Southampton v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Matt Collins]

Really hard to call this one. A draw or narrow defeat seem the likeliest options. But we've not lost away from home against anyone but genuine champions league teams since February.

I can't see us putting in a good passing performance against their pressing game. I think he might go pretty direct again to try and counteract their game

Although the team didn't really work yday I think it may well be the same side to play on weds

Schneiderlin and boruc got injured today which could be good news. Schneiderlin has been excellent this season

[Leicester_Villian]

Guzan
Lowton Vlaar Clark Luma
Bacuna Westwood Delph Tonev
Kozak Gabby

Need to be solid and I question if those who were injured will be fit for 2 games in few days

I think we will lose

[levico]

After two tough matches Southampton will relish this match.

I think we may get slaughtered. Nothing less than we deserve, frankly.

[PaulWinch again]

I think Southampton will win, they look a good side.

[SheffieldVillain]

After two tough matches Southampton will relish this match.

I think we may get slaughtered. Nothing less than we deserve, frankly.

How do we deserve to get slaughtered before the match even begins?

[Ron Manager]

Benteke has a lot to prove in this match. No doubt Lambert has had a few kind words in his ear. Think it will be a draw though 0-0 or 1-1

[Clampy]

I watched their game against Chelsea earlier and Demba Ba did them for pace at the back a few times and they didn't get a lot of joy in midfield either so i'd be tempted to play Gabby and Benteke up top, throw Bacuna in a 4 man midfield and put Lowton back in.

I'm going for us to win 2-1. 

[dave.woodhall]

After two tough matches Southampton will relish this match.

I think we may get slaughtered. Nothing less than we deserve, frankly.

How do we deserve to get slaughtered before the match even begins?

Because we've dared to go four matches unbeaten, and that's not in the script.

[PaulWinch again]

Benteke has had enough games to get over his injury now, so assuming he's not carrying another injury he should be coming back to his physical best.

[SoccerHQ]

Really hard to call this one. A draw or narrow defeat seem the likeliest options. But we've not lost away from home against anyone but genuine champions league teams since February.

I can't see us putting in a good passing performance against their pressing game. I think he might go pretty direct again to try and counteract their game

Although the team didn't really work yday I think it may well be the same side to play on weds

Schneiderlin and boruc got injured today which could be good news. Schneiderlin has been excellent this season

In fairness as much as our home record generally deserves condemnation our away record is worth of respect.

These are our last 19 away games so a full season right here back to last November:

Sunderland-won
Man. City- lost
QPR- drew
Liverpool won
Chelsea- can't remember....
Swansea- drew
WBA- drew
Everton- drew
Arsenal- lost
Reading- won
Stoke- won
Man. united- lost
Norwich- won
Wigan- drew
Arsenal- won
Chelsea- lost
Norwich- Won
Hull- drew
West Ham- drew
WBA- drew

O.k that's 20 games but anyway....

PL 20 W 7 D8 L5

The 5 defeats came against teams that finished or will finish in the top 4 if you count the one we had this season. Of the 8 draws there were a lot more we came closer to winning e.g. Swansea and Everton where we conceded late goals.

Still it's a lot better than our last 20 at home! Sod's law now I've done that we'll lose our next two away.

[Toronto Villa]

This is the kind of game where we don't do what most expect and just bend over and take it. In fact it wouldn't surprise me at all to see some of our players rediscover their form against the odds. We lost 4-1 there last season. I think we'll put some of that right and win 2-1; Gabby and a Benteke winner.

[CJ]

Boruc out for 6 weeks and their reserve goalie didn't look convincing (albeit against Chelsea). Shoot on sight (not a problem if Tonev plays) and on target (a problem if Tonev plays) and we'll get goals. 2-2

[JUAN PABLO]

two up front for this for me

soton looked poor today when chelsea went two up

goalie looked poor too

2-2

[adrenachrome]

Bookies offering 5/1 against us winning, which is astonishing when you consider the length of time each club has had to milk the PL teat, and the fact tat they have been in Administration and League 1.

[Axl Rose]

I have a feeling that we will win. We're Villa, we all know to expect the unexpected(both in a positive and negative sense). Villa surprise us when we least expect and do expect.
We need to be direct against Southampton, as Chelsea were in the second half against them. They have a strong midfield and decent defence. We're not yet good enough to pass around them as that would be playing into their hands-again, as Chelsea showed. We need pace and direct football-which we can do.

I'm going to predict a 2-1 win for Villa. Davis for them, as is the norm with ex players. Weimann and Clark for us.

BUT

If KEA plays.
0-0.