Aston Villa v Tottenham Hotspur Post-Match Thread

[JUAN PABLO]

Luna.

well yes hes better than Bennett , but that was not hard , I think Konchesky would be better, so yes the full backs have improved our defence ( at times ) but even Luna has been awful at times , his positioning sometimes is terrible .


p.s i keep hearing about £100 million spurs spent , it did not look like £100 million the game before when west ham spanked them 3-0 with no striker and their best player by far at the moment was free . 

These teams can be beat , I just find us so dull to watch at home , Im hoping it all clicks soon.

[Ad@m]

Nobody used to mention possession until TV coverage started flashing it up at every opportunity. The day you get points for artistic interpretation will be the day I worry about any figure except goals.

To be fair, whilst there are obvious exceptions the stats generally support the fact that greater possession = more points (http://footballblog.co.uk/possession-game.html).  Logic also dictates that when we have the ball the opposition almost certainly won't score and when they have the ball we almost certainly won't score.  The ease with which we give the ball away at home is bordering on criminal.

[dave.woodhall]

Nobody used to mention possession until TV coverage started flashing it up at every opportunity. The day you get points for artistic interpretation will be the day I worry about any figure except goals.

To be fair, whilst there are obvious exceptions the stats generally support the fact that greater possession = more points (http://footballblog.co.uk/possession-game.html).  Logic also dictates that when we have the ball the opposition almost certainly won't score and when they have the ball we almost certainly won't score.  The ease with which we give the ball away at home is bordering on criminal.

Maybe, but to keep on about possession while ignoring the fact that we actually won the game strikes me as moaning for the sake of it.

[Monty]

Nobody used to mention possession until TV coverage started flashing it up at every opportunity. The day you get points for artistic interpretation will be the day I worry about any figure except goals.

To be fair, whilst there are obvious exceptions the stats generally support the fact that greater possession = more points (http://footballblog.co.uk/possession-game.html).  Logic also dictates that when we have the ball the opposition almost certainly won't score and when they have the ball we almost certainly won't score.  The ease with which we give the ball away at home is bordering on criminal.

Indeed, it's a very good tactic. However, Dortmund show how it's not always crucial: they sometimes get 70% possession, and they sometimes get 45%, and they have a way to win on either type of occasion. It's all about who you're playing.

[Ads]

If we'd have won 4-1 at Chelsea, they couldn't have complained. Cech made two brilliant point blank saves from Andi.

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p.s i keep hearing about £100 million spurs spent , it did not look like £100 million the game before when west ham spanked them 3-0 with no striker and their best player by far at the moment was free . 

Of course they can be beat, we have beaten two of them, probably the best two sides in the league, but more often than not, their quality will see them through. Its no coincidence that they're all near the top. 

[supertom]

Nobody used to mention possession until TV coverage started flashing it up at every opportunity. The day you get points for artistic interpretation will be the day I worry about any figure except goals.

To be fair, whilst there are obvious exceptions the stats generally support the fact that greater possession = more points (http://footballblog.co.uk/possession-game.html).  Logic also dictates that when we have the ball the opposition almost certainly won't score and when they have the ball we almost certainly won't score.  The ease with which we give the ball away at home is bordering on criminal.

Indeed, it's a very good tactic. However, Dortmund show how it's not always crucial: they sometimes get 70% possession, and they sometimes get 45%, and they have a way to win on either type of occasion. It's all about who you're playing.

It's the former part we need get better at, most certainly at home.

[olaftab]

Luna, Bacuna and Okore are all better players than those  we had last season in similar positions.

[supertom]

Luna I thought played well in attack against Spurs. He kept trying to drive us forward. Defensively he has work to do but in the first half he did keep Townsend reasonably quiet. It's just as Spurs took control in the second half, and Townsend grew into the game Luna was, as per normal, left a bit isolated. Again, much like Ben Arfa against Newcastle, this was something happening that Lambert didn't really address as the game went on. It's something that he's got to improve on.

This is why the City game we looked fairly solid on the flanks through most of the game. There was always support on either side because of our midfield, or that third CH helping out. Our fullbacks didn't get isolated.

I don't think the wing back system is the way to go at all but what might help is to have Delph and Sylla both playing from the off to provide the legs to help cover, and play with at least one wider player, be it Albrighton or Bacuna, who can cover the full back on whichever side their on. Decent teams target our wings and have a lot of joy.

[edgysatsuma89]

I know a lot don't like the wing back formation, but I'm all for it personally. I don't think it is overly negative as it would be negated by some of the midfield being further upfield, whilst remaining solid. It would also mean Weimann/Gabby could play off The Beast, in their actual role.

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We need to get Sylla into the midfield. He is physical, quick and can put a tackle in; essentially he can do everything that Delph does now, leaving him to play ten yards higher up the pitch. Delph has been gliding through midfields for fun, we need to be doing all we can to get our players who have an attacking intent within them higher up the park, where he can get shots off or make runs into the box.

When do you see our midfield actually hitting the box? Delph is the answer, with the addition of Sylla.

[dekko]

I know a lot don't like the wing back formation, but I'm all for it personally. I don't think it is overly negative as it would be negated by some of the midfield being further upfield, whilst remaining solid. It would also mean Weimann/Gabby could play off The Beast, in their actual role.

I think it certainly has a place.  It's especially good when you're against a team playing 4-4-2, because assuming your wingbacks have the stamina to keep getting up and down the pitch you'll have 3 CBs against their 2 strikers, 5 midfielders against their 4, and you still get to have 2 strikers.  Like we saw against City, you can easily drop back into a very solid block thats hard to break down.  Against a weaker team the wingbacks can push right up and the whole formation becomes very attacking.  I actually think if we'd played 3-5-2 against Hull we'd have won.

As we saw against Chelsea last season, however, The problem comes when the opposition plays with 5 in midfield, or when your midfielders don't cover for the WBs enough, because then they either get pinned back or overloaded by the opposition's wide players.

[LeeB]

We need to get Sylla into the midfield. He is physical, quick and can put a tackle in; essentially he can do everything that Delph does now, leaving him to play ten yards higher up the pitch. Delph has been gliding through midfields for fun, we need to be doing all we can to get our players who have an attacking intent within them higher up the park, where he can get shots off or make runs into the box.

When do you see our midfield actually hitting the box? Delph is the answer, with the addition of Sylla.

Ballers be preachin' truth.

[Ron Manager]

We need to get Sylla into the midfield. He is physical, quick and can put a tackle in; essentially he can do everything that Delph does now, leaving him to play ten yards higher up the pitch. Delph has been gliding through midfields for fun, we need to be doing all we can to get our players who have an attacking intent within them higher up the park, where he can get shots off or make runs into the box.

When do you see our midfield actually hitting the box? Delph is the answer, with the addition of Sylla.

I agree with this.Give Westwood/Wiemann a rest and leave Gabby up front with Benteke.

[JD]

Can I just say that I hate losing to Spurzzzz and no doubt my yiddo Brother (I call him yiddo and it doesn't offend him) will call me this weekend to talk about the game (luckily it was early Monday morning over here and he is in the US, so he couldn't call me after the game).

Anyway, I haven't seen any highlights and don't want to, but I think we are slowly improving this season and we have had a very tough start, as well as been unlucky with injuries. I think as long as we keep improving and the players get more experienced, things will get better.