Southampton 0-1 Aston Villa post match thread

[PaulTheVillan]

Southampton are struggling for results but are a good side and their high press game is impressive and had us pegged back, especially in the first half. Given, it was a dogged performance from us, with some moments of class and an excellent result, we need to be able to produce these kinds of performances as well as the strutting our stuff performances against the likes of Newcastle.
Some other observations.

They had done their homework on how we play and in the 1st half closed Martinez down quickly, stopping his generally excellent distribution that kick starts many of our attacks.

I was surprised that Trez didn’t come on for Traore on about 60 mins.

Barcklay is playing himself to fitness and I thought did generally well tonight.

Mings was excellent and deserves credit where it’s due.

Thought their manager showed a bit of class in post match interview not banging on about the decisions too much.

I thought Smith should of made a couple of subs, but the fact he didn’t doesn’t make his game management average as has been mentioned earlier on the thread. There are plenty of times this season when Traore has been hooked on 60-70 mins, he must of had his reasons to keep him on last night. This time two years ago we were mid table to lower half championship after having a January where we got tonked by Wigan and scraped draws at home to QPR and Hull. Smith has got us up, kept us up and now has built an excellent side who play excellent football and will be challenging for an European place this season in two years!! that is top quality management.

One of Ming’s best games for a while. I also thought we should have changed it earlier, maybe throwing Nakamba on for Traore to add another body in the middle.

[Hillbilly]

I’d say Dougie is definitely, Barkley too but he’s been injured. I thought Ollie ran his bollocks off all night to be fair to him.

Who do we know had Covid other than Taggart?

Has inspector Taggart joined our team?

“There’s been a murder at Firhill”

[Neil Hawkes]

This is no way a criticism so don’t all jump in but anyone else think Martinez’ kicking looked a bit weak tonight? Could get much distance on anything played back to him. I might just ask Alan Smith as he’s got all the answers where we’re concerned. Villa fan my arse.

I thought that also, until I heard about the wind coming across the stadium during the match commentary. The wind down South from the sea is pretty fierce the last few days.

[Smithy]

Finishing in a european place will be the difference in keeping or losing Jack.

I disagree.  I can't see how he would sign a five-year contract on the basis of a team from a relegation fight getting a place in Europe the next season.  I don't think even the most optimistic fan would have predicted that for THIS season. 

I don't doubt he has expectations of improvement in the team - but we HAVE improved, measurably, and I suspect we will improve again next summer.  As long as the trend is upwards, I have no concerns at all about Jack leaving.  The worry will come at the point we plateau, or worse, start going backwards - but we're at least a year away from that even being a concern.

[Clampy]

One thing I like is that even when we are not quite at our best, we always look as if we have a couple of goals in us. We didn't really get going in that first half but we could have gone in two goals up.

[brontebilly]

I’m not sure about Traore, he seems like an icing on the cake player whereas we often need a player to help us grind out victories.

In games like last night, definitely.  But at times, especially when we have a decent chunk of possession, he looks like a massive threat, and is scoring goals.  I suspect if we'd started Trez for his higher work rate and protection for Cash we might have considered the set-up 'negative' as it's 'only Southampton'.

It is important that the first 11 don't start to believe they will start regardless of the level of performance, we want them absolutely convinced a drop-off in their levels will see a return to the bench - not sure we have that right now?

Definitely not. If Smith doesn't give the backup players minutes he will lose them eventually. No excuse for it last night. The selection against West Ham will be interesting.

[andyh]

Jack didn't have his best game by any means tonight, but was still streets ahead of any other player and produced 3/4 utterly sublime moments of skill. He made a difficult 1st time cross with his weaker foot look like he was playing a 5 yard sideways pass.

There was a cross field ball at one stage in the first half that Jack killed stone dead with his foot. As it's Jack it hardly got any comment but I'm not sure another player on the pitch could have done it. He was pretty much on the sideline at the time with a defender or two near him.

I was going to post about that. It was incredible, and as you say, it went without comment, because it ‘just what he does’
I hope there will be a clip of it somewhere.

[Ads]

I think it was a case of "prove you're gritty enough" after Burnley last night.

Traore and Barkely did a lot more off the ball, although I felt the former faded second half and I would have had Trez on.

Trez
El Ghazi
Morgan
Ramsey

Good options in midfield, you can see where we will be adding in the summer with a striker and centre half. If we qualify for a European spot, then doubly so.

Very happy with 32 points at the turn. We've achieved in half a season effectively did in all of last.

As much as VAR supported the on field decisions last night, felt we've been unlucky at Burnley, West Ham, Brighton, Man United and Man City not to have more. A combination of clinical ruthlessness and VAR might have delivered more.

But this team is so much more organised, confident, tough that its a remarkable turn around.

[ChicagoLion]

I thought Southampton were the better team yet I thought all of our players did well.
Some tired a bit though. The difference was a piece of class forward play.
Great ball from Target to set the cross from Jack and top Finnish.

[Ads]

They carried more menace first half but it reminded me of us over many years chasing games at Villa Park
 Territory and possession, but all huff and puff.

Martinez had 2 saves to make. Sometimes that's enough in a tight game, that efficiency at Villa Park was all they needed.

[Clampy]

I think it was a case of "prove you're gritty enough" after Burnley last night.

Traore and Barkely did a lot more off the ball, although I felt the former faded second half and I would have had Trez on.

Trez
El Ghazi
Morgan
Ramsey

Good options in midfield, you can see where we will be adding in the summer with a striker and centre half. If we qualify for a European spot, then doubly so.

Very happy with 32 points at the turn. We've achieved in half a season effectively did in all of last.

As much as VAR supported the on field decisions last night, felt we've been unlucky at Burnley, West Ham, Brighton, Man United and Man City not to have more. A combination of clinical ruthlessness and VAR might have delivered more.

But this team is so much more organised, confident, tough that its a remarkable turn around.

Totally agree, which is why I don't get some of the constant negativity at times. It's our second season back up, we are playing some of the best football we've played in a long time and yes, we will throw in a few stinkers now and again but we need to expect that. Also, like you said we are unlucky not to be a few more points better off than we are. I think we've been fantastic overall personally. It's up to us to build on it though because it may be a lot tougher next season but I'm sure these owners will.

[Smithy]

32 points at halfway, and last year 64 would have had us 5th, 2 points outside the champions league places.  Incredible really.

[dave.woodhall]

I’m not sure about Traore, he seems like an icing on the cake player whereas we often need a player to help us grind out victories.

In games like last night, definitely.  But at times, especially when we have a decent chunk of possession, he looks like a massive threat, and is scoring goals.  I suspect if we'd started Trez for his higher work rate and protection for Cash we might have considered the set-up 'negative' as it's 'only Southampton'.

It is important that the first 11 don't start to believe they will start regardless of the level of performance, we want them absolutely convinced a drop-off in their levels will see a return to the bench - not sure we have that right now?

Definitely not. If Smith doesn't give the backup players minutes he will lose them eventually. No excuse for it last night. The selection against West Ham will be interesting.

You seem to be going out of your way to find excuses to moan. If he had brought subs on and we'd conceded a couple of goals, presumably you'd have been happy with his decision?

[Steve67]

I think that Matt Targett is the most improved player in the squad.  Really solid left back for us and was really good again last night.  Seems a hell of a lot fitter this season and often seen defending way up the pitch, supporting Jack. 

I am really enjoying this season!

[Walmley_Villa]

I don’t think Tez was brought on as it would potentially have played into their hands. Trez would have been likely to have given away free kicks near our box. Ward-Prowse delivery was their big threat.