Southampton v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[tom jennings III]

I quite like Luna, he pushes forward a bit riskily but sometimes I just think sod it, get forward and make them think about what we're doing rather than the other way round. I thought both Bacuna and Luna got into pretty good advanced positions in space on Saturday but were unfortunately not picked out quickly by the mid-field which gave the oppo time to regroup and led to another round of dull sideways passing.

[eastie]

It's Luna's time to be slagged off then. Gives the rest of them time off i suppose.
Give me bloody strength.

I'm not sure people are slagging him off , just commenting that as yet he hasnt found consistency , it will take time and certainly nobody has written him off that I've seen .
At times he has looked superb against Chelsea and arsenal - Ben Arfa and townsend gave him the run around  at others - it's too soon to form a conclusive judgement on him .

He has potential and I think would benefit from the competition for the left back berth with Bennett pushing him.

[fredm]

I quite like Luna, he pushes forward a bit riskily but sometimes I just think sod it, get forward and make them think about what we're doing rather than the other way round. I thought both Bacuna and Luna got into pretty good advanced positions in space on Saturday but were unfortunately not picked out quickly by the mid-field which gave the oppo time to regroup and led to another round of dull sideways passing.

This is a major fault with our midfield, we do not move the ball quickly enough.  I don't think we ever pass it first time without taking a touch, and more often than not we take three or four touches before deciding to pass it.  By this time the opposition have worked out what we are going to do with the ball and have moved to cover it/cut it out.  This means if the full backs have pushed on they are left stranded up field with plenty of space left open for the opposition to attack.

[Irish villain]

I just don't rate Bennett. I'd be hoping Luna is given a fair shot in that spot.

[danlanza]

It's Luna's time to be slagged off then. Gives the rest of them time off i suppose.
Give me bloody strength.

I'm not sure people are slagging him off , just commenting that as yet he hasnt found consistency , it will take time and certainly nobody has written him off that I've seen .
At times he has looked superb against Chelsea and arsenal - Ben Arfa and townsend gave him the run around  at others - it's too soon to form a conclusive judgement on him .

He has potential and I think would benefit from the competition for the left back berth with Bennett pushing him.

That is what i was looking for matey. Constructive criticism.

[TonyD]

It will be a good game. Is it on Sky ?

[WestleyArmsAV]

It will be a good game. Is it on Sky ?

It is not on Sky.  Mooch (Ex Rococco Lounge) on Broad Street are showing it as are Apres', Summer Row in the City Centre. 

I dare say several other pubs around various suburbs have it too through an "alternative" source.

[olaftab]

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?

May be not bullshit. The fees you have mentioned add up to about £60m. There are 9 players on your list where no fee is disclosed other than free transfers. So those 9 could be another £40m. When you add the cost of contracts £180m is not a fantasy.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Benchteke.

Salute.

[Matt Collins]

Thinking about the way Southampton play, like others I'm wondering about playing two up.

Saints really press on and play with a very high intensity. I think our game's going to revolve around quick breakaways.

Could be a game for gabby alongside benteke. If we do that, i imagine we'd play a tight midfield. Reluctant to see the  diamond again. But we could see bacuna and Weimann narrow of Westwood and Delph.

But it's all a bit untested. Our away form has been great playing 433 or 4231 for the whole of this year. It's just that benteke has been the spearhead and talisman for that period.

I don't think the 352 will work though, unless we're playing for another 0-0. Our wingbacks will just get pushed back. 

[eastie]

Some good news on the horizon-

@JoresOkore: My Knee looks great, feels great and doing great. Hopefully it will continue🙏 #OnlyGodKnows 🙏🙏🙏

[SamTheMouse]

Some good news on the horizon-

@JoresOkore: My Knee looks great, feels great and doing great. Hopefully it will continue🙏 #OnlyGodKnows 🙏🙏🙏

On balance, if I had to bet, I'd say the surgeon probably has a marginally better idea than God, but that's just me.

[Boz]

I quite like Luna, he pushes forward a bit riskily but sometimes I just think sod it, get forward and make them think about what we're doing rather than the other way round. I thought both Bacuna and Luna got into pretty good advanced positions in space on Saturday but were unfortunately not picked out quickly by the mid-field which gave the oppo time to regroup and led to another round of dull sideways passing.

This is a major fault with our midfield, we do not move the ball quickly enough.  I don't think we ever pass it first time without taking a touch, and more often than not we take three or four touches before deciding to pass it.  By this time the opposition have worked out what we are going to do with the ball and have moved to cover it/cut it out.  This means if the full backs have pushed on they are left stranded up field with plenty of space left open for the opposition to attack.

I agree with this, we seem unable to create anything quickly, except on a few occasions, but when we do break and move the ball quickly we've proved we can be dangerous. Just don't do it often enough.

[paul_e]

I quite like Luna, he pushes forward a bit riskily but sometimes I just think sod it, get forward and make them think about what we're doing rather than the other way round. I thought both Bacuna and Luna got into pretty good advanced positions in space on Saturday but were unfortunately not picked out quickly by the mid-field which gave the oppo time to regroup and led to another round of dull sideways passing.

This is a major fault with our midfield, we do not move the ball quickly enough.  I don't think we ever pass it first time without taking a touch, and more often than not we take three or four touches before deciding to pass it.  By this time the opposition have worked out what we are going to do with the ball and have moved to cover it/cut it out.  This means if the full backs have pushed on they are left stranded up field with plenty of space left open for the opposition to attack.

I agree with this, we seem unable to create anything quickly, except on a few occasions, but when we do break and move the ball quickly we've proved we can be dangerous. Just don't do it often enough.

This is the main reason I don't like KEA being in the side, he more than most seems to slow things down.

The thing is, we can play incisive 1 or 2 touch football, we've done it a few times this season and looked very good.

If we can get into the habit of playing that way more often we'll look a much better side but I think the focus of the team at the minute is to keep things tight and not concede many, which is probably a reaction to the long run without a clean sheet as much as anything, we know we can play going forward, we now know we can defend well as a unit, we need to find the right balance between those and we'll be fine.

I think we'll get something tomorrow night but I'm siding with 1 rather than all 3 of the points.

[Dr Butler]

tough, tough game....point would not be a bad thing...or 6 nil to the Villa   will take either !