@JanKluit: Fantastic to see you turning up in such numbers on a Monday night. We are pleased to get at least one point for you all. @SouthamptonFC
We did. Had no one that could keep the tempo up and keep us ticking over. I was calling for jack cork fairly early on, as I thought this would help.
It is the unsung guys like Steven Davis that are missed the most. Hope he is fit for the weekend then who to leave out against City as the midfield will be where the game will be won and lost and given the calibre of City in that department, Saints need to shut off the supply lines to City's potent forward line. This is where I think Davis and/or Cork will be needed.
Probably right. Without JWP there's only Reed who can arguably make a like for like swap. What's holding reed up?
Had we scored Clyne's goal first and then conceded the first goal as an equaliser, then I would have been despondent. As it is, we played well below par tonight and still came away with a point. We still dominated possession away from home and restricted our opponents to a handful of chances. Not a great day at the office, but the point still stands. We march on
Yes, and so was I. I thought we could have brought him on early in the second half. Mind you, Koeman does make the tactical changes. He doesn't sit there rooted to Plan A.
Not having a go here but Dyslexia isnt a learning or memory issue. You could correct a dyslexic until the end of time but the way they see things written down will still be the same. Much more complicated than pointing out errors.
Davis was greatly missed, mainly because it led to Koeman playing with a double pivot. He's vital in our transitional play, and we missed him pivoting off our deepest midfielder; we had no one linking play, which meant we were unable to catch Villa before they'd set up their deep defensive line. I'd be interested to know if anyone could explain Koeman's decision to play with a double pivot against a side that play as Villa do?
Mmm? Sub comes on and scored two goals to win the game for you and in the next game you tell him he doesn't start against one of worst defences? Not sure about that. Agree with the Cork thing but think you named the wrong forward player. Oh we have been spoiled as Saints fans (generally, not you Lff). This is football. This happens. Last season we'd have probably lost that. I'll take the point. Next?
Just got back from the game and here are my thoughts: 1) villa Park has the worst atmosphere I have ever come across.so quiet when we stopped singing. It was spooky 2) the referee was dreadful. Stopped play if anyone feel over (not always if a Saint feel over) 3) Tadic looked knackered 4) Peller had his worst game. Didn't make his usual impression 5) the 4-2-4 formation didn't work 6) RK didn't change the formation until very late in the game when he finally brought on Cork 7) without Davis we need Cork to make the transition from defence to attack 8) our crossing was dreadful, no accuracy and soft loopy crosses that are easy to deal with 9) corners and deadball situations are not working. We had loads of opportunities and wasted them all 10) Forster looked dodgy and made a complete balls up of a cross late in the second half..I won't go into the mistake for the goal 11) villa are a dreadful team to go with the dreadful support 12) looking forward to Sunday's game to exorcise this experience
Bit of a wake up for Sunday. On the plus side City learned nothing from this game & the way they will come at us will suit us more. Hope our Steve is back, a bloody big miss tonight.
Very true and, although I'm not suggesting that City base their research on one game, they'll have seen us play with two in midfield and will feel their 4-4-2 can beat us man for man. If Davis returns, we can return to our 3 and outnumber their midfield.
