Lets not try and disguise things and be polite. Southampton are absolutely awful and you can see exactly why they’re going down. A big part of me half expected the Saints to have a bit of a bounce after being relegated, sacking the manager and having no pressure. Which, when you add them all up, makes for a perfect “Villa mess it up again” scenario.
Fortunately and it’s proving difficult for me to get my head around, we’re better than that nowadays. The “it’s just the Villa way” doesn’t quite seem to apply anymore.
We’re up to fifth, which will almost certainly provide a Champions League place, although there’s a couple of teams who have games in hand. How much could we do with Man U beating Newcastle tomorrow?
As for the game itself, I struggled to get into it and found it easier to do some more research about a Solar panel install for the bungalow in Spain. I did keep a good eye on it though and found it pretty tedious for the most part, to be honest. We had tons of possession, but did very little with it. Morgan Rogers apart, practically every player was noticeable by their absence in my opinion. If I had to highlight another player, I’d say it was Tielemens, who rarely fails to impress me.
But after a poor penalty miss from Asensio, Villa got the breakthrough goal after a great ball from Youri, leading to a great first time effort from Watkins. Southampton threw in the towel even more (if that’s possible) and our total domination finally shone through.
Malen got the second with another well worked goal, with a pass from Rogers (I think) and we finally went on to get a third after Asensio fluffed his lines again on a second penalty, but McGinn managed to get to the rebound first. Asensio won’t be talking pens for a while, I hope as they were both frankly poor, I thought and I was wondering why Watkins wasn’t taking them. Or is that just an admission that Ollie doesn’t do straightforward shots and trickier chances are better for him?
So while it was a bit of a letdown for the most part, the result was great in the end and it keeps us on course for a possible CL qualification. That +3 will massively help with our goal difference too, which might prove very important at the end of the season.
We have a massive game against Newcastle at home up next in the Prem and that could prove somewhat decisive, followed by Man City away, just 3 days later. Let’s hope it doesn’t prove to be a disappointing week and a half.
From what I’ve just seen, the sports channels think we’re at a very important stage. Our next 4 games will be televised on either Sky or TNT.
The happy days continue.
UTV!
Comments
97 responses to “Southampton 0 – 3 Villa; Tedious, but a good win eventually.”
Looking ahead, we usually bag a top quality freebie in the summer – there’s not much available this year. DeBruyne at 33 worth a sniff? Other than that, Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell at 25 worth a look as long-term replacement for Digne, with Maatsen moving in to first choice??
I’m bored, as you’ve probably guessed.
No way. KDB is injury prone and past it.
You know lads, I’ve a funny feeling about tonight…
Martin Laursen on TalkShite very shortly…
Messi, Neymar and Ronaldo are all out of contract??
😂🤣
What TRSS. Sign them all if they cannot play football there names will frighten the opposition 😇 . Been looking around for the match on tv , seems we are on Amazon Prime tonight would have thought TNT would have had it .
Thanks for the heads up Bill.
Fear for us tonight but stranger things have happened UTMV
The game is on Prime but also Premier Sports Ireland. That is listed as being on Sky UK. Hope I am right.
PSG went to Liverpool 1-0 down so their tactics will be slightly more reserved I guess. They might want to go at us early on to get the first goal to kill the tie or sit a bit deeper than they did in Paris to prevent us getting an early goal.
Hopefully Unai has the tactics spot on but he’s up against one of the best coaches in the world.
Let’s hope Rogers is right and the Villa Park crowd will prove the 12th man.
For those that know….. downloader 119368 go left and check the schedule
Top man Gerry 👍😁
Predictable but for those not selected to start the thought that they will come on to win the game. Bailey and Barclay on the bench. Early goal for Villa and watch that very young PSG team shit themselves.
E. Martínez
L. Digne
Pau Torres
E. Konsa
M. Cash
A. Onana
B. Kamara
J. McGinn (c), Captain
Y. Tielemans
M. Rogers
M. Rashford
Substitutes
Marco Asensio
L. Bailey
R. Barkley
L. Bogarde
A. Disasi
I. Maatsen
T. Mings
R. Olsen
S. Proctor
J. Ramsey
O. Watkins
No Watkins, Asensio or Ramsey in the starting XI. It seems a more cautious approach to the team that started the away game. It suggests Emery wants to be more solid and to win the midfield battle with Onana starting. Is it a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1?
Bloody marvellous Wi-Fi down
We’ll that’s the end of that.
Going to be a long night
Game over and you could see it coming.
0=1
Rashford loses the ball upfront due to not putting in the effort.
All over
Game over! Cash obviously learned nothing from 1st leg.
He’s useless and a weak link, as I’ve said for ages.
I haven’t thought much of Rashford for a few games, but hey ho.
Badger agree with you. I’d let him go at the end of the season. If PSR is continuing to be an issue he’s not a £4£ player to invest in.
Agree about Rashford. His game is based purely on speed but his first touch is shocking. We need better for next season. Over to Monchi.
Yep. Loses the ball more than he holds it. Inferior to Ollie in that sense.
Although Rashford and Martinez are getting criticised for their goal. Cash allows their player a free run after switching off. Also does Torres communicate with Martinez like Mings would. And it’s 2-0 and it could be embarrassing.
2. The end of our trip. Been brilliant. This is a shame though.
Rashford off and bring Watkins on.
Saw that coming too.
I’m sorry, but this was a poor set up from the off, imo.
Apart from McGinn, we’ve shown a total lack of pace and energy.
Definitely a step too far, because PSG look way better than us.
We go again next season, with hopefully an improved side.
And we’ve sure learnt a lot!
The difference is that they have been ruthless in front of goal. Sadly we have been poor.
Not impressed with Rashford – I agree he’s not worth £40m plus his wages.
I’m sorry to say that I’ve turned the TV off – I don’t see any enjoyment in watching my team being completely outplayed and ‘murdered’ At home.
Going to end up being a very embarrassing evening.
What I’m really concerned about is the physiological effect on the players with Newcastle and the semi-final of the FA Cup on the horizon – our whole season could collapse in a period of days!
Get in! 2-1!
I hope that shuts some of you up. We are playing far better than the first half of the first leg. Their finishing is amazing and that’s the difference.
Gerry, it’s more than their finishing, imo.
The pace of their game is way faster than ours. They’re more agressive in midfield and are in your face all the time. We just can’t match that and it’s a big weakness, one that might see things unravel against Newcastle too.
I hope you’re right, but my money is on them increasing their lead.
Two words…
Fucking gutted.