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.
