Southampton v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[eastie]

4 shots on target, 3 goals, not much possession, and 3 points. Smash and grab, thank you very much! :-)

Indeed , give me points over performances anyday - although of course both would be nice.

[dave.woodhall]

Long ball when two of our goalscorers picked up the ball in midfield. How does that work?

[Meanwood Villa]

In the dark days of last season I commented to a friend that we had no backbone. Well I don't think you can say that about us now. The football this year has been awful at times but you can't knock the improvement in accumulating points. The way we're going we'll be well clear of danger which we'd have taken at the end of last season so well done Lambert and the lads. Keep up the good work.

Southampton had only conceded 2 at home before last night. Who knew?

[saunders_heroes]

Long ball when two of our goalscorers picked up the ball in midfield. How does that work?

I think it's called "sour grapes".

[dave.woodhall]

Long ball when two of our goalscorers picked up the ball in midfield. How does that work?

I think it's called "sour grapes".

I get the distinct impression that a few people are pissed off that they haven't got a Big Team In Trouble to gloat about this season and that we were their favoured choice.

[saunders_heroes]

Long ball when two of our goalscorers picked up the ball in midfield. How does that work?

I think it's called "sour grapes".

I get the distinct impression that a few people are pissed off that they haven't got a Big Team In Trouble to gloat about this season and that we were their favoured choice.

Don't you think direct football has been unfairly demonised over the years? I've always enjoyed seeing a direct team with a winger or two and a big centre forward getting on the end of crosses. It seems these days that if you're not making about 79 passes before reaching the opposition's box then you're clearly killing the beautiful game of football with "the long ball".

[mrastonvilla]

Luckily for Southampton we only had 25% of possession otherwise it could have been a real shoeing

[Toronto Villa]

Long ball when two of our goalscorers picked up the ball in midfield. How does that work?

I think it's called "sour grapes".

I get the distinct impression that a few people are pissed off that they haven't got a Big Team In Trouble to gloat about this season and that we were their favoured choice.

Don't you think direct football has been unfairly demonised over the years? I've always enjoyed seeing a direct team with a winger or two and a big centre forward getting on the end of crosses. It seems these days that if you're not making about 79 passes before reaching the opposition's box then you're clearly killing the beautiful game of football with "the long ball".

Absolutely. I think people have been spoilt on a diet of Barcelona in recent years where they have just about everything along with the best player on the planet. For all their artistry Arsenal have won fuck all for ages. Nobody dared criticise Chelsea when they were winning everything and had the best centre forward in the world playing up front for them. Also a manager that would intentionally kill games as a spectacle to get wins. Man City have a mix of playing styles as have Man U. There was a stat a couple of seasons back that Spurs were more long ball than us with Carew, but you'd never dream of slating Harry as a long ball team.

There is a ton of hypocrisy about playing styles. It's louder when the tiki-taka pretenders get done by a team that wins the game through being clinical and using a different style. A bit like us yesterday. I enjoy watching Barcelona, but as attractive as Swansea or Southampton are they're not Barcelona. The better sides with versatility will find a way to win. We found a way to win last night which while not as pretty to watch was effective. I'd like us to keep the ball more and pass it better, but right now, in our position of development give me substance over style.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

There is no "right" way to play.
If you just play the tippy tappy stuff all the time and expect to win, like any other tactical approach, now and again someone will clock what you are doing and plan to counter it - it doesn't mean it's wrong - it's called planning.
As soon as the team was announced last night another tactical genius and myself said the same - we're gonna try to soak up their pressure and go on the break.
Which we did - very well!
If we had tried to out-pass them would we have been cricised for being naive?
I like to think Mr Lambert & the team went with a plan...and it worked.
If Southampton fans don't like it they can f**k off and rely on kidding refs into giving shitty penalties. Is that the right way to play?
Twunts!
And as fellow genius Dave points out, at least 2 of our goals did not come from hoof ball.

[Toronto Villa]

Luckily for Southampton we only had 25% of possession otherwise it could have been a real shoeing

quite. They and some of these other teams upset at us stealing points also should be happy Benteke thinks he is Gary Penrice right now. Once the hypnotist snaps his fingers and says "when you wake up, you'll remember nothing of the past 8 games, you'll feel relaxed and you'll be Benteke again" watch out.

[Dr Butler]

Long ball when two of our goalscorers picked up the ball in midfield. How does that work?

I think it's called "sour grapes".

I get the distinct impression that a few people are pissed off that they haven't got a Big Team In Trouble to gloat about this season and that we were their favoured choice.

West Barcelona Albion ?
 

UTV
the Doc

[dave.woodhall]

I remember Sir Graham saying of his time at Watford "We had two great wingers and a six foot four  centre forward. What did they expect? Nobody said a word when we were going through the divisions, it was only when we were going to Highbury and Anfield and getting results that we started to get criticised."

[Jimbo]

The problem occurs when a team hoofs it aimlessly up the field and it doesn't result in a goal. We've been guilty of that far too often this season, but I'll be more than happy to sit through many more games like last night as long as we have a plan B (e.g. passing the ball) when it's not yielding results.

[nick harper]

Long ball when two of our goalscorers picked up the ball in midfield. How does that work?

Long ball when two of our goalscorers picked up the ball in midfield. How does that work?

I think it's called "sour grapes".

Or it proves the pont we are a much better side when we play to feet.

[tom jennings III]

Ground is ok and nice n spacious to get a beer in a kind of weird sanitized identi-kit stadium sort of way. Felt like we were gong to a concert at the O2 rather than a football game. As much as I whine and moan about what tiny shit-holes Loftus Road, Upton Park, Craven Cottage and the like are, at least it feels real. The game was very tense and I thought at 1-1 we were going to struggle and the Villa fans went unusually quiet as the pressure built. Then from 2-1 up I never really thought we were going to lose, weird feeling to have but I could get used to it! Credit to the players because the performance definitely wasn't vintage but they stuck at it like hell and if you get 3 points for sticking to a game plan even when you aren't getting a touch of the ball. Great train journey back to Waterloo, big up the First Class Villa crew!