and that given the right freedom he is a brilliant player. Maybe with Ireland looking pretty average last 2 games, swapping him for Charles might be worth a go.

I agree Ozz. We need to put N'Zogbia in a hole and fill it in with concrete.

2 really good posts, though I'm sure Ozz meant 'last 2 seasons...'

[damon loves JT]

According to Wikipedia, James Beattie is currently without a club after being released by Sheffield United.

He did, however, endorse the Conservative Party at the 2010 general election over his concerns at the 50p top rate of tax.

Not so much a turkey voting for Christmas as a sausage roll voting for Boxing Day

[not3bad]

Talking to a Wigan fan this week, he said that we need to get NZogbia into the "hole" behind Bent and a centre forward and tell him to just roam about and cause trouble, without limiting him to a position. He was adamant that he is the best dribbler in Europe behind Messi and that given the right freedom he is a brilliant player. Maybe with Ireland looking pretty average last 2 games, swapping him for Charles might be worth a go.

I agree Ozz. We need to put N'Zogbia in a hole and fill it in with concrete.

2 really good posts, though I'm sure Ozz meant 'last 2 seasons...'

Ireland has also played in the midfield that has seen the upturn in the last 3 games and has worked hard for the side.  I doubt he'll be dropped except through injury.