Spurs 3 Aston Villa 1 post match thread.

[Toronto Villa]

The scoreline reflects the possession. What am I disappointed about is that Dean says he wants to attack and win every game. I didn’t see any real desire to do that. It was entirely a back to the walls approach. Anyway let’s hope we see a much more progressive and attacking set up next weekend.

[paul_e]

there's 3 teams in this league that are out on their own at the top, playing away to one of them for the first game was always tough and getting anything required them to be off their game. First half they were and we took the lead but 2nd half was much more like the team that made the champions league final, unfortunately for us. Eriksen was the key though, once he came on we lost our shape and they started getting good chances.

[VillaAlways]

I hope that collapse doesn't dishearten the players. On to the next game.

Not a chance under Smith. They’ll just learn from it

[Smithy]

A disappointing result on paper, but clearly we tired very badly in the last 15 mins - as you'd expect when you spend almost entirely 75 mins chasing the other team.  I thought we'd score and lose today, they're a top premier league side, and champions league finalists - at home.

I thought Engels was brilliant, Mings much better 2nd half. Even Taylor did OK today.

I think my biggest disappointment is we didn't hold on to the ball at all well all day, which started with Wes who looked a bit shell-shocked to be honest, hopefully he'll be better next week.

On to the next one!

[Scovilla]

Still hopeful. We wont play Tottenham every week.
Good defence.
Time for a beer.

[andyh]

It’s very simple.
We need to be physically stronger all over the pitch.
We need to be be faster in possession and with our thinking.
The wingers really do need to grow some balls, some of their tracking back was none existent.

I think today’s game was a ‘welcome to the premier league’ wake up call.
We must learn from it and move on.

[themossman]

Weirdly, we sat deep in straight lines and invited the pressure. Would targett and Guilbert have given us more shape when we were defending the lead?

[SaddVillan]

Happy with the overall performance, if not the result.

Good effort in general. Some players not quite on the money.  Ran out of steam in the end.

This game shows that in Div 1 you can't afford to be carrying passengers or have anyone who is below par on the day.

We won't be playing teams like Spuds every weak

Onwards and upwards

[OzVilla]

Disappointed to have lost but no arguments, Spurs are different class. Thought Engels and Mings were superb.

[Tuscans]

Engels looks so accomplished at the back always looking left and right, very good debut.  The makings of a decent partnership with Mings hopefully.

Heaton is just amazing.

El Ghazi was very good first half, so was Trezeguet...you can see the understanding him and Elmo have already.

SJM probing forward was very good.

Taylor didn't do anything wrong the entire match.

Hourinhane is a weird one, who's too slow in body and mind at this level for me but...you kinda want him on for set pieces and long shots around the box.

Jack was good, but needs to just knock a second or 2 from holding onto the ball....especially in our own half under a lot of pressure.

Wesley did ok for me, he will get up to speed soon...tough against them 2 but can see him getting better, especially against the rest.

Gutted we didn't pick up a point but still proud of everyone.

[brontebilly]

Second half was worrying I thought. Eriksen came on and we couldn't cope. But we looked horribly leggy the last 20mins and couldn't string two passes together. Centre backs both did well, McGinn at times but that was it really. Grealish in particular disappointed me, ridiculous flicks on the ball and his hair were all he offered second half.

Harsh to say but the likes of Elmo, Taylor and our first two subs are bog standard championship players . Hourihane sunk without trace there too, badly need Luiz a lot fitter. Mings was superb and Engels looks tidy. Heaton very calm and composed .

[kippaxvilla2]

As per the question in 2015 who is going to score the goals?

[markeeeebeeee2005]

Took my mum to the Three Kings in Kensington to watch it which was full of coked up Spuds.

We’re building a team. They have a team. We will be a lot better than them in the not too distant future.

The ref was crap even with VAR.

Spurs looked turgid and we would have smashed them if Doug and the first choice full backs had started.

We’ll be fine.

[Stu]

Spurs could bring on Eriksen when we were looking knackered. We did really well in the first half and probably should have been 3 up. Spurs fans were in full meltdown before their goal.

This was always going to be hard, and we should take heart from the performance.

[Nastylee]

Jack needs to get up to speed. Can't dilly dally 25 yards out in this league. Got caught a few times and obviously was way too deep but if we're that deep then he needs to adapt and realise you can't always look for a pass.