Aston Villa Vs Tottenham: Match Thread

[t-baggins]

The first thirty minutes were poor, the conditions didn't help, and Villa's very organise and fast pressing game compacted the game and didn't allow Holtby to get on the ball. After getting through that pressure there is always going to be tired legs, which gives the likes of Townsend a little more space, and he capitalised.

Well done spurs.

Benteke's miss was a big let off, and well done for actually going and winning the tie with our second. Far too often Spurs have missed those opportunities.

Great result, and even more pleasing to see Sandro come through unscathed, and Chinriches play 90 mins. I have always like Vertongan at left back, and when Kaboul regains full fitness I see him partnering Dawson next to Vertogan with his pace to offer cover.

Wasn't one of Siggi's best games, but he has been a threat of late and deserves to keep his spot. It will be interesting to see how Lennon responds to the inverted winger system AVB likes.

 

[Mer fantastik]

Wonderful awareness from Holtby!

He could almost get an assist on that move.

 

[dudu]

Ive got nothing that new to say having read this thread. It was a shite first half all round. Teams are going to come out the blocks and just press press press us, home or away. We clearly need a bit more time to refine our movement going when going forward from these positions, something which i think will come the more settled our players get with each other in the system. I know its been said to death but transition does take time. West Ham proved that! This run from now until Xmas is vital for the teams stability and this should be where we see it all come together. Having lennon back will make a huge difference as opponenets really wont know what to expect now.....Managers cant plan perfectly for every eventuality and not knowing if we are going to be stretching the game with two natural wide players gives us an extra dimension for opponents to worry about. Any away victory where a team invites us to play like the home side is impressive and another clean sheet away from home is quite frankly ridiculous to me as a spurs fan.

I dont think we are going to be a boring team at all once Andre has us ticking. I see us being ruthless and clinical. We just need to get better from the get go - if we scored more early goals we would thump teams because then they have to play, have to come at us and will inevitably leave gaps everywhere for us to exploit. Work in progress and only 3 points off the top.

 

[HotspurFC1950]

IMO we were very professional.

We do lack a special player that can take us to an EPL championship.

We don't have a van Persie, Rooney, Aguerro, Suarez or anyone similar to those guys.

 

[$hoguN]

Why do people (opposition fans) keep saying that Townsend's goal was a fluke? The term fluke implies that it wouldn't go in the majority of the time, but providing the cross is on target and Soldado attacks the ball (committing Guzan to the front post) that goes in 98 times in 100. The fact Holtby looks at the flight of the ball and ducks out of the way makes it a great goal if anything.

 

[Phantom]

Why was this not able to go in the main thread?

 

[melih69]

lamela has the potential to be that player.

 

[Ginolas_Hair]

I though we played well especially in the second half. We managed to find space in the midfield. I thought Holtby, Townsend, Paulinho and Sandro were brilliant. Both Holtby and Paulinho managed to bring Bobby Soldado into the game and finally saw his finishing. Nice goal too

Re. the lack of a special player - it's still early days but hasn't Eriksen shown he can create something magical already? Additionally, on current form Townsend has shown he can be a threat to a left-back and Paulinho seems to be growing with each game.

 

[OmarsComing]

Why was this not able to go in the main thread?

Cos he's old, init.

Bless

 

[OmarsComing]

lamela has the potential to be that player.

So does Sandro, Capoue, Eriksen, Townsend, Holtby (nb mufti) and Soldado

 

[Kendall]

lamela has the potential to be that player.

Not for a long time. Talking 2 years until we could possibly see that kind of star quality from him.

 

[Kendall]

Why do people (opposition fans) keep saying that Townsend's goal was a fluke? The term fluke implies that it wouldn't go in the majority of the time, but providing the cross is on target and Soldado attacks the ball (committing Guzan to the front post) that goes in 98 times in 100. The fact Holtby looks at the flight of the ball and ducks out of the way makes it a great goal if anything.

He got the rewards by putting in a very flat delivery into a dangerous area, that's why you put it there.

 

[JAYSTAR]

I watched the second half again and it's clear Sandro had a massive impact. What was interesting was the way he dropped deep and paulinho pushed further upfield. Defoe should have played him in.
Imo avb may end up playing two set-ups, given the players we have and depending on the opposition.
Paulinho is very attack minded and can ger back to break up the play, but is better pushing fwd while Dembele secures the midfield alongside sandro. I think we'll end up with:

Sandro dembele partnering for tougher opposition and sandro and paulinho for teams like av where we're trying and expecting to get ahead. In those ones as yesterday dembele will come on to close out a game.

Apart from needing Rose back asap, the main issue we have is who to play as lw if holtby or eriksen or lamela plays 10. Siggy is just not good enough in that position. Lennon? Chadli? Lamela? Great problems to have eh?!

 

[Wellspurs]

Watched it again on MOTD and I'm sure Holtby meant that duck?

 

[Sweetsman]

Agreed, there may well be a desire by AVB to bring players in on a match by match basis, but there should still be enough talent avaiable to play a left footed player wide on the left surely? The last two games have showed our lack of width does handicap our game and use of The Soldier.

Last year, Bale and Lennon would switch wings and I think that once the squad has gelled they will have the confidence to be more fluid in their movement: creativity will blossom in the Tottenham garden.

 

[woodyspur]

i didn't get to see the whole match as i was in and out of the den but what i saw i liked.


funny, our commentators were saying how poorly we were playing and we needed a goal to get going and then we scored about 5 seconds later...

OFF TOPIC, in a way, how many live matches on the telly on saturdays over there?
we usually have three EPL matches. and then one on sunday. and if you have beIN you can get even more... not EPL, la liga though and then frenchies and serie a...

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

i didn't get to see the whole match as i was in and out of the den but what i saw i liked.


funny, our commentators were saying how poorly we were playing and we needed a goal to get going and then we scored about 5 seconds later...

OFF TOPIC, in a way, how many live matches on the telly on saturdays over there?
we usually have three EPL matches. and then one on sunday. and if you have beIN you can get even more... not EPL, la liga though and then frenchies and serie a...

Every game live to pick from, two or three on NBC Sports and then NBCLive Xtra streaming live download. Over the last seven years, if i am not at the game itself at WHL i have seen every game home and away except (for whatever reason) the2-0 away win at Norwich. I still cannot figure out why that one wasn't shown but if i remember right i think it was originally postponed from a Saturday?

The NBC football lineup is second to none and trumps Sky hands down, with their studio contributors being Mustoe and Earl they are both educational and incisive with their comments. As for Rebecca Lowe the host i would willingly let her show me her 4-4-2 or reverse pass anytime......................

BeIn is good for European football and shows Spurs CC matches though the commentary is a little dubious.

 

[woodyspur]

so you guys are able to get NBC sports..? kool.

i was a little concerned when they announced their deal.

i would have like to see FOX SOCCER try to sign some other league to a deal. The SPL would do. Or even sign up the League Championship. then i could maybe see my beloved Wednesday on a regular basis.


yes i am a sheffield wednesday fan too.... =(