Pessimistic me shares the concerns that some of us have about Spurs being very capable of scoring at Villa Park on their day.
But even I have to tend to the view that we should win this quite comfortably.
I know, it’s brave of me but the requirement is quite simple for the rest of the season. Win our 2 final games. Emery will have drummed it into the players, although I doubt they’d have needed to be told.
Win these two games and what will be, will be. Plain and simple and anything less won’t be acceptable.
It might not even be enough for us to qualify for the Champions League, but if we can succeed in our final push, that’s it. We can do no more.
So saying we will win is a bit of a bold statement, but come on, if we can’t beat these, we don’t deserve to qualify anyway. We could probably not have had a better time to play them, all season, given that they face Man Utd in the Europa league final on Wednesday. Everyone in their side is going to want to play in it and there’s no way any of them will be giving any extra tonight. It wouldn’t even surprise me if Postecoglou has told them to take it easy. They have nothing to play for in the league and can’t be relegated, after all. Will Ange even play his first team?
I won’t even go into their current form. Well, I will do, but in a minute.
Squad news then and it’s very straightforward. Tielemans is out with a calf injury, Rashford is out with a hamstring issue and Ramsey is suspended after his very soft second yellow last week. I say soft and it was, but he should never have got himself booked the first time.
As for Spurs, the good news for us (but not the player, obviously) is that Dejan Kulusevski has undergone knee surgery. James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall are both out too and it’s quite odd, as I haven’t heard Ange bleating on about how he thinks they’re the only club to get injuries lately?
Son is due to get at least a few minutes after being out for a month.
It’s probably all a bit academic anyway, if the Greek (why did I think he was Australian?) decides to not field a full strength side.
And then there’s current form.
We’re the only team to have won 5 out of 6 of our last games, while Spurs’ form is abysmal. In their last 6, they’ve won 1, drawn 1 and lost 4. That’s relegation form.
Normally, I would be saying that we’re heading for a typical Aston Villa type fall here, but I just can’t see it. Yes, a small part of me knows it’s very possible, but even so, in my head losing against them is simply not an option.
I’ve loved watching Spurs all season. They’ve been my favourite and “go to” team, Villa apart and I always look out for them playing. The reason is simple. They are (or at least, were) either great or terrible and their games always give you goals.
And I fail to see anything different tonight.
I’m going for a 3-1 win. The only thing we have to fear here is complacency.
UTV
I know. I’m setting myself up for a big fall.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6246564/2025/05/16/aston-villa-loanees-real-union/
Off topic but interesting read
Indeed, DS.
Sounds like a good setup. We pass on Emery’s techniques and being there seems very good for the young lads’ well being, while broadening their horizons.
What’s not to like?
Clean sheet, please. Mings the merciless, over to you…
Nope – it’s Torres the – well fill in your own description!
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Kamara, Onana, Rogers, Asensio, McGinn, Watkins.
Don’t recognise half the Spuds players – Son starts with Solanke and Richarilson on the bench. Some of these players will be out to make a name for themselves so don’t write Spuds off – danger lies in that direction.
Torres The Titan!!!
Watching this in Australia with a mate who is very ill. 4.30am KO here so we have the alarm set, although I’m obviously already awake!
Gotta win this. We have to go in very focused. Laser like.
Villa. Do NOT blow this!!!
Torres the tepid?
Not much wrong with that side and they should have enough, I’d say.
Substitutes: Olsen, Disasi, Mings, Digne, Barkley, Garcia, Malen, Bogarde, Bailey.
Big game for Asensio if he’s looking to stay and we could do with a performance from him.
Ange has actually only made 3 changes from the side that played Palace and the only one I don’t know is Mikey Moore, but you’re right Hitch. You probably could have named most of their team a couple of seasons back
Even with Torres we should have more than enough to win this. They have some of the big names on the bench but will he risk them coming on?
I have a feeling because it’s Torres in defence that we will concede. We must be clinical upfront however. Over to you Ollie!
Love this team. Great to think we can replace Ramsay with McGinn. Hope that Asensio performs and is not waving goodbye at the end. I wonder how Barkley feels about his second chance. I know nothing about the Spurs side. Hopefully the names wont men a thing after the game either. I have to call it 3-0.
Er, it’s not very good is it?
I’m not standing on ceremony any longer I’m just going to come out and say it…
Rogers is shite.
£70m?
I wouldn’t pay £70 for him.
I can’t stomach this! Roger’s has been shocking for last 3/4 games
Your prerogative.
Nominated for Prem young player of the year and it’s actually £90 mill, but hey ho, what do many others know?
🙂
He is wasteful though, I agree.
Asensio best of our players by far, but they’re all in for a tongue lashing, you’d suspect.
Obviously not too much cause he’s absolute gash.
And to be perfectly honest I’m too old and watched too much football to listen to the pundits and their bullshit.
“You don’t win anything with kids”
Let’s see where he is in 3 seasons.
Form being temporary and class being permanent.
Not watching – even from behind the sofa – as we have guests.
Er – I messed up forgetting we were playing Friday night.
I was worried we would do one of our – oh we’ll walk this – and cock it up. Sounds like that’s exactly what’s happening with the risk that Spuds will nick it.
If there was ever a debate about Ascensio that has been ended. Sign him up.
I expect us to win this. We have been more positive and it’s just a matter of time.
TRSS Roger’s in his first full Premier season. His contribution has been immense and Emery picks on what he sees in training. Was it only last week when he played that brilliant ball for Watkins to score.
Mate managers have favourites, how good you are is often irrelevant.
United 1 up!
Shit, disallowed.
Why do I get this horrible feeling that we huff and puff and don’t break the Spurs door down, and then they bring Solanke on to score the winner!!
Goal scorers last season and this season in the Premier League.
23/24 24/25
Watkins 19 16
Bailey 10 1
Luiz 9
McGinn 6 1
Morgan 3 8
Cash 2 1
Tiellerman 2 3
Torres 2 0
Konza 1 1
Digne 1 0
Ramsey 1 1
Barclay 0 3
Onan0 3
Asensio 3
Rashford 2
Thats the difference.
So Rogers is on 8, our second highest scorer?
Meanwhile, this is utter rubbish. Again.
Jeez, we need the goal and there it is!!!
Konsa after being given a boatload of space.
Kamara!!!!
Ist goal this season. Good Times