Southampton v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread - Friday 5th November 8pm

[Villa Lew]

I expect that could well be the case, especially as Villa have not denied the rumours going round in the press that they are possibly looking at Paulo Fonseca to replace him.

[TonyD]

I’m quite glad I’m in Otter St Mary tonight watching the locals run through the streets with burning tar barrels on their shoulders.

I went to this about 15 years ago.   Mad bastards.   We couldn’t understand how it was still allowed. 

[martin o`who??]

I - like most of us - desperately want DS to be a success but I fear for him if we lose tonight. Southampton probably think we're there for the taking - the maddening thing is they're right.

[Skerra]

Are we actually playing tonight. Seems to me that there is only one match this weekend, that being the Manchester Derby!!

[Lastfootstamper]

I’m quite glad I’m in Otter St Mary tonight watching the locals run through the streets with burning tar barrels on their shoulders.

I went to this about 15 years ago.   Mad bastards.   We couldn’t understand how it was still allowed.

One for next series of We Are The Champions?

[devilla]

Always the same with sky. We're just fodder for the big six as far as they're concerned and we should know our place.

[Lastfootstamper]

Is it a Big Six or Seven these days? Two mancs, three London, Liverpool, their blue neighbours trying to punch their weight these days, chuck in Leicester to the mix and you're looking at ninth being a competitive finish, assuming West Ham revert to type.

It really is a different league at the top now. We need to start barging our way in. Starting tonight.

[RichardBatchelor]

I don't think this is quite the decisive game that others do for Smith, but he needs to get something from the next three games (Soton, Brighton, Palace). To me, a 4 game losing streak is par for the course for any team even in to the European places ... an 8-9 game losing streak, however, going to get you the sack at any club, bar one expecting to be anchored to the bottom of the table.

Just checked previous managers.

Lambert was sacked after 5 straight defeats (no wins in 10 overall)
Sherwood was sacked after 6 straight defeats (no wins in 11)
RDM sacked with no wins in 9 games (shows what a balls up he made of that)
Bruce sacked with no wins in 9 aswell

O.k different owners but DS from that probably a few games away from being under serious pressure if that's the metric.

However we obviously have a better squad than in those times and we've now established ourselves back as competitive premier league club so that needs to be taken into account aswell compared to some of those bleak seasons.

Pedant alert *sorry*.

RDM did win one game, 2-0 at home to Rotherham, I think. Nevertheless, he was indeed a poor appointment.

[devilla]

For the first time in God knows how long  Im not watching it tonight. Hoping that will bring a change in our fortunes but  not holding my breath.

I think Southampton will smell blood and press us hard when we have it at the back resulting in at least one goal for them.

Please win Villa.

[Lastfootstamper]

Di Matteo had 11 games from the start of a season before getting the elbow.
His successor had 11 games from the start of a season before getting the elbow.
Tick, tock...

[Demitri_C]

This is the biggest team selection in smiths career so far.

If it gets it wrong and we lose its curtains for him. I hope he can turn it around i really i do but i cant see it