Aston Villa vs Southampton post match thread

[olaftab]

And the low turn out was even lower than the official attendance - at least 4 ST holders near me didn't go but presume they were counted anyway.

Announced attendance is always tickets sold, not clicks through the turnstiles.

There were NOT 25000 people there tonight. Probably no more than 20K.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Southampton were limited/shit, that we didn't show enough endevour to put them under any kind of pressure was telling.

I think it was another successful case of us dragging teams down to our level.

[OzVilla]

A more than decent point against a team that is flying and sometimes you just need to stop the rot, which we might have done in the last 2 matches.  Whether we really have or not will depend upon our next 4 games.

Thought we battled our hearts out against a side that played below par by their recent standards but we've absolutely nothing in the final third.  Okore, Clark, Hutton and Cissoko did well as did Sanchez before fading. 

No idea why PL thought replacing a knackered defensive midfielder with an immobile, impotent striker, at 1-0 up with 15 to go, sorry but that just baffles me.  We needed fresh legs in the middle of the park FFS!.  The ball was played into an area where that holding midfielder would have been for their goal but Gabby was ball watching and Bent was 20 years up field.  Managerial 101 right there.

[andyh]

And the low turn out was even lower than the official attendance - at least 4 ST holders near me didn't go but presume they were counted anyway.

Announced attendance is always tickets sold, not clicks through the turnstiles.

There were NOT 25000 people there tonight. Probably no more than 20K.

Agreed.
Hopefully the club have figures for actual bums on seats as well as tickets sold.
The bums on seats numbers SHOULD send shockwaves through the boardroom.

[john2710]

The reality is that our opinion is of no relevance to the manager or chairman. In Lerner's eyes Lambert has delivered his objective of running the club on a shoestring, whilst keeping us afloat (just).

What is unforgivable, is Lambert continuing to ignore the blindingly obvious week after week after week & Lerner's continued support. Our only hope if that Benteke can somehow score the goals to keep us up, if he gets injured again we are dead. I can't fault the players, their just not good enough & Lambert's 'style' & 'tactics' only stifle the whole set up.

If I was Lerner I'd be embarrassed by how I'd overseen turning this once proud club into the shambles it now is.

[SashasGrandad]

What was wrong with Dowd tonight - didn't try to hog the limelight by booking all and sundry - gave us some decisions - was actually even handed.

His only questionable decision was to wear a Yellow shirt - the same colour as Southampton's shorts and socks.  (I nearly typed shits not shorts! Yellow Shits not worth thinking about).

Still looks overweight and can't keep up with play.

[pauliewalnuts]

Still looks overweight and can't keep up with play.

I know, I was amazed when he brought him on for Sanchez.

[PeterWithesShin]

And the low turn out was even lower than the official attendance - at least 4 ST holders near me didn't go but presume they were counted anyway.

Announced attendance is always tickets sold, not clicks through the turnstiles.

There were NOT 25000 people there tonight. Probably no more than 20K.

I never said there was. I was confirming the attendance is tickets sold not people in the ground.

[supertom]

What was wrong with Dowd tonight - didn't try to hog the limelight by booking all and sundry - gave us some decisions - was actually even handed.

His only questionable decision was to wear a Yellow shirt - the same colour as Southampton's shorts and socks.  (I nearly typed shits not shorts! Yellow Shits not worth thinking about).

Still looks overweight and can't keep up with play.

You could tell he was desperate to blow the final whistle. He looked done in. Almost as much as Bent within 2 minutes of coming on.

[Walmley_Villa]

We charged the Saints fans £41 apparently...

Should not have switched Gabby and Weimann in the second half, Gabby lost Clyne for their goal. Sánchez runs out of steam and it surely should have been Bacuna brought on? If you ever need to bring Bent on you need Cole to give him service otherwise Bent is a waste even on the bench. Back 4 did fine even if panicked at times but we really have no style as a team. A saints fan tweeted Collymore stating it was shocking what had happened to us and that we resembled a League 1 side hanging on for a replay.

[tomd2103]

Just got back in after being at the game.  I thought it was a typical home performance from us - showed some enterprise in the first half while creating little, get a goal and then just spend the rest of the game trying to hang on.  We just invite pressure on ourselves, give stupid free kicks away around our own box and it is inevitable that the opposition will score at some point. 

Some positives - Okore (where has he been?), Clark, Hutton and Cissokho defended well if not great on the ball.  Cleverley worked hard and Gabby looked up for it.

Not so great - N'Zogbia in disinterested mode, Sanchez is a disaster waiting to happen when in possession, Lambert making head scratching substitutions.

Seeing all those great old players bringing trophies on to the pitch before the game was like applying salt in an open wound!!

[claret and blue blood]

Frustrating,we could and should have beaten a Southampton team who looked a thing but top four material.Typically we defended deeper and deeper and gave it away instead of killing them off.Puzzling substitutions,Sanchez did seem to be running out of steam,but Bent on as a replacement? Having said all that I think we will gradually improve from a very low point and I am ever so slightly more optimistic.

[OzVilla]

A bit disappointed that Martin Tyler hadn't done some fairly basic research to realise that the 21st minutes applause was for the victims of the Pub Bombings.  I know I'm cynical but I cvouldn't help thinking that had that bomb gone off in Liverpool or Manchester he'd have known.

Well supported by the Saints fans too.

[olaftab]

I never said there was. I was confirming the attendance is tickets sold not people in the ground.

I didn't say you did. I thought I was confirming your statement actual v Tickets.

[tomd2103]

We charged the Saints fans £41 apparently...

Should not have switched Gabby and Weimann in the second half, Gabby lost Clyne for their goal. Sánchez runs out of steam and it surely should have been Bacuna brought on? If you ever need to bring Bent on you need Cole to give him service otherwise Bent is a waste even on the bench. Back 4 did fine even if panicked at times but we really have no style as a team. A saints fan tweeted Collymore stating it was shocking what had happened to us and that we resembled a League 1 side hanging on for a replay.

I thought I saw Bacuna getting ready to come on at one point, though I think it was after the two subs had already been made.