Southampton v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[not3bad]

Rotation time! Man City Tuesday and they don't play until late Sunday.

My team:
Lichaj Clark Baker Bennet
Herd Westwood Holman N'Zogbia
Benteke Agbonlahor

Subs:
Given Burke Bowery Williams Ireland Wiemann Bannan

That would more likely be the team for Man City wouldn't it?

[stubbsyandy]

Rotation time! Man City Tuesday and they don't play until late Sunday.

My team:
Lichaj Clark Baker Bennet
Herd Westwood Holman N'Zogbia
Benteke Agbonlahor

Subs:
Given Burke Bowery Williams Ireland Wiemann Bannan

That would more likely be the team for Man City wouldn't it?

And it needs a keeper..

[Mazrim]

Up and down would suggest we have one good game and one bad whereas the truth is we had two bad games followed by three good ones, which suggests "form".

It's also true that Lawro spends more time shopping at BHS for shirts than doing his research and what's more, is a bell end.

[not3bad]

I reckon even if we win well tomorrow Lawro will be predicting a defeat for us against the stipey filth for exactly the same reasons he's given here.

[not3bad]

Adkins says this is a "must win" game for Southampton:

http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2012/09/21/southampton-have-to-beat-aston-villa-nigel-adkins-97319-31877379/

[TimTheVillain]

Lawro is a spaz.

What's worse is that he's made a living at it ...

Oh, and I wish he'd make up the mind on the colour of his grey hair !

[paul_e]

Up and down would suggest we have one good game and one bad whereas the truth is we had two bad games followed by three good ones, which suggests "form".

It's also true that Lawro spends more time shopping at BHS for shirts than doing his research and what's more, is a bell end.

West ham came too early for us, we hadn't got the balance of the side right by that point.  Everton caught us cold, a goal that early against a team on such a poor run of results is always going to see hem struggle, to then start to get some confidence back only for the keeper to make a harsh of a simple save is utterly demoralising.  Once we got some confidence and got playing our game the signs were there that we had the makings of a decent side.

Add the late signings and professional display in the cup and we looked in a decent place for the Newcastle game.  Playing as well as we did there then worked as the dawning point where the club as a whole realised we can play football and get results.

Swansea was the sort of performance we needed to cement that and I think our self-belief is now enough that, despite all the 'must win' talk coming from Southampton we'll back ourselves to go there and over power them.  I said a 3-1 win earlier and I'm sticking with that, if we can get a first early in game then we can do to them what Everton did to us, getting them on the back foot early is really important though.

[DB]

Lawro. Awful pundit and co-commentator - he thinks the sun shines out of his battered ar$e. Give him no attention.

[Boz]

Adkins says this is a "must win" game for Southampton:

http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2012/09/21/southampton-have-to-beat-aston-villa-nigel-adkins-97319-31877379/

More a "keep my job" game 

[PaulWinch again]

Looking forward to going to this tomorrow even though I'm in the home end. I think we'll do well.

[PeterWithesShin]

Barry Bannan hopes the away fans are loud at Southampton on Saturday - with their songs and their shirts!

Bannan admits he's a massive fan of the new away kit and get a real buzz out of both wearing it and seeing the travelling army sporting it on matchdays.

The influential midfield maestro says it's great to both hear fans at away grounds - and see them with the new vibrant offering.

He said: "The away fans have been brilliant for so many years. They're incredible. It's been a big thing since I've been at Villa.

"They support us through thick and thin.

"I remember against Newcastle they were up in the gods. You look up at them before kick-off and think 'we won't be able to hear them today.' But we still did. They were magnificent.

"If you can't hear them, you can certainly see them with those lime green away kits!

"I hear they're flying off the shelves in the merchandising stores at the moment and no surprise, I think it's a great kit, very different from the away kits we're used to. I'm sur there will be quite a few in the crowd on Saturday.

"They're not hard to spot. I like the away kit because it's so different. It's a nice touch from the club."

Bannan now hopes the lime green shoots of recovery continue at St Mary's, with the team aiming to build on the superb performances in the last two games.

Bannan says confidence is "sky-high" ahead of the tough trip.

And he has called for the team to build on the feeling with a weekend win.

He continued: "After the good performance at Newcastle I think everyone saw the confidence flowing against Swansea. It's just about building on that now.

"We want to go on a run of results now. Confidence is sky-high, everyone wants the ball and everyone is chasing it down.

"We're all looking forward to the game immensely and hopefully we can get the three points."

Bannan insists one of the major factors behind Villa's upsurge is their "total commitment" out on the pitch.

Stats at the weekend suggested that Bannan ran the most of any player against Swansea.

Renowned for his craft, the playmaker says it shouldn't be a revelation because he's always been a player of true grit.

He added: "If you ask most people who know me, I'm a fit lad and in pre-season I'm usually one of the guys at the front when it comes to the running.

"I know it's difficult for the fans to see that because they think of me as a creative player.

"There's this stigma sometimes about creative players that people don't think they're hard workers but I've always been the same, I've always worked hard.

"People start to see it now more so because everyone is doing it - and they're looking out for it perhaps.

"But I have always been a grafter. If I wasn't a grafter I simply wouldn't be playing in this team because it's one of the biggest things the gaffer has instilled in us. You have no other option.

"That's all you can ask in football. If you're not performing well - you can have an off-day - but you can't fault anyone if they are totally committed.

"I think that sums us up - we're totally committed. We're giving it everything every single week for the fans, the club and the manager."

[richard moore]

Looking forward to going to this tomorrow even though I'm in the home end. I think we'll do well.

May see you Paul though I am in the away end...

[PaulWinch again]

Looking forward to going to this tomorrow even though I'm in the home end. I think we'll do well.

May see you Paul though I am in the away end...

Well if you see someone getting a kicking it's probably me! I shall attempt to be discreet though.

[Chipsticks]

Steven Davis talking ahead of the game:

The Northern Ireland captain was given his break in football by the Midlands outfit and made over 100 appearances in the top flight for them, as well as winning the club’s Player of the Year prize in 2006.

Davis hit the winner in the last Barclays Premier League meeting between Saints and Villa which ended 3-2 to the visitors at St Mary’s. This weekend though, the midfielder is desperate for his first success as a Southampton player.

“I was 16 when I joined them and had some good times there,” he tells Saturday’s official matchday programme.

“But that’s all in the past. There’s no room for sentiment in football. I’m a Southampton man now and we need to beat Villa to get our season up and running.

“It’s a big game for us and I would just love to get on the scoresheet again, this time for Southampton.”

Davis is just finding his feet after a summer move from Glasgow Rangers and already he’s experienced joy and despair as his new club look to gain a foothold in the top flight.

The confidence that he himself helped to engender with a wondrous first touch goal in the 3-2 defeat away to defending champions Manchester City, has wavered on the back of defeats by Wigan, Manchester United and Arsenal.

But Davis insists: “We haven’t lost heart. We’ve proved we can compete with the best of them with our displays against Manchester City and Manchester United, and we believe that a win is just around the corner.”

[paulcomben]

Nigel Adkins is unfortunate that Harry Redknapp lives next door to St Mary's and he cannot be far from those 'two games till the sack' unfair reports. They have been unlucky with the fixture list: City, United, Arsenal...and a pasting from the mighty Villa! Bent to score, for sure.

Its Nigel Atkins. Dead man walking but then again so was Steve Kean. If Arrys not the manager by Xmas I will be very surprised.

and yes Darren Bent to score.

It is not Atkins. It is Adkins. And what's more Its is It's. If you are going to correct anybody, get your own shit together first.