Aston Villa v Spurs Post-Match Thread

[LeonW]

Spurs are probably safe now.  If that's the result that saves them, we've missed a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Everytime Spurs beat us, pip us to a European place, outbid us for a transfer target, injure one of our players or negatively affect us in anyway, we'll be harking back to this day and this result.

We had the opportunity to set them back 4 or 5 years, and under DeZerbi, they won't be as bad again next season.

Totally agree. We’re always very obliging. Like letting Matt Targett go to Newcastle for a smallish fee and he helps keep them up.

[kippaxvilla2]

I can’t bring myself to be anything other than disgusted with the team selection and subsequent performance. 

[dorsetvillian]

Just home  and now I've had time to calm down and reflect on the performance I am still amazed at how lacking in heart, desire, and leadership that performance was. Definitely the worst performance under Unai and I think will have created a very nervous backdrop to Thursday night for most Villa fans.

[CT Villan]

Was watching on my phone prior to my daughter's game, turned it off at 0-2 and focused entirely on her game, at least they won 5-1 ! Villa were utter garbage (and have been for a while now), Unai rested the heart of our team and it showed. The second string are not good enough. We better destroy Forest on Thursday or Unai will have some explaining to do.

[aj2k77]

We've won 5 in 17 in the league since Christmas. It's been very poor for a while, we all understand why. Poor signings, lack of evolution in the 1st team, midfield wiped out for 6 weeks, no pace etc etc but it doesn't deter from the fact we've been very lacklustre.

Thursday is going to be a massive battle, we aren't very good at the moment and haven't been for a while. They're on the up and have a lead to cling to.

If we approach the game passive and playing at walking pace then we will lose.

[ROBBO]

One team wanted it the other couldn't wait to get off the pitch. I have seldom seen a team capitulate so early in the game. For those unfortunate to attend you should get compensated.
There were eleven Villa players on the pitch who earn more playing football in one year than the people watching earn in a lifetime. The one player i give a break to is Bogarde, he did try the effort was there it isn't his fault that he's just not good enough. The attitude of the manager on the touchline said it all, if the players weren't interested neither was the manager, I have never seen Unai so passive. I thought the players would walk of at half time to thunderous booing, there was some, but it seems the crowd was fairly passive too.

[OzVilla]

Whatever happens between now and the end of the season, there were at least 5 players that appeared in that gash that simply cannot be here next season.

If nothing else this demonstrated how threadbare this squad really is in ability and ticker. And how shocking our recent recruitment has been.

[steamer]

I don't think i've ever seen Villa ditch a game so blatantly as that.

Moscow?

The Greek Game
Utd last year

[steamer]

Sorry, forgot , Stevenage, any game against Palace in the last few seasons

[Tom_Mc9?]

Some players on the pitch—when they're having an off day—simply cannot cope without senior figures like Konsa, McGinn, and Watkins to support them. Sancho is one. I'm ignoring Rogers as he's overplayed and off-form as a result. The fact that captain Mings is one of these is a concern.

Sancho isn't good when he's confident. When he's lacking confidence is a £200k a week League Two player.
Bailey could come in for him but only because he couldn't do much worse. Hardly on merit.
Tielemans dreadul. Maybe he can go in the Mings category.

Basic stuff like not being able to do simple passes? The Sancho Tielemans corner routine? The Tielemans can't get past the first man, can't cross past the first man, can't pass past the same man on the third attempt corner routine?
The not shooting against a keeper who doesn't exactly shout out confidence until injury time?

Lost for words on how bad it was. I'm not joining in on the hyperbole about Unai, he's got more credit in the bank than any manager across the country in some regards. Not his best selection but he couldn't predict that some of these players wouldn't do something as basic as Mings 5-10 yard unopposed pass to Lindelof wrong.

Cash just about comes away with some credit, maybe Martinez. 3/10 for them.

Dreadful.

[Bobby Boy]

One team wanted it the other couldn't wait to get off the pitch. I have seldom seen a team capitulate so early in the game. For those unfortunate to attend you should get compensated.
There were eleven Villa players on the pitch who earn more playing football in one year than the people watching earn in a lifetime. The one player i give a break to is Bogarde, he did try the effort was there it isn't his fault that he's just not good enough. The attitude of the manager on the touchline said it all, if the players weren't interested neither was the manager, I have never seen Unai so passive. I thought the players would walk of at half time to thunderous booing, there was some, but it seems the crowd was fairly passive too.

I booed at half-time and I get all the the reasons why that is not helpful but that was a disreputable first half performance. It was a corrupt performance. The lack of effort, the absence of application, the inertia was gutting to witness.

I didn't go to Moscow so actually I don't think I've ever seen a Villa game that didn't feel right but last night felt very wrong.

That's tainted Emery a bit for me and some will say that's being precious but that wasn't Aston Villa FC out there.

I hope never to see it again from a team wearing our shirt and carrying our name.

[oldhill_avfc]

I guess Im drawing together what others have said, but if there’s anything positive to be taken out of that game it’s that it surely informs key decisions need to be made regarding transfers over the summer.

Sadly, I agree Mings has to go.

Bogarde - not good enough currently to be even 4th choice.
Luiz - if he’s not better than Bogarde, then what’s the point?
Bailey, Sancho, Elliot - we all know they’re not up to it
Buendia- no problem with off the bench, but not a starter
Tammy - he’s not a Watkins replacement/doesn’t suit our preferred style of play

And, for me, most importantly - when the opposition press well we really struggle without McGinn.  He gives us the outball and control to break and move forward.  We desperately need a plan B for when hes not available.

[wolfman999]

I thought, after a night's sleep and some quiet reflection, I could look at yesterday with more reasoned reflection. But no, this morning, I'm still fucking livid at what I saw yesterday. Unai has banked a lot of credit for where he has taken us in the last few seasons, but he is not immune from criticism and he will burn through that credit pretty quickly if he pulls that stunt too many more times. Oh, and a special mention for whoever (dis)organised the bag restrictions at the turnstiles. Without apparent warning, we were turned away and told to deposit them at a hut near the Warehouse and charged five quid for the inconvenience. I know security is important, but a little warning wouldn't go amiss and then to see several people sitting near me with similar bags just added to the irritation. Now I'm off to enjoy the bank holiday!

[Steve67]

Until the last few minutes, yesterday was as bad as anything I’ve watched at Villa for many years. The lack of effort, the disjointedness, poor passing, heavy first touches, wasted corners and free kicks was bloody terrible. As a result of our lack of effort, it was the easiest game Tottenham could have hoped for.  I’m angry because we let them off the hook, angry because Emery has always said that the Premier League is the priority, angry because we are lacking momentum at the worst possible time. I hope his gamble comes off.

[PeterWithe]

Maybe, when we are in for a young foreign player, and he chooses similar wages but the lights of London and Tottenham instead, we will regret sacrificing this game. On reflection, Spurs were very good, organised and far more athletic than us all over the park, but they, like us, could have taken it easy and conserved energy for the upcoming games, and still beaten us comfortably.