Southampton vs. Villa Post Match Thread

[Rudy65]

Sinclair has done bugger all going forward for weeks. Ayew is fighting a very lone battle up there, which is why I hope Traore can force his way through soon.

I would bring Richards in at right back and leave the 2 centre halves as they were today, and switch Hutton over to the left. He has done it before, and often when a wrong footer goes to the other side they concentrate harder for a few weeks.

If we can scrape a couple of wins before Christmas, we might give ourselves a chance come January. For me thought, a keeper, left back, experienced holding midfielder and a centre forward are needed as a minimum, with a big hard centre half and a wide forward being nice too.

Agree re Sinclair. A nothing player. Why Traore doesnt get a run I dont know, we have nothing to lose. Give him a go

[aj2k77]

Chelsea starting 11 cost £240m yesterday. Bournemouth £2m. It can be done. Bournemouth played better yesterday than we have done all season

Hardwork, will, desire, organisation, training and team spirit. How many of those can you say our players have shown this season? The bare minimum of hardwork and hard training hasn't even been adhered to.

[kippaxvilla2]

On Westwood I actually shouted loudly at the TV when he blazed that chance over.  A cultured player would have bought that down, thus wrong footing the defence and hit it in with his right foot.  A cultured player he isn't however.

And never will be. He has been a stain on this club since the day he signed.

but its all the stuff you dont see him do that makes him so invaluable

stuff like tackling, tracking back, scoring and delivering set pieces

Those magnificent corners...

Westwood is probably a very typical example of why only relying on what players do in training each week isn't necessarily a guide to what they can do on a Saturday. I've no doubt he runs through walls during the week and stays behind to do extra pointing and floaty corner practice and so that makes him a nearly automatic starter.

[CT]

Chelsea starting 11 cost £240m yesterday. Bournemouth £2m. It can be done. Bournemouth played better yesterday than we have done all season

Hardwork, will, desire, organisation, training and team spirit. How many of those can you say our players have shown this season? The bare minimum of hardwork and hard training hasn't even been adhered to.

Seeing Lescott's interview after the game on MOTD tells you all you need to know.

[aj2k77]

Chelsea starting 11 cost £240m yesterday. Bournemouth £2m. It can be done. Bournemouth played better yesterday than we have done all season

Hardwork, will, desire, organisation, training and team spirit. How many of those can you say our players have shown this season? The bare minimum of hardwork and hard training hasn't even been adhered to.

Seeing Lescott's interview after the game on MOTD tells you all you need to know.

What did he say?

[CT]

That we showed some desire that we hadn't previously shown.

It's just the way he said it, sounded miserable as you like, and certainly didn't give me any cause for optimism that this team has the stomach to get out of this.

[saunders_heroes]

That we showed some desire that we hadn't previously shown.

It's just the way he said it, sounded miserable as you like, and certainly didn't give me any cause for optimism that this team has the stomach to get out of this.

We're rock bottom of the league so he's hardly gonna sound cock-a-hoop.

[Clampy]

That we showed some desire that we hadn't previously shown.

It's just the way he said it, sounded miserable as you like, and certainly didn't give me any cause for optimism that this team has the stomach to get out of this.

Maybe he was disappointed at not keeping a clean and sheet and holding on for the win, who knows?

[CT]

That we showed some desire that we hadn't previously shown.

It's just the way he said it, sounded miserable as you like, and certainly didn't give me any cause for optimism that this team has the stomach to get out of this.

We're rock bottom of the league so he's hardly gonna sound cock-a-hoop.

I wasn't expecting him to sound "cock-a-hoop".

[andyh]

Is there a Richards 'situation' at the club?
It's pretty obvious that he was a Sherwood man, but there is something I can't put my finger on that suggests to me he isn't exactly enamoured with Remi.

Was there a bit more passion, or desire in the team with him not playing yesterday?

[olaftab]

Chelsea starting 11 cost £240m yesterday. Bournemouth £2m. It can be done. Bournemouth played better yesterday than we have done all season

Yes small big victories are always good fun however over the next 5 years I would say that Chelsea will win infinitely more  trophies than Bournemouth and likely that by the end of that period Bournemouth will be back in the third division.

[olaftab]

Lescott's interview was fine.

[aj2k77]

Anyone else think that Arsenal with their injuries might be their for the taking if we make a fast start and don't let them settle? Beat Arsenal, next game is Newcastle followed by West Ham and Sunderland, we could get a run going.... that's the dream.

[seanthevillan]

Is there a Richards 'situation' at the club?
It's pretty obvious that he was a Sherwood man, but there is something I can't put my finger on that suggests to me he isn't exactly enamoured with Remi.

Was there a bit more passion, or desire in the team with him not playing yesterday?

I've thought the same - first with his comments when Garde was appointed, and then saying something about getting more experienced players in January (could say fair enough, but it's another criticism of his teammates).

I'm not sure if Richards is captain material, and I don't think he has been performing well or consistently enough to criticise anyone else publicly - and I could see that causing problems in the dressing room.

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

The game should have been over after 15 minutes as Saints squandered a handful of chances. We grew into the game and were more competitive after that, though a cock up always felt imminent.

Ayew impressed me with his work rate and showed skill too. Hats off to Hutton for his spirit - he must have blocked / deflected 3 goal bound shots. After an atrocious flap at a corner in the first few minutes Guzan had a good game - came and won a lot of centres. We also had a few good spells of pressing and keeping possession, particularly from 30-60 minutes.

Those little lapses are terrifying though- one unbelievable gift from each of Sanchez, Bacuna and Veretout, Bacuna trying to palm away a cross in our box. And conceding from a corner which bounces a few yards out is relegation level.

A better performance than most of late but I was really hoping we could hold out for a win. A draw down there is normally ok but with all the mess of this season to date we need to be winning games and holding on to leads.

Wasn't sure how I felt, but you've summed it up quite nicely there.

Draws aren't good enough for us at the moment, we need to win some games before January.