Southampton 0-1 Aston Villa post match thread

[Chris Smith]

Can we hire one of those planes to fly over the stadium in the second half of our next match, with the message "Make a bloody sub, Dean"?

I honestly think that it would have been a mistake to change things yesterday. Everyone was doing their job defending a tight lead and there is always a slight readjustment required when a sub comes on while they get up to speed and that could have been enough for them to snatch an equaliser.

[Mister E]

A small observation. Ings didn't get a look-in apart from the offside goal. Yes, he mugged Luiz befor the penalty shout; and he had a speculative shot in the second half.  But he was self-contained... a measure of our defensive capabilities.

[Flamingo Lane]

It's because a slight readjustment is needed when a substitution is made that makes it necessary to not leave them until it's too late for them to have any effect.

[The Edge]

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?

Didn't realise bringing subs on would have automatically led us to conceding a couple of goals ...
Is there any chance fresh legs might have helped us keep possession better or pressed Southampton harder in the last 20 mins?

They wouldn't have got us a better result, which is the only thing you can say for certain.

I don't know why Dean and his staff are getting questions about not using subs and somehow their game management is suspect. He/they probably felt that as the game was on such a knife edge the benefits of keeping the shape outweighed the benefits of fresh legs. We won the game anyway so their decisions were vindicated.

[Chris Smith]

It's because a slight readjustment is needed when a substitution is made that makes it necessary to not leave them until it's too late for them to have any effect.

Or not do them at all, if it ain’t broke...

Obviously that isn’t always the case but yesterday I didn’t see any reason to make the change.

[RamboandBruno]

It's because a slight readjustment is needed when a substitution is made that makes it necessary to not leave them until it's too late for them to have any effect.

I thought Trez should of come on for Traore, but what do I know. Smith thought otherwise, we won away against a very good side. On the basis of that alone, Smiths game management was proved correct.

[brontebilly]

A small observation. Ings didn't get a look-in apart from the offside goal. Yes, he mugged Luiz befor the penalty shout; and he had a speculative shot in the second half.  But he was self-contained... a measure of our defensive capabilities.

He put the ball through for Adams chance also

[SoccerHQ]

It's always a balance with subs. I thought we should've put Trez on with 15 minutes left given how good Saints are at and working the ball and getting good crossing situations from wide positions so he'd have helped.

We did well to see it out but you only have to go back 3 days and we didn't see out a game when 2-1 up with twenty minutes left. Then 3 subs were suddenly deemed useable for last 10 minutes once losing.

Ultimately the schedule is brutal and we are rotating rarely compared to most teams in the league so we do have to be a little bit careful and freshen things up when required.

It's also a great way of slowing a game down aswell especially when opposition are dominating.

[cdbearsfan]

It's because a slight readjustment is needed when a substitution is made that makes it necessary to not leave them until it's too late for them to have any effect.

I thought Trez should of come on for Traore, but what do I know. Smith thought otherwise, we won away against a very good side. On the basis of that alone, Smiths game management was proved correct.

Exactly.

[Ian.]

It's because a slight readjustment is needed when a substitution is made that makes it necessary to not leave them until it's too late for them to have any effect.

I thought Trez should of come on for Traore, but what do I know. Smith thought otherwise, we won away against a very good side. On the basis of that alone, Smiths game management was proved correct.

Exactly.

Quite right. 3 points is all the proof I need on Smith’s call. I’m still baffled by someone on here rating Smith a 4 for his performance yesterday.

[The Edge]

It's because a slight readjustment is needed when a substitution is made that makes it necessary to not leave them until it's too late for them to have any effect.

I thought Trez should of come on for Traore, but what do I know. Smith thought otherwise, we won away against a very good side. On the basis of that alone, Smiths game management was proved correct.

Exactly.

Quite right. 3 points is all the proof I need on Smith’s call. I’m still baffled by someone on here rating Smith a 4 for his performance yesterday.

Really? I must've missed that. Jesus wept

[Ian.]

It's because a slight readjustment is needed when a substitution is made that makes it necessary to not leave them until it's too late for them to have any effect.

I thought Trez should of come on for Traore, but what do I know. Smith thought otherwise, we won away against a very good side. On the basis of that alone, Smiths game management was proved correct.

Exactly.

Quite right. 3 points is all the proof I need on Smith’s call. I’m still baffled by someone on here rating Smith a 4 for his performance yesterday.

Really? I must've missed that. Jesus wept

I know! We won, a smash and grab maybe but sometimes you just have to enjoy the moment.
We play some wonderful football at times and even yesterday when at times were really up against it but we’re still great to watch. We dig in, we press, niggle away and then attack with such a force. What’s not to like?

[The Edge]

It's because a slight readjustment is needed when a substitution is made that makes it necessary to not leave them until it's too late for them to have any effect.

I thought Trez should of come on for Traore, but what do I know. Smith thought otherwise, we won away against a very good side. On the basis of that alone, Smiths game management was proved correct.

Exactly.

Quite right. 3 points is all the proof I need on Smith’s call. I’m still baffled by someone on here rating Smith a 4 for his performance yesterday.

Really? I must've missed that. Jesus wept

I know! We won, a smash and grab maybe but sometimes you just have to enjoy the moment.
We play some wonderful football at times and even yesterday when at times were really up against it but we’re still great to watch. We dig in, we press, niggle away and then attack with such a force. What’s not to like?

Quite a lot apparently! I'm with you I'm really enjoying this season it's been some of the best football in living memory. We all get niggly when things go against us but we seem to have a hard core who just always look for something negative to say. It's a tiny minority though but everyone's entitled to an opinion however baffling. Can't wait to get back to VP I can just imagine the roar when we get to see some exciting flowing football in the flesh. God knows we've waited long enough.

[ChicagoLion]

It's because a slight readjustment is needed when a substitution is made that makes it necessary to not leave them until it's too late for them to have any effect.

I thought Trez should of come on for Traore, but what do I know. Smith thought otherwise, we won away against a very good side. On the basis of that alone, Smiths game management was proved correct.

Exactly.

Quite right. 3 points is all the proof I need on Smith’s call. I’m still baffled by someone on here rating Smith a 4 for his performance yesterday.

Really? I must've missed that. Jesus wept

4 against Burnley might have been justified, but winning away at Sampton?

[The Edge]

Burnley was just a bump in the road. (starts praying)