Spurs v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[SaddVillan]

I expect Spurs will make a big thing of the death this week of Martin Chivers.

Minute silence/applause, armbands, highlights reel on the big screen etc.

Understandable.

[eamonn]

So did West Ham with Billy Bonds, fat lot of good it did them.

Also, our tribute to Gary Shaw looked, sadly, a bit half-cocked in comparison. Was there even a tifo? Ozzy got one without giving a shag about the Villa.

Minute's silence was fucked-up and turned into an applause too.

[Allan C]

I think we’ll win this despite putting out an almost unrecognisable team. If we do go out though, it’ll affect me for all of 5 minutes. The FA Cup lost its glory for me years ago when the clubs stopped caring. 1-0 to us I think

[Chris Smith]

Some wild team selections being touted. Apart from Emery's first season (Stevenage - less said the better), he's picked strong FA cup teams in both seasons. Both of those seasons we were in European competition.

There might be one or two changes but I absolutely can't see a world where Jimoh, Hemmings, Garcia etc all play

I agree, with no midweek game next week I think he’ll go fairly strong.

[rougegorge]

Some wild team selections being touted. Apart from Emery's first season (Stevenage - less said the better), he's picked strong FA cup teams in both seasons. Both of those seasons we were in European competition.

There might be one or two changes but I absolutely can't see a world where Jimoh, Hemmings, Garcia etc all play

I would agree. I can't see all of them starting and don't think I would want to. In the past, when fit, he nearly always selects Martinez, Konsa, Tielemans, and Rogers, and whilst he may vary from that, we need to put a strong team out. We shouldn't shrug the FA Cup away, especially whilst there is no guarantee of winning another trophy this season.

[Villa Lew]

I see the match is on on both the Beeb and TNT, which is a bit odd, but it's good for those, who haven't Sky or Virgin.

[Somniloquism]

Martinez definitely out although I doubt he would have started anyway. Mings still to be assessed. As for Alyyson, sounds like they are considering him in the squad but very non-comittal on starting.

Meanwhile, January signing Alysson could be involved at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Emery said: “Today, we are training now and we expect to be ready for tomorrow, but we need to check him in the training session.

“Of course, he did a few training (sessions) with us and he had a small stop for one small injury.

“But he trained yesterday, he has to adapt in everything, but we want to try and include him as soon as possible in our meetings, in our moments gathering for dinner, lunch, breakfast.

“Try to get close with his team-mates and hopefully he can travel to London and be in the match tomorrow against Tottenham.”

[Percy McCarthy]

Romero banned.

[Rigadon]

Romero banned.

Shame, he's such a lovable scamp.

[Somniloquism]

I expect an extra match ban for Grealish as well.so he might also miss our match next week.

[exigo]

It's the one trophy I really want to see us lift in my lifetime. I'm also totally on-board with us focusing on winning the Europa and getting top 5 as absolute priority, and won't shed a tear if we go out tomorrow.

Equally, I'm very on board with our new Brazilian tearing them a new one and sending Spurs into meltdown.

[Sexual Ealing]

I had a look at The Fighting Cock.

- They think we'll hump them.
- Some of them will be annoyed if they win because it means Frank will say longer.
- They won't have many there (in the stands or on the bench).
- They're confused why so many Villa fans seem to have a downer on them. I thought about this, and the best I could come up with for me is, 'doesn't everyone hate Spurs?'

4-0 them.

[Monty]

Even more inexplicable is how many of them hate us. Guess it's a compliment!

[olaftab]

Romero banned.

Oh bugger, that strengthens them.

[LeeS]

We have 8 days before Everton. Play to win, please.