Aston Villa v Southampton Post Match Thread

[Legion]

Next year I think.

[four fornicholl]

Next year I think.

Is it an advantage mentally or not?

[edgysatsuma89]

I mean obviously we were better 2nd half but they were 4-0 up. They simply didn't need to try which gave us more chances to attack. It pretty much always happens, I know not every time but psychologically you naturally sit off most the time. I'm still bothered that when they did try they succeeded.

Their 3rd and 4th were caused by counter-attacks because we were pushing forward so they came just much as a consequence of the game situation as our 3 did. We shouldn't dismiss our goals as them just deciding to take it easy, it's insulting to both teams and isn't really true.

That was the case for those 2 goals but after they didn't need to push on and attack us. I don't find that insulting, I expect it.

[Goldie.7]

Cash got torn a new one and McGinn was absolutely abysmal, neither deserve to be automatic starters for the next match. We were significantly better for the last 25 minutes because Cash wasn't on the pitch.

I'd drop Cash, McGinn and possibly Luiz for Arsenal. Cash is reckless and lightweight, McGinn looks overweight and slow and Luiz looks knackered.

We have fresh players on the bench - it's time for some much needed rotation.

[villa for life]

Tonight was the first time I’ve become a smith out proponent. He’s great. He’s fine. But that’s what he is, he can’t react mid game to what we need. A very thorough manager, well prepared but he is the me who is holding us back now.

And I’m deliberating saying this now, while there’s no crisis. He’s ok. But if we aspire to be top 8 this season, he’s not fine.

[paul_e]

Bizarrely I have no idea what we did different in the last 30 mins, and I don’t buy the Saints took their foot off the pedal crap, but we need to learn from that.  Suspect it was the fullbacks pushing further up and when Cash didn’t do as he was told Elmo did

That's exactly what happened, we got the fullback higher up the pitch and let Watkins and Jack drift into each others space which meant we completely overloaded them on both wings because they'd been playing with the wingers really tucked in. That had been working because they were crowding us in midfield so we just stopped trying to play in there and went wide instead. I just wish we'd figured it out sooner.

[itmustbe_it is!]

I was more disappointed with the first goal than the others. We'd already had a let off for the VAR offside, then defended just as abysmally for the one that counted.

[Three Spires Villa]

Tonight was the first time I’ve become a smith out proponent. He’s great. He’s fine. But that’s what he is, he can’t react mid game to what we need. A very thorough manager, well prepared but he is the me who is holding us back now.

And I’m deliberating saying this now, while there’s no crisis. He’s ok. But if we aspire to be top 8 this season, he’s not fine.

Top 8, wow I would be happy with 14th and that’s with our start. Top 8 I personally think is well over the top.

[Risso]

Cash got torn a new one and McGinn was absolutely abysmal, neither deserve to be automatic starters for the next match. We were significantly better for the last 25 minutes because Cash wasn't on the pitch.

I'd drop Cash, McGinn and possibly Luiz for Arsenal. Cash is reckless and lightweight, McGinn looks overweight and slow and Luiz looks knackered.

We have fresh players on the bench - it's time for some much needed rotation.

I agree.  Hourihane was unlucky to be dropped when he was, but you couldn't argue with Barkley's inclusion after the Liverpool match.  Barkley has been appalling for the last two games though, and so has McGinn, so one of them should be dropped for Hourihane.

[Bobby Boy]

Cash got torn a new one and McGinn was absolutely abysmal, neither deserve to be automatic starters for the next match. We were significantly better for the last 25 minutes because Cash wasn't on the pitch.

I'd drop Cash, McGinn and possibly Luiz for Arsenal. Cash is reckless and lightweight, McGinn looks overweight and slow and Luiz looks knackered.

We have fresh players on the bench - it's time for some much needed rotation.

I agree.  Hourihane was unlucky to be dropped when he was, but you couldn't argue with Barkley's inclusion after the Liverpool match.  Barkley has been appalling for the last two games though, and so has McGinn, so one of them should be dropped for Hourihane.

I agree with your thinking but I'd play Nakamba rather than Hourihane.  Nakamba has his limitations but he is solid. He tackles and offers a physical presence. I just feel that the last 2 weeks we have been out thought and out fought in midfield which has really cost us.

[andyh]

Tonight was the first time I’ve become a smith out proponent. He’s great. He’s fine. But that’s what he is, he can’t react mid game to what we need. A very thorough manager, well prepared but he is the me who is holding us back now.

And I’m deliberating saying this now, while there’s no crisis. He’s ok. But if we aspire to be top 8 this season, he’s not fine.

Top 8, wow I would be happy with 14th and that’s with our start. Top 8 I personally think is well over the top.

I’d be ‘happy’ with 14th.
To go from finishing 5th in the championship to 14th in the prem in 2 seasons would be nothing short of stunning.

[Legion]

I'd be bloody delighted.

[edgysatsuma89]

I'd be bloody delighted.

Definitely. I'd be aiming for 10 more points than last year.

[villa for life]

Wow. A villa fan happy to finish 14th

[PeterWithesShin]

Anything less than top 1 should not only see Smith sacked and publically flogged, the whole club should be disbanded.