Southampton 0-1 Aston Villa post match thread

[robbo1874]

After Wednesday, there were a few 'play worse than that and win' comments, and tonight was definitely one.

The defence did very well to keep a clean sheet but we had some luck to hold on.

Although we won, I didn't really get Smith's game management with the almost total lack of substitutions when we needed fresh legs to tighten the game. Traore should have been subbed well before the end and Luiz has struggled the last few games.

However we've lost a couple when we should have won comfortably, so it was a big plus to win, especially after turning in some terrible recent performances down there.

I agree- Traore should probably have been subbed around the hour mark, but would probably have hooked Barkly rather than Dougie round about 75 mins. Talking of subs, Heaton was named as a sub for this match. Not sure if that’s the first time this season?

[tomd2103]

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.

He produced a brilliant piece of skill in the second half where he turned Romeu in a really tight space up against the goal line and then just left him for dead.  It has been a joy to watch him the last few seasons. 

[robbo1874]

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.

it’s mad how people can see the same match and have such diverging opinions! I thought Martinez’ distribution was excellent tonight. I noticed it early on and was watching for it throughout the game. I only remember a couple of times where his kicks didn’t go to one of our players. I’m not saying you’re wrong, it’s just not how I saw it.

And given the time difference I assume you’re watching with a clear head Rob?

No comment!

[olaftab]

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?

[robbo1874]

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.

It was a great ball from the Merciless as well.

ive noticed in the last few games Mings’ long range passing is some times bang on. I still can’t quite believe how many passes go across the back through our penalty area with opposition players nearby and we haven’t been caught out from it. I kind of get that’s how a lot of sides play these days, but I very much remember the days when that would’ve been called ‘fannying about at the back with it’ or something similar.

[Matt C]

We were the right side of a couple of marginal decisions tonight but we’ve been the wrong side of plenty in prior games.

Two very decent sides going full pelt and not much to pick between them but this was no fluke win, we earned it with a gritty performance and a resolute desire to not concede.

[pauliewalnuts]

We are a good side.

Good sides, even the best ones, grind out wins whilst not playing at anywhere near their best.

I think we'll probably finish around 8th this season, maybe a bit higher. We are going to have more ups and downs and will remain a bit inconsistent, but I'll take that, as pretty much every single one of us would have before the season started.

More than anything what pleases me is we are so entertaining to watch. We must surely be the team neutrals most enjoy watching, our games are never boring.

After a decade of stinking the top flight out, how great is that?

[RichardBatchelor]

Is it fickle that I really like Jamie Carragher now?

I just thought that. 
He is gushing about us.   
But he still reminds of Basil Brush

seems as if we have different pundits for the Optus Sports coverage. They had Tony Adams and Paul Scholes and Owen Hargreaves for this one. Adam’s didn’t say much but was pretty fair. Hargreaves was also fair and seems quite intelligent in his analysis. Scholes finished up gushing over Grealish and his last comment, said with a smirk, was ‘Villa will be lucky to hang on to him’.

And he no doubt thinks his club has a divine right to sign him and assume he’d rather play there, the twat.

[PaulWinch again]

We are a good side.

Good sides, even the best ones, grind out wins whilst not playing at anywhere near their best.

I think we'll probably finish around 8th this season, maybe a bit higher. We are going to have more ups and downs and will remain a bit inconsistent, but I'll take that, as pretty much every single one of us would have before the season started.

More than anything what pleases me is we are so entertaining to watch. We must surely be the team neutrals most enjoy watching, our games are never boring.

After a decade of stinking the top flight out, how great is that?

Pretty much exactly how I feel. I now go into every game looking forward to watching us play.

[cdbearsfan]

It's quite possible that he would rather play there. But as they won't be offering £200 million, and we'd turn it down even if they did, I don't really care.

[pelty]

We are a good side.

Good sides, even the best ones, grind out wins whilst not playing at anywhere near their best.

I think we'll probably finish around 8th this season, maybe a bit higher. We are going to have more ups and downs and will remain a bit inconsistent, but I'll take that, as pretty much every single one of us would have before the season started.

More than anything what pleases me is we are so entertaining to watch. We must surely be the team neutrals most enjoy watching, our games are never boring.

After a decade of stinking the top flight out, how great is that?

100%, Paulie! Great post!

[wittonwarrior]

That will do.   Definitely a Southampton equaliser but we have had that many against us you have to be glad when one decision somehow goes our way.

[VILLA MOLE]

We are a good side.

Good sides, even the best ones, grind out wins whilst not playing at anywhere near their best.

I think we'll probably finish around 8th this season, maybe a bit higher. We are going to have more ups and downs and will remain a bit inconsistent, but I'll take that, as pretty much every single one of us would have before the season started.

More than anything what pleases me is we are so entertaining to watch. We must surely be the team neutrals most enjoy watching, our games are never boring.

After a decade of stinking the top flight out, how great is that?

100%, Paulie! Great post!

Did you just say we are everybody’s second team? 😳😄

What will Leeds say 🤔

[Ian.]

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?

Oh shit, I’m now like my dear old mom and just making names up willy-nilly.

[OzVilla]

Nice to shithouse a win after Burnley and Man Utd did it to us. Think Smith may need to freshen things up on Weds though. Samson may put McGinn under pressure soon if SJG doesn’t up his game.

Although those 2 decisions went for us by the letter of the laws the laws are an ass imo. But we got no sympathy so stuff em.