Spurs 3 Aston Villa 1 post match thread.

[adrenachrome]

I'm hoping the spine of Heaton, Engels, Mings, Douglas, Grealish and McGinn can really develop over the next few weeks, as I feel that will be an important core for us going forward.

Sounds right to me.

Bumpy ride ahead, but we have the organization in place at all levels to get the job done.

[ChicagoLion]

I'm hoping the spine of Heaton, Engels, Mings, Douglas, Grealish and McGinn can really develop over the next few weeks, as I feel that will be an important core for us going forward.

There is one missing ingredient in that spine, jury out on Wesley.

[OzVilla]

I'm hoping the spine of Heaton, Engels, Mings, Douglas, Grealish and McGinn can really develop over the next few weeks, as I feel that will be an important core for us going forward.

There is one missing ingredient in that spine, jury out on Wesley.

It is but if Wes comes good we'll be absolutely fine with that spine.  I think we can be almost certain that those players mentioned above will be more than good enough at PL level, after seeing Engels display I've no real doubts about any of them.

Wes just needs an early goal to get him off and running. Benteke got one early and his confidence flowed from there, JPA took an age to score his first and it really effected the team.

[KRS]

An early goal will help Wes no end, but so would playing with a smile on his face...he had a tough job against Spurs on his own but he looked a right miserable sulky bastard yesterday so it would be great to see him smiling and look like he’s at least enjoying playing football.

[Legion]

I'm hoping the spine of Heaton, Engels, Mings, Douglas, Grealish and McGinn can really develop over the next few weeks, as I feel that will be an important core for us going forward.

There is one missing ingredient in that spine, jury out on Wesley.

Jury out after one match?

[brian green]

The same 12 good men and true who said Benteke was rubbish.

[sid1964]

Let us see what Wes is like when we create a chance for him, not just firing the ball at him 5 yards above his head.

A few things disappointed me on Saturday, why did we keep aiming our goal kicks out to the Elmohamady (was this not a Bruce tactic), why were not capable of passing the ball out from the penalty area? also Hourihane is not a central, defensive midfield player, I did not know he was on pitch in the second half and Jota is not a wide midfield player, he does not have the pace to play that position, for me he is a similar type of footballer to Grealish, and therefore needs to compete with Grealish for a position in the team.

The amount of times we won the ball back and then 10 seconds later we gave the ball back to Spurs was so disappointing.

It will be interesting to see what team Dean picks for the Bournemouth game.

[ChicagoLion]

The same 12 good men and true who said Benteke was rubbish.

Not guilty.

[brian green]

Never intended to imply you were CL.  Apologies if you thought my observation was aimed at you.  One thing we should have learned over the last dozen horrible  years is to stop the Get Rid mentality shaping our future.

Even if players underperform the skill is to get value for them.   Fat Sam's milk bottles and pop bottles.

[Chris Smith]

Let us see what Wes is like when we create a chance for him, not just firing the ball at him 5 yards above his head.

A few things disappointed me on Saturday, why did we keep aiming our goal kicks out to the Elmohamady (was this not a Bruce tactic), why were not capable of passing the ball out from the penalty area? also Hourihane is not a central, defensive midfield player, I did not know he was on pitch in the second half and Jota is not a wide midfield player, he does not have the pace to play that position, for me he is a similar type of footballer to Grealish, and therefore needs to compete with Grealish for a position in the team.

The amount of times we won the ball back and then 10 seconds later we gave the ball back to Spurs was so disappointing.

It will be interesting to see what team Dean picks for the Bournemouth game.

All of the issues you mention were down to the effectiveness of the high pressing game Spurs used. I doubt we will play a team more adept at it.

[phantom limb]

If there’s one thing I’d like to see stop it’s writing off players before they’ve had a run of games for us. There’s enough negativity around from other sources, players need a chance to settle.

[Mortimer's Bear]

Easier days ahead, we will be fine.

[Mister E]

Let us see what Wes is like when we create a chance for him, not just firing the ball at him 5 yards above his head.

A few things disappointed me on Saturday, why did we keep aiming our goal kicks out to the Elmohamady (was this not a Bruce tactic), why were not capable of passing the ball out from the penalty area? also Hourihane is not a central, defensive midfield player, I did not know he was on pitch in the second half and Jota is not a wide midfield player, he does not have the pace to play that position, for me he is a similar type of footballer to Grealish, and therefore needs to compete with Grealish for a position in the team.

The amount of times we won the ball back and then 10 seconds later we gave the ball back to Spurs was so disappointing.

It will be interesting to see what team Dean picks for the Bournemouth game.

All of the issues you mention were down to the effectiveness of the high pressing game Spurs used. I doubt we will play a team more adept at it.

But pretty much all of the teams will play a version of it.
A steep learning curve, and when players like Wes do get the ball they have to make sure it sticks.
I wasn't particularly disappointed after the game; as long as the lessons are learned and adopted, quickly, it'll have been the best game we played.

[themossman]

I actually thought Wesley got better as the game went on, which was masked by the rest of the team getting being put increasingly on the back foot.

[Dogtanian]

I actually thought Wesley got better as the game went on, which was masked by the rest of the team getting being put increasingly on the back foot.

I agree, I think someone had words with him at half time.  The problem was we were then defending too deep, so he was trying to hold the ball up exactly where Spurs wanted the ball to be anyway.