Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[PaulTheVillan]

Carew is fucking shit and needs to be replaced as soon as we can.

Amazing that Heskey is looking twice the player Carew is.

We couldn't cope with Crouch today and VDV was just the one that shone through.

For them Jenas did nothing and Bale? What's all the hype?

[Dribbler]

Mixed feelings on that game. Really at times we played some lovely crisp football and moved it around nicely, so already Houllier's passing game and the influence of messrs Cowans and McAllister is starting to show some results. We lacked that cutting edge up front however and fluffed our lines several times when we could have had good scoring opportunities.

Most worrying is our defence, it just hasn't looked right all season, especially from crosses. The two spurs goals were almost identical in their set up and we should have been aware to this obvious tactic. But we haven't looked up to dealing with crosses in most of our games this season. Could it be because Cuéllar wasn't playing? I think Cuéllar can dominate in the box and adds that real extra presence there in the air, without him we just look too vulnerable. Possibly why MON had him in at right back instead of Young. Personally i think he should be playing ahead of Dunne, though to be fair he did play well in parts today.

Carew was cack today, made some bad decisions and again his touch was awful. Ash was ok but didn't really shine without Heskey, who was immense when he was on. I though the midfield played ok today, NRC was great again, Petrov was good but tired, Downing made some nice runs but still can't cross to save his life, Albrighton got a good goal but looked quite ineffective really.

[nuninho]

Carew is fucking shit and needs to be replaced as soon as we can.

Amazing that Heskey is looking twice the player Carew is.

We couldn't cope with Crouch today and VDV was just the one that shone through.

For them Jenas did nothing and Bale? What's all the hype?

Add Lennon to that as well.

Think 2nd goal killed us today.  Same as the timing as the first.  If we'd held on first half we would have got at least a point today.

[Monty]

In Gerard's own words "a draw would have been fair, and that's good because Tottenham are a slightly better team than us". That's the point - slightly, and Houllier's had very little time to impose his style on the team. I'm optimistic.

[avfc_1874]

Thought we played some good football today and were unlucky. Had it not been for the previous manager's inability to find a decent striker for 4 years we'd have probably won.

[Monty]

Thought we played some good football today and were unlucky. Had it not been for the previous manager's inability to find a decent striker for 4 years we'd have probably won.

Oddly, we suffered today because the striker whose signing our previous manager was most ridiculed for went off injured. I think it's more that we can no longer rely on Carew, whereas we could to some extent previously.

[VillaAlways]

In Gerard's own words "a draw would have been fair, and that's good because Tottenham are a slightly better team than us". That's the point - slightly, and Houllier's had very little time to impose his style on the team. I'm optimistic.

And if Heskey hadn't gone off crocked I'm sure we'd have won it.Plenty to be positive about and everyones raving what a great match it was.Highly entertaining Game of the day and even though we lost I am looking forward to the highlights

[PaulTheVillan]

Dead chuffed with how Heskey and NRC have been doing. GH has to take credit. Slightly dissapointed with Ireland, just hope he gets fit and takes his chances.

[Toronto Villa]

why are so many people throwing in the towel? We got beaten by a good side. Good sides beat good sides all the time. Our challenge is how we react from defeat. If anyone thinks Houllier was going to magically make us into the finished article is dellusional. It's going to take time and a couple of transfer windows at least. Keep yourselves together. It's a long season where a lot will change.

Why drop  Cuellar for Dunne though.  That was a stroke of absolute madness.

was he dropped or rotated? We've been crying out for variety and clearly it has it's risks. There's no perfect answer here, so we all better start to accept that players will be rested or benched irrespective of the opposition. I hope that we get to a point in the not too distant future that Ash doesn't have to start every game. When that happens we'll be a much better squad, we'll still win games, but we might lose some games. Overall, Spurs are a better than us "right now", and you have to applaud them for pulling off  a brilliant transfer for one of the worlds best midfield players at a stupidly low price. We don't have anyone of his quality and he made the difference today.

[hawkeye]

still giving the ball away in attacking positions, being let down by Dunne Carew and downing

[barrysleftfoot]

  Thought Downing played well today Hawkeye.

  We are not far off a really good team, a bit of tinkering, and a couple of good buys, then i don't see any reason why we can't do as well, or better , than the last 3 yrs.

[Irish villain]

Dunne should be dropped and Carew's days at the club should be numbered.

If we find a good striker in January and manage to bring Ireland into the team without disrupting the solidity of the midfield, our season in transition might not impact too much on our leage position.

[hawkeye]

  Thought Downing played well today Hawkeye.

  We are not far off a really good team, a bit of tinkering, and a couple of good buys, then i don't see any reason why we can't do as well, or better , than the last 3 yrs.

dodgy stream so not the best view, saw enough of us giving the ball away Downing Young Carew the main i culprits

[Legion]

Quite surprised to see Cuellar dropped/rested and replaced by Dunne. We seemed to start well and Heskey was doing the business. The last-second goal in the first half was gutting. After that we were not at the races.

[hawkeye]

can we get away with playing 2 wingers and ash in an advanced position, particularly away from home?