Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur Match Thread

[dean saunders left boot]

Impressed with the players effort on the pitch, whether we can hold out for another 45 minutes is debatable, I have a feeling it's gonna be a nervy second half

[Fergal]

Much better than I was expecting.

The twitch-eyed one has the ability, and the players, to change things around in the second half, and we'll stay with things exactly as they are. A very nervous 45 minutes coming on.

We won't stay as we are we will start to defend deeper and deeper until we concede then we will try to hang on for a point.

I just hope we can hang the fuck on and get something out of this game and the two below us get fuck all.

[beness]

Impressed.
  If we can defend like we did at Liverpool we'll be safe. Would like to stay up in style but hey, we are what we are, bottom of the table fighting for our premiership lives.

[picicata]

Spurs have been all over us but a combination of great last ditch defending, excellent goalkeeping and some wayward finishing have given us a good chance. Lucky deflection for the goal but quite frankly we are due a little luck!

Just ignore anything McLeish says lads!

[Bad English]

Redknapp had a face like a smacked arse walking down the tunnel. Mind you it would be the same had we not taken the lead.

[Fergal]

With Ireland on song down the middle, Weimann would be a wise sub. That's if we want a second.

Somebody fool McLeish and write "defender" next to Weimann's name and he'll be on after HT. Probably for Ireland though.

Or change his name to Emile Heskey by deed poll.

Won't that make him fall over?

[paul_e]

This is the point where his lack of ability as a manager has shone through all season, we're in the lead, probably slightly against the run of play, but have looked decent, in virtually every other match where this has been the case at half time we've come out and sat 9-0-1 and tried to hang on, ending up getting stuffed.

[ez]

45 mins to keep a clean sheet, come on

[PaulWinch again]

Don't just defend.

[Toronto Villa]

They are going to score. We just need to ensure it is only the once. A point will be a big deal today. I wish I had any confidence that we had the ability to score on the break. We're just not fast enough. The days of  fit Gabby, Ash and Downing are long gone.

[beness]

Aint bothered about a clean sheet as long as we get more goals than Spuds. Man city 1-0 up

[Mister E]

This is the point where his lack of ability as a manager has shone through all season, we're in the lead, probably slightly against the run of play, but have looked decent, in virtually every other match where this has been the case at half time we've come out and sat 9-0-1 and tried to hang on, ending up getting stuffed.

Worst record for defending a lead in the division. So, you're right.

[Mister E]

They are going to score. We just need to ensure it is only the once. A point will be a big deal today. I wish I had any confidence that we had the ability to score on the break. We're just not fast enough. The days of  fit Gabby, Ash and Downing are long gone.

That's why a Carruthers-for-N'Zog makes sense: we get more energy, more pace and greater commitment (based on Carruthers' previous subb appearances).

[ozzjim]

Lets hope 15 minutes with eck has not killed us.

[paul_e]

They are going to score. We just need to ensure it is only the once. A point will be a big deal today. I wish I had any confidence that we had the ability to score on the break. We're just not fast enough. The days of  fit Gabby, Ash and Downing are long gone.

That's why a Carruthers-for-N'Zog makes sense: we get more energy, more pace and greater commitment (based on Carruthers' previous subb appearances).

I'd bring on weimann for heskey in about 10-15minutes as well, we need to try to get a 2nd, defending for 45mins is just too risky.