Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur Pre-Match Thread

[darren woolley]

1-1 Draw Benteke scoring for us.

[VillaAlways]

d i think the battering we took against Chelski has slightly annoyed Benteke and all the rest of the team. Benteke annoyed, no thank you and he will rip Spurs a new arsehole.

He didn't look annoyed at the end of the game,he was chatting and laughing with the Chelsea players. I was bloody annoyed though

[Toronto Villa]

Massively different performance and a home win to warm the cockles. 3-1 - Benteke, Westwood and Clark.

[Lambert and Payne]

We'll beat these, would you bet against us?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

1-1 Draw Benteke scoring for us.

I agree.

A win would be most welcome but I just can't see us doing it.

[MonsXI]

Gotta get behind the young lads more than an ever for this one!

2-1 and a merry ish christmas after all!

[Clark W Griswold]

Really don't know what we'll do in this one, but i'd take a draw if we follow on with a win against Wigan.

[Matt Collins]

A draw would be a really good result. I hope we can get it, and then move on to put some points on the board starting with Wigan.

I think this is a big challenge though. Not only to get the players up for it and confident again, but also tactically. Anyone watching the Chelsea game had it laid fairly squarely on a plate in terms of how to play against us. It points to Bale and Lennon sticking wide, with one up front, and runners like Dembele, Sigurdsson or Dempsey running from midfield straight onto an exposed back 3.

So there's lots of reasons to go back to 4231, but unless Vlaar is back, that means Baker and Clark together. I thought they looked  pretty flakey at  home to Reading, which I think is why Lambert changed it.

On balance, I think I'd stick to the back 3, but dropping Lichaj for Bennett. The real choices will be in midfield, where perhaps one or two could do with a rest. Delph seems to be the most likely contender for me. Not sure this is the sort of game we need a Stephen Ireland for, but you never know.

Draw this and then beat Wigan, and I'll still maintain it's been a good pre-Christmas spell.

[James]

Except, of course, that those games are very much post-Christmas! 

I'm staying away from predictions after yesterday!

UTV!

[Pete3206]

We'll beat these, would you bet against us?

This. I'm predicting Colosseum like noise on Boxing Day.

[danlanza]

We'll beat these, would you bet against us?

This. I'm predicting Colosseum like noise on Boxing Day.

That is exactly what will happen. The roof of the Holte will need major repairs after the game

[Lobsterboy]

We need to bounce back and I fancy us to do so and get a point so I'll go for a 3-3 thriller

Goals for Benteke, Delph and Agbonlahor to equalise in the last minute!

Merry Christmas!

[David_Nab]

Nzog / Gabby / Vlaar all doubtful added to Bent and Dunne and your looking at Ireland being the only exprianced player we can bring in

[ozzjim]

0-1 defeat, but a bit of pride restored.

Think we might go 4-3-3 with Zog, Delph and KEA all starting. Maybe Bannan, Holman and Herd making way.

[silhillvilla]

Wonder how many changes lambert will make . Only Guzan deserves the jersey .