Aston Villa vs Southampton post match thread

[Malandro]

And sorry Dave, no more from me on this.

[Eigentor]

I know many people here will be unhappy until Lambert leaves, but that doesn't look like happening, so the best we can hope for is for Lambert so turn it around somehow. Last night wasn't bad in that respect. Comparing the form of ourselves and Southampton going into the match, the result should have been a given. I thought the cautious tactics from Lambert was sensible given; our confidence is so fragile that safety first is reasonable: the odds on us losing if we had conceded first wouldn't have been particularly high. Though I hope it will be long before next time I'm so pleased with a point home against Soton.

[WestleyArmsAV]

Speak to Dave . I'm none of the above.

[WestleyArmsAV]

Well your posts have been noticed.  so i'm.over the Moon not to interact.

[brian green]

Okore was good. So why have we been left agonizing why his return has been so downbeat? He is a bloody good player, give us something to pierce the pervading gloom. I thought he had done a Helenius/Herd/Ireland/Bent and was doomed for outer darkness via Bomb Squad 2.

[aj2k77]

I know many people here will be unhappy until Lambert leaves, but that doesn't look like happening, so the best we can hope for is for Lambert so turn it around somehow. Last night wasn't bad in that respect. Comparing the form of ourselves and Southampton going into the match, the result should have been a given. I thought the cautious tactics from Lambert was sensible given; our confidence is so fragile that safety first is reasonable: the odds on us losing if we had conceded first wouldn't have been particularly high. Though I hope it will be long before next time I'm so pleased with a point home against Soton.

The only problem is we are nearly always in poor form and low on confidence and playing someone who is higher in the league than us. So when is it ok to expect us to try and win a game and not be so cautious we barely leave our own half in the second half of games. 1 goal in 18 matches in the 2nd half.

[aj2k77]

I'll give Lambert this; he called Bent absolutely spot on. What a remarkable and rapid deterioration - doesn't look remotely Premier League any more. 

Yes although I feel that if he had been on the end of that chance that fell to Weimann he'd have kept it on target.

But then he was too lazy to even get in position.

I let andi off with that chance, he created the move and it was pretty fast. Obviously a bad miss.
He does, however,  need to learn to control himself. If he had kept his discipline, we might not have conceded the equaliser

The worry I have with Weimann is he tries to bladder everything, at times there's very little composure with his finishing.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

My tediously repetitive comment about Weimann - no composure!
He first-hits it every time...with almost always the same result of Tonevesque influence.

He should have done a better job on Bertrand who crossed for their goal...perhaps he was still upset over the linesman not giving the throw-in he thought we should have had at the start of the move...he DID kick it out of play, so why he was complaining is strange!
Yes, I am blaming him for everything!

Clark and Okore were excellent, Gabby much better than recent games, Sanchez is getting there...and quite weirdly, all things considered, I found myself thinking that I wished we had more players like Hutton - cool, calm, professional with that little bit of flair that can take the opposition by surprise from time to time.
Soton played some pretty stuff at times but nowhere near as effective as I expected...and for that I give credit to our players.

Bent?

[Legion]

Does anyone have a gif of the Weimann miss and/or the Gabby goal?

[silhillvilla]

Any gif's of huttons dive on 90 mins. Hilarious .

[Matt Collins]

I'll give Lambert this; he called Bent absolutely spot on. What a remarkable and rapid deterioration - doesn't look remotely Premier League any more. 

Yes although I feel that if he had been on the end of that chance that fell to Weimann he'd have kept it on target.

But then he was too lazy to even get in position.

I let andi off with that chance, he created the move and it was pretty fast. Obviously a bad miss.
He does, however,  need to learn to control himself. If he had kept his discipline, we might not have conceded the equaliser

The worry I have with Weimann is he tries to bladder everything, at times there's very little composure with his finishing.

He spends the whole game with his head down running into brick walls and then when he gets a great chance he lifts his bloody head up and balloons it ridiculously over the bar. I've seen him do this countless times now

Very odd player

[old man villa fan]

There a number who have been quite dismissive of injuries.  We have few quality players in the squad and when those players get injuries you have problems.  We struggle to score goals but I would think most would agree that we play our best football when Benteke, Gabby and Weimann are playing together.  It is interesting to note that since Benteke was injured at Norwich last year, they have only played together 12 out of 43 games and have only had one run of more than one match.  We score so few goals that we rely on Benteke now and have to play a more attacking game when he is in the side.  Otherwise he will get frustrated, his play will drop with the result that we end up losing him to suspensions.

Having said that, there is much more wrong with our game.  We lack energy and trying to perm any 6 from the same 8 or 9 players in front of the defence will not change that.  We need to try and shake things up a bit and sometimes a young inexperienced player can do that because they do the unexpected.

I was pleased with the back four last night but the defending in front of them when we did not have the ball was very poor.  We look as though we are content to just defend space rather than space and closing players down.  At this level, if you give opposition players time on the ball to move forward unopposed, they will eventually work their way through.

Others have mentioned the midfield being very flat which means you cannot play 'give and go' to move the ball forward.  Two deep midfield players together does not work as inevitably restricts space for the fullbacks to move into as the opposition string an extra player across the pitch.

Weimann runs around a lot but unless he is played as a goal scorer or goal maker, you are better playing a stronger player with better control.

Gabby played very well first half but switched off for their goal and was caught ball watching.

I thought that earlier in the season that N'Zogbia was just lacking match fitness but it is clear that he is not up to it and it will take him a long time to get back to a level we need.  I would bring Grealish in to replace him against Burnley.

I am getting a bit concerned that we are not hearing about any good prospects coming through from the youth team as this does not bode well for the next few years.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

The good prospects from the youth team ARE Grealish and Robinson...if we had a more stable team I'm sure they'd be playing more.
However...in the circumstances things ain't working...so, change them! We should bring in Grealish...and Robinson...if only to give the oppo something to think about and have to work on.
We have become incredibly predictable...happy to let the oppo have the ball, counter attacking, shite at keeping possession ourselves and hanging on grimly by fingertips only to succumb to the inevitable.
It's shite and it needs Lambert to show the tiniest bit of imagination to change it!
I ain't holding my breath!

[andyh]

How many games have we won when Benteke, Delph Vlaar and gabby have been fit?
Injuries, sminjuries!

[Ads]

How many games have we won when Benteke, Delph Vlaar and gabby have been fit?
Injuries, sminjuries!

More than when they've been out injured.