Aston Villa vs Southampton pre-match thread - Sat 3pm

[eamonn]

Villa being shit at Christmas is as traditional as turkey and hangovers.

Agonising 1-2 and everyone miserable over the festive period, as usual.

Didn't that happen before or something similar....a Dean Richards (RIP) header giving Southampton a 1-0 win at a sparsely populated VP, circa 1999 just before Christmas? During one of Gregory's turgid phases if memory recalls.

November 6th 1999. Richards 84th min, att 26,474

Amazing to think that almost exactly a year earlier we ripped the same opposition apart at their place to go 12 games unbeaten and stay top of the league.

[CT]

A mate of mine who's a saints ST holder reckons they have no chance of keeping a clean sheet.

This is just massive, so 2-1 us.

[SoccerHQ]

Had a look at Southampton's away results and they're not that bad which surprised me.

Two wins at brighton and Sheffield United although they were right at the start of the season. Since then they've narrowly lost at Man. City, should've won at Arsenal and messed up at Newcastle when they were the dominant team.

Don't think they'll be much in it given our mediocre form. 1-1. My gut feeling is Norwich game will suit our strengths better.

[phantom limb]

They can score but they can’t defend. I don’t think it will be enjoyable but I think we can win this, and we really need to.

[SoccerHQ]

They can score but they can’t defend. I don’t think it will be enjoyable but I think we can win this, and we really need to.

Yeah they're weak at both ends. If Ings dosen't score no one else really does unless it's a game where we give Ward Prowse 3-4 chances to score a free kick from 25 yards out.

They do draw loads of games 1-1 or lose or win 2-1 so I suspect the scoreline won't be too far from any of those. Unless they sign half the Liverpool team from the other night on emergency loans.

[tomd2103]

Heaton
Guilbert
Engels
Hause
Targett
Hourihane
McGinn
Grealish
El Ghazi
Luiz
Wesley

That’s what I’d go with as well

I would swap Nakamba with Luiz, but that would be it.  I wouldn't usually advocate Hourihane starting, but like the a Newcastle game, think these kind of matches at home are where we need his quality in the final third. 

[ROBBO]

That team will leave Wesley isolated again it hasn't worked so far.

[Ian.]

Heaton
Guilbert
Engels
Hause
Targett
Hourihane
McGinn
Grealish
El Ghazi
Luiz
Wesley

That’s what I’d go with as well

I would swap Nakamba with Luiz, but that would be it.  I wouldn't usually advocate Hourihane starting, but like the a Newcastle game, think these kind of matches at home are where we need his quality in the final third. 

I’m always much happier when Hourihane is in the team. I’d maybe swap El Ghazi for Trez as well.

[Demitri_C]

Must win for me. Glad grealish engels and mcginn were rested.

I would try two up top for this one and have mcginn in bench if this reported injury is true. Lets give them a real headache by having kodj and wes up front

[manic-road]

Nervy 2-1 win.

[Bobby Boy]

Villa being shit at Christmas is as traditional as turkey and hangovers.

Agonising 1-2 and everyone miserable over the festive period, as usual.

I can remember this match vividly. We were absolutely terrible that day, really poor and I got told by a steward to calm down when I lost my rag at one point.

Not my finest hour but it hasn't happen since....the steward, I mean.

[simon ward 50]

Fantasy festival of football! 1-0 Villa

[kieron]

They can score but they can’t defend.

Sounds familiar.

[mamuu]

Villa being shit at Christmas is as traditional as turkey and hangovers.

Agonising 1-2 and everyone miserable over the festive period, as usual.

Didn't that happen before or something similar....a Dean Richards (RIP) header giving Southampton a 1-0 win at a sparsely populated VP, circa 1999 just before Christmas? During one of Gregory's turgid phases if memory recalls.

That game put my wife off football forever. She's never forgiven me for that couple of hours (fair play really, it was bloody awful).

[Drummond]

I'd play with Kodjia and Wesley.

Heaton
Guilbert
Engels
Hause
Targett
Hourihane
McGinn
Grealish
El Ghazi
Luiz
Wesley

That’s what I’d go with as well

I would swap Nakamba with Luiz, but that would be it.  I wouldn't usually advocate Hourihane starting, but like the a Newcastle game, think these kind of matches at home are where we need his quality in the final third. 

I’m always much happier when Hourihane is in the team. I’d maybe swap El Ghazi for Trez as well.

I'd swap Kodjia for El Ghazi.