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Match Day Thread Southampton v Aston Villa, Fri 5th Nov, 8pm

Discussion in 'Southampton' started by Onionman, Oct 31, 2021.

  1. Libby

    Libby 9-0

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    That might be getting a tad carried away lol.
     
    #341
  2. Saintmagic

    Saintmagic Well-Known Member

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    Wouldnt go that far

    As my mate who loves Saints said to me yesterday “As soon as you’re safe from relegation you will lose every game, pointless club”

    It’s an improvement as he said we were definitely going down a few weeks ago.
     
    #342
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  3. Libby

    Libby 9-0

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    Lower midtable for me. We really lack firepower and we're bound to have runs of games when we're hardly scoring at all. Throw in inevitable injuries and I think we'll end up roughly where we are.

    Need to make sure we capitalise on this mini run by beating Norwich before a free hit in a trip to Anfield. Really hope Norwich win today.

    After that it's 7 matches during December which will be a big test. We've done pretty well there though in that 4 of those are at home and all the aways are in London.
     
    #343
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  4. tomw24

    tomw24 Well-Known Member
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    I don't think so. I don't think we will finish top 6 but I do think it's more likely than getting relegated.
     
    #344
  5. San Tejón

    San Tejón Well-Known Member

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    My only concern with yesterday’s game is that at 12.48 on Saturday, I still keep thinking it is Sunday today.
     
    #345
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  6. mowgli

    mowgli Well-Known Member

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    Actually we were the better team first half offensively and we were the better team in the second half defensively.
     
    #346
  7. shoot_spiderman

    shoot_spiderman Power to the People

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    What did Smith change?
    Villa were so anonymous 1st half I couldn't identify what had changed in the 2nd except they had more energy and we just kept making silly mistakes

    On my pet soapbox subject of set pieces, I was pleased to see Bedders beyond the far post for our dead balls into the area, but we relly need to leve Adam A up the field when we are defending them. Every time we cleared them they just came straight back before we got out
     
    #347
  8. shoot_spiderman

    shoot_spiderman Power to the People

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    1st half so much more enjoyable
    Nothing worked offensively 2nd, but at least subs helped defend the lead
    After we changed to wing backs we never got them into any decent positions, Mo kept ignoring KWP

    From the Chapel you miss the detail at the far end when we're defending and it felt like they were going to score from every attack
    They actually didn't make any reallly good chances and we defended really well, but it was stressful
     
    #348
  9. st_brendy

    st_brendy Well-Known Member
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    Swapped Bailey and Buendia. By taking Bailey off the right flank, there was less opportunity for KWP and Ely to overrun Cash.

    (It didn't lead to any improvement from Bailey in an attacking sense. Just removed him as a total defensive liability.)
     
    #349
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  10. San Tejón

    San Tejón Well-Known Member

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    Libby called it last night.
    Second half they were quicker to close down Romeu (and I would add JWP) which disrupted our movement of the ball, with them being denied the space they had in the first half to dictate the game.
    The closing down led to blocked passes with Villa winning more second balls and stopped KWP and Tino from being as attacking as in the first half.
     
    #350

  11. shoot_spiderman

    shoot_spiderman Power to the People

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    That's all I saw, interesting to hear St Brendy say the Buendia / Bailey swap changed things too
    I was too busy trying to work out why we couldn't get round their press in the middle
    Our decision making and our execution suffered under pressure

    Worth noting though that every team in the EPL can be shut down at times with the right press applied well
     
    #351
  12. Che’s Godlike Thighs

    Che’s Godlike Thighs Well-Known Member

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    So said everyone 12 months ago. But I bet no one wants a repeat of last season. Things can go from good to bad very quickly at this level.

    Better to just talk about the current performances rather than getting out the crystal ball after every game.
     
    #352
  13. West Kent Saint

    West Kent Saint Well-Known Member

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    Wow, his love runs deep! If we get a run and are flying (relatively speaking) I don't see a Ralph side then throwing the towel in. I don't think the players or club necessarily see themselves as relegation candidates anyhow.
     
    #353
  14. Dark Lord SFC

    Dark Lord SFC Well-Known Member

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    Totally agree about leaving AA upfront for corners, I would add another small speedster with him which forces the attacking team to leave three back. That takes the congestion out of the box to allow the keeper the opportunity to come out and catch the corner let alone the fast counter attack
     
    #354
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  15. Archers Road

    Archers Road Urban Spaceman

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    I want Brentford to stay up, so really hope they beat Norwich. In fact, bollocks to Norwich, don't care if they don't win another game all season tbh. They'll win the Championship next season anyway, before going straight back down again. They seem happy with that.
     
    #355
  16. Archers Road

    Archers Road Urban Spaceman

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    Yeah, things can change, true. But we are a well coached side, playing well, still struggling to score. Last season we were a well coached side trying to play well, but a bit lopsided and guaranteed at least one costly defensive blunder per game.

    Now we are better balanced, and have cut our blunder ratio significantly. I'd put my mortgage on two things happening in the PL at the end of this season; Chelsea will win it, and we'll still be in it
     
    #356
  17. It's Only A Game

    It's Only A Game Well-Known Member

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    That tackle in the first half reminded me of the good old days.
     
    #357
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  18. oldstocktonsaint

    oldstocktonsaint Well-Known Member

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    Loved the early goal. Even more so because it came from a blunder by Matty Cash, who robbed us with his goal keeper dive. Yet again dodgy refereeing stopped AV players getting sent off.
     
    #358
  19. Saintmagic

    Saintmagic Well-Known Member

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    Yeah he doesn’t like us much, might be because he knows me.

    In fact it definitely is because he knows me as he also likes to tell me that he has never met another Saints fan in his life
     
    #359
  20. West Kent Saint

    West Kent Saint Well-Known Member

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    He lives a sheltered unfulfilled life!
     
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