I’ve commented on it before, but you know how it is, I’m sure.
Sometimes you just get a feeling about something and my feeling here, is that while there’s no way I can see a convincing win, I can see us getting at least a point.
Would that be a good result?
I’d say so, as on form over the last few years and the difference in the perception of the club’s levels, with us being miles behind, anything at all would be a point that we probably shouldn’t really expect.
My concern is the way we’ve played over our last few games and it isn’t conducive to predicting good results.
But we have got them, somewhat against the odds, particularly against Leicester over two legs, so it shows anything’s possible.
Which begs the question of which is currently the better team? Leicester or Spurs?
I’d say it’s Leicester, hence logic says we can beat Spurs, simple.
But it’s not simple is it?
On my way home from work, I was listening to radio WM talking about how the wind had changed things in the blues game so you can bet that will be a big factor tomorrow.
And then I heard about one game where both sides looked lethargic after the winter break.
This is probably a bigger concern to me, as we’ve already shown loads of times that we switch off too easily, as it is. Indeed, it’s probably our single biggest weakness, in my opinion.
We really need to be 100% on it tomorrow, if we’re going to get anything.
Squad news is that fortunately for us, Harry Kane, Moussa Sissoko and Ben Davies are all not available.
Steven Bergwijn, Ben Davies, Giovani Lo Celso are all available, while Erik Lamela will be assessed after his groin problem.
As for the Villa, it’s the same old, same old with the long-termers, but they’re now accompanied by Kienan Davis, the matchstick man. He’s either incredibly unlucky or more likely just doomed to never really perform for us.
Which is a shame, as I do feel he’d improve as a striker, given plenty of games.
If you’re constantly injured though, it doesn’t matter how good you are, does it?
Sturridge, anybody?
Never mind though, as at least we know Borja Baston will definitely play at least a part tomorrow, according to Dean Smith.
Which I find interesting.
Why are we announcing that he will definitely play? We weren’t told Samatta would start, even if it was blindingly obvious, after all.
Either Smith really rates him or he’s been told by someone to start him, even if only as a sub.
I tend to favour the latter option, myself, but in fairness, Sammata has tired in games.
Which leads me to another feeling, where I think Baston will prove to be yet another really poor signing in a long list.
That’s incredibly unfair of me, I know, as I’d never even heard of the bloke before he signed for us, but it just rings too many alarm bells, in an overpaid player who’s done little in the English game and plied most of his trade in the Spanish second division.
Let’s hope I’m left eating a big slice of humble pie, where he gets the goals that see us survive this season, eh?
As I’ve suggested, I think this is mostly about what sort of Villa side turns up for this game.
I think if we’re 100% up for it, we have the beating of Spurs, no problem. They really haven’t been that good lately, their last result against Man City apart.
That’s not saying much though, as if we’re even slightly off, you can just see us conceding far too easily. Again.
Where I can also see Spurs getting four or more.
I’m hoping they won’t find it so easy though and while I’m minded to think this has a 2-1 result, either way, written all over it, I’m going for a draw.
2-2 it is then.
And I’d see that as a decent point.
Whatever happens, I do see an entertaining game.
Let’s just hope we can get something from it and we don’t bottle it.
Sorry because of our form in the Premier league and poor performances (Forget the cup, the pressure was off) i cant see us staying up, i think that DS and the backroom team staff are out of there depth tactically and most of the players are not good enough and i cant see us getting many more points, starting today, i fear another bad defeat. 0 3 to the spuds
i done my pre game yesterday i am going with 2 1 villa 🙂
also anybody see ohare goal for the sky blues, he is now able to find space between defence and midfield and use his ability to drive runs at the bigger slower defenders. just like grealish. that goal will give him confidence he can thrive in the game. it will be like a eureka moment he always knew he could do this type of run, but actually doing this when the opposition are trying to stop you will be the breakthrough, he still has to work hard like grealish did. but defiantly a big goal for him
Statistics alert – Spurs are unbeaten in 8 games at VP winning the last 4 – we last beat them at home in January 2008! We’ve only beaten them once in 16 games – at WHL in 2015. We’ve only taken one point from the top six this season – that sounds familiar – look at our record last season against the top sides!
I could go on but it gets more depressing and more boring!
Smith did comment that Samatta had found training ‘too intense’ initially but was now more able to cope – so I agree with you Badger that he’s unlikely to last the 90 minutes but we have to start with him.
I’m not even going to try and call this one but on the spin of coin statistically it should eventually fall in our favour – but then we are talking about Villa!
UTV
I predicted the bottom six clubs remaining games on a previous post and have been correct so far! Pity I can’t get lottery numbers right though. As for today, I predicted a draw because Spurs aren’t as good as last season and they are minus Kane and Erickson of course who changed the game last time we met at WHL. There seems to be a mentality thing about our failure to beat top six so again I think a draw is the best I can hope for. I always feel more confident about playing at VP under the lights on night games, so early afternoon on Sunday feels like we will be slow out the blocks and fans won’t be so up for it. Let’s hope we can get a win because it would be massive for our survival hopes.
And EL Gahzi starts yet again! Trez on the bench and Luiz over nakamba. This team looks weaker every time I see it. And Elmo should be starting over Guillermo
Agreed, it looks a weak side
No Mings – injured? Not good. Pity we can’t bring Chester into the side!
Pepe Reina
Björn Engels
Frédéric Guilbert
Kortney Hause
Ezri Konsa
Matt Targett
Danny Drinkwater
Anwar El Ghazi
Jack Grealish
Douglas Luiz
Mbwana Samatta
Substitutes: Ørjan Nyland, Ahmed Elmohamady, Neil Taylor, Conor Hourihane, Marvelous Nakamba, Mahmoud Trezeguet.
No Mings?
Let me guess, another training injury.
This is wearing really thin now.
And where’s Baston?
Baston on the bench
According to BBC
The back 3 looks like the kind of defence a bottom half championship club would put out! That coupled with our woeful record and mentality against the traditional top 6, its very hard to say anything optimistic pre kick off.
Going to go for a 1-4 away win for Spurs and severe pressure on Smith come full time.
These repeated sudden missing players is beginning to concern me and I suspect something is not right.
Mings ill with tonsillitis.
Mings has tonsillitis.
Snap Hitch!
Drinkwater has usual giving away possession!
Konsa “Have that!”
5 at the back
Yes, og under pressure from Samatta.
He offers way more than Wesley.
Showing loads of fight here.
Luis, how did he miss?
Tbf Drinkwater playing a lot better after a dodgy start.
Stuff it and a lucky bounce – typical
Omg.
1-1
Reina couldn’t do anything about that one.
Unlucky, Villa and undeserved.
Defence is far too static.
Spurs are there for the taking, lose this and I can’t see is staying up.