There’s not been a fat lot to talk about over the weekend has there?
Garde is still the favourite to get the Villa job, with much of the media thinking it’s pretty much a done deal and there are suggestions the Frenchman will be at tomorrow’s game.
Before I talk about the game though, Stan Collymore has come out with an interesting article in the Mirror, where he calls for Moyes to come in, comments on what the players thought about Sherwood leaving and gives his thoughts on Fox, Almstadt and Reilly.
On the latter point, he pulls no punches and slates all three in saying many at Arsenal couldn’t wait for Almstadt to leave, Reilly has added to the length of his job title every time he’s changed job and Fox is basically just a nice bloke.
Regardless of what you think about Collymore, he doesn’t beat about the bush, does he?
With Moyes, he says that the board should devolve all power to him.
Here, while Collymore may well be right, I actually think he’s off the mark on this one.
The board have decided on the road they want to go and for this reason, I don’t think there’s any chance of Moyes coming whatsoever.
Indeed, hasn’t Moyes actually said he wants to stay at Sociedad?
Not that we should take that as gospel, of course.
Regardless, it’s a fascinating read and I recommend you take a look.
So we have the game coming up tomorrow night and I’m afraid I’ve written it off and expect nothing whatsoever.
You’d be correct in pointing out that we actually beat Spurs in the corresponding fixture last season, but I just look at their attack and then compare it to our defence, who I have no faith in whatsoever.
I’ve suggested previously that our rearguard is our biggest problem and it’s why I fear any new manager is going to struggle, particularly until the winter window.
As much as I’ve always liked Guzan, he’s currently a liability and if I have little faith in him, it’s hard to see how our defence can have much either.
I’d be expecting a new goalie and possibly even a couple of defenders to come in, but that’s for the future.
My point is that although Richards, Lescott, Clark and Okore might seem fine on paper, hardly a game goes by where there isn’t a major defensive mistake and I don’t feel anything will change, particularly for this game.
So we’re going to concede then.
Which makes me think Kevin MacDonald will go for a defensive strategy ; one that will be wrong in my opinion.
Surely if you agree that we’re bound to concede, a better approach might be to try to outscore the opposition?
Yes, it might prove to be costly, but it strikes me we’re more likely to score than we are to keep a clean sheet.
Indeed, I think we’ve only kept one clean sheet in the Premier league (Bournemouth) this season.
Hence, if my assumption is correct, we need to score two goals.
And I don’t see that happening with a defensive setup against Spurs, even if they’re not that great at the back.
So I can’t see past a defeat, by at least two goals.
3-0 springs to mind, but I suspect we might get one in return, as we catch them on the break, with Gabby, who I feel is bound to start, getting a once in a blue moon goal.
3-1 is my guess then.
As for squad news, Richards and Lescott were both apparently carrying knocks for the Southampton game and Gary Gardner had a foot injury, but all are expected to be available.
Otherwise, I think we’re all good.
As for myself, I’m carrying an injury which will mean I won’t be doing a nightshift tomorrow, hence I’ll get to see the game.
I suppose every cloud has a silver lining, but that’ll depend on what happens tomorrow night.
Comments
74 responses to “Spurs – Villa; A total write-off, this one and Collymore’s latest article”
I wonder if this might be the shoeing some of us have been expecting?
Everton caning Sunderland 6-2.
Maybe there’s still hope for us?
Yes we’re in for a good pasteing tomorrow 3-1 SPURS would be a let off,I said it before I’m dreading the next 2 fixtures.
Sorry next 3 fixtures.
Disagree we will win 1.0 remember you heard it here first
With you on that Oohah, still I’m as daft as you.????
Lol
I just wish collymore showed this must passion when he played fou US.
waste of space.
At last
Some sense
Bloke is poison
Fair point if he had got his act together we prob would of won the league imo
Personally I could care less what Collymore thinks and that was before he turned spiteful. As far as I am concerned he is only trying to stay relevant and keep his name out there. Even if our new hierarchy members did contribute little at Arsenal at least they worked for a football club before which is still an improvement on what we had before.
As for the Spurs game I expect to see an improved side. For all of KMac’s faults he does have the ability to solidify the team – at the very least inspire Gabby. Contrary to what the media may say – win, lose, draw – the results this weekend have been favorable for us and we have ample time to get out of this. As long as the teams around us keep losing point, and Villa stay within striking distance point wise, I think we can easily get out of bottom 3 by January.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m not a Collymore fan.
But if Almstadt was actually WANTED out, as Collymore suggests, I’m not convinced that at least he worked for a club previously means much
As for the improved side; in what sense?
While I know what you’re getting at, in that an improved performance has to be good, it’s all about points and we need to start getting some.
That said, as you say, results went well for us and maybe the situation is not quite as bad as it seems at first glance.
There are still many twists and turns to be had.
I just find it hard to take Collymore as a credible voice of reason and truth. At the moment it seems he is on a campaign to character assassinate everyone at the club. If Almstadt really was wanted out of Arsenal, I have yet to hear the context for it. So far, my understanding is Stan just thinks he is a pencil pusher who doesn’t have the same outstanding football knowledge as himself and as such should never have been given the position he is in at Villa.
Improves side – I think we saw a little bit of an improved side on last Wednesday night. I agree we are now in the position of results, but it seemed like the squad worked much more as a unit, we created more chances than under Sherwood, and for a large part of the game we looked solid at the back – despite the pressure.
Overall I think KMac is just steadying the ship before the new manager comes in. Sherwood was always going to be a volatile character in the dressing room, that is how he gets his results by firing players up, but KMac is much more of a team coach/manager. You can hear it in his press conferences, he is soft spoken and constantly talks about working for the club and being in the fight together. Dunno, but with Sherwood gone and Garde more or less appointed I am starting to focus on the positives now.
Garde supposed to be announced tomor morning. So will be in stand watching game tomor which is why I think we will win 1.0
Just been watching Saints and Bournemouth on TV, the latter now high on the list of three teams we need to overtake. Now I will admit to being, as they say in Parliament well-lunched – so I dismissed the first sighting as being booze induced, but I paid attention to the TV ad on its second airing. No mistake – Betfair advanced odds Spurs to win tomorrow 5-1. not 1-5 which I reckon reasonable, 5-1. What do they know?
MacDonald’s comments about no more excuses include the idea that ‘if you are the best player in training you get to play, then if you deliver on the pitch you get to stay’ No argument with that for the start of the season. There are several players, notorious examples being LeTissier, McGrath and Sheringham, who never broke sweat in training but who did deliver on match-day. So, MacDonald has his own excuse now to try Kozak and some of the defensive laggards during training, because it is obviously the case that some of our selected players are not delivering on match day, whatever they do at BMH.
Those odds are for new betting mugs only with a min of £10 per bet. Complete con it’s to hook in a load of idiots that have more money than sense
OLL, are you suggesting we should play Kozak?
Last I heard (on here), by someone who watched him play for the U-21’s, was that he looked poor.
He’s probably lost interest in the club hence the performance can you blame him??????
Hmm, I’m tempted to agree Giddy, but surely the sign of a good player is that you do your best?
If you’re the sort who drops your performance because you think you’re better than how the gaffers think, well, I’m not convinced you’re the right sort for the club.
Sherwood’s always been hard headed and had his favorites, like O’Neill and wouldn’t give someone a chance. Much like he did with Lamela at Spurs. So why would you try as even if he impressed, there was no chance he’d get time, N’Zogbia replaced him as the reserve forward replacement and he’s not even a forward.
Yes I can blame him he should be knocking on that door to play and giving Sherwood something to think about
I heard that too Badger not helped his cause in reserves
You are correct about Kozak, I went to the U21 game played at Walsall, and he was shoking, he missed 3 or 4 sitters, and he did very little to chase down any returns off the mid field.
I have a feeling about tomorrow, we will either get a right good spanking or we will win the game there will be nothing in-between.
Wednesday night we played like a different team to the past 9-10 games (I include some pre season games in that), and we looked more solid, I hope we play Gil over Grelish tomorrow along side Vertout and Gana.
Future Arsenal manager joins us tomorrow morning !! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3299432/Remi-Garde-named-Aston-Villa-boss-Monday-Tim-Sherwood-sacking.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490#comments-3299432
Thanks for the confirmation re Kozak, VTID.
I knew I wasn’t quite 100% daft 🙂
A win tomorrow?
I hope you’re right.
As for Grealish, I totally agree; he needs to be rested, as we’re placing too much on his shoulders and the expectation is becoming too high.
Even I’ve criticised him for not doing enough lately and it’s unfair.
Garde has an excellent reputation for bringing in youth so grealish is in good hands
The weird thing is if Kev Mac put out a decent team, we might be able to get something, but im guessing we will see something like the team at Southampton, which was complete dross.
Assuming KM is picking the team Garde may well put his ten pence worth in
The Sun claiming we’re taking Bastia assistant boss Reginald Ray is interesting.
The timing seems quite strange to me.
I’d guess the deal must have been done today, but if so, surely he could give the team a pep talk or whatever tomorrow?
Reggie Kray eh?
I like the thinking.
If the lads don’t perform, beat the crap out of them or make them disappear.
It’s about time they had a bit of discipline.
😉
No Badger not the krays we need the Frutrills mate they ran the krays out of brum.
Supposed to be announced tomorrow. I’m guessing Lyon were either asking like huge money for the two Garde wanted, or Garde knows this guy/is happy with him.
Maybe he will. He left Lyon due to personal problems maybe he still has stuff to sort out. Remember it’s not just him he has to settle family as well
Remi Garde 99% on according to SSN. Announced tomorrow by the looks of it.
I hope this one works out or we’re f****d…if we aren’t already.
Bievenue Monsieur Garde!!!!!
Personally I doubt whether Stan Collymore has much in the way of real information from inside VP or Bodymoor. It’s been a long time since his playing days, and I doubt whether he knows more than one or two of the current players or staff.
A lot of his comments seem like a re-hash of what he picks up from sites like this one – and made to sound like ITK’s because he played for the club – 15 years ago. Just another voice-for-hire. Stick to the punditry Stan…
Well he has met Fox and his cronies and wouldn’t put it in writing for fear of being sued so there must be an element of truth in it. Also he is still in touch with other football people who know what’s going on.
Can’t blame Kozak – if you’ve been told ‘no way are you playing’ then it’s impossible to motivate oneself – just my opinion of course. Garde coming in – new level playing field – watch out Shabby! Hope this guy can get the best out of the French players who were (by all accounts) highly rated before they joined us
On Collymore – it’s easy for him to criticise all insundry as a pundit – doesn’t make him right does it? He makes money by being controversial on a programme known for throwing large rocks into small ponds.
On the league – five teams in the relegation battle including us – Norwich, Bournemouth, barcodes and Sunderland – outsiders to get dragged in are the baggies. All to play for – 36 points enough?
Might squeeze a draw against Spuds which would be a good result – have to stop the losses.
Yes H60. In my earlier post I meant that despite his weak shows for the Stiffs Kozak should be given a couple of games in the first team. He can be told, look you are getting these games because the existing starters haven’t looked nailed on – but it has to inspire you. You have to look interested and competent, otherwise we sell you in January, because your performances for the U21’s are not good enough.
BTW at 1.00 AM GMT BBC news Singapore has announced Garde is the new manager who will be officially unveiled to the press Monday.
I think the French players were bought with a french manager in mind Sherwood didn’t stand a chance as I assume he can’t speak French
Garde new manager – let the good times roll (I hope)
Odd comment on Garde from Houllier. “He will be attack minded, he likes to build his teams from the back” Eh?
I suggest those are two different things but not incompatible. In fact most teams are built from the back at most clubs. The exceptions I can think of are Spurs, QPR and Fulham which have always been built from the front in my time, and Everton who were ultra defensive under Kendall but are built from the front now. The trouble is these sides rarely win anything.
He probably means that we pass it around and build the attack from from the back rather than just lumping it forward like we normally do
The good news for Garde is that he cant possibly do any worse than Sherwood this season! The only way is up! Hopefully he can get the best out of our French contingent at least.
Erm, don’t tempt fate I know what you mean Benno, with our luck ? We can always look upwards now, it’s a welcome change to know this man believes in attack. Utv.
We said it can’t get any worse when Sherwood arrived and he made Lamberk look like pep Guadiola.
Ha ha we said the same when Sherwood arrived lol
OohAh – got your wish with a European manager. Let’s hope he knows what he’s doing. Me, I’m not getting excited – it’s like having the same Christmas present but in a different wrapping paper year after year!
Yep I agree I’m fully behind this appointment we can’t keep getting the usually clones who are decent motivators but not much else. Trust me this guy will do well for us imo especially as the 5 French players are already known to him. Plus he is intelligent with a tactical brain something we’ve never really had before. I’m really optimistic with this appointment and I don’t say that too often 🙂
Houllier told Garde “You’ll have a chairman who backs you”!!!!!!!!!
What utter bullshit from Gerard.
A bit of new manager bounce wouldn’t hurt tonight. Actually might watch the match tonight but still probably from behind the sofa.
BTW me and my son were having a laugh last night trying to think of all the puns we could make on out new manager’s name –
Avant Garde (Brigada might change their name if we do well)
En Garde
New Garde (and Old Garde)
Right Garde
Home Garde (when we start winning a few home games)
and finally (hope this doesn’t happen though)
Fire Garde!
UTV
Mud Garde?
Regarde? (That’s French for ‘look’ OoAh!)
A change of topic: goal-keeping coaches. Anyone going to Spurs tonight please advise if the GK coach has Guzan practising goal kicks in the warm up.
Last week I went to the Aldershot v Sutton Utd Cup tie (Sutton are the team I played for). Suttons GK coach placed 5 disks spread right across the pitch 60 yards from goal, then stood with his foot on each disk in turn, Ross Worner the keeper took 5 goal kicks from the same spot on the six yard line and hit the coach on the chest every time. This is a Conference South keeper. It makes me wonder WTF goes on at BMH in training, because our keepers could not do that.
OLL – very good question regarding what premier league players actually ‘do’ at ‘training’!
Judging by the stories that come out, the answer seems to be ‘very little’ : a bit of a warm-up, some circuit training, maybe an hour on the pitch, followed by a sauna/massage/physio session and then lunch, then off to the golf club…
Hence the sort of comments that we sometimes pick up in the media: managers who’ve not actually spoken to particular players for a couple of weeks between games, or players who aren’t fit because they ‘didn’t have a full pre-season’, etc.
Certainly if you listen to some managers, the only ‘coaching’ that seems to take place is in the few weeks just before the start of each season!
Good point OLL.
One very positive thought: we’re bottom of the league after four months yet have only got a negative goal difference of -6. Look at the teams above us and a win tonight puts us 18th. Another win on top of that and a bit of luck with the other results and we’ll be out of the bottom three in no time.
I’m going for a win tonight.
Which pretty much kills my argument that we should go for it tonight.
It’s a fair point, as goal difference may well come into play.
Weird innit. Three or four better results and TS would still be here. Not much in the games we’ve lost. Nobody has shafted us like under L & McL….
See your logic of only losing by one goal made sense after all 🙂
IV a sneaky feeling we may get something tonight as long as we don’t make errors and Lescott isn’t in team. I’m going 1.0 to us
Well, you all have convinced me, it’s a win then, Bum bum with his theory, Ooh ah with his charm, and Badger with I told you so, its a 2-1 from me. Plus the fact that our new savior will be watching to put us back at the top. YOU KNOW WHAT, I cannot wait.
Sorry to say this lads but I want us to lose tonight we can win every game after tonight though
My reason I have an 8 match accumalator with the first 7 correct the last game you guessed it spurs to win
I know I am hanging my head in shame
If we win tonight perhaps we can all chip in a fiver for TGV – it would worth every penny!
Hitch first thing that hit my mind, willing to pay,