I’ve been pretty quiet of late, mainly because I’m not a big fan of all the transfer speculation and much prefer to just see how things pan out.
And I have to agree with what seems to be the consensus amongst us that we’ve done some excellent business in the window. We’ve re-signed Hause, El Ghazi and particularly Mings, which is all good, even if I do think we over-paid for the latter.
I think sometimes fan campaigns like @announce Mings can work against you, but hey, I’m certainly not complaining that we’ve got him. I’m pretty sure he’ll prove pivotal to how we do this season.
Heaton strikes me as an outstanding signing and he’ll earn us some points this season.
Smith has signed a few that he knows well, so apart from them settling into the club, he’ll know what he’s going to get, hence in a certain sense, they’re not really that new.
The likes of Moraes, Luiz, Trezeguet and Wesley are unknown to us, but they’ve apparently been tracked since the Winter, which shows the planning that has gone into things.
While we’ve spent really big money, it seems we haven’t been totally taken to the cleaners in over-paying either.
We apparently put a £12 million bid in for Adam Webster the day after the play-off final, but it was knocked back. Brighton paid the full asking price of £25 million.
So all in all, we’ve been pretty canny and spent quite well.
Yes, we’ve brought a lot of players in, but quite simply, we needed too.
We had too many players that were either too old, on loan or just massively over-paid for what they produced.
The only blot for me was us not signing a striker, after a “marquee” one was rumoured to be in the offing. That’s rumours and speculation for you, I suppose.
That said, while I’m concerned that Kodjia and Davis won’t get us twenty goals between them, we do have plenty of players who will chip in with a few.
Hopefully Dean Smith has total confidence in his overall attacking play, else surely we’d have gone all out to sign someone?
I suspect we’ve probably kept some of our powder dry and will sign a top notch striker in the winter window, should it prove necessary.
Given the high prices you have to pay then, I hope our strategy doen’t bite us on the proverbial.
Onto the important stuff then and after a highly encouraging pre-season, we have a really tough test in Spurs away.
Whatever happens, this is a good one to get out of the way, as we all know Spurs are going to be up there at the end of the season.
It’s a bit of a no lose game for me, because if we get a result, it gets us off to a great start.
And if we lose, it’s basically only to be expected.
Squad news is that Tottenham’s new signings Giovani Lo Celso and Tanguy Ndombele are available, but Ryan Sessegnon is out with a hamstring issue.
Spurs are also without Dele Alli, Serge Aurier, Ben Davies, Juan Foyth and Son Heung-min, but Eric Dier and Victor Wanyama are back in full training.
Our only player out is James Chester, so we’re pretty good.
The big question then is who gets to start for us?
Heaton, Targett, Mings, Guilbert, El Ghazi, Grealish, McGinn, Jota and Wesley are pretty much nailed on, in my opinion and that only leaves two other places.
Will it be Konza or Engels in the other CB position?
Then will it be Luiz or Nakamba in the midfield?
I don’t have a clue, but it shows we hopefully have really good competition for places, when you look at some of the players I haven’t even mentioned. The likes of Hourihane, who was often lightweight in the Championship will be better suited to the premier league, I feel, for example.
Given that I don’t know how we’re going to set up and anything can happen in a first game of the season, I’m pretty confident.
I wouldn’t normally expect much at Spurs, with where we are at this point, but I’m going to be cheeky and say we’ll nick it, as they have an off day.
Either that or we get totally caught out and get tonked.
I don’t think that’ll happen though, as teams generally will be wary of us.
Spurs 1-2 Villa
So far, so good!
We’re parking the bus and then countering with speed. Spurs are mostly just passing around the defence and then shooting from distance. Our defence is keeping its shape and showing its resilience. Eriksen might be able to unlock such a defence but of course he isn’t playing.
I’d put Jota on for Trez at 60 minutes just to give us something different.
Pretty much agree Pat, but I think Trez is putting it about well and would leave him on for a while.
Wesley is having his eyes opened by the physicality, I think, but will be ok, as he has the build for it.
Those criticizing Wesley look again at McGinns goal and see how he held back the centre back and made the space for super John to score
Not a criticism, Singapore, but do think it’s a bit different for him.
Sissokho misses a sitter when found in loads of space.
Phew.
Looking at the replay it was also good positioning by Heaton who gave him nothing to shoot at
How is everyone watching the game, if at all?
Now TV casting from my phone
Yep, same here, only via the PC to telly.
Poch looking more and more frustrated.
Another shot from 40 yards from Spurs. I wish them luck with Heaton in goal.
Jota on for Trez
Now Jota coming on for Trez.
Good game for him, I thought, but hopefully Jota will defend more.
I’m hoping that Jota will help the defence by holding it up in mid-field
Potential red card VAR for McGinn???
You have to be kidding me?
Fortunately, it’s not.
The ref has his Sky Top 6 rose tinted glasses on
Winks off for Erickson
Poch gambling with Eriksen. If he gets injured a lot of money might go up in smoke
Goal is coming unless we start to get some possession.
Yes, I can see them scoring.
But they haven’t yet 🙂
Grealish blatantly fouled off the ball and no-one saw it.
Mings saves us!
We need another goal…
Deffo
Not watching but reminding me of first game O’Neil in charge away to Arsenal. We took an early lead and ended up 1-1. Actually would take that although 1-0 would be awesome.
1-1 It was coming. Great save from Heaton but he couldn’t stop the second one
Mings is the new Melberg. Fantastic.
I don’t like how Grealish is so deep.
Heaton stunning save then has no chance for the equaliser.
1-1.
And I have to question how we sat back for so long, tbh.
It’s been hard enough but it’s going to get harder. I’m really disappointed in our inability to keep the ball. We can’t get away with that in this league
We’re not looking for the attack, DS.
We’ve done nothing in the second half, except defend.
Shit.
Kodjia on for Wesley
Just looking at stats – yes Spurs massive possession and shots advantage but we have twice as many shots on target and our percentage shots on target (off shots) is impressive – so are we creating the better chances?
Oh bugger!
Not 2??? No feed…
Great save from TOM!!!!
Heaton great save from a free.
has that saved us a point?
Unfortunately, I suspect not.
Seen it coming, its not all about defending but creating, Tottenham had a plan and it worked, full credit too our defender’s to see Jack give a chance for them to score was heartbreak, trying to throw wingers on wasn’t the answer, we didn’t worry their defence , its that same old thing break the team down in attacking will get you the points.
Luis coming on for???