Re: Aston Villa v Southampton pre match, match & post match thread. (Reaction Pg 11)

[Donnie Wyer]

I went for an away win as I can't see us getting anything.
I norm bet every week that we'll win as I love my team but after watching us of late, not even I can get excited.

[Trotters]

Paul Lambert has been spotted leaving Bodymoor Heath arm in arm with Lee Mason who was clutching a very large brown paper bag in his other hand. Lambert, who was wearing a short black dress, stockings and high heels said to waiting reporters that "he was confident of getting a result". He also said that we would beat Southampton on saturday as well!

   

[Guest]

 

[lukevilla]

My team

Guzan

Lowton, Clark, Vlaar, Bertrand

Westwood, Delph, El Ahmadi

Albrighton, Robinson, Agbonlahor

[Trotters]

This quote from Sid Cowans last year on the U21 match where they beat Newcastle 6-2 was interesting:

"There was some real quality out there. We played some very good stuff and dominated the game.

"There was a sloppy little five-minute spell where we seemed to take our foot off the gas but we picked it back up and we finished really well and took our chances."

It's the complete inverse of our first team, isn't it?

I've gone from dreading this match to really looking forward to it.

[The Utterer]

Sadly i can only see a loss here. The amount of disruption in training and severe lack of fire power with Benteke out and Weimann & Gabby out of scoring form coupled with Holt being ...well Holt, means it's very difficult to see us out scoring a free flowing and very dangerous Southampton team who will be able to express themselves at will as they are under no pressure whatsoever in this game, though they will also be out to avenge our win at theirs earlier in the season.

Our only hope?

If we somehow put in another Chelsea performance and shut them out maybe we might get lucky and nick a winner.

[Tomy-Flemba]

My team

Guzan

Lowton, Clark, Vlaar, Bertrand

Westwood, Delph,  El Ahmadi

Albrighton, Robinson, Agbonlahor

Guzan looks a little out of position there if you don't mind me saying   Otherwise a good team. Maybe swap Westwood's a Delph's position and job's a goodun'! Would like to see Robinson given a chance but we all know it'll be Holt up front on Saturday!   

[Guest]

My team

Guzan

Lowton, Clark, Vlaar, Bertrand

Westwood, Delph,  El Ahmadi

Albrighton, Robinson, Agbonlahor

Guzan looks a little out of position there if you don't mind me saying   Otherwise a good team. Maybe swap Westwood's a Delph's position and job's a goodun'! Would like to see Robinson given a chance but we all know it'll be Holt up front on Saturday!   

That looks ok to me too, though I might start with Holt and bring on a fresh player around 70-75 mins.

[Trotters]

I'm not so sure. With Sid being in charge of the U21's and part of the bust up being about the lack of opportunity given to the youngsters, I have a feeling we might just see Robinson have a little bit of a run out.

[Guest]

I'm not so sure. With Sid being in charge of the U21's and part of the bust up being about the lack of opportunity given to the youngsters, I have a feeling we might just see Robinson have a little bit of a run out.

Worth a shot, always bring Holt on later I am sure he will lay some part.

[Guest]

There was a big piece on Robinson on the Official Site this week so that might be pointing to something...

[Kill@r33]

Id go

------------Guzan-------------
Lowton--Vlaar--Baker--Bertrand
-----El Ahmadi--Westwood-----
---Bacuna---Delph----Gabby---
-----------Weimann-----------


I know Weimann hasnt been on form but still prefer him to Holt, plus he needs a chance playing as striker, reckon he's more effective there than Gabby. Between Albrighton and Bacuna is a close call but Id go Bacuna since I rate him more.

But the most important factor is not how we line up, it will come down to who wants it more and if the news of the bullying and dislike of the staff is true, they should be really fired up.

[Guest]

I agree killer - I don't really see what holt brings to the table to be honest - he was in wigans reserves , is slow, and overweight and past his best.

[Deano69]

This WILL be a draw.

Go and put as much spare cash as you can on it!

Don't say I didn't warn you.   

[TJVillan]

We seriously need a result here. We've lost 4 in a row but takeover talk and what seems to be a lot of change behind the scenes has given the fans a bit of optimism. We need to capitalise on that. Because if we lose, that feeling will disappear. We will be left with yet another home defeat, our 5th straight loss, looking over our shoulder and wondering where we are going to get the points to survive. The players heads will drop again and we will have 2 HUGE games against Swansea/Hull.

They are without Rodriguez and Ramirez, which means they will have less pace and runners in behind Lambert than usual. They are also pretty much done for the season, Pocchetino future uncertain, lost 3 of their last 4. But they are still a very good side. Lambert Lallana Schneiderlin and co are well capable of beating us. They are bound to dominate possession and put us under a lot of pressure. But that isn't the worst thing as it gives us a chance to get our counter working.

I'm predicting 2-2. And I would take a point - it would end the losing streak, something to build on going into the Hull and Swansea games, and probably puts us just out of reach of Norwich and Cardiff.

[Trotters]

Do they have anyone in their squad that hasn't score for at least a year? Cuz that's a nailed-on goal right there.

[Guest]

Ooooh you are cynical!

You're right though.   

[Mazrim]

I'm going for 2-1 Villa.

Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Bertrand, El Ahmadi, Westwood, Delph, Albrighton, Agbonlahor, Helenius.

That's how I'd go.

[Thinman]

Anybody else feeling a real sense of foreboding about today's match?

It's as if the entire future of our beloved club is on a knife edge. Win and we can look forward to the takeover with unbridled optimism. Lose and ............... Can't bear to even think what'll happen then.

[Mazrim]

We'll get the points we need in the remaining games. It's still shit and not worthy of our club but I think we get one more shot at sorting this club out before disaster strikes.

So even if we don't get the points today, we'll still get them somewhere. Even though it's hard to see it right now.

[Guest]

We'll get the points we need in the remaining games. It's still shit and not worthy of our club but I think we get one more shot at sorting this club out before disaster strikes.

So even if we don't get the points today, we'll still get them somewhere. Even though it's hard to see it right now.

I agree , we are extremely unlikely to go down - maybe a point will be enough - all eyes on Fulham v spurs and Cardiff v stoke

[Trotters]

Had dinner with my Norwich mate and his missus tonight. He's utterly convinced they are gone and can only hope for an absolute hail mary against the top sides they have to face.

He likes what the new manager is doing and loves that they play attacking, adventurous football that's total opposite of what Hughton was playing....put they can't seem to stick it in the net.

He's hoping West Brom fuck up and Norwich get a spawny draw or two from somewhere.

He doesn't think Villa are in trouble at all. That was nice to hear but doesn't make me feel better at the moment.

Maz's 4-3-3 looks good but I'd still go with 4-2-3-1 which would give us a bit more flexibility to change with circumstances.

[RichRunner]

I think we'll win because we simply have to now. A very nervy 1-0 win with insane pressure on us throughout.

[Penfold]

Albrighton starts, is this his first start?

If it is, it's interesting that it comes in the firm game since the changes this week.

[Guest]

@MatKendrick: Villa: Guzan, Bacuna, Vlaar, Baker, Bertrand, Albrighton, Delph, Westwood, El Ahmadi, Agbonlahor, Weimann/ #avfc

@MatKendrick: Villa subs: Steer, Sylla, Tonev, Lowton, Clark, Holt, Robinson. #avfc

@JackWoodwardAV: 3 changes. Bacuna, Albrighton, Weimann in for Clark, Lowton, Holt #avfc #avtv

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