Southampton v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Breezeblock]

Turd-encrusted arsehole calipers. Shades of TSM. Panicked Hoofball and shite defending. Utter bollocks. Cat-kickingly awful. going to get pissed!

[N'Zimidy]

Tactics were wrong today.

Instead of playing our much more fluid style of football on the ground like we did against Swansea, we reverted back to a much more direct style. It just doesn't suit our midfield I'm afraid. The diamond formation we play is excellent when we play it on the deck because our players can get into a lot of free space. Also when we lose the ball, there is an emphasis on hunting the ball down which suits a fluid, passing midfield. When we play a diamond, their midfield is forced to break apart to try and cover everyone, so when we lose the ball there is no easy passes for the opposition.

However we can't play that diamond formation when we hoof the ball every other pass. We will lose it 98% of the time and they cut right through our midfield from the back. As soon as they got past Ireland or the tip of the diamond, there is nothing but empty space in the middle of the park and one solitary DMC. So our fullbacks have to come inside to fill the holes and then their wingers have nothing but clear air ahead of them.

We need to revert back to our passing style and get Weimann back into the team. The Benteke experiment was interesting but we can't build our team around hoofball. I think there is a time and a place for Benteke to play and that that is coming on after 60 minutes like he did against Swansea to bully the defenders. I know Lambert likes to change style and tactics against every opposition but I think we are on to a real winner with that passing style and if we focus solely on that then we will do good things.

I think we'll see Weimann or possibly Gabby back for the Man City game.

[mattjpa]

the only positive i can muster from that is that this bunch of very fucking average footballers may realise that after one result they cant just turn up and flounce around to get the points. they need to give 100% for the whole match to even survive, nothing less will do. We are still so far behind teams like spurs newcastle and everton

[Tom_Mc9?]

Turd-encrusted arsehole calipers. Shades of TSM. Panicked Hoofball and shite defending. Utter bollocks. Cat-kickingly awful. going to get pissed!

That was poetic. A bit like reading Hunter S. Thompson.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Good news chaps, we're first on MOTD tonight.

Well past my bedtime anyway   

[DeeBoy1]

4-1 to Southampton.  I couldn't give a toss that its a work in progress, that performance and scoreline is disgusting and anyone who doesn't think we have serious problems is deluded.  As is anyone who thinks we will "probably" beat the baggies next week.

I don't think we have 'serious problems' and I think we will beat Baggies next week. Shall I take myself off to be sectioned?

...save me a cell as well

[tarzansbrother]

Will be interesting Lamberts take on this. FUKIN EMBARRASSING is my take.

[not3bad]

Smelly cat turds

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Lambert's half-time gamble did not pay off; should have left the team as it was (unless Ireland had an injury) for at least 15-20 minutes. Also, I think that Benteke probably should have come off to keep our midfield a little more competitive.

I think Benkeke should have been on the bench. We got spanked in midfield all game and credit to Southampton, their movement was bloody brilliant and we never got near them.

Looking at the big picture, we want to play more football but today, two teams played an open game and we were outclassed. We played to their strengths and deservedly got stuffed. I hope Lambert learns from today.

[TopDeck113]

I, too, am not going to get unduly upset by this.  Still a team being rebuilt and these things happen. 

[bobcat]

That was embarrassing. The only player that looked premier league worthy was Bent. A team being tailored for the Championship a season early.

[Toronto Villa]

What's important isn't what happened today. It is what is learnt from today. How not to fall apart. How fo defend leads and keep going. How to adjust to formation and personnel changes. How to handle defeat and come back stronger. That's all part of growth and you don't learn it in one day or one season. It happens though self analysis and teaching. We have a good manager and coaching staff that will need to help the players through this and also consider what they could have done differently.

ALL teams lose games. The good ones deal with it the best, learn from them and come back stronger.

[The Situation]

Not sure I would have left Weimann out the team, he's played well last two games and has contributed to the success in the previous two games performance and results wise.

Maybe Lambert thought starting Benteke against a fragile Southampton defense would work better... But Weimann isn't exactly small himself, hes 6'2". There will be some things regarding todays game which Lambert will have to think about.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Tactics were wrong today.

Instead of playing our much more fluid style of football on the ground like we did against Swansea, we reverted back to a much more direct style. It just doesn't suit our midfield I'm afraid. The diamond formation we play is excellent when we play it on the deck because our players can get into a lot of free space. Also when we lose the ball, there is an emphasis on hunting the ball down which suits a fluid, passing midfield. When we play a diamond, their midfield is forced to break apart to try and cover everyone, so when we lose the ball there is no easy passes for the opposition.

However we can't play that diamond formation when we hoof the ball every other pass. We will lose it 98% of the time and they cut right through our midfield from the back. As soon as they got past Ireland or the tip of the diamond, there is nothing but empty space in the middle of the park and one solitary DMC. So our fullbacks have to come inside to fill the holes and then their wingers have nothing but clear air ahead of them.

We need to revert back to our passing style and get Weimann back into the team. The Benteke experiment was interesting but we can't build our team around hoofball. I think there is a time and a place for Benteke to play and that that is coming on after 60 minutes like he did against Swansea to bully the defenders. I know Lambert likes to change style and tactics against every opposition but I think we are on to a real winner with that passing style and if we focus solely on that then we will do good things.

I think we'll see Weimann or possibly Gabby back for the Man City game.

Bloody good post, fella.

[ktvillan]

Apart from the abysmal defending, the big concern for me is the apparent switch from a measured passing game to hoofing it forward to Benteke.  I'd hoped we'd seen the back of Villa teams doing that.  Hopefully it was a one-off tactic designed to exploit perceived weaknesses in the Saints defence.  Whatever, it failed dismally and should never be repeated.  Otherwise I'd prefer us not to play Benteke at all.

Two promoted teams and two defeats isn't good.

I shall have to take refuge in the schadenfreude of a Martin O'Neill side failing to defend a 1-0 lead by inviting pressure and conceding the equaliser in the 90th minute.