Aston Villa Vs Tottenham: Match Thread

[Mr Pink]

I don't get all the negativity? We were sloppy first half but I thought second half we were fantastic. We forced a team with a man advantage to put 10 behind the ball basically for 45 minutes. Yes we had the chance to take third but we all expected the scum to win and us to win and that the key game would be next weekend. The real disappointment for me is the fact that Newcastle are still in it. On paper we have the easiest game, followed by Arsenal.

Personally I think we will win next week because Fulham will come to play, but both the scum and toon will have a tough time. I would much rather have to win at home against Fulham than have to win at either the hawthorns or Goodison.

I would have taken this at the beginning of the season. In fact I would have taken this 10 days ago.

Its a good point. They'll have a go, I can't see them playing with ten men behind the ball given their League standing. We had better be on it defensively because they'll get a few chances for sure with some of their attacking talent and creative midfielders.

 

[Legend10]

You know what, I think we're just gonna bottle it again anyway. 'Arry hasn't got what it takes for this situation.

harry won't be playing so don't worry

 

[walworthyid]

I agree with most of that except the forcing a team with a man advantage to play 10 behind the ball. You don't have to force a McLeish team to do that, it's their default strategy.

He is the worst manager I have seen since that Les Reid guy that took Charlton down.

It totally baffled me why Villa went for an awful, negative manager that had just been relegated. When we played Birmingham away last season their fans cheered every time they managed to string 2 passes together.

He is an awful, awful manager.

 

[Spurrific]

He is the worst manager I have seen since that Les Reid guy that took Charlton down.

It totally baffled me why Villa went for an awful, negative manager that had just been relegated. When we played Birmingham away last season their fans cheered every time they managed to string 2 passes together.

He is an awful, awful manager.

Can't fault a word of that, watching his teams 'play' sometimes makes me hate football. How many defenders (by trade) did he deploy today? My mate reckons 7 but I'm struggling to believe even that insufferable toss-pot would go that extreme.

 

[coffer]

Next Sunday will be truly nerve wracking and I think Fulham are going to prove very stubborn opposition. One big positive is they generally don't travel well.

They're safely in midtable, we are at home and must win. If we get an early goal I think it will be 3 or 4!

 

[Mullers]

Now that I have calmed down and thought about it, I have concluded that yesterday was still a shit result. Ok we played better second half with ten men but Villa didn't exactly put us under the cosh did they? This is the worst Villa side I can remember seeing. What excuse was there for a lacklustre first half where Given had hardly a save to make in a game we needed to win? Let's see what excuse there is for that.

 

[Gbspurs]

Yesterday was frustrating. 3rd was right there an we blew it, we had the chance to bring fulham to the lane and have a real party atmosphere. Anyone remember Bolton at home the first season we got back into europe? Sure we can still get 3rd but there is more than a lot of luck involved. A win yesterday and we were sure to get top 4, now we could still finish 5th.

I don't think words can sum up how disappointed I an in the players yesterday.

 

[jimbo]

Serious? He's such a step up on Gomes it's laughable. Considering he's old enough to be Gomes' Dad.

Sorry, the criticism for Friedel is way off. Way way off. He's genuinely kept us in quite a few games this season.

What pastings are you thinking of? I think he could have done better for a goal in each of the Arsenal 5-2 and City 5-1 at the beginning of the season. The goal at Swansea away as well.

I genuinely can't think of many more.

I'm sorry but I think you're are completely wrong about that. I know you don't like Gomes because he replaced Robbo but he is a far better 'keeper than Friedel. You remember the saves he made against Van Persie when we beat Arsenal in the league in our CL qualifying season? Friedel is not capable of that. Obviously Gomes wouldn't be much use to us now because his confidence must be shot to pieces but to suggest Friedel is a better goalkeeper is wide of the mark. Friedel plays it safe, he stays on his line and that creates the impression that he couldn't do a lot about many of the shots that get past him - the reality is if he positioned himself better, came off his line, closed down the angle on the shot then he might be able to save it.

The 5-2, 5-1, defeats he could have done a lot better for more than one or two of the goals for the reason outlined above. If we had Gomes in goal, an on form Gomes, we would not have conceded 5 goals in those games in my opinion.

If you look at United, Ferguson nearly always goes for a more erratic 'keeper with greater ability like De Gea because he can make saves a steadier 'keeper can't. Friedel has had a long career of being average and I think we can do better than that.

The sad thing is we now have to replace three goalkeepers in the summer because the decline in agility and reaction time from Friedel is only going to steepen, Cudicini is evidently past it and Gomes is a no go. This is a mess we could have avoided, again in my opinion.

 

[Stoof]

I'm sorry but I think you're are completely wrong about that. I know you don't like Gomes because he replaced Robbo but he is a far better 'keeper than Friedel. You remember the saves he made against Van Persie when we beat Arsenal in the league in our CL qualifying season? Friedel is not capable of that. Obviously Gomes wouldn't be much use to us now because his confidence must be shot to pieces but to suggest Friedel is a better goalkeeper is wide of the mark. Friedel plays it safe, he stays on his line and that creates the impression that he couldn't do a lot about many of the shots that get past him - the reality is if he positioned himself better, came off his line, closed down the angle on the shot then he might be able to save it.

The 5-2, 5-1, defeats he could have done a lot better for more than one or two of the goals for the reason outlined above. If we had Gomes in goal, an on form Gomes, we would not have conceded 5 goals in those games in my opinion.

If you look at United, Ferguson nearly always goes for a more erratic 'keeper with greater ability like De Gea because he can make saves a steadier 'keeper can't. Friedel has had a long career of being average and I think we can do better than that.

The sad thing is we now have to replace three goalkeepers in the summer because the decline in agility and reaction time from Friedel is only going to steepen, Cudicini is evidently past it and Gomes is a no go. This is a mess we could have avoided, again in my opinion.

Friedel is an upgrade on Gomes. That's not even in doubt mate. A goalkeeper's job isn't simply to produce wonder saves in a couple of games.

I was sold on Gomes after those saves. Last season he was costing us more than he was helping us. He put doubt into the defence and as soon as there is a suggestion of that, the goalkeeper is useless to us - which makes him a worse keeper for it. So what I find hard to reason with in your post is that we simply didn't have Gomes of 2009/2010. We had Gomes of 2010/2011. Confidence is a huge part of what makes a keeper great, both from the keeper himself and from the defence in front of him. Gomes commanded neither.

So it follows that Friedel is an upgrade on that. If you're criticising my choice of phrasing - Friedel is the best option we have as a goalkeeper right now. That's an upgrade in my book. Whichever way you look at it. It may turn out to be a stop-gap upgrade, but hell, I feel a lot more confident (as do the fans in general, which as we've discussed many times you know makes an impact) with Brad there than Gomes.

Friedel has made some tremendous saves himself this year - which I think you gloss over. Think back to the Blackpool game last year. That was the level of comedy goalkeeper we had. Saves a penalty, gives one away 10 seconds later. A liability of a goalkeeper who unfortunately never fully got over his error prone ways for long enough to be our number one.

Bringing in Premier League experience in that position is crucial. And maybe having a year to take stock will help us this summer.

Shifting blame on to Friedel for any part of our season is very very wide of the mark.

 

[Paolo10]

Even in the cold light of day, it would appear that some of you have no degree of perspective. To drop out of the Top 4, Newcastle have to better our result against Everton away, barring the mother of all fuck ups, which by all means then you can get your knickers in a twist about, then we're almost there.

We bossed every aspect of that game yesterday and were ridiculously unfortunate with the deflection and the card IMO. People are getting worked up over fuck all, are we out of the CL race yet? Hell no, we're not even out of the race for 3rd.

Calm the fuck down, there would be a sweet irony if we got 3rd or 4th with BMJ coming to the Lane. Fucking have a bit of faith.

 

[Mullers]

I have a feeling that even if we lost 10 goals to nil, there would be people who would still bury their head in the sand and not assign any blame to anyone.

 

[Stoof]

I have a feeling that even if we lost 10 goals to nil, there would be people who would still bury their head in the sand and not assign any blame to anyone.

I think because most people see finger-pointing and blame-mongering which isolates people in a team sport as fucking pointless. Well, those who have no direct need to blame everyone else for everything that goes badly in their world.

We win, lose and draw as Tottenham Hotspur. We are a collective.

 

[Mullers]

I think because most people see finger-pointing and blame-mongering which isolates people in a team sport as fucking pointless. Well, those who have no direct need to blame everyone else for everything that goes badly in their world.

We win, lose and draw as Tottenham Hotspur. We are a collective.

Fair enough then giving credit to anyone for good results is also fucking pointless, I hope I don't hear the 2 points from 8 games mantra anytime soon.

 

[Azazello]

I'm still amazed that we only had 2 points from 8 games when Harry took over.

 

[jimbo]

Friedel is an upgrade on Gomes. That's not even in doubt mate. A goalkeeper's job isn't simply to produce wonder saves in a couple of games.

I was sold on Gomes after those saves. Last season he was costing us more than he was helping us. He put doubt into the defence and as soon as there is a suggestion of that, the goalkeeper is useless to us - which makes him a worse keeper for it. So what I find hard to reason with in your post is that we simply didn't have Gomes of 2009/2010. We had Gomes of 2010/2011. Confidence is a huge part of what makes a keeper great, both from the keeper himself and from the defence in front of him. Gomes commanded neither.

So it follows that Friedel is an upgrade on that. If you're criticising my choice of phrasing - Friedel is the best option we have as a goalkeeper right now. That's an upgrade in my book. Whichever way you look at it. It may turn out to be a stop-gap upgrade, but hell, I feel a lot more confident (as do the fans in general, which as we've discussed many times you know makes an impact) with Brad there than Gomes.

Friedel has made some tremendous saves himself this year - which I think you gloss over.

Bringing in Premier League experience in that position is crucial. And maybe having a year to take stock will help us this summer.

Shifting blame on to Friedel for any part of our season is very very wide of the mark.

I think we just disagree fundamentally on this.

Gomes has the record for the most clean sheets in a Premier League season for us. If Friedel is the upgrade you say he is then how is that he hasn't come close to matching that record? Assuming we both agree that Friedel has a better team in front of him.

I don't blame Friedel, I just don't think he's as good as you seem to be suggesting. I don't think his influence has been as widely felt as you suggest either. These are not quantifiable factors though. I'm also not saying that Gomes should be the future of goalkeeping at Tottenham Hotspur FC, but neither is Friedel.

We obviously see two different goalkeepers. You see one who has been solid, rarely does anything wrong and gives confidence to the defence by not making mistakes. I see one who doesn't put himself in the best position to make saves, he doesn't come off his line and he creates confusion in the defence by not claiming crosses.

Friedel has made some good saves, but I think it's reasonable to expect that. He has also failed to stop goals that could have been avoided had he come off his line to claim a cross or close down an angle. He doesn't do this and that is a fundamental of being a top goalkeeper.

If the argument is simply that Friedel is better than Gomes then I'm afraid that is unsupported by evidence - goals conceded, clean sheets kept. You understand the value of looking at the bigger picture and that is where those stats are useful. If you're saying Friedel is a better goalkeeper based purely on what you perceive as him being more stable in games then that's fine, statistics aren't everything and you're entitled to your opinion.

Think back to the Blackpool game last year. That was the level of comedy goalkeeper we had. Saves a penalty, gives one away 10 seconds later. A liability of a goalkeeper who unfortunately never fully got over his error prone ways for long enough to be our number one.

But surely you didn't mind that, as you must have expected us to concede a goal from the penalty and the end result of the play was that we did just that. Exactly as you expected us to be a point behind Arsenal after this weekend's games, no?

 

[Mullers]

Still a good result?

 

[Kingellesar]

Excellent result away to the worst team in the league who sit with 10 defenders

 

[Mr Pink]

Even in the cold light of day, it would appear that some of you have no degree of perspective. To drop out of the Top 4, Newcastle have to better our result against Everton away, barring the mother of all fuck ups, which by all means then you can get your knickers in a twist about, then we're almost there.

We bossed every aspect of that game yesterday and were ridiculously unfortunate with the deflection and the card IMO. People are getting worked up over fuck all, are we out of the CL race yet? Hell no, we're not even out of the race for 3rd.

Calm the fuck down, there would be a sweet irony if we got 3rd or 4th with BMJ coming to the Lane. Fucking have a bit of faith.

Yep.

 

[Kingellesar]

In fact, Alex McCleish must be favourite for Chelsea job? He could've won Aston Villa the CL last night.

 

[riggi]

Lets go back to all the match threads where we dropped points. Banging idea.