Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur Pre-Match Thread

[SoccerHQ]

Team I'd go with....

Given

Cuellar          Collins  Dunney Lichaj

                   Clark (man mark VDV)
N'Zogbia      Herd         Ireland       Warnock

                          Gabby

Hutton will be the usual liability in this game. We know Carlos won't let us down at RB and I remember Lichaj had a good game against Bale in this fixture last season so that needs to be the back 4 to cope with their pace.

Van Der Vaart has been the difference in this fixture previously so his runs need to be covered so I'd look at Clark or Herd doing a proper man to man job on him.

I actually fancy Gabby to play well in this game. He always used to give Gallas the run around but that was four years ago now.

I think it's vital we don't lose this as a point will mean QPR will need to beat Man. City in their last game.

[James]

Depends on what QPR's result against Stoke on the weekend is doesn't it SHQ?

[nigel]

I can see a surprise team selection and a win along the same lines as the Fulham game.

[nigel]

Team I'd go with....

Given

Cuellar          Collins  Dunney Lichaj

                   Clark (man mark VDV)
N'Zogbia      Herd         Ireland       Warnock

                          Gabby

Hutton will be the usual liability in this game. We know Carlos won't let us down at RB and I remember Lichaj had a good game against Bale in this fixture last season so that needs to be the back 4 to cope with their pace.

Van Der Vaart has been the difference in this fixture previously so his runs need to be covered so I'd look at Clark or Herd doing a proper man to man job on him.

I actually fancy Gabby to play well in this game. He always used to give Gallas the run around but that was four years ago now.

I think it's vital we don't lose this as a point will mean QPR will need to beat Man. City in their last game.

Not a million miles from what I was thinking the team could be.
I just wonder if he'll rest Gabby and play Weimann. That's the surprise selection I had in mind.
I think Gabby's been lacking recently and I'm not sure he's 100% fit from his shoulder injury.
I just wonder though. Will AMcL be brave enough?
I will add, though, if it's pace your worried about, do we really want Collins and Dunne as centre backs?

[Karlos96]

I think we'll lose 2-1

[Lobsterboy]

We'll huff and puff and lose 1-0 but results elsewhere will see our Premiership status/survival all but confirmed

[Dave]

Depends on what QPR's result against Stoke on the weekend is doesn't it SHQ?

To an extent. If QPR beat Stoke 10-0 then it'll become an issue.

Otherwise we'll go into the last weekend on 38 points. So if we lose to Norwich then a point for QPR means they just have to sort out a -9 goal difference. So they basically would have to beat Man City as per Chris' post.

[Lambert and Payne]

We'll lose 2 0 and there wont be much creativity from us. Hard work won't be enough
Other results to go our way though virtually assuring our status next season

[PeterWithesShin]

5-5. We'll be 5-1 down and someone in the crowd will shout out "battle for your pride". The players do and we are only denied a 6-5 win by a goal line clearance late on.

[SoccerHQ]

Team I'd go with....

Given

Cuellar          Collins  Dunney Lichaj

                   Clark (man mark VDV)
N'Zogbia      Herd         Ireland       Warnock

                          Gabby

Hutton will be the usual liability in this game. We know Carlos won't let us down at RB and I remember Lichaj had a good game against Bale in this fixture last season so that needs to be the back 4 to cope with their pace.

Van Der Vaart has been the difference in this fixture previously so his runs need to be covered so I'd look at Clark or Herd doing a proper man to man job on him.

I actually fancy Gabby to play well in this game. He always used to give Gallas the run around but that was four years ago now.

I think it's vital we don't lose this as a point will mean QPR will need to beat Man. City in their last game.

Not a million miles from what I was thinking the team could be.
I just wonder if he'll rest Gabby and play Weimann. That's the surprise selection I had in mind.
I think Gabby's been lacking recently and I'm not sure he's 100% fit from his shoulder injury.
I just wonder though. Will AMcL be brave enough?
I will add, though, if it's pace your worried about, do we really want Collins and Dunne as centre backs?

Weimann barely got a sniff against Bolton last time out. Heskey is more likely to start the last two games than him I'd say.

I'm thinking worst case this weekend, I think QPR will beat Stoke and Bolton will beat WBA.

[James]

Depends on what QPR's result against Stoke on the weekend is doesn't it SHQ?

To an extent. If QPR beat Stoke 10-0 then it'll become an issue.

Otherwise we'll go into the last weekend on 38 points. So if we lose to Norwich then a point for QPR means they just have to sort out a -9 goal difference. So they basically would have to beat Man City as per Chris' post.

Dave, I wasn't really disagreeing with SHQ, merely pointing out that he hadn't mentioned QPR's game against Stoke, the result of which is important to us. If we match it against Spuds, we're as good as safe with our 'less bad' GD.

Oh, and we'll only go into the last day on 38 points if we get a point on Sunday!

[paulcomben]

Spurs are chasing top 4 and have just secured 'Arry. Villa will get hammered. Goal difference being key, pray that Stoke can stop QPR.

[damon loves JT]

'battle for your pride'. It's going to be my new catchphrase

[Matt C]

A glorious 0-0 win.

[James]

Spurs are chasing top 4 and have just secured 'Arry. Villa will get hammered. Goal difference being key, pray that Stoke can stop QPR.

I don't know about 'hammered', they only put two past a very poor Blackburn side on their own ground, but yes, I am hoping for a Stoke win because then it almost doesn't matter what our result is!