Southampton v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Chris Smith]

As soon as Chelsea upped the tempo yesterday and went more direct they looked in trouble. They play a lot of neat, incisive football but had no answer to a more physical approach. Clearly, we're not Chelsea but it does suggest a weakness to be exploited.

[Ghost of Pongo Waring]

I think it'll be a narrow defeat but I really really hope we stuff them

I still haven't forgiven them about being robbed in the League Cup years ago down there, mid 80's?

It absolutely chucked down all night. We were herded off the train straight into the ground and they hadn't put any lights on, so we spent a good half hour getting soaked in the dark.

One of their players, standing in the back of the goal, headed the ball out and it wasn't given. The goal line had been washed away and the ref 'wasn't sure' if it had crossed the line, that wasn't there, even though the player had his back literally touching the back of the net. Surprisingly they repainted the line for the second half.

If I remember right three players were sent off. Mark Dennis and some other knob for them & Psycho Evans for us.

Then to round off a truly miserable evening we were 'escorted' back to the train station and left outside waiting for about forty minutes for our train to come in. I'd had to rush straight from work to get there and hadn't had anything to eat and some Policeman threatened to arrest me for wanting to walk a couple of hundred yards to a chippy to get a bag of chips.

Then to really rub salt in the wounds when we were finally allowed to enter the station I got to the snack bar, finally got to the front of the queue and ordered a pizza. There was about 20 seconds left on the timer and the train was about to leave. The woman behind the counter wouldn't give me the pizza til it was done so I had to leave it and just managed to get on the train literally as it started to move away and I'm bloody sure as I jumped through the train doors I heard that sodding microwave go 'bing'.

Cold, drenched, starving, robbed and some sod ended up with my pizza. I wouldn't be surprised if it was that Policeman.

Apart from that it was a good day.

[supertom]

Think we'll struggle with this. Our lucks going to run out slightly. They'll want to bounce back too after a couple of losses, albeit against the top 2 sides.
I also expect our degree of fortune in the last few games to wear off.

2-1 Soton.
Gabby.

[placeforparks]

think we'll get spanked. 3-0 saints.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

As I now have to work most weekends I will be going to this.
I am expecting a great night.
4-1 to us as the beast within Benteke breaks back out.

[olaftab]

After two tough matches Southampton will relish this match.

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

Why and why? Why do you think we won't be a tough match for them? Why do you think we DESERVE to be slaughtered?
Hate to have you beside me in the trenches!

[avfcpg]

After two tough matches Southampton will relish this match.

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

Why and why? Why do you think we won't be a tough match for them? Why do you think we DESERVE to be slaughtered?
Hate to have you beside me in the trenches!

Deserve to be slaughtered....Why?
I picked this stat off a Saints forum...seems they rate us more than some of our own then...

"Teams Villa have lost away to in the league since October 2012: Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal
This won't be easy at all "

[avfcpg]

Boruc out for them it seems....he's been decent for them this season.
Wonder if Lambert will give it the old Sunday Football shout of "hang one up there on the keeper" :-)

[Duncan Shaw]

According to the Sky studio at half time in yesterdays game, Saints have spent £180 million in two years, which is astonishing.
Draw for me.

[aj2k77]

According to the Sky studio at half time in yesterdays game, Saints have spent £180 million in two years, which is astonishing.
Draw for me.

Bullshit, where have they come up with that figure from?

Jack Cork Chelsea  Signed 11 Jul, 2011
Steve De Ridder De Graafschap  Signed 22 Jul, 2011
Daniel Fox Burnley  Signed 11 Aug, 2011
Jos Hooiveld Celtic  Signed 31 Aug, 2011
Tadanari Lee Sanf Hiroshima  Free 25 Jan, 2012
Billy Sharp Doncaster  £1,800,000 30 Jan, 2012
Jay Rodriguez Burnley  £6,000,000 10 Jun, 2012
Steve Davis Rangers  Free 06 Jul, 2012
Nathaniel Clyne C Palace  Signed 18 Jul, 2012
Paulo Gazzaniga Gillingham  Signed 20 Jul, 2012
Emmanuel Mayuka Young Boys  Signed 29 Aug, 2012
Maya Yoshida VVV Venlo  Signed 30 Aug, 2012
Gaston Ramirez Bologna  £12,000,000 31 Aug, 2012
Artur Boruc Fiorentina  Free 22 Sep, 2012
Vegard Forren Molde  Signed 18 Jan, 2013
Dejan Lovren Lyon  £8,500,000 14 Jun, 2013
Victor Wanyama Celtic  £12,500,000 11 Jul, 2013
Pablo Osvaldo Roma  £15,000,000 18 Aug, 2013


Somehow they've spent less on agents fee's in the last 2 years than we have aswell.
3-1 Soton Gabby for us.

[Jimbo]

Narrow defeat, 2-1, Benteke penalty.

[Deano's Mullet]

Southampton to beat us 3-1

[SoccerHQ]

Gazzinga played against us last season and looked dodgy but they still stuffed us 4-1.

 I imagine Lambert will come back in, he was a bogey player for us last season.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Curious why you think KEA would be a negative? He has been either our best or second best midfielder this season.

Not for me he hasn't Delph he been our best by a mile and I'd put Westwood ahead of kea - when they both play together at home we are too negative as they are both similar players and neither attacking enough in their game.
Away from home they tend to work better together so I wouldn't have any qualms about playing them.

KEA has been dreadful this season. Negative, no pace, never does anything remotely interesting. Should be sold,

Well fair enough although I disagree. I think he was a flop last season but not this one. He and Vlaar are the most improved players season over season imho.

[SoccerHQ]

KEA works better in away games than at villa park so I'd expect him to start again as he can be o.k pressing opponents and we'll need that against Southampton.