VillaChris Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 Big match now. Last time we had this sort of defeat to West Ham two months back we bounced back with 3 wins and 2 draws from our next 5 so hopefully we do the same again. Southampton remain below us in the congestion of mid table so at the risk of being told I have overinflated expectations this is a decent team we should be targeting finish above. The little problem is we're pap v them. Made us look like a proper championship team in the two matches last season and while they hit a couple of wonder goals they were still 4-0 up v us at VP in what was probably our worst first half performance of the season. Think with Man. City, Southampton are only other team to beat us three times since we came back up We always massively struggle to counter their pressing. IIRC Barkley was really sloppy v it and constantly gave the ball away at VP so his selection might be under threat as could Traore and a more workmanlike midfield is selected with Sanson and more likely Trez coming in. We need a point from this to stay in top half. After a dodgy 20 minutes Arsenal ran out pretty comfortable winners v them so there are plenty of ways to counter and score goals. I think we might be entering a part of the season where we'll start leaking a few goals. Need to be sharper on set pieces as they executed a very good one v Arsenal in first 5 minutes and it was too easy for Vestegaard to score in the VP game although he's been injured last few weeks. Anyway 2-2 and I'd be happy with that. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One For The Road Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 I wrongly predicted us to win at Burnley. I won't be making that mistake this time. They are a better side tham Burnley and almost always beat us. 3-1 to them to complete a dreadful month. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mic09 Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 Don't concede free kicks in our half and we win this 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Willard Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 We always do badly against Burnley hence why 3 points against Burnley was so important. I think it's another loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaFaninLondon Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 (edited) We need to perform against this lot for a change and get at least a draw, as people have said we have a poor record against them in recent times but this is where Smith earns his money, looks at how they play, and selects a team that can counter that. Traore defensively is a concern and despite his goals recently I'm not sure if he should be on the bench. Barkley also looks to still be recovering his match fitness, maybe needs to be on the bench, but if he starts if he looks jaded take him off earlier. One thing I notice about Smith is he makes subs far too late, usually after 80 mins. He has to stop doing that. He makes subs earlier in yesterday's game we get the result in my opinion, players like Barkley were knackered and this let Burnley back in the game. I'd actually rather 17 year old Barry on the bench over Davis, he couldn't score in a brothel. Next three games are important for how this season is going to go. Generally it's been a fine season and I'll still be very happy with a top half finish, but we've still managed to lose games we never in a million years should have lost - Burnley and West Ham the most obvious, but also to a lesser extent Brighton and Southampton. You do wonder how feasible it is to finish top half if we f*** up against Southampton, Spam and Arsenal - three teams in and around us. Edited January 28, 2021 by VillaFaninLondon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodders Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 defeat. drop down to 11th or 12th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villalad21 Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 Our big bogey team. They are everything we struggle against. High press. High intensity. Don't give you a second on the ball. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaVilla Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 not gonna lie, dont see us winning this one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raver50032 Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 Will probably need some lube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onmeedson Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 This is probably a good starting point to see how far we have come, just hope we have learnt from the last meeting. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osmark86 Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 Hate playing Soton, they are a tricky team that always seems to get the best of us. As some of you have pointed out I hope we have learned our lessons from previous encounters and set up to deal with their intensity. We need to up the energy for this encounter and maybe set up to counter them. If we match their intensity then I believe it could end either way. I'm a little less confident about this one and I reckon a draw is on the cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fun Factory Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 Bit of a tricky one. I would be happy with a point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb_82 Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 Just having a feeling we will bounce back from Wednesday and get something here, I would stick with majority of the same team but maybe consider Trez over Traore and hopefully we have option of Sanson on the bench and will be interesting to wee if Walker-Peters and Romeu make it for them as that makes a difference - I would say form wise/position we are both probably in a similar position at the moment and both sets of fans will see this as a must win if you have ambitions of cracking the top 8. 3-2 Villa - Watkins/Grealish/Mings (Towering header!) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smg Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 Surely it will take Sanson time to get used to the system on the training ground before throwing him into the team, otherwise he could have some below par games and start having his abilities questioned by supporters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WakefieldVillan Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 I know it won't happen and we will probably start the same team as last night but I'd mix the midfield up and get some fresh legs in. Nakamba didn't put a foot wrong against Newcastle and although these are a much better side I think he can more than hold his own and get through the dirty work. Barkley has had a long time out and then a few games in a short space of time, so I'd have him on bench and bring him on in the last 30, hopefully fired up. Trez on to give us a bit more protection to Cash, get him at full tilt for 60 then, as with Barkley, look to bringing on AEG or Bertrand. I think the starting eleven is a bit more conservative but I don't see that as a bad thing for this one. Let's be solid, hardworking, be at least 0-0 after 60 and not be 4-0 down, then push on for the win with fresh subs. Martinez Cash Konsa Mings Targett Nakamba McGinn Ramsey Trez Watkins Grealish Heaton, Hause, Engels, Samson, Luiz, Barkley, Davis, Traore, El Ghazi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntrimBlack Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 Before the game I was not confident of getting anything at Burnley. I am even less confident of getting anything against Southampton. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbcuk Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 I’m sure they have Walker-Peters and Bertrand out injured as both missed the game against arsenal, both are a huge loss if they are I think if we play like we did the 1st half last night we will win Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRO Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 8 hours ago, villalad21 said: Our big bogey team. They are everything we struggle against. High press. High intensity. Don't give you a second on the ball. yeah, its not our bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRO Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 8 minutes ago, rbcuk said: I’m sure they have Walker-Peters and Bertrand out injured as both missed the game against arsenal, both are a huge loss if they are I think if we play like we did the 1st half last night we will win what about the second half? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRO Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 1 hour ago, AntrimBlack said: Before the game I was not confident of getting anything at Burnley. I am even less confident of getting anything against Southampton. with what i saw after we went 1-2 up i don't know how that just goes away. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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