Southampton v Aston Villa Match Thread

[pauliewalnuts]

At the weekend, in the match thread:

"benteke doesn't look arsed", "Benteke is way off form", "Benteke has been awful".

Benteke gets dropped:

"What? Benteke on the bench" etc etc etc.

It's not really the surprise of the century, is it? He is one of those players who is scintillating when on-form, and fucking awful when off-form.

[Rigadon]

Hmm.  We don't see training so you've got to give Lambert the benefit of the doubt with that.  Hope Kozak shoes he can cut it as so far it's been a bit cumbersome with him up top.  Early days of course. 

Bold. 

[eastie]

I'd have still started benteke - a goal is what he needs and he won't get that on the bench - lets hope this selection pays off tonight , I'm not too sure it will

[Legion]

Villa have made two changes for tonight's Barclays Premier League game against Southampton.
Libor Kozak and Nathan Baker are in for Andreas Weimann and Christian Benteke.
It means Paul Lambert is set to revert to a 3-5-2 formation with Antonio Luna and Leandro Bacuna operating as wing-backs.
Southampton have made four changes from their defeat to Chelsea at the weekend.
Paolo Gazzaniga, Rickie Lambert, Mayada Yoshida and former Villan Steven Davis come in to the line-up.
SOUTHAMPTON: Gazzaniga, Clyne, Yoshida, Lovren, Shaw, Wanyama, S. Davis, Ward-Prowse, Lallana, Rodriguez, Lambert. Subs: Cropper, Fonte, Osvaldo, Cork, Chambers, Hooiveld, Gallagher.
VILLA: Guzan, Bacuna, Vlaar, Clark, Baker, Luna, El Ahmadi, Westwood, Delph, Agbonlahor, Kozak. Subs: Steer, Lowton, Albrighton, Sylla, Tonev, Benteke, Weimann.

[PeterWithesShin]

I want a pair of Kozak shoes.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Its the right move. Tekkers was around for that Chelsea game that never happened. Lambert is right to rest him midweek and give him something to think about.

[ROBBO]

He looks very much like a player carrying an injury to me, his movement is just not the same. It will say a lot about him how he takes being dropped.

[Toronto Villa]

The wing backs are also being employed to partly counter the threat of Southampton's own attacking full backs. Ricky Lambert is also a very good CF and will need Vlaar to be on his game tonight.

[Smirker]

Well done Lambert. Come on Villa ffs.

[Seb_AVFC]

I like that he has dropped Benteke. Lets every player at the club know that no starting place is guaranteed. I'd prefer Benteke to be in undroppable form mind.

Agreed. I'm backing Lambert a 100% on this one.

[berneboy]

I like that he has dropped Benteke. Lets every player at the club know that no starting place is guaranteed. I'd prefer Benteke to be in undroppable form mind.

Agreed. I'm backing Lambert a 100% on this one.

Me too.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Could give Benteke a kick up the arse he needs.

Tonight could give us a kick in the nuts we really don't need.

[paulcomben]

Lambo will be expecting Benteke to come on after an hour and score at least once. His effort was lacking on Saturday and this will fire him up, if he has anything about him.

[danlanza]

I want a pair of Kozak shoes.

You want two canoes ?

[ciggiesnbeer]

Still no Helenius then? Did he really look that bad vs Spurs during the cup? I thought he was ok.