Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Mister E]

The problems started from our fourth touch of the ball - Stan launching one up to Heskey on the left wing in a move that I have never seen work ever. That we didn't immediately lose the ball was rather down to luck, as every single other time we hoofed it, we lost it, inviting pressure onto us.

Which is basically the fundamental problem with McLeish - not only does he not seem to understand that hoofball is a poor attacking strategy, he also doesn't seem to get that it's a poor defensive one.

As for the goals, the first one belies the myth about Eck: he's not a good negative coach, just a negative one. I've said it before, but it's notable how goalkeepers' reputations always seem to go up in the sides he's managed, meaning a large concession of shots and chances. The set-piece organisation was abysmal. If you're going to do that style of football, you must at least do it well, and we're still so vulnerable at set-pieces.

Shrek - good points you've made here.
My biggest disappointment about the game Villa are playing is that the minimum requirement from this manager was a resolution of last season's defensive problems. So far, our defence has looked absolutely shocking.

As for the hoof n' hope tactics, not only is it not pretty it is - as you say - simply piling more and more pressure on the porous defence. Swansea WILL show us what the passing game is about on Sunday: they are precise, aggressive and mean in defence. They have a small set of players who are quick and sharp on the ball ... all the things that we are not, at the moment.

That's why I think it is a perfect time to try BB, GG and CC back in the side in some capacity; not only adding quality but also giving Herd the chance to play instead of Hutton.

I think we'll have a very tough time on Sunday; at least our recent poor record at WHL prepared us for defeat - Sunday's game may be the more embarrassing though.

[john e]

                                                   Given

                                     Herd  Clarke  Cuellar Warnock
                                                      Delph
                                     Bannan  Gardiner Petrov Albrighton
                                                      Gabbs

to start at Swansea,

Swap Delph for Bent when we go 2 up,



EDIT,  meant to be for Swansea starting thread, everythings going wrong

                                 

[dave.woodhall]

Why is your answer (as well as others) just to bend over?

How many times are you going to come out with variations on "If you don't moan as much as me you're not a proper supporter"?

I'm actually concerned the way McLeish has been playing us all this season and I'm not going to make excuses for him when he's already turning us into the new Blues. You may be fine with that, but I have a problem with it.

You can have as many problem as you like, with as many things as you like, but don't make out you're better than anyone with a different view.

[barrysleftfoot]

  I have to say, after watching Villa for 40 years that was the most pathetic  Villa display i have ever had the misfortune to witness.

 I've been willing to give AM the benefit of the doubt, but to be quite frank if he sets out the team against Ure, Arse, 'The Mighty Reds YNWA' and Chelsk, up to the New Year, then hes not fit to be the manager of a club like AVFC.

 We are a hoofing team, and it is time to shape up or ship out for McLeish.

[dave.woodhall]

  I have to say, after watching Villa for 40 years that was the most pathetic  Villa display i have ever had the misfortune to witness.

Seriously? I wouldn't put it anywhere near the top twenty.

[Damo70]

Setting our stall out to be solid and not conceed and hope Gabby and/or Bent score isn't working. Firstly due to defensive errors and secondly because the service to Gabby and Bent is so poor. We may as well change to a more attacking line up and go out on the front foot. If Jenas is ready to start then Herd and Clark could replace Cuellar and Collins in defence and drop Heskey and Hutton to give Bannan and Albrighton a chance.

[Mister E]

  I have to say, after watching Villa for 40 years that was the most pathetic  Villa display i have ever had the misfortune to witness.

Seriously? I wouldn't put it anywhere near the top twenty.

Lest we forget the mid-1980's madness of McNeill the Muppet and the desperate days of Dolly's Dynasty ...

[PeterWithesShin]

  I have to say, after watching Villa for 40 years that was the most pathetic  Villa display i have ever had the misfortune to witness.

Seriously? I wouldn't put it anywhere near the top twenty.

I've seen far worse in my time, but struggle to think of too many games where from the second we put in the team sheet we seemed to have made little effort to win the game.
It really does seem as though it was damage limitation from team sheet handed in - final whistle.

[Concrete John]

I've seen far worse in my time, but struggle to think of too many games where from the second we put in the team sheet we seemed to have made little effort to win the game.

Man City in the FA cup last year.

[Compass]

The thing what gets me is the performance we put on yesterday is what we've been doing pretty much all season. It's just Spurs have such a good pass rate and pace that they exposed McLeish tactics what they're truly are. Clueless at best. We just have to be thankful for Spurs they're not really great at finishing because it would have been 6-0 without much effort for them.

But yeah, it's kind of strange how people say Spurs was the worse game they've seen in years when it's actually not considering there was a worse game just this season. The worst game was against Bolton . It was pretty much the same dice, but it was against weaker opposition (their reserves), the fact we played at home with the majority being in our starting XI and we still didn't create enough chances. We had one shot on target in the last 5 mins or so. Bolton hardly tried and could have won about 0-5 with their reserves at Villa Park.

That's the time where McLeish should have walked already.

[pauliewalnuts]

  I have to say, after watching Villa for 40 years that was the most pathetic  Villa display i have ever had the misfortune to witness.

Seriously? I wouldn't put it anywhere near the top twenty.

As I posted elsewhere, I've seen plenty of performances as miserable as last night, but I  can't really recall seeing so many which were quite so gutless from the moment the team sheet was handed in to the referee, certainly not in recent years.

EDIT just noticed PWD said the same thing above. What he said.

[Risso]

I've seen far worse in my time, but struggle to think of too many games where from the second we put in the team sheet we seemed to have made little effort to win the game.

Man City in the FA cup last year.

I didn't agree with the FA Cup decision at all, but you could at least try and understand the reasoning behind it.  Spurs though, aren't on a different plane to us at all, and we should have gone there and had a go.  Their starting team last night didn't cost any more than ours, AND we had nearly £30m worth of midfielders on the bench.  I've seen just as many terrible displays, some a lot worse, but giving up like that before the game and then defending the decision afetrwards - load of rubbish.

[pauliewalnuts]

Fulham had a right go at Spurs and could easily have got something out of the game.

We, on the other hand, shat our pants from the off and didn't even try to get anything. We weren't even trying to get the ball back.

It was pretty shameful stuff from the off, to be honest, and thoroughly embarassing. The sort of way you'd expect to see Wigan play at the Nou Camp.

What's more, the Man City surrender was in the line up. The players who played on the night at least gave it a go, in as much as they could. Last night was just feeble in every way.

[eastie]

I've seen far worse in my time, but struggle to think of too many games where from the second we put in the team sheet we seemed to have made little effort to win the game.

Man City in the FA cup last year.

I didn't agree with the FA Cup decision at all, but you could at least try and understand the reasoning behind it.  Spurs though, aren't on a different plane to us at all, and we should have gone there and had a go.  Their starting team last night didn't cost any more than ours, AND we had nearly £30m worth of midfielders on the bench.  I've seen just as many terrible displays, some a lot worse, but giving up like that before the game and then defending the decision afetrwards - load of rubbish.

Disagree on both counts , no justification or excuse for the team houllier put out in the cup at city, and spurs are far and away a much better team than us, gutless and pathetic display to be kind about it.

It was as though he sent them out with message to try and not not lose by too many -the whole club lacks ambition at management level, i was all for giving mcleish a chance but i am very pissed off at the awful football on show these days.

[PeterWithesShin]

I've seen far worse in my time, but struggle to think of too many games where from the second we put in the team sheet we seemed to have made little effort to win the game.

Man City in the FA cup last year.

I didn't agree with the FA Cup decision at all, but you could at least try and understand the reasoning behind it.  Spurs though, aren't on a different plane to us at all, and we should have gone there and had a go.  Their starting team last night didn't cost any more than ours, AND we had nearly £30m worth of midfielders on the bench.  I've seen just as many terrible displays, some a lot worse, but giving up like that before the game and then defending the decision afetrwards - load of rubbish.

Plus the fact there seemed little or no effort to change tactics during the game. 2-0 down at H-T and we go out and start the 2nd half with exactly the same line-up and game plan.
The only attempt to change things was Bannan for Carlos after 63 mins, with Hutton dropping to RB. How exactly was that meant to change things? Bannan hasn't played for a while, probably has quite a bit on his mind right now and has never scored from open play. Just struck me as a token sub to ease BB back in with the main aim remaining damage limitation.

I'd rather have gone for it and lost 4-0. At least go down fighting rather than waving a white flag.