Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Rudy Can't Fail]

It was good to see the whole team play so aggressive, particularly in the first half.

Apart from the improvement in passing and movement off the ball, that really was the other main difference. We really got at them from the start and Spurs didn't know what day it was. We've been far too soft for far too long, so it's great to see Sid and Gary Mac have been addressing the problem.

[PaulTheVillan]

Did Petrov shake Houllier's hand after being subbed?

[olaftab]

It is a positive sign that Rene is aware Petrov is  "not 90 mins player"

[TonyD]

Just watched MOTD.   The major factors was the dutchman and a poor performance from Dunne.   It seems we now have striker problem -  so why doesnt he bring the Fonz into the action...Also what news on Weimann?

[Simba]

It is a positive sign that Rene is aware Petrov is  "not 90 mins player"

I will say this only once...... "Rene"  . I like that. V. Good.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Heskey only had a dead leg so no problem for next game. Thought our football awareness has been more noticeable that would be enhanced if Ireland is on the pitch. I know ash is doing well up front but really need Ireland`s presence. Think he is going to be massive for Villa ............

[Ads]

For the Chelsea game I’d feinitely give young Marc a rest, given how good their full backs are and their physicality.

Chris Smith is right. We create a good number of chances, but we’re just not as clinical as we’d like and we haven’t been for some time. The football is getting better game by game, there is a genuine balance about the side with Heskey up top and in the form he currently is. I think we’ll be in and around 8th to 5th spot come January, where hopefully Houllier will be able to bring in a goal scorer and a good central player. Couple that business with the return of Delph and we’ll be in with a decent shout of competing right up until May.

There is not a lot between Spurs and us, inspite of the summer we’ve had.

[sfx412]

There is not a lot between Spurs and us, inspite of the summer we’ve had.

I'd beg to differ when they had a midfield player at cb, and a bench that made ours look amateurish, and we couldn't as normal make our superiority count in goals.
Not that that's GH's fault of course, a good performance another poor result, and with Chelsea and Blackpool coming soon something needs sorting quickly, if at all possible, a fit Gabby for instance

[BC54 VFC]

Question for those that were there: was there any particular reason that VDV went to celebrate his second goal with the Villa fans as opposed to the adoring Spuds public? Just watching MOTD highlights and looked like he made a beeline for the away section.

I was in the second row of the lower tier and we had been giving him some stick when he took a couple of corners immediately in front of us. I haven't seen the highlights but hopefully you can see me giving him the v's in the background.

[KevinGage]

This positivity in the face of a defeat to an injury ravaged Spurs side is great, but yesterday again showed a naivety to our play that good sides (and not so good sides) have exploited so far this season.

It's difficult to be too critical for playing a more open and expansive game after criticising some of the dross last year, but if we are opting to play this way our defence needs to be on the money.

Tottenham had Huddlestone at CB yesterday, and VDV admitted they didn't get started for the first half hour after the exertions of mid week. If we gave a team a half hours head start we'd expect the game to be out of sight - and that's how it should have been yesterday. And versus Stoke, Wolves and to a lesser extent Bolton.

[Rigadon]

Bang on KevinGage.  Some good signs but ultimately nowhere near clinical enough against a good but depleted Spurs side.

[Dave Cooper please]

Having watched at leisure the Football First coverage I tapes earlier, we need a finisher, by fuck do we need someone clinical in the box, a Lineker type.

We are great on the break, we have pace, we can stretch defences using wide players, we have no one good enough turn that into goals.

Gabby isn't it, he's a mid-table Premiership striker at best, Carew is finished, Delfouoneso will never be good enough and Heskey will eventually become...well...Heskey!

Need to break the bank for two strikers, dunno who, dunno if we can afford them, but we need them.

[Rigadon]

Dave Copper, plain as fuck.  Strikers needed.  Good news is that if we can see it so can the new manager / club.  Why MON didn't address it is one of the only  real criticisms I can think of, fucking off when he did aside.

[SoccerHQ]

I honestly think we'll be o.k upfront once Gabby gets better and Ireland starts playing just off him.

Don't laugh but I honestly believe Ireland can be as effective for us as VDV is currently for Spurs when he starts getting played off the main striker.

[PeterWithe]

Its far too soon to be writing off Delfounso, I'd like to see him out on loan to a decent Championship side to get him in the goals and give him that desire for first team football, then back here to get the last twenty minutes of a few games.