Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Percy McCarthy]

What he's saying is he'd expect us to beat them but he's crap at predictions.

[saunders_heroes]

A few seasons ago I'd expect to us to win at White Hart Lane and we often did,

Often?

Once in 12 seasons.

Ok, how often did we lose at WHL under MON? The difference is I'd EXPECT us to beat them in those days and they rarely troubled us at Villa Park, whereas now I don't expect us to beat them - they're way ahead of us now and if you fail to see that then you're just burying your head in the sand

Tottenham are miles better than us, and I can live with that at the moment because they're constantly investing while we are not. The worrying part is that we're being beat by the likes of Southampton and West Ham.

[pauliewalnuts]

A few seasons ago I'd expect to us to win at White Hart Lane and we often did,

Often?

Once in 12 seasons.

Ok, how often did we lose at WHL under MON? The difference is I'd EXPECT us to beat them in those days and they rarely troubled us at Villa Park, whereas now I don't expect us to beat them - they're way ahead of us now and if you fail to see that then you're just burying your head in the sand

I don't know why you're going on about burying your head in the sand.

My point was that, while you might have "expected" to beat them, it certainly wasn't based on us "often" doing so, as we only actually have done that once in twelve years.

[not3bad]

A few seasons ago I'd expect to us to win at White Hart Lane and we often did,

Often?

Once in 12 seasons.

Ok, how often did we lose at WHL under MON? The difference is I'd EXPECT us to beat them in those days and they rarely troubled us at Villa Park

From the moment Rednapp took over at Spurs they looked stronger than us, and MON was still in charge then.  They just looked like a stronger footballing side.  We'd come away with a point but we'd always look like we were hanging on.

[TonyD]

Haven't seen enough footy this season to make a call so soon.   However, can't help think that Delph is never going to cut it and that Beneke should be dropped.

[Villafirst]

A few seasons ago I'd expect to us to win at White Hart Lane and we often did,

Often?

Once in 12 seasons.

Ok, how often did we lose at WHL under MON? The difference is I'd EXPECT us to beat them in those days and they rarely troubled us at Villa Park, whereas now I don't expect us to beat them - they're way ahead of us now and if you fail to see that then you're just burying your head in the sand

I don't know why you're going on about burying your head in the sand.

My point was that, while you might have "expected" to beat them, it certainly wasn't based on us "often" doing so, as we only actually have done that once in twelve years.

I suppose the gist of my argument is that Spurs are in with a shout of Champions League football and we're heading for the Championship. It's just a general decline since August 2010.

[not3bad]

A few seasons ago I'd expect to us to win at White Hart Lane and we often did,

Often?

Once in 12 seasons.

Ok, how often did we lose at WHL under MON? The difference is I'd EXPECT us to beat them in those days and they rarely troubled us at Villa Park, whereas now I don't expect us to beat them - they're way ahead of us now and if you fail to see that then you're just burying your head in the sand

I don't know why you're going on about burying your head in the sand.

My point was that, while you might have "expected" to beat them, it certainly wasn't based on us "often" doing so, as we only actually have done that once in twelve years.

I suppose the gist of my argument is that Spurs are in with a shout of Champions League football and we're heading for the Championship. It's just a general decline since August 2010.

We went from being in a decline to being in a nosedive in the last few months of last season.  We're now trying to arrest that dive but it's not happening overnight.

[dave.woodhall]

A few seasons ago I'd expect to us to win at White Hart Lane and we often did,

Often?

Once in 12 seasons.

Ok, how often did we lose at WHL under MON? The difference is I'd EXPECT us to beat them in those days and they rarely troubled us at Villa Park, whereas now I don't expect us to beat them - they're way ahead of us now and if you fail to see that then you're just burying your head in the sand

I don't know why you're going on about burying your head in the sand.

My point was that, while you might have "expected" to beat them, it certainly wasn't based on us "often" doing so, as we only actually have done that once in twelve years.

I suppose the gist of my argument is that Spurs are in with a shout of Champions League football and we're heading for the Championship. It's just a general decline since August 2010.

First, we're not 'headed for the Championship.' Second, some of our supporters have got this belief that where we are now is where we'll stay forever. You've just said yourself that a few years ago we were better than Spurs. Before that they were better than us, and so it goes on. In the future we'll be ahead of them again and clubs currently behind will be better than both of us. That's football.

[E I Adio]

Lurching from the euphoric reaction to the Man City game to the wailing and gnashing of teeth following defeat away to a very good Spurs team just a few days later, might lead some people into thinking that pug nose might have had a point.

[NeilH]

Lurching from the euphoric reaction to the Man City game to the wailing and gnashing of teeth following defeat away to a very good Spurs team just a few days later, might lead some people into thinking that pug nose might have had a point.

It really is tiring isn’t it. We’re only ever as good as the last game, world-beaters one week and certs for the drop the other.

Without wishing to fill this site with a series of clichés, Lambert inherited an almighty mess that was started by O’Neill and exacerbated to a more or lesser degree by Houllier and TSM. If anyone thinks that this season is going to be anything more than simply a case of surviving and trying to build for the next future then I’m afraid they are not fully understanding how deep a crisis O’Neill left the club in.

We will survive this season; just. However it is going to take some time before we turn the corner. These are the games that we simply need to scratch off the fixture list as lost causes.

[ktvillan]

Some people seem to be confusing "no disgrace in losing to Spurs" with "we can't expect to win at Spurs".  TSM personified the latter statement and his "no point in trying, limit the damage" tactics and team selections reflected it.   Lambert's tactics and selections are a very far cry from that.  There really is no disgrace in losing to a very good team at their place if you have given it a go, and not exactly had the rub of the green (see the first goal).  It happens.  Just as we (used to) beat some good teams at our place.

Capitulating to a mediocre Southampton team is a different matter however.   

[pauliewalnuts]

A few seasons ago I'd expect to us to win at White Hart Lane and we often did,

Often?

Once in 12 seasons.

Ok, how often did we lose at WHL under MON? The difference is I'd EXPECT us to beat them in those days and they rarely troubled us at Villa Park, whereas now I don't expect us to beat them - they're way ahead of us now and if you fail to see that then you're just burying your head in the sand

I don't know why you're going on about burying your head in the sand.

My point was that, while you might have "expected" to beat them, it certainly wasn't based on us "often" doing so, as we only actually have done that once in twelve years.

I suppose the gist of my argument is that Spurs are in with a shout of Champions League football and we're heading for the Championship. It's just a general decline since August 2010.

That's hard to disagree with.

The last two years, the club has been dreadfully managed, from football management upwards.

[villa `cross the mersey]

I'd love to live in a cave. I could decorate it with murals of Gareth Bale being kicked to death/quote]


Lambeth bought a cave near Bodymoor Heath after Lerner told him the Villa job was a Mammoth task   

[Ads]

Spurs are a good side. They have lightening fast wingers and a very good midfield three of Dempsey, Sandro and Dembelle.

They'll like as not finish in the top four again. Wankers.

I thought we held our own up until the lucky Spurs first goal. In fact we should have been two up. Lambert dropped a rick not starting Bent, as Benteke missed two sitters.

We didn't react to their goal though and it seemed to knock the stuffing right out of us.

The midfield is where we're losing it. KEA is a decent enough player, but looking over the squad, there isn't a player of good enough quality to fit in there. Come January, we must sign a dynamic, quality, box to box central midfielder.

I was very annoyed with the second goal. Lennon's left foot is for standing only and Bennett had to get tighter. Hope the lad is going to get back soonish mind.

Four defeats out of seven is worrying. That said, we're not in a rut. We're all over the place, sometimes inside 90 minutes as well.

I think we need 5 points from the next three games and we need to beat Norwich above all else, but we need to put points on the board and push away from the drop zone.

To do that, Bent and Gabby need to start up top, with Charlie in behind (I saw Charlie tracking back yesterday, going into sliding tackles and all sorts! The poor bugger also ended up completely isolated and surrounded by Spurs players though). Herd to partner KEA and then a toss up between Delph and Bannan. I think this paragraph renforces my point about a lack of quality in midfield.

We'll be alright. Norwich, Reading and Southampton will all go down. Swansea, QPR and Wigan will be close. We may well be too. I'm sick of us being complete pische though. I hate to sound like a Bin Dipper, but we cannot have a third season of the Villa struggling, its just not cricket.

The away support has been odd. Anything on a Saturday- sold out full allocation. Anything not- SHA level of support. Curious.

[Meanwood Villa]

Some people seem to be confusing "no disgrace in losing to Spurs" with "we can't expect to win at Spurs".  TSM personified the latter statement and his "no point in trying, limit the damage" tactics and team selections reflected it.   Lambert's tactics and selections are a very far cry from that. 

Exactly. I haven't seen any of yesterday's match but from the gist of this thread and comments from my brother who did attend it would appear that we were actually in the game which is more than you can say about the debacle last season.

Capitulating to a mediocre Southampton team is a different matter however.   

Hmmm, yeah, still not sure what happened there! Let's face it in terms of results it's been a crap start but we've got to give Lambert and the lads a chance. A few good results and the place will be bouncing again, the Swansea match showed that.