Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa Match Thread

[luke25]

We need to make sure if we get any set pieces that we make them count.

[citizenDJ]

Well, I for one am expecting us to dominate posession, with dizzying pass-and-move antics, really taking the game to Spurs.

I can't work out if McLeish is doing the right thing in applying a bit of muscle on the right, making the best of the limited options we have in the squad and mixing things up according to the opposition, or just throwing in the extra defender and hoping like Hell.

Besides, closing down Bale is fine were it not for the other threats in the shape of Van der Vaart and Lennon. Oh, and Modric. Bloody Hell.

2-1 to us, then.

[PeterWithesShin]

That is certainly an, er, interesting lineup. So Heskey and Hutton to be the creative midfielders?

Really hope it comes off, but i'm not overly confident.

[Villanation]

I feel an Historic Villa win coming on and a magnificent Gabby show of huge proportions.............

[Legion]

Tottenham team v VILLA: Friedel; Walker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Modric, Parker, Bale; Van der Vaart; Adebayor. Subs: Cudicini, Bassong, Gallas, Giovani, Pienaar, Sandro, Defoe.

[Dante Lavelli]

We really have stopped even trying to competie, its fucking Spurs ffs, we may aswell take to the field waving white flags.

Why?  Just because the formation appears to be a 352 or 532 it does not mean we cannot attack and compete.  It all depends on what the player's instructions are. 

I can see some logic in 3 at the back as Spurs play one up top  in adebayor.  My main worry will be if spurs get too much possession and Bale and Lennon (is he playing?) push our wing backs too far back.  As ever, I'd prefer a player other than Heskey in midfield as he is not good enough at retaining possession in my opinion.

[Rigadon]

Spurs bench doesn't look to formidable to me.  First team look pretty decent though. 

[JJ-AV]

How very Blackburn Rovers.

[PaulWinch again]

I think we do need to be realistic here, other than Man Utd and Citeh Spurs haven't lost a game have they? and they battered Liverpool at home.

[Villanation]

We really have stopped even trying to competie, its fucking Spurs ffs, we may aswell take to the field waving white flags.

Why?  Just because the formation appears to be a 352 or 532 it does not mean we cannot attack and compete.  It all depends on what the player's instructions are. 

I can see some logic in 3 at the back as Spurs play one up top  in adebayor.  My main worry will be if spurs get too much possession and Bale and Lennon (is he playing?) push our wing backs too far back.  As ever, I'd prefer a player other than Heskey in midfield as he is not good enough at retaining possession in my opinion.

Excellent point, Arry will be putting great stock in Lennon and Bale, that's where there main play will spread out to IMO, negate that and we have a glimmer, problem is Bale on song must be one of the best players in the world at the moment.

[caster troy]

Embarrassing. It's Spurs, not Barcelona.

[Dante Lavelli]

From the BBC

1931: Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish confirms that Alan Hutton will start on the right wing in front of Carlos Cuellar to protect his side from Gareth Bale.

[luke25]

We really have stopped even trying to competie, its fucking Spurs ffs, we may aswell take to the field waving white flags.

Why?  Just because the formation appears to be a 352 or 532 it does not mean we cannot attack and compete.  It all depends on what the player's instructions are. 

I can see some logic in 3 at the back as Spurs play one up top  in adebayor.  My main worry will be if spurs get too much possession and Bale and Lennon (is he playing?) push our wing backs too far back.  As ever, I'd prefer a player other than Heskey in midfield as he is not good enough at retaining possession in my opinion.

Well i hope your rite and i'd happily take being called a know nothing twat come 10pm.

[Villanation]

I think we do need to be realistic here, other than Man Utd and Citeh Spurs haven't lost a game have they? and they battered Liverpool at home.

See you point, but think of it this way, as the mighty Lions start to appear from the tunnel in the next few mins, and you see Dunny, Bent, Petrov and then emerging like the coming Messiah is the fantastic Gabby Agbonlahor, would you bet against Gabby if he's up for it 

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I think it could work. If Bale proves a handful we double up on him, if we are making progress forward Hutton can provide width and be extremely dangerous.