Home truths

[olaftab]

Our home form has been unacceptable since 1996. I am therefore surprised that still neatly 40k turn up.

[Matt Collins]

Spurs had a shocking record against us when I was growing up, but they were generally a bottom half team. Role reversal in every way since then.

I'd argue Man U have had a couple of bad off-days in the last couple of years. It's just that they lasted for 60 minutes and then the inevitable happened.

[eastie]

It's also worth remembering that after THAT 3-0 win Spurs had at the beginning of 86/87 they won something like one of the next 20 odd games at VP. And only about 4 in total since 86/87.

And in the last few years they've hardly broken sweat. The top teams seem to save their best form for us.

That game where they pissed around totally outplaying  us with 10 men was really embarrassing - like a training exercise .

[PeterWithesShin]

It's also worth remembering that after THAT 3-0 win Spurs had at the beginning of 86/87 they won something like one of the next 20 odd games at VP. And only about 4 in total since 86/87.

And in the last few years they've hardly broken sweat. The top teams seem to save their best form for us.

Last season is the only stroll I can think of for Spurs since 86/87. The other 3 (I think) wins they've managed in that time have all been by one. We've won a lot more at WHL in that time.

[dave.woodhall]

It's also worth remembering that after THAT 3-0 win Spurs had at the beginning of 86/87 they won something like one of the next 20 odd games at VP. And only about 4 in total since 86/87.

And in the last few years they've hardly broken sweat. The top teams seem to save their best form for us.

Last season is the only stroll I can think of for Spurs since 86/87. The other 3 (I think) wins they've managed in that time have all been by one. We've won a lot more at WHL in that time.

Their win in 2010-11 was easy enough, with us making it look a bit better with a late goal. Take Spurs out of the equation, then, and the fact remains that the consistently best teams always play well at Villa. 

[royvilla949]

all these stats & facts is all bollocks simple truth we need a new back four

[ChicagoLion]

all these stats & facts is all bollocks simple truth we need a new back four

Our Midfield does not look that clever either.

[KevinGage]

Our home form was our Achilles' heel under MON, it's true.   And we were no great shakes at VP prior to that (we were generally hard to beat, mind). 

But for the past few years it's been brutally bad.   2011/12 was the worst in our history (or close to it) as far as total wins were concerned, and PL only managed one more victory than that lame effort. 

Indifferent/ underwhelming home form as per the O'Neill, O'Leary, Gregory era would actually be welcome now, that's how pish we've been in recent years.

[Tayls_7]

all these stats & facts is all bollocks simple truth we need a new back four

Our Midfield does not look that clever either.

A lot of teams can get their noses in front and then be reasonably adept at closing the game out under prolonged periods of pressure. If we went one up early in the game how long would you predict it would be before Brad is picking the ball out of the net? 5 mins? 10 mins? Our powderpuff defence and midfield needs organising, refreshing and some flaming man-up pills.

[Legion]

How about we pioneer the initiative of two managers? I'll go for Lambert away and Gregory home.

[JUAN PABLO]

We are desperately short of an attacking midfielder who can unlock defences, like Ben Arfa. It's painfully obvious and must be addressed.

Too late now as the window is shut but its been a priority for a long time and one that should have been addressed rather than another striker.

We are desperately short of an attacking midfielder who can unlock defences, like Ben Arfa. It's painfully obvious and must be addressed.

Too late now as the window is shut but its been a priority for a long time and one that should have been addressed rather than another striker.

still cant believe this .   oh well , at least Charlie will be fit sometime at christmas ;( Im sure he will unlock the opposition at home * grabs second bottle of whisky *

[supertom]

I'm just wondering, and I believe it's been pondered before, but is the modern Premier League game and the way the majority of teams set up, actually suited to playing away? A lot of teams are actually more effective counter attacking. I would say there's very few genuine fortresses left in the league. Arsenal and Spurs (more so in the Bale era probably) I would suggest were rock solid home form away from being title chasers in recent years. And perhaps this year too.

Utd nowadays are more effective as a counter attacking unit too. Whether stats back it up I don't know, but very few grounds have an air of the impenetrable any more. Mourinho at the Bridge springs to mind as being one of those few.

It's probably not just us struggling to make their home patch a fortress. That said though, the last few years have been utter dire. I mean I know we pick out numbers under O Neill. 8, 9 home wins a season and figure it's not enough. But I'd snatch the arm off any man offering us 8 home wins this season. At the very least, we need to cut out so many defeats. 2 out of our first 2 is woeful, and sets a horrible tone. We shouldn't be losing any more than 5 at home in the league, but I can't see us able to do that.

[supertom]

Just a cursory check of last seasons table, and from 7th down, all the home records were average at best. Spurs and Arsenal both dropped points in 8 home games a piece, and would expect to do better.

[Matt Collins]

But I think only we picked up more points away than at home - though even that was marginal

[N'ZMAV]

We're a soft touch. I fell for us after that game at Arsenal. I'm starting to change my mind now.