With Villa playing 5-3-0-2 we don't need so many midfielders as they are hoofing it from defence and aren't playing anything through there. More direct from Saints now
I wouldn't have taken JWP off, he's been excellent in possession and his corners have given us an extra threat; I would have taken off Davis if Osvaldo was coming on - I don't think Davis has offered that much.
When I saw Osvaldo was coming on I was thinking JWP or Davis. Purely tactical as neither were having a bad game, yet neither were stamping their authority. I think the older head won through there.
I think if you're going to take one man out of midfield it has to be JWP because he has no defensive ability. Davis is as good in defense as he is in attack.
Can't say that we looked better for the change. They haven't had a damned thing since Wanyama was pushed back, so I do like our chances to create chances. Just need to make the most of them. An early goal in the second half to open the floodgates would be nice; took until the 58th minute in the corresponding fixture last year, wouldn't mind if we pushed that up by 10 minutes or thereabouts.
Same old story so far. For the amount of possession we have in games, we don't score enough goals. Unfortunately defensive errors are leading to goals conceded once again whereas they werent at the start of the season. Other then move the ball a bit quicker there's not much more we can do. We are creating some half decent chances. Shaw is getting a lot of joy down the left so we should look to exploit that a bit more, double up on Bakuna who looks lost defensively. I'd like to see Clyne in the action in Villas half of the field a bit more, but he is probably back for his pace against Agbonlahor.
Yeah I get that, I think Pochettino has a soft spot for Davis and his calmness and experience - maybe he thought this was more needed in a come back. I was enjoying Ward-Prowse at CM though, he really looked the part, his distribution is so quick and his passing range is excellent.
I thought that the right person probably went off. Davis plays those balls in behind more than JWP. However, I think we've played very well - just frustrating that Yoshida and Lovren cocked up.
