Southampton v Aston Villa Match Thread

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Ireland looks fine to me.

Selected on merit and a decent run of games might just bring out the best in him.

[Diablo]

Ireland is our weakest link today, as he was last week.
He is really starting to piss me off.

Really?

I think he's worked very hard and looks like he can create something.

He did a good through ball  to Benteke quite early on that Benteke didn't reach which would have put him clean through (so near)

[Dave Javu]

Ireland has been remarkably good at stealing the ball - and I can't stand the fecking eejit.

He does usually just give the ball straight back to Southampton, mind.

[Summers]

Nice anticipation from Bent for the goal. Disappointing to see the hoofing going on, particularly after the Swansea game.

I think this is what you get from Lambert though - horses for courses.  Changing the team and tactics to suit the opposition.  Southampton are obviously a bit shit at the back and we're looking to test them there. 

Lambert is like the anti-AVB. All the talk of AVB is how he has a tactic and style of play and he makes his team suit it. Lambo has many styles, tactics and plans. Much rather such a versatile manager and style of play than stick to one style and hope it works.

[gervilla]

Ireland is our weakest link today, as he was last week.
He is really starting to piss me off.

Really?

I think he's worked very hard and looks like he can create something.

He has given the ball away nearly everytime he's had it and he goes into challenges with all the steel and commitment of Stewart Downing. That was an attempt at goal by him (that he made a bollocks of) that led to our goal.

[pauliewalnuts]

Our best pass completion ration is KEA with 77 percent which is pretty damning in terms of how much we've given the ball away.

Second is Guzan with 75 percent.

[Mortimer's Bear]

Great tackle on the ref in the Wigan Fulham game.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Ireland is our weakest link today, as he was last week.
He is really starting to piss me off.

Really?

I think he's worked very hard and looks like he can create something.

He has given the ball away nearly everytime he's had it and he goes into challenges with all the steel and commitment of Stewart Downing. That was an attempt at goal by him (that he made a bollocks of) that led to our goal.

Think you've got Ireland-hating blinkers on. I was not impressed at all with Ireland with his attitude and play when he joined us, but he's shown us that he's possibly the best footballer at the club and he now seems to be putting in the effort as well. He's turned around my way of thinking of him. I couldn't stand him at one point, but he's starting to rdeem himself I think.

[mal]

Must s

Ireland is our weakest link today, as he was last week.
He is really starting to piss me off.

He has been very poor, you just always feel that his old self is round the corner but when will we see it?!

Has he?! We're winning 1-0 and he made the goal.

This sums up the enigma of Ireland.... some will say he made the goal while others will say his lack of composure meant he had screwed his shot badly wide before DB redirected it goalwards.
It's all in the eye of the beholder.

[Tuscans]

Up to 9th if we win today...score another 3 and 8th 

Ill take that after 5 games

[Summers]

Had Ireland not been there, and not shot - we wouldn't of scored. Simple.

[hawkeye]

I am more worried by Bentnek than Ireland. at least Ireland has broken sweat

[sonlyme]

Horses for courses gents.

Southampton are flooding midfield and pushing both full backs up.

So hardly surprising we are struggling in middle - can't blame anyone other than the shape.

The two big men ain't working too well - we need possession - so maybe Big Ben will come off and little Andy W come on?

Andy will link better with midfield leaving DB to occupy the two CB's.

Either way - we not playing very well but we winning.  Make a nice change.

[onje_villa]

Well I think we've had some pretty damn good second halves under Lambert this season. I'm hoping for another one here as I feel a bit deflated at the moment. We were so bloody good towards the end against Swansea.

Think Soton have probably been better than us so far but 1-0 up so hopefully we'll build and start knocking the ball around better.

If we're still leading towards the end, we definitely have the strikers to do damage on the counter.

[Tuscans]

I am more worried by Bentnek than Ireland. at least Ireland has broken sweat

Must be your pillow.