Aston Villa v Southampton Pre-Match Thread

[onje_villa]

I've taken my missus to eight games and she has seen us win 8 times, including Prague.

I will have to dig her out for some of these games. Maybe even make her dye her hair ginger so she can be the living personification of the Orange Dot.

Shit, she must be about 108!
I haven't seen us win live in about 5 years!

[danlanza]

Bloody hell. I do believe this thread is getting a bit more positive.

I blame the supermarkets and cheap alcohol.

That may have something to do with it

[Phil from the upper holte]

Don't want to be negative for sake of it, however I really think they'll exploit our weakness on the left and I think Lambert will have a field day, fear for a bit of a hostile atmosphere

[Phil from the upper holte]

Must win.  Get an early goal and we'll win convincingly.  Lose an early goal and it'll be boos and Lamert out en masse.  I think the former if Vlaar is back.

That's it for me, if we score first I think we'll win, just when we concede first you can see the confidence just drain from the team

[neo_Villan]

Must win.  Get an early goal and we'll win convincingly.  Lose an early goal and it'll be boos and Lamert out en masse.  I think the former if Vlaar is back.

That's it for me, if we score first I think we'll win, just when we concede first you can see the confidence just drain from the team

I think it has been the same for every match this season. We have only gained 2 points from losing positions so far. (Against WBA and Swansea)

[timeoutbigbar]

Spur of the moment decided to go, better win now!  2-0 Villa.

[Proposition Joe]

We're going to have to 100% on it from the start because they will be set up to absolutely tear into us from the kick off.

At least they would be if I were their manager.

So start with a flat back 10 and take it from there :-)

[brontebilly]

we need the first goal. They are utter shite too which shouldnt be forgotten. 3-2 Villa.

[villan from luton]

If Vlaar is back, why not push Clark into defensive midfield role with a fit Westwood and let the forward players do the business?

[russon]

If we go behind by a couple of goals the Holte will reveal what armageddon looks like. I've seen little in recent weeks to suggest anything other than yet another defeat. 1-3.

[ACVilla]

Wouldn't you just give anything for a routine 2-0 win.

So that's what I'll say 2-0.

[Ian.]

A routine win would be fantastic. However I can not see how our team are going to pick themselves up for this one. If they do, fair play to them and Lambert but I can't see it.

2 - 0 but the other way round.

[ozzjim]

If Vlaar is back, why not push Clark into defensive midfield role with a fit Westwood and let the forward players do the business?

If Vlaar is fit, I would be tempted to go 4-4-2 with Gabby and Holman out wide and asked to help their full backs out, Vlaar and Baker in the middle, Clark left back, Westwood and Delph in the middle and Benteke and Weimann up top.

[damon loves JT]

Uh-oh. Lawro has predicted a Villa win.

[Nastylee]

I just hope people aren't pinning too much on the return of Vlaar. Let's face it, we were hardly pulling up trees when he was fit. Would love to see Dunne back despite what people say. Also, we need to stop conceding first, especially in the first 20 mins, it just kills us.