Aston Villa vs Tottenham 1/1 pre/post match talk

[chanman83]

Continuing my run of theads that equal to wins for our team hahah. Spurs are definitly inform at the moment not to say villa isn't isn't either. Knight won't be on the pitch due to suspension on a red card from the Chelski game. We look to be hopefully healthy as I hope dawson or Rocha are fit to play. After that crazy ass 10 goal game vs reading I'm hoping for nothing close to that... err unless WE score all ten goals ahha. King should be back at CB and he needs to be if Kaboul is there again he needs to tell the kid what to do or we could be in for a long day. HUGE freaking game and away too so I'd LOVE a draw but I know we can win to, so my prediction is 2-1 spurs.

COYS!

[electrickeeper]

The final will be 1-0 to one team or the other, I'm just not sure which yet.

[mattie g]

I'll go one better than the game at The Lane earlier this season.

5-5.

[soccernutter]

I'll go one better than the game at The Lane earlier this season.

5-5.

Yeah, that's about right.

Holy crap, just looked at the schedule this season so far...we've scored 4 or more goal 5 times this season in the league.

[Skizz]

The home stats say enough methinks.

Goals scored at home

1 Tottenham Hotspur 30
2 Arsenal 23
3 Manchester United 22
3 Everton 22
5 Chelsea 20
5 Liverpool 20
7 Manchester City 19
8 Newcastle United 16
9 Bolton Wanderers 15
9 Fulham 15
11 Aston Villa 14
11 Reading 14
13 Wigan Athletic 13
14 Birmingham City 12
14 West Ham United 12
16 Blackburn Rovers 11
16 Middlesbrough 11
16 Portsmouth 11
16 Sunderland 11
20 Derby County 7

Goals conceded at home

1 Tottenham Hotspur 21
2 Derby County 19
3 Fulham 16
4 Newcastle United 15
4 Middlesbrough 15
6 Aston Villa 13
6 Reading 13
6 Sunderland 13
9 Birmingham City 12
9 Blackburn Rovers 12
9 Wigan Athletic 12
12 Everton 11
12 West Ham United 11
14 Bolton Wanderers 9
15 Chelsea 8
15 Portsmouth 8
17 Arsenal 7
17 Manchester City 7
19 Liverpool 6
20 Manchester United 3

[sendorange]

Not sure what team Juande will put out, although hopefully Thudd will be switched out for Boateng or O'Hara. We just can't cope defensively with him in a 4-4-2 at the moment.

Possibly:

------------Robinson

Chimbonda-Zokora--King--Lee

Lennon---Jenas--Boateng--Malbranque

--------Keane--Berbatov

Defoe is pushing Keane for a start though. He's been in good form last few weeks and Robbie has looked hit and miss since he got back from suspension.

[Hauler]

I'm hoping that berbatov can continue to find the kind of form he had against Reading cause that means at the end of the year we can sell him for a good chunk of change.

[LedleybetterthanSol]

As much as I like Hudd, is he the worst player at defending on set pieces in the league. The man he's marking has scored about 3 times against us during set pieces, probably due to his tanker-like agility.

[HomeatHighbury]

Not sure what team Juande will put out, although hopefully Thudd will be switched out for Boateng or O'Hara. We just can't cope defensively with him in a 4-4-2 at the moment.

Possibly:

------------Robinson

Chimbonda-Zokora--King--Lee

Lennon---Jenas--Boateng--Malbranque

--------Keane--Berbatov

Defoe is pushing Keane for a start though. He's been in good form last few weeks and Robbie has looked hit and miss since he got back from suspension.

Where did O'Hara come from? He was superb against us.

[Mort99]

O'Hara came through the youth ranks, was on loan at Millwall last season. He did play well against Arsenal and Fulham where he started in midfield and ended up playing very well at left back.

John Carew i think is injured but i think Knight is back from suspension but could be replaced by Curtis Davies who scored the other day.

Will be interesting to see if Berbs plays, if not then we all know what's going on there. That would mean Bent gets to run in straight lines and generally do nothing.

Huddlestone will likely start as he's our most creative player albeit a bit too slow for the Prem. Zokora is back as well but presumably Jenas will start with Lennon and Malbranque on the wings.

Will the new kid from Cardiff be in the squad? It's new years day so will be eligible

[LedleybetterthanSol]

I believe O'Hara is a former gooner.

[greatbluekingly]

I believe O'Hara is a former gooner.

As far as I know, and I could be wrong, he was an academy player for us--he has done loan spells at Chesterfield and Milwall. But I am pretty sure he signed his first professional contract with us after coming through our youth system.

[Hauler]

O'Hara is a friggin stud. Hope we can keep him for a couple years maybe more then a couple. He has a lot of confidence and I really like him. With the Gunter transaction and the prospect of Emmaunelson maybe coming in I'm really happy with the way our future and present is looking. Anyway 2-1 us in a good exciting game just like last time.

[Mr Tips]

With Dawson being back as an option in defense, the only real questions on the starting XI lie in the middle. And with Zokora being back from suspension and the pace the Villa has in midfield, I suspect that we'll probably see:

Lennon JJ Zokora Steed

THudd has played well the last couple of games, but I think Zokora's extra speed will be needed. I'd rather see KPB in over Jenas, but I'll acknowledge that JJ is more of a threat IF he plays up to his potential (shame that happens so infrequently).

Thinking of subs, assuming that King and Dawson start, do you put Kaboul on the bench, or do you fill that slot with another midfielder with the intention of pushing Zokora back to CB if you have to pull one of your starters? KPB, O'Hara, Taarabt.....they've all proven to be real threats when brought on (particularly O'Hara).

Villa away won't be easy, but Spurs will have to win games like this if they want to overtake the clubs above them and get back up where they belong. The talent is there and the offense is firing...maybe with the first choice central defensive pairing together, Spurs can finally get the defense sorted today.

COYS!!!

[Mr Tips]

I believe O'Hara is a former gooner.
Yeah, he was on their youth side before Spurs picked him up in '05.

[jumhed]

Yeah, he was on their youth side before Spurs picked him up in '05.

Indeed. They released him when he was a 15yr old. Apparently allegedly.

Aside from that, it'll be a tough game. Vanilla have a good attack with plenty of strength and movement.

[The Double]

Game is Live on FSC.

Hopefully I can focus on it and not my incredible hangover.

[electrickeeper]

Robbo
Zokora (Chimbonda had to return home?)
Dawson (resting King)
Kaboul
Lee
Lennon
Jeans
Boateng
Malbranque
Defoe
Berbatov

[soccernutter]

Will be interesting to see if Berbs plays, if not then we all know what's going on there. That would mean Bent gets to run in straight lines and generally do nothing.

Not necessarily. We have 4 quality forwards/strikers. While Berbs form is top of the charts, he also needs rest. Seeing he is starting today, That is 4 matches started in 10 days time. That is alot. And while we have Chelsea on Monday, it would not surprise me to see him on the bench, or even not on the match day roster to give him rest.

[Colm]

I'd take a draw here, our record at Villa park is awful i believe.