Southampton v Aston Villa Match Thread

[CJ]

Think we'll need the orange dot to hang on to this

[itbrvilla]

baggies 2 down

[pauliewalnuts]

I like winning games, but I'm not too convinced of this as a way to carry on playing this season.

We are woeful, just woeful in possession.

[German James]

Everyone seems to be taking defending seriously and Gabby took his goal well! Also... No, can't think of anything else.

[eastie]

So far so good - hit them on the break again and we can wrap this up - I'll be quite happy with a smash and grab win tonight

[Ron Manager]

Southampton know how to pass a ball dont they? I fancy we might hold on.

[eamonn]

Time to burn'em on the break. Get Chris and Andi on, take off one of the five at the back and KEA. We just don't look comfortable in possession so it's best to use our best weapon, the counter attack, while continuing to soak up their efforts going forward.

[paulcomben]

Definitely no goal to report at The Hawthorns, MOTD fans. Nope.

[Morten]

Our passing is terrible, can not believe we are in front ! Great goal from Gabby. Bacuna, Luna, KEA - their passing is terrīble, only Delph looks comfortable on the ball.

I think this could be a good game for Tonev to come on as a sub, also Weimann. Again, I wont judge Kuzak, he has no support at all, but I am not impressed when he does have the ball. I really look forward to a game where he will be fed a lot of crosses.

[itbrvilla]

I like winning games, but I'm not too convinced of this as a way to carry on playing this season.

We are woeful, just woeful in possession.

But Lambert is trying to build something here.......apparently............

[Fergal]

Thanks guys

[Steve R]

Their manager has done us a real favour by taking one out of midfield. Top quality from Gabby for the goal.

I can't see Lambert changing it much unless we ship a few. Maybe Benteke for the Heskey substitution after 70.

We really need a proper midfield. In numbers and in quality. 23% possession looks overstated to me.

[supertom]

There's absolutely no composure at all in midfield and wide areas. It's frightening how much like headless chickens we look sometimes. I'd be amazed if we maintain this result if we keep playing as we are.

Whilst Soton haven't been fantastic, especially in the final third, I can't say I'm not jealous by how they play football under this new fella. They were okay under Adkins but not anything like this. They've not spent a huge amount and they've up from a couple of league below quite rapidly. Should they really look this much more composed than us when Lamberts had a whole season already of rebuilding?

[Irish villain]

I like winning games, but I'm not too convinced of this as a way to carry on playing this season.

We are woeful, just woeful in possession.

Where is that Faulkner statement from the day McLeish was sacked? Didn't it say something about the standards of Aston Villa and the need to be competitive and dynamic?

I think we will all be happy if agricultural football keeps us well clear of the drop zone. However, if things hit a bad patch and we come near the bottom three, fans will be mightily pissed off because it is easier to forgive bad results if the football is decent.

[German James]

...the Heskey substitution after 70.

Ah! Happy days!