S-Clarke

We scored 2 goals and created numerous other opportunities, including 2 that hit the bar. I didn't see a great deal wrong with our attacking intent or approach tonight, if there is one criticism it's the lack of that ''finishing'' touch, but we did have an attacking verve to our play today. And as mentioned above, if we remembered how we'd been defending throughout the year, we'd have won that 2-0 anyway and there wouldn't have been a thread like this! 8 goals conceded in 3 games, isn't going to yield much success, no matter how many you score at the other end.

It was a weird game, because in many ways it brought back memories of last year. Lots of chances at one end, yet gifting goals at the other. But it is a poor result, there's no 2 ways about that. Villa aren't and weren't any great shakes, but we weren't solid or organised at all today. Simple balls straight through the middle cut us open on a few occasions, Shaw is looking very jaded at the moment too, and I have to say that Yoshida looked like a complete calamity out there, well off the pace. Not entirely sure why he started, because he shouldn't have. Lambert is having a bit of a period at the moment. Another absolute mare from him. Wrong passes, bad touch, lost his free kick technique. You name it...he was really off the game tonight, and he has been for a while now. Cork for the 2nd half didn't really improve us, but you can't really complain about having a midfielder of his ability as a squad player. It's not a bad problem to have! Overall though, you have to say that on another day we'd have won that...but we've started to pick up injuries everywhere, and the squad is looking paper thin right now. If we're without Morgan, Wanyama, Boruc and Clyne for the next few games, I don't see much of a change to be honest. The injuries have all hit us at once and we simply don't have the quality in the squad, for a team like Southampton to have a ''magic'' top 6 season, we'd need an injury free campaign. Unfortunately we're not going to get that. But let's be honest, we were always going to have a spell like this. We were not going to carry on the season conceding no goals and winning most weeks, as above - we don't have the squad for that. The frustration for us is that we play all the top sides all at the same time, so a result like tonight's is made to look all the more worse - even though we were always going to have a result like that this year. Heck, we'll probably have another couple before the season is out! At the end of the day, we can all go into meltdown and change absolutely everything, or we can calm down, look at it objectively and actually come to the conclusion that we're in pretty damn good shape.

Cheers for that. Interesting about Fonte? What's he done wrong??? He's been a star this year, I'd have thought the last thing you'd do to an unsettled defense, is unsettle it even more (although he may have a knock of course)

What is there to discuss exactly? They're 19th, we're 7th. End of thread.

I do agree with the Davis inclusion if I'm honest. I think he's been consistently one of the best players since MP has been here. Keeps the ball well, uses it well, gives us energy through the middle and offers a pretty decent goal threat. Jack Cork uses the ball and passes it well, but doesn't offer the goal threat. That's what really lets him down to be honest.

Cropper is pretty bad to be honest.

Talk about jumping on the bandwagon. He had 1 good game. He's now slipped back to being a substitute, as teams have now worked out how to counter him. It took him a few weeks to get himself out of Clynes pocket as well. I found all the clamor after those 2 goals (against an horrific Sunderland team, too) a little embarrassing. ''Omg, Spain want him, no Germany do, no Croatia do, no Holland, England want him!!''. He might turn out to be a decent player, but the way he's sort of faded away in the last few weeks kinds of suggests they've gone a little bit over the top, just because he plays for Manchester United. I remember a similar reaction to that of Fredrico Mechada when he made his debut and got the winner, he was the next big thing apparently. 2 years later, he's at Doncaster.

I do believe people got to carried away with emotion and started believing that a) - we had a chance of the title, and b) we would at least finish top 4. That has led to a wealth of bizarre opinions and posts over the last few weeks. But in reality, all we had was a good start, we had a decent fixture list and were lucky with injuries - pretty much identical to how WBA started last year. It was obvious that once we started playing the big teams and losing players through injury, we'd start to drop places. We're not a team who can compete at the top yet. But we're an established and competitive premier league team now, which is all you can ask for at this stage. I don't think we're as good as Everton or Newcastle as yet in terms of squad depth, so I can't see us finishing in the top 6 or 7. I think we've got a good chance of a top 10 finish though, as long as we don't lose too many more players.... And a top 10 finish would represent decent progress, let's be honest. Nothing to really moan about there.

Ah, I can sense the ''MP out'' posts warming up as we speak. Give it another 3-4 weeks and we'll be in full flow.... For what it's worth, I'm seeing everything that's wrong with a modern day football fan at the moment.

Some of the comments on this thread simply beggar belief.

I would say we all calm down, take a breath and accept that Gazzaniga is our goal keeper for the next 5-6 matches. How about supporting our players? rather than constantly trying to find scapegoats.

It is a nightmare we've lost Boruc, but the bedwetting and general nastiness towards Gazzaniga is quite a shame really. I'm still trying to work out what he did wrong today. But I have a feeling I won't be able to.

We also have Cropper. We will not be allowed to loan a keeper.

I guess that means we're getting relegated, yes?

Well, the January window has just stepped up it's importance.

No, I think the ones that stick up for him are fans who want to support their team and their players. No more, no less.

Doubt he'll play to be honest, don't think MP fancies him a great deal.

Villa aren't as bad as they were last year, but they're still not much cop. Benteke up top will be their biggest threat, but we *should* be able to create against their defense. Would go with Lambert up top with Lallana, Jay...and get this for a bit of a shake up, Gaston in behind, as that Villa home game last year was his highlight saints moment. It won't happen though. I'd pop JWP in CM alongside Wanyama, assuming Morgan is out.

To be fair, of all the big signing strikers made this summer, the only one that I can think of who has made a good start is Negredo. Soldado, Van-Wolfswhatsit, Osvaldo, Bony - Have all massively struggled to make an impact in the PL. And they all cost a fair whack of cash..... It's all about time though, not advocating selling them after 9 bloody appearances. Mental cases.

Even though he was **** today, to even suggest he's got to go, when he's not even made double figures of appearances for us, sums up the modern-day football fan.

Just like clockwork. No idea why you do it to yourself, it's like a constant need to make yourself look stupid on the internet. Weird.

I'd say that was quite an incredible knee jerk, but hey ho.

Yeah, I'm struggling to work that out as well.

Yeah, our attacking play left a lot to be desired today. Toothless is a word I'd use! However, he didn't really make any clever runs or attempt to hold the ball up. You can complain about not getting the service, but he's got to put in a shift himself, which he didn't do today. Doubt he's even sweating.

First half, we got an early goal from an error. Suited us in terms of our tactics and shocked Chelsea, they actually stuttered for the rest of the 1st half and you felt that Essien was just not quite at the level. We still didn't make enough of it though, apart from the goal we should have put more attacking moves together. 2nd half is one to forget though, utter fodder. Although Chelsea did step it up, and putting Ba up top gave them an outlet. But we started making mistakes, the defensive was getting moved all over the place and we couldn't play a pass what so ever. Quite a depressing 2nd half really, certainty the worst for a long, long time. Especially with the news that Brouc looks like being out for a while, and I wouldn't expect Morgan to be available for midweek. Given that we're 1 card away from losing Wanyama, we're treading a very thin line in that midfield area. Osvaldo infuriated me today, he was complete and utter turd. Didn't hold the ball up, his runs were straight and he barley made their centre backs think. All he seemed to do was give away fouls, argue with players and swear at the referee. He better buck his idea's up to be honest. At least we have a game up again quite quickly, but we will be very much weakened. Quite a rubbish afternoon all told.