Villa v Saints match thread

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From the Guardian

Hardly an acid test for high-flying Southampton

Even Albert Hofmann would have struggled to envisage a home win here. Southampton are solid and slick and have the best defence in the league, while Aston Villa have not scored in six of their last seven league matches and for this match they will be deprived of their best striker, Christian Benteke, as well as their best midfielder, Fabian Delph still being out, and possibly their best defenders, with Ron Vlaar, Philippe Senderos and Alan Hutton all doubts. So if you are partial to some boos on a work night, head to Villa Park around closing time on Monday. P
Hope the squad don't read that for IF they believe it that could be a pathway to the ripe banana skin we are all hoping to avoid?
 
I think most of us know deep down that this is a watershed - it's when we get narrowly beaten, perhaps unjustly, and from now on we don't get any more points for a while. Still, well done for what we've achieved so far.
 
I'm irrationally concerned about this one (possibly because I'll miss it owing to work, and watching the BBC live text is somehow more nerve-wracking than watching on TV), but it certainly isn't a given, and neither is it the end of the world if it happens.
 
I think most of us know deep down that this is a watershed - it's when we get narrowly beaten, perhaps unjustly, and from now on we don't get any more points for a while. Still, well done for what we've achieved so far.

Of course we could lose this, we could lose any game. Things happen. However, this will not be the beginning of the end. Our team is too good for that.
 
I think most of us know deep down that this is a watershed - it's when we get narrowly beaten, perhaps unjustly, and from now on we don't get any more points for a while. Still, well done for what we've achieved so far.

One day the world is going to end. We are all going to die - AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!!
 
Apparently a lot of home tickets left...not surprising for a team doing badly with the match on Sky.

How have away tickets been going? I was going to go, but was put off by the £41 and would have needed a baby sitter on top for my daughter as the wife is out. I decided to get Sheff Utd tickets instead. £15 + £5 for my son.
 
Not about Saints directly (because there are other topics in football, apparently :))...it was mentioned on Sunday Supplement that one of Chelsea's strengths is playing virtually the same side every week with 7/8 players playing in every game. This is what Koeman is doing, admittedly more because of need than Chelsea, and it has worked. We have greater depth this season, so hopefully losing players won't be so catastrophic as last season (providing it is in certain areas).
 
How have away tickets been going? I was going to go, but was put off by the £41 and would have needed a baby sitter on top for my daughter as the wife is out. I decided to get Sheff Utd tickets instead. £15 + £5 for my son.

The baby sitter's on top because the wife is out?

We've all seen how *that* story ends Fats!
 
Not about Saints directly (because there are other topics in football, apparently :))...it was mentioned on Sunday Supplement that one of Chelsea's strengths is playing virtually the same side every week with 7/8 players playing in every game. This is what Koeman is doing, admittedly more because of need than Chelsea, and it has worked. We have greater depth this season, so hopefully losing players won't be so catastrophic as last season (providing it is in certain areas).

This is what has happened more and more over recent seasons. The whole league has become more competitive so the bigger teams can't afford to field their second XI in the games against the lower positions anymore. Gone are the days of Arsene, Fergie and Mourinho fielding a reserve side when they play the Fulhams or QPRs.

Rotation these days is giving one or 2 players a rest here and there as needed. Brendan's book of philosophy taking another knock on his 'rehabilitation' page.