Aston Villa v Southampton Post Match Thread

[itbrvilla]

I’ve seen one where he says he didn’t want to change anything, but the players did, so he let them. This worries me a bit.

If true, this worries me a lot.

I’m not sure it’s an accurate reflection of what he said.

The quotes I read said that the players blamed the tactics but he disagreed and that the only change he made was to swap Barkley and McGinn round for the second half which is something we’ve done before.

I went to watch my son play yesterday so only watched the second half but what I saw was a committed, aggressive performance that Southampton really struggled to deal with. Obviously it was too late to change the result due to what had occurred in the first half but I take encouragement from heads not dropping and fighting back to make it a more respectable score line.

Ignoring the display in the second half. Conceding three free kicks in very very good areas against Southampton is amateur. You can play as well as you want but giving up chances that play to their huge strength is naive

Yep its easy to put in a committed display when we're already 3-4 goals down.  They were able to take their foot off the gas so made it easier for us.

[ChicagoLion]

We made some horrendous mistakes on the pitch. Berkley losing the ball for their 4th and no one putting in a challenge or touching the ball until Martinez picked the ball out the net. Ward Prowse hits a mean free kick, but jeez that tackle by Luiz was so naive it was an embarrassment.

You dont even mention Mcginn marking the Giant for the first.

[simboy]

We made some horrendous mistakes on the pitch. Berkley losing the ball for their 4th and no one putting in a challenge or touching the ball until Martinez picked the ball out the net. Ward Prowse hits a mean free kick, but jeez that tackle by Luiz was so naive it was an embarrassment.

You dont even mention Mcginn marking the Giant for the first.

I thought that was more obvious. Thats something I would hope Martinez would have done. Zonal marking requires the keeper to still identify overloads.

[ChicagoLion]

We made some horrendous mistakes on the pitch. Berkley losing the ball for their 4th and no one putting in a challenge or touching the ball until Martinez picked the ball out the net. Ward Prowse hits a mean free kick, but jeez that tackle by Luiz was so naive it was an embarrassment.

You dont even mention Mcginn marking the Giant for the first.

I thought that was more obvious. Thats something I would hope Martinez would have done. Zonal marking requires the keeper to still identify overloads.

Surely this is decided in the prep before the game. If zonal marking means the 2 best players in the air are going to stand on the 6 yard box in front of the goal, I know exactly where I want the best header of the ball and where the cross needs to go.
Beyond amatuer.

[simboy]

I don’t think we disagree CL.

But someone on the pitch has to be controlling it. Even at amateur level the keeper or big lump of a centre half is pointing out the problem. There was a huge hole on the six yard box which the kid hit with the free kick McGinn standing there and Mings on their lump stops that goal.

I was hoping Martinez would be the leader of the defence, he isn’t showing it.

As for amateurish.., Luiz’s tackle? With Konsa and Mings in close attendance? Walcott was looking for the touch.

[ChicagoLion]

I don’t think we disagree CL.

But someone on the pitch has to be controlling it. Even at amateur level the keeper or big lump of a centre half is pointing out the problem. There was a huge hole on the six yard box which the kid hit with the free kick McGinn standing there and Mings on their lump stops that goal.

I was hoping Martinez would be the leader of the defence, he isn’t showing it.

As for amateurish.., Luiz’s tackle? With Konsa and Mings in close attendance? Walcott was looking for the touch.

I would hope it would be Mings doing the organising, but you are right someone has too take control. I cant understand how a situation like that happens.
Regarding Walcott again stupid decision by Luiz.
I thought we were all over the place in the first half.

[in exile]

Yes, we got back into the game late on, but overall I was very disappointed in our game plan and performance.

[Big Ming]

The last 2 results have co-incided with me transfering Martinez into my Fantasy League team. I shall transfer him back out and normal service will be resumed.

I rather think that normal service has been resumed.

Still. it was fun while it lasted.

[devilla]

So is there a very good reason why they don't put a player on the line at free kicks especially when facing a specialist like Ward-Prowse and after he's put one in already?

And is there a reason why Mings didn't jump for the second one which would have stopped the goal?

It's things like this that drive me mad. We can all see it so why can't they?

[Risso]

So is there a very good reason why they don't put a player on the line at free kicks especially when facing a specialist like Ward-Prowse and after he's put one in already?

And is there a reason why Mings didn't jump for the second one which would have stopped the goal?

It's things like this that drive me mad. We can all see it so why can't they?

I don't think Mings is the bravest when it comes to situations like that.  His natural inclination seems to be to want to get out of the way.

[MalcolmP]

So is there a very good reason why they don't put a player on the line at free kicks especially when facing a specialist like Ward-Prowse and after he's put one in already?

Years ago always put a man on the posts and a lot less direct free kick goals were scored. Much harder to aim at 1ft of goal than 8ft! Apparently you can't do that anymore because if you are on the post you cant catch anybody offside on the rebound - rather pointless I feel if the ball goes straight in the back of the net!  Both goals would have been stopped with someone on the post and goalkeeper can stand central instead of to one side. Simples.

[RichardBatchelor]

So is there a very good reason why they don't put a player on the line at free kicks especially when facing a specialist like Ward-Prowse and after he's put one in already?

Years ago always put a man on the posts and a lot less direct free kick goals were scored. Much harder to aim at 1ft of goal than 8ft! Apparently you can't do that anymore because if you are on the post you cant catch anybody offside on the rebound - rather pointless I feel if the ball goes straight in the back of the net!  Both goals would have been stopped with someone on the post and goalkeeper can stand central instead of to one side. Simples.

This.

[eamonn]

Didn't we put Southgate on the line to help Oakes keep out Beckham's free kicks at Old Trafford in 1999? I think the bugger still scored (though that may have been from open play).

[Chris Smith]

So is there a very good reason why they don't put a player on the line at free kicks especially when facing a specialist like Ward-Prowse and after he's put one in already?

Years ago always put a man on the posts and a lot less direct free kick goals were scored. Much harder to aim at 1ft of goal than 8ft! Apparently you can't do that anymore because if you are on the post you cant catch anybody offside on the rebound - rather pointless I feel if the ball goes straight in the back of the net!  Both goals would have been stopped with someone on the post and goalkeeper can stand central instead of to one side. Simples.

You would then just get forwards standing directly in front of the keeper to block his view.

[Fred Crump]

Yesterday was a lot about individual errors so I'm not too downhearted yet. But I do wish that in the last window we had been able to get in a dominant defensive presence in midfield. Dougie is bound to have periods of slightly off form and I am worried we are going to burn him out or he is going to get injured. A priority for January, I think.