I like watching Postecoglou’s Spurs side. They’re even more gung ho than we are and frankly, it seems the manager doesn’t care. I’ve said a few times that while it’s entertaining, I don’t believe it’s a strategy that will win you anything and you have to be able to defend as well as you attack.
Given that both sides here attack better than they defend, I expect a few goals and a game that could go either way. It’s just a case of which defence proves worse.
Which is a good time to look at squad news and quite aptly, the big point for Spurs is that their apparently best central defender, Micky Van de Ven, is definitely out. Add in that Cristian Romero is also doubtful, their already dodgy defence looks even worse.
Which means that Ange might well go for it even more. Where a player I really rate, in Heung-min Son, who might make it, isn’t fully fit either, having had a hamstring issue. Wilson Odobert is out, with a hamstring injury and Djed Spence will be out because of a groin issue.
Even Timo Werner is looking doubtful.
So Spurs are not really in a good place, although in fairness, I’ve never heard of some of those players.
As for Villa, Ross Barkley is the only player out.
So what to think?
If our defence was even just a bit better they have been, I’d say this should be in the bag and I’d predict a win by a couple of goals.
But it’s awful and quite frankly, I don’t think I like that fact. That’s probably down to the modern game and the way it’s played and also a hint of me having witnessed some stonkingly great Villa defenders over the years.
I see goals; more than 3.
And I think a 2-2 draw looks favourite.
That’s my prediction.
So watch it be a 1-0 game and I guess totally wrongly again.
UTV!
Apart from our European exploits we are nowhere near as good as last season still think we’re good enough for top 7 tho
That was so poor against a spurs team that were there for the taking
Losing against Palace I can accept if the rested players put in a shift but they looked like they couldn’t be bothered chasing Spurs down. Ollie is way off form and while Duran has a great shot in him, he doesn’t offer the other qualities that an in form Ollie does.
Does SJM need to go back into a central role?
Been saying it since Smith’s time.
Didn’t see the game thank heaven.
Emery’s focus (and therefore the players?) is on Europe. He’s said as much by continually downplaying our chances in the League putting us behind Spuds and the Barcodes.
If Emery says enough times even the players will start believing it.
I said we would drop back into the pack and I stand by it.
4th looks a long way off to me.
It don’t take rocket science to understand if you don’t get the ball up front you won’t score goals, so why do the piss-about in defence and not get the ball up field, time and time again we interchanged passes and got nowhere. Watkins this season been robbed of goals so has the front line. I hope that Unia has on his birthday learned a lesson and gets the players to open up and stop playing safe .
And when you do get up there you have to effin shoot! Ollie had a great chance to blast one with his left foot when through in the box but declined. Why?!! 😡
We’ve conceded 91 goals in 48 games, apparently. Going nowhere until that’s sorted. And to think we had the best defence in the league this time last year with all the pundits lauding our offside trap. What happened to that???
Has the change in the offside rule caught us out?
From 3rd at one stage today now down to 6th.
Whatever Unai says about wanting to play in Europe every year, when we get knocked out of the CL, we have to get top 4 again so he can’t just be concentrating on Europe and neglecting the Prem. That doesn’t make any sense.
We need to get some shit sorted. ManU and Chelsea may well be back. Arsenal and Citeh wobbling…It’s there for the taking.
Not convinced we’re good enough and I’m not convinced Emery thinks we’re good enough either.
You ain’t wrong BB, it is there for the taking this season and heaven forbid self pity city go all the way 🤦♂️
Did you see the interview with Nuno Espirito Santo on MOTD?
Start with the defence and not conceding?
Old fashioned?
Probably.
But he ain’t wrong.
100% correct. Some things will never go out of fashion. That’s one of them. Unai got that part right last season. I don’t know why it’s fallen apart. The playing staff is the same apart from Lenglet. 🤷
The team are trying to play in a controlled, measured way in an attempt to get results while not playing at 100%. I think this is a choice made due to the demands of CL football.
It’s not working so it will be interesting to see if Emery changes tack
Are you referring to ‘resting when in possession’? i.e. not running around like headless chickens? Canadian Pete talks about that a lot, but does it take some of the urgency out of the game? We were certainly lacking yesterday 🙁
Just that 👍
The MOTD analysis was eye-opening. Spurs outran us by a wide margin. Villa usually come near the bottom of the running stats. I suspect that is due to players running nowhere while Emi stands on the ball. Success then depends firstly on taking the few chances we create. We didn’t with Watkins and Mcginn both snatching at theirs. Secondly in avoiding individual defensive errors. Konsa forgot he had moved to full back and should not be last man, whereas as central defender he should be – so he played Solanke onside though nowhere near him. Torres misjudged two crosses and finally Martinez failed to allow for Maddison’s bender.
Many happy returns?
I noticed all the Spuds fans booing when Emi stood on the ball earlier in the game. Then what did Spuds goalie do when they were winning? Yep, stood on the ball for ages!
TalkShite writing off Arse’s chances this season already with the departure of Edu…
Emery has some minor issues to resolve. I believe that our increased expectations mean the disappointment we are feeling is magnified.
Right side of the team is currently not working:
* Bailey is not at the races whatever reason- injury or form. It means most attacks go down the left. Teams are wise to that.
* Cash conundrum – struggles to play out from the back and this is not helped by not having an out ball – Bailey ineffectual and McGinn if by sheer luck gets the ball, just holds onto the it hoping for a foul and going to ground. Napoleon always valued lucky generals. Cash is the opposite when it comes to penalties.
* Balance – when Cash is injured or dropped for the big matches, Konsa goes to right back. This weakens the defence as he is so good as a centre half. Carlos is so inconsistent- one match excellent, the next he switches off and gifts the opposition a goal.
I’d like to see Nedeljković given a go. He has amazing pace. This might just allow us to break the press on the right hand side. Further, we can attack down that side, again due to his pace.
Or January 1st buy a new quality right back.
Venting over!
And a centre back!
Two centre backs! 🤬🤬🤬
Forest getting a lot of plaudits. And I’m feeling jealous. Our left back is playing brilliantly for them apparently. Gibbs-White is indeed the real deal; I feel I’ve been singing his praises on here for the last 5 years at least; should’ve signed him when he was within reach – out of reach now. Their defence is rock-solid and the chap they signed for peanuts from Fiorentina is colossal, alongside Murillo; meanwhile our CBs are a bit embarassing. Oh, and Chris Wood is outshooting Watkins and Duran.
Stop believing the hype, knuckle down, get back to basics, and fight for every ball! CLEAN F****** SHEETS!!!
Grumpy Villa fan.
Always like Moreno and a run in a team is doing wonders for him
But we don’t have a problem on the left or at LB.
To not sign a RB when even an idiot like me was screaming for it was a massive mistake. Unforgiveable too, to my mind.
Cash is Gash and the weak link, regardless of who is in front of him.
And that’s coming from someone who was a big supporter of him.
Up to a certain point, which we’re at.
We need a serious upgrade, with him in reserve.
Tried to look at it holistically rather than pick out individual positions – even though one or two players are not at the same level as last season.
Listening carefully to Emery, it seems to me he’s trying to dampen expectation whilst keeping the supporters onside.
The reality is we’ve over achieved massively in two years and with PSR restrictions, the club have to make difficult decisions around their transfer strategy.
I reckon we’ll do petty well in Europe which will bring in additional revenue but I expect us to fall back in the EPL. The upside is if all the EPL teams do well then it’s likely we’ll get a 5th Champions League place which means 8th will qualify for the Conference League.
Personally, I think we’re looking at 6th or 7th this season.
Not negative – just trying to be realistic.
UTV
We have to aim for minimum 4th, Hitch. Talk like that will result in finishing 8th or 9th. Keep expectations high! The league is wide open; City and Arsenal are faltering; this is our chance! Sort the defence out and kick-on! Don’t drop the gears and don’t drop expectations!
Apologies for the repeated post – I thought it hadn’t gone through.
Talk like that will result in finishing 8th or 9th, Hitch! We have to aim for 4th, minimum. The league is wide open; City and Arsenal are faltering; this is our chance! Don’t drop the gears and don’t lower expectations! Sort the defence out and crack on!
Regarding the team, I wonder if bringing Bouba back alongside Tielemans would be a good idea, with Youri playing Dougie’s number 8 role; he’s capable of scoring goals, especially long range, but it’s not happening and I’m not seeing him in the final third. Here’s the ‘kicker’ – to use a stupid on trend phrase: play Onana BEHIND them for extra steel , almost like a 3rd CB, with the specific and simple target of collecting clean sheets. OR, Bouba and Onana shielding with Youri in front of them pulling strings. Ramsey, Morgan and Ollie front 3. We need more from Ramsey, by the way. Not producing like a couple of years ago – where have all the super goals gone? There’s so much more to come from this team. Everyone is underperforming. The need to snap out of it and go for the title; I mean it! It’s there for the taking!
5.45 KO this afternoon lads!!!!
Won’t be able to watch the match – off to see Windies v England at Kensington Oval.
Give them a cheer for me.
23,E. Martínez
22,I. Maatsen
5,T. Mings
3,Diego Carlos
4,E. Konsa
8,Y. Tielemans
44,B. Kamara
7,J. McGinn (c), Captain
27,M. Rogers
31,L. Bailey
11,O. Watkins
Subs
26,L. Bogarde
10,E. Buendía
12,L. Digne
9,J. Durán
14,Pau Torres
18,J. Gauci
24,A. Onana
20,K. Nedeljković
25,R. Olsen
19,J. Philogene
41,J. Ramsey
50,S. Swinkels
We really need a pick me up game, hopefully we can do it here. Just as Ramsay hits good form Kamara comes back playing really well. We are so blessed on the left but thin on the right.
It’s all a bit slow when we are on the attack. A bit of a dilemma for Emery with both CB’s booked. Carlos an unnecessary one for arguing.
Second half we need to make sure we are at it as we tend to be caught out too often early on.
You would expect Torres for Mings and Onana for Kamara around the 60th minute plus Duran for Watkins. I would also swap McGinn for Ramsey to add a bit of running power to link up with Rogers more.
Bailey is looking better tonight.
Tielseman’s passing is poor.
Martinez great save.
Otherwise pedestrian
Pedestrian? The type of pedestrian who has no destination and all the time in the world to get there?
Beyond poor. A special mention for Carlos. Please offload at the earliest opportunity! But everyone is absolutely awful. Awful.
Oh, and we won’t be picking up 3 points this evening. Not on that showing. One point would be extremely lucky.
Not happy.
Half time 0-0. Mings and Kamara really do slow down the snappy play out of defence we had without them. Mings back to normal, booked for a needless wrestle and gave the ball away in a really dangerous position. But in the air in our box he has won everything.
A xxxxing penalty. Mings what were you thinking. Picking the ball up from the goal keeper kicking it to you
WTF happened there??????? Confused reffing????
Nope. Confused Villa. They look like they’ve all been taking tranquillisers. Utter shite. Shite.
Forgot the rules. Been out for a bit 😔
Brain not engaged. Are they all smoking spliffs in the changing room? 😡