Southampton vs Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[postal]

The mullering they took off Liverpool is quite nice timing. I said before they were in a rut and that battering will have shattered their confidence.

The first goal, as ever, will be absolutely crucial.

As others have said, we have to be at them at the start and for the whole 90 minutes.

And yes, that first goal is crucial as we have teams who are low on confidence. Though Southampton are no push overs, 6-1 or not.

But get at them, and don't let stupid goals in and we can do them.

[postal]

The mullering they took off Liverpool is quite nice timing. I said before they were in a rut and that battering will have shattered their confidence.

The first goal, as ever, will be absolutely crucial.

As others have said, we have to be at them at the start and for the whole 90 minutes.

And yes, that first goal is crucial as we have 2 teams who are low on confidence. Though Southampton are no push overs, 6-1 or not.

But get at them, and don't let stupid goals in and we can do them.

[LeeB]

Play N'Zogbia left back. He's not Richardson so we're already better off.
Play Lescott, and tell to stick to Pelle like glue, he's probably the one Premier League striker he's still got the abillity to deal with.
Play Richards at right back, with Okore inside him.
Play Gestede up top with Ayew and Traore either side of him, and Veretout, Gana and Sanchez behind.

It's risky but we need to take risks, and it would mean if we did keep possession, which is actually possible with that midfield, we'd have fullbacks that can cross, two wide forwards that can beat players, and a centre forward that for all his faults heads the ball at the goal.

[oswald funkletrumpet]

nzog and lescott in the back 4?? 

really?

[rob_bridge]

nzog and lescott in the back 4?? 

really?

Replace one waste of a shirt (Richardson) with 2

Utter madness.

Richardson is one of the worst players I have ever seen in a Villa shirt, however thus far both CNZ and Lescott have surpassed him.

[Goldie.7]

Their form in all comps is WWWLLL
League only is DDWWLL

They need a little lift, a pick me up and as others have said there is no better team for them to be playing next.

Against 'The Mighty Reds YNWA' they should of definitely been up by two before 8 mins and arguably three before 11 mins.

Our only hope is getting off as many shots at Stekelenburg as we can, lately he's been looking just as dodgy as Guzan.

[AVH87]

Richards doubtful.
Llori out.
Gabby returns.

[LeeB]

nzog and lescott in the back 4?? 

really?

Replace one waste of a shirt (Richardson) with 2

Utter madness.

Richardson is one of the worst players I have ever seen in a Villa shirt, however thus far both CNZ and Lescott have surpassed him.

We're going to have to replace Clark for one, and I contest your summary of the merits of Richardson over N'Zogbia, as N'Zogbia appears to have the abillity to run, pass and even on occasion tackle, three crucial skills apparently way beyond Richardson's capabilities.

[Goldie.7]

All hail King Gabby.

[Skerra]

I really wish that I could think of us getting something out of this one but, look back, how many games had Swansea won before their win at VP + Stoke, before us their last away win was something like 787BC!!

So, if the roles were reversed and we were Soton, who would you want to play in the next match to get you back on track ....answers on a postcard please.

PS: I really, really wish I had the optimism of some on here but, the stuffing has been knocked out of me and, just feel that I've not been watching the same set of players than the optimistic people.

[Chris Jameson]

Gabby returns.

The saviour returns.

[ChicagoLion]

some of the ideas to combat too many mediocre to useless players is just desperate.
southaaaamton at home and needing a win to get season back on track against a no league wins since the first day of the season Villa.
No brainer, they will score they will win.We are down.

[Chris Harte]

Can we have an option on the poll of "Southampton win by five clear goals", please?

[Oscar Arce]

Play a left sided centre back (lescott) with a right sided centre back (Okore) and play Clark at left back (not ideal but more solid than Richardson), with Hutton at right back, Richards will be unfit.
Play a solid midfield two (sanchez and Gana) with our best two crossers either side of them (Bacuna and Sinclair).
Play two up top, Gestede and Gabby or Kozak and Ayew, and get the ball into them.
Traore and Nzog an option for Bacuna and Sinclair.
We have to go for it and stop playing fiddly diddly football, so Gil and Grealish need to sit out for a bit of biff bash bosh, it's our only hope.

[oswald funkletrumpet]

Gabby returns.

The saviour returns.

more like the savoury

he's probably put on a stone whilst injured and has a semi permanent orange tattoo on his hand from all the wotsits he's eaten