Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Montys Bro]

I don't want to start shouting about how idiotic McLeish is, (although I do actually want to, I mean I won't), I just want to put some alarming statistics I found that put numbers to what we all fear is true, apologies if posted elsewhere.

Completed Passes league table:

17. Aston Villa       2640
18. Blackburn        2561
20. Stoke              2271


Shots on Target

18. West Brom     42
19. Aston Villa      35
20. Stoke             28


The only thing keeping us out of the bottom 3 is an amazing conversion rate from Gabby and Bent, but it's obviously not sustainable. Last night was an absolute disgrace, Mcleish thinks that defending is doing big blocks, saves and slide tackles, but out of us and tottenham who defended better.....Tottenham obviously. They created a situation where we only had 1 shot on target. It's not defensive, it's nothing. You give them space and possession then it's a matter of time until they score, 13 minutes it lasted, the idiot.


I realise I'm preaching to the converted, but we must all remember this game and don't see it as a one off or that the players were at fault, it is the fault of Alex Mcleish and his logicless brain.

I actually had an anxiety dream that AM sacked Sid and Macdonald so now he and grant could play the football they REALY wanted to play, I woke up in a cold sweat. Sorry for long post

[pauliewalnuts]

Would anyone take houllier back , at least better standard of football.

No.  There's nothing much to choose between Houllier and McLeish when it comes to being crap.  And I don't agree that the style of play was better under Houllier.  He was just lucky to at least have Young and Downing in the side. 

Houllier at least tried to play football, McLeish doesn't seem too bothered.

And although we had a divided squad, it looks like he was dead right with some of the players he deffed off.

[Risso]

As mainly a lurker and occasional poster, you always seem to get it spot on mate. Thought the team selection was generally odd but he's been hung out to dry to a certain extent with the lack of options we have in central midfield. Jenas will walk into that side Sunday.

Spurs' midfield of Parker and Modric is a nice blend of skill and determination, but it's not like you're playing a team of Blackburn style shithouses.  At least starting with the likes of Delph, Bannan or Ireland would have been an attacking statement of intent.

[lukey27]

Spurs' midfield of Parker and Modric is a nice blend of skill and determination, but it's not like you're playing a team of Blackburn style shithouses.  At least starting with the likes of Delph, Bannan or Ireland would have been an attacking statement of intent.

That's what I mean by lack of options. Ireland has been shit every time he's played and utterly anonymous away from home and Delph has looked out of his depth this year. We haven't got enough genuine quality anymore in the squad, and Mcleish for some inconceivable reason thinks Hutton and Heskey are better oprions than N'Zogbia.

We need investment in January, simple as that

[Shrek]

Would anyone take houllier back , at least better standard of football.

No.  There's nothing much to choose between Houllier and McLeish when it comes to being crap.  And I don't agree that the style of play was better under Houllier.  He was just lucky to at least have Young and Downing in the side. 

Houllier at least tried to play football, McLeish doesn't seem too bothered.

And although we had a divided squad, it looks like he was dead right with some of the players he deffed off.

YES Straight away.

Houllier only cared about Aston Villa, he was trying to change the way we play and was trying to get rid of all the shite like our entire defence.

If he was healthy, we would now have a midfield of Delph, Makoun, Cabeye(publicly stated he was coming here if Houllier had stayed).
The likes of Dunne, Warnock etc have also stated they would have left.

So if Houllier had stayed we'd have a stronger midfield and a new defence.

Our current problem is a poor midfield and a shite defence....^^

[Merv]

Absolutely, Risso. Last night we had every midfielder at the club available, bar Jenas. We could have picked several different blends of midfield trios that would have been far better and more effective than the abomination that started the match.

As for the Houllier argument... well, he did some silly things. But I always felt with him it was short term pain, long term gain, which is why I suggested in the summer that a DOF type of role for him, with a younger coach actually running the side day to day, wouldn't have been a bad idea. Given the options we eventually had available, I still believe a KMac/DOF model would have made more sense than what we have now. At least there could be the promise of something better.

It's not hindsight, it's how I felt in July and how I feel now. I knew exactly what we were getting with McLeish - he'll keep us up, keep us steady, but we won't actually go anywhere.

[Mazrim]

Heskey last night reminded me of being back in primary school.  It was like one of your better players hadn't turned up and you were left with the fat kid who was always willing but everyone knew he could hardly kick the ball , he just make up the numbers, contributed nothing and fell over when the ball came to him.

The plan was (and always is) lump it up to him, hope he wins the headers and see if Bent and Gabby can do something with the knockdown. After the first 10 minutes it was clear Spurs were expecting this and in fact Heskey hardly won a header. It's a fucking shit plan to begin with but even so, if it's not working, change it straight away. Nope. We kept trying it al game and gave the ball away nearly every time inviting more pressure.

So what else did we try and do? Well there's always try and get gabby down the channels. But even when Gabby wasnt being asked to defend and was running the channels, he was double marked with one of if not the fastest full backs in the league. So that wasnt working either. What next?

"Sorry, that's it mate. I'm trying to be cagey and tight with a team shipping two goals a game!"
WELL DONT FUCKING BOTHER! Play our most attack minded footballers who can keep the ball for more than 2 seconds. We do have some. We're going to ship goals anyway because our defence is pretty much hopeless now so go for it.

Back to the drawing board:

..................................Given

Herd.............Cuellar..............Dunne..........Clark

..........Gardner............Jenas.............Delph

...........Gabby...............Bent...........N'Zogbia

Guzan, Baker, Warnock, Petrov, Bannan (or Ireland), Albrighton, Burke.

[pedro25]

Spurs' midfield of Parker and Modric is a nice blend of skill and determination, but it's not like you're playing a team of Blackburn style shithouses.  At least starting with the likes of Delph, Bannan or Ireland would have been an attacking statement of intent.

That's what I mean by lack of options. Ireland has been shit every time he's played and utterly anonymous away from home and Delph has looked out of his depth this year. We haven't got enough genuine quality anymore in the squad, and Mcleish for some inconceivable reason thinks Hutton and Heskey are better oprions than N'Zogbia.

If not Ireland and Delph then 2 or 3 of Bannan, N'Zogbia and Albrighton then, I agree none of them have been in startling form this season but we have so many options in midfield, Jenas as well when available, there is no excuse for playing Heskey and Hutton there.  Herd is not good enough either imo.

We need investment in January, simple as that

[pauliewalnuts]

I found it pretty galling to hear chants of "boring, boring Villa" and "hoof!" from Spurs fans last night. It wasn't particularly enjoyable when we heard it at QPR either.

It's not the fact they were chanting it that was most galling, it was the fact it was true.

[Marlon From Bearwood]

Mazrim, I'd love to see that team. Can't see it happening though.

[dutchvilla]

Play people in their right positions.

Show some attacking intent.

Stand by players who make a mistake. Drop players who persistently underperform.

Show some imagination in the use of substitutes.

[Ian.]

Well that is the first time I have seen us play this season  and I'm just terribly gutted with the total none show more than anything. We didn't look interested and our movement was worse than I can ever remember.

A very terrible game and performance from us.

[dutchvilla]

For Swansea, I expect the only change will be Jenas for Cuellar, with Hutton back as right back.

I would go with
Given
Hutton Cuellar Dunne Warnock
Herd Petrov Jenas
N'Zogbia Bent Agbonlahor

[garyshawsknee]

I found it pretty galling to hear chants of "boring, boring Villa" and "hoof!" from Spurs fans last night. It wasn't particularly enjoyable when we heard it at QPR either.

It's not the fact they were chanting it that was most galling, it was the fact it was true.

Were quickly becoming known as Bolton type team. 5 lives team were quite rightly slating us last night,no ideas,no spirit,inept display etc.

[PaulTheVillan]

I can't see massive changes coming for Swansea, so I'm going to predict

Given
Hutton Clark Dunne Warnock
Herd
Petrov Jenas
NZogbia               Gabby
Bent