Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa Match Thread

[brontebilly]

Poor team selection for me. Would have Bent back in and certainly wouldnt have Albrighton starting. Huge test for Lowton up against Bale. Havent been that impressed with him yet and would have gone for Lichaj as a better defender. Surprised Herd isnt even making the bench too.

All will be revealed I guess but that looks a very strong Spurs side

[berneboy]

It might well be the case that Lambert is making another point with regards to Bent. That is to say, don't talk to the press so candidly in the future.  I must say that he has every right to do so. 

Or, he might just have seen Gabby and Benteke link up well in training all week. 

Just a thought on Bent.  Is Villa the only place he could get £85k a week?  If so, I wouldn't imagine to hear him repeating his comments to reporters after today. 

I wouldn't be surprised if Lambert weren't happy to lose Bent in January and free up money for a couple of 'his' players.

[danlanza]

It might well be the case that Lambert is making another point with regards to Bent. That is to say, don't talk to the press so candidly in the future.  I must say that he has every right to do so. 

Or, he might just have seen Gabby and Benteke link up well in training all week. 

Just a thought on Bent.  Is Villa the only place he could get £85k a week?  If so, I wouldn't imagine to hear him repeating his comments to reporters after today.

Is he seriously on 85k a week ?

[PeterWithesShin]

Or maybe Lambert just knows what he's doing. It's why he earns the money for doing while we sit behind keyboards talking shite.

[Percy McCarthy]

It might well be the case that Lambert is making another point with regards to Bent. That is to say, don't talk to the press so candidly in the future.  I must say that he has every right to do so. 

Or, he might just have seen Gabby and Benteke link up well in training all week. 

Just a thought on Bent.  Is Villa the only place he could get £85k a week?  If so, I wouldn't imagine to hear him repeating his comments to reporters after today. 

I wouldn't be surprised if Lambert weren't happy to lose Bent in January and free up money for a couple of 'his' players.

Nor me.

[Toronto Villa]

It'll be a good decision as long as Benteke doesn't do his impression of a baby carthorse again, with the first touch to match.

He's 21 and learning that he has to quick and precise with his touch at this level. I've seen far more experienced players that have cost much more be as careless or inefficient with the ball. Just as I've seen forwards sky the ball instead of chipping the keeper as he did vs Swansea. He does good things and not so good things. I don't think Gabby or Bent are any different.

At this stage, Gabby and Bent are both easily superior.  That isn't to say that Benteke won't come good, but he doesn't deserve to keep starting just because Lambert paid big money for him.  Weimann looks a far, far more complete and skilful striker than Benteke in my opinion.

Benteke is going to be somewhat volatile in his performances, but he does offer something different to what we currently have. I think picking him isn't as much about quality as it is about playing options an what might work best against Spurs. In terms of quality, off course Bent and Gabby are better players overall but it is equally possible that he could be a real handful today for Tottenham's defenders and goalkeeper with his presence. Lambert's Norwich won at Spurs last year so maybe he has a plan for today using Benteke.

[Rigadon]

It might well be the case that Lambert is making another point with regards to Bent. That is to say, don't talk to the press so candidly in the future.  I must say that he has every right to do so. 

Or, he might just have seen Gabby and Benteke link up well in training all week. 

Just a thought on Bent.  Is Villa the only place he could get £85k a week?  If so, I wouldn't imagine to hear him repeating his comments to reporters after today. 

I wouldn't be surprised if Lambert weren't happy to lose Bent in January and free up money for a couple of 'his' players.

Nor me.

I wouldn't either as it goes. 

[Toronto Villa]

Or maybe Lambert just knows what he's doing. It's why he earns the money for doing while we sit behind keyboards talking shite.

Little boy points at emperor who is in the full monty.

[Holtenderinthesky]

Although Bent is a better player, he doesn't link the play from the midfield as well as Benteke and we need 11 men for this game, not 10.  We saw at West Ham how pointless Bent can be if we dont get the ball to him.

[Irish villain]

If Bent throws a strop I would love Lambert to just take out his Champions' League medal and say 'have a look at that son, where's yours?'

[d.boy junior(sid)]

Only things i dont agree with in team selection is delph ahead of bannan. Bent deserves to be on the bench as yes he can score goals but his workrate isnt high enough atm in my opinion, he's getting there but still not there 100%. Whatever lamberts thinking is, he's got his mind set and is sticking with it like managers should do, they aren't paid to bend to their "star-players" will and so its about time we had a manager prepared to stand up too them. Lowton and Bennet have both shown talent and have been recognised for it, so lets just hope they can get stuck-in against Bale and co today.

[d.boy junior(sid)]

Although Bent is a better player, he doesn't link the play from the midfield as well as Benteke and we need 11 men for this game, not 10.  We saw at West Ham how pointless Bent can be if we dont get the ball to him.

Exactly! In my opinion you cant have one player the rest of the team has to play around, it can't work that way and we will suffer for it if his form dips. Having Gabby and Benteke together means we have more options when attacking, not just setting Bent up for him to score and take the credit.

[silhillvilla]

Bent ran his mouth off. Respect to Lambert for showing who's boss.

[Toronto Villa]

It might well be the case that Lambert is making another point with regards to Bent. That is to say, don't talk to the press so candidly in the future.  I must say that he has every right to do so. 

Or, he might just have seen Gabby and Benteke link up well in training all week. 

Just a thought on Bent.  Is Villa the only place he could get £85k a week?  If so, I wouldn't imagine to hear him repeating his comments to reporters after today. 

I wouldn't be surprised if Lambert weren't happy to lose Bent in January and free up money for a couple of 'his' players.

Nor me.

Not entirely convinced anymore that would be such a bad thing. I'm a Darren Bent fan and if we still had Ash and Downing I'd never want to see a player like him sold. It's a different time and Bent will be 29 in February. If we can get £15 for him in January, despite the accusations of a lack of ambition, it may be worth it in my opinion.

[avfcpg]

Surprised but will trust Lambert on this. He's come in and shaken a few up and got them out of their comfort zones, Bent clearly being one of them. It's down to the players to make it impossible for them to be dropped. Something we've lacked for years.