Southampton v Aston Villa Saturday 5th December 3pm kick off

I thought we would lose today, so this is a bonus point, but we are getting to a stage when 1pt isn't enough, didn't see the game except MOTD but heard Veretout played well.

One observation though, it is something I noticed last week, we are not putting a man on the near post when defending corners!

I don't want to be seen as wise after the event, but obviously we wouldn't of conceded the Saints goal yesterday, this is alien to me growing up in the 70s & 80s, get men on each post, simple!

VillaBill wrote:I thought we would lose today, so this is a bonus point, but we are getting to a stage when 1pt isn't enough, didn't see the game except MOTD but heard Veretout played well.

One observation though, it is something I noticed last week, we are not putting a man on the near post when defending corners!

I don't want to be seen as wise after the event, but obviously we wouldn't of conceded the Saints goal yesterday, this is alien to me growing up in the 70s & 80s, get men on each post, simple!

I really can't understand this idea of not putting players on the posts when defending corners, just because it is old hat doesn't mean that it doesn't work... it does!!!!!

achilles wrote:

VillaBill wrote:I thought we would lose today, so this is a bonus point, but we are getting to a stage when 1pt isn't enough, didn't see the game except MOTD but heard Veretout played well.

One observation though, it is something I noticed last week, we are not putting a man on the near post when defending corners!

I don't want to be seen as wise after the event, but obviously we wouldn't of conceded the Saints goal yesterday, this is alien to me growing up in the 70s & 80s, get men on each post, simple!

I really can't understand this idea of not putting players on the posts when defending corners, just because it is old hat doesn't mean that it doesn't work... it does!!!!!

Ian Dowie was co-commentating on the broadcast I watched and he made that point a number of times and not just corners. He was saying we weren't covering that area at all for any set pieces into the box.

One thing that did disappoint me about how Garde went about his work yesterday was the subs. We rode our luck, got a goal up very much against the run of play, rode our luck again at the start of the second half and were still in front by the hour mark. That's the time we should have gone pro-active with our subs rather than let Koeman get his on first. Yes, it's armchair manager stuff but that's what I was urging from my armchair and I think I was right.

I didn't think we would get anything against the saints but I'm pleased we got at least a point.

I think most would have taken a point before hand but as was said on the previous page by KMitch, anything but a win now feels like a loss.

Garde fucked up the substitutions royally. But I'm more disturbed by HOW we are playing; it's like watching a cup game with a lower league side against CL opposition and they know they've absolutely no chance so just sit back and wait for the inevitable.

Jesus, we could (and should) have been 5 or 6 down by 15 minutes. Southampton fans would have been dismayed at the number of opportunities blazed over, wide and straight at Guzan.

We need to build confidence in the Arsenal game by limited what could be a cricket score to maybe just one goal. Then go get some points in the next half dozen games. There are a couple of "6-pointers" in there...lose those and it's definitely all over.

Having watched Arsenal v Sunderland this morning I'm not as worried about them as I am about Leicester. They miss Cazorla and Sanchez and if it hadn't been for Ozil and Cech they would have lost. Maybe, just maybe - a bit of luck might go our way.