Aston Villa v Southampton Pre-Match Thread

[Villain1874]

http://www.skysports.com/opinion/story/0,,11677_8388698,00.html

Jeff Stelling take on this weekends game and Villa current situation...

[Surrey Villain]

Good piece that.Everyone can see our issues ..can the board.

As for the game Soton have lost a CB and GK is dodgy.So we do have a slim chance of getting something.

I would put Herd in MF give the CB some more cover.Weimann and Benteke upfront with N'zog supporting.Hopefully Westwood is fit would help us immensely 

Unfortunately the board and Lambert don't seem to see the problems as we see them. A simple one that bugs me is when we take free kicks or corners into the area there is never anybody wide and the ball frequently goes out for a throw-in on the far side. Complete waste.

[eamonn]

 But buying proven Premier League players is not easy at this time of year, which makes me wonder why experienced pros like Stephen Warnock and Alan Hutton are out on loan?

I don't buy the explanation that Villa are struggling because they have a whole raft of players on the treatment table - I don't think they are any worse off with injuries than any other Premier League side.

Not sure Jeff is right on this - Physioroom showed us as joint-top with number of injuries over Xmas and crucially, it was almost all our senior players who were crocked.
And he clearly doesn't have a clue about Warnock's lack of professionalism and Hutton's general ineptitude.

[eastie]

Good piece that.Everyone can see our issues ..can the board.

As for the game Soton have lost a CB and GK is dodgy.So we do have a slim chance of getting something.

I would put Herd in MF give the CB some more cover.Weimann and Benteke upfront with N'zog supporting.Hopefully Westwood is fit would help us immensely 

Unfortunately the board and Lambert don't seem to see the problems as we see them. A simple one that bugs me is when we take free kicks or corners into the area there is never anybody wide and the ball frequently goes out for a throw-in on the far side. Complete waste.

Probably down to the poor delivery of set pieces as much as anything, bannan is woefully poor mostly.

[Simon Ward]

0-0 goal fest!

[Clampy]

I think Bannan's crosses into the box are fine, he set up a few chances on Tuesday night, but he can't seem to do it on dead ball situations.

[Jarpie]

Apparently Lallana and Fonte are out due injury.

[David_Nab]

Thats great news ..now if Ramierz and Lambert could hurt themselves too we have a chance !!

[Chipsticks]

I think Bannan's crosses into the box are fine, he set up a few chances on Tuesday night, but he can't seem to do it on dead ball situations.

His corners are normally very good, it's just the people on the other end that are the problem! He put two straight on Benteke's head the other night which should have resulted in two goals.

[Dr_Fegg]

Cant see us winning this one or any of the next 4 unless we get some experienced players in (or back in).

I've never been a fan of hutton or warnock but surely if we keep doing the same thing then the results will be the same. Its not ideal but we have to try something different, even if it only puts questions marks in the minds of the opposition.

Think we'll score but not enough, 1-3 loss.

[onje_villa]

On that Jeff Stelling article, this stood out for me:

"Villa have won only three of their last 23 home Premier League games"

Jesus!

[Surrey Villain]

Good piece that.Everyone can see our issues ..can the board.

As for the game Soton have lost a CB and GK is dodgy.So we do have a slim chance of getting something.

I would put Herd in MF give the CB some more cover.Weimann and Benteke upfront with N'zog supporting.Hopefully Westwood is fit would help us immensely 

Unfortunately the board and Lambert don't seem to see the problems as we see them. A simple one that bugs me is when we take free kicks or corners into the area there is never anybody wide and the ball frequently goes out for a throw-in on the far side. Complete waste.

Probably down to the poor delivery of set pieces as much as anything, bannan is woefully poor mostly.

Have to disagree.  I think Bannan's corners are fine but our strikers are as bad (well almost) at attacking a ball coming in as our defenders.
If the ball is headed away to the far side we never have anybody there, likewise we are poor at getting to the second ball before defenders so the ball is always heading back towards our half. 

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

http://www.skysports.com/opinion/story/0,,11677_8388698,00.html

Jeff Stelling take on this weekends game and Villa current situation...

And this is interesting because? He's about as much knowledge as Alan Green.

[ozzjim]

I would go back to 3 at the back tomorrow.

I know we got smashed with it, BUT first half against Spurs we were solid until Baker went off. 

I would also take Bennett out of the firing line. I would bring Warnock and Hutton in at wing back, moving Lowton in alongside the chuckle brothers. Those 2 cannot funtion as a pair quite clearly, so go back to 3-5-2. Warnock and Hutton as wing backs would give us some experience and fresh legs at least. They might, just might shore it all up a little.

Middle of the park is a really bloody hard one, as all we have is Bannan, Delph and Ireland fit. All 3 are fucking useless. Sooo... Bannan and Delph sitting in, Nzogbia in the middle in the Ireland role. Benteke and Weimann up front.

[Apyadg]

Tomorrow?!