Fantastic defence keeps Spurs at bay, but what is the point of Carew
No-one will pretend today’s performance was a classic, in fact quite the opposite it was at times quite desperate. However with the clear MOTM Richard Dunne at the heart of defence and Friedel rock solid we came away from White Hart Lane with yet another clean sheet and a valuable away point at a close rival.
The turning point of the game came when Heskey was forced off, until then we were playing well and Heskey was doing well holing up the ball, then Carew came on.
OK, lets give him some leeway, he has been ‘injured’ but that was abysmal from him, time and time again he failed to hold up the ball like Heskey did and this forced us deeper and deeper back. I have no qualms that if Heskey is out for Man United and other games Nathan Delfouneso, because he would easily be an improvement on Carew any time.
However Spurs came up against a man made brick wall called Collins and Dunne and with Friedel ably supporting them with a few scares they never looked like scoring.
So with just 18 goals conceded in 24 games we are 3 points behind fourth and after Man U on Wednesday a much easier run of fixtures to come. Yes against the very top opposition we lack the top creativity to break them down but our record against the rest of the top 7 with just 3 games to come is very good, if not excellent.
Unlike some on the forums it is not a time to panic but to be hopeful and to admire the resilience and determination of our team nad that goes a long long way to success.
A trip down memory (White Hart) Lane
I have been on many trips down to Whte Hart Lane over the years and rarely do you see boring games. This season however will be watching it on ESPN somewhere and yet against we have another game we need to win to have serious ambitions for top 4, a draw obviously is not the worst result in the world.
Similarities to 21st February 1990 are appropriate now. Back then it was one of my first away trips we were challenging for the title and went to WHL to face a Terry Venables led Spurs with Gazza and Lineker. We were expected to lose but instead turned in a majestic performance to win 2-0 with goals from Ormodroyd and Platt. Now obviously tomorrow is not about the league but top 4 is vital to both team future, the press as usual love Tottenham and barely mention us, can it happen again ?
Tottenham’s form has been rather patchy recently but ours is an unbeaten January, progression to Wembley
and in the FA Cup. Whilst the West Ham result was disappointing the form was good and last week against Fulham we were great with a defence that at the moment looks impregnable. It is disappointing to lose Warnock at the moment but Carew’s return is welcome (his time of the year to score) and Gabby maybe is over his slump earlier than normal ?
This game and Manchester United represent the last two games back to back that anyone would call tough, we get anywhere between 3 & 6 points would leave us in a very good position for 4th place and in turn damage Tottenham’s push for fourth.
We never lack determination and faith as a team but sometimes we lack that quality in the final third against Fulham we showed more signs of this and more of that we will have a very good run in to the season.
What others think of Villa – Spurs fans
On Villa forums we often like to disparage other teams as much as possible, guess it is the tribal nature of the game. So in a new serious of blogs I will post the views of other fans on what they think of Villa as often we get blinded to our own team.
The four teams I have picked are Everton, Man City, Liverpool and Spurs who all are direct competition for that valued 4th Champions League spot. I will start with Spurs as often they are vilified on the Villa forums so what I will post from them may surprise a few because unlike us towards them they are quite complimentary to us. It is noticable that they have said we are fickle, I think the booing at the Wigan game and especially at half time in the perception of other fans caused us a lot of damage.
The forum I used was Vital Spurs
steveperryman
Villa have a good following, yet you fall well behind when it comes to global support.
Villa are a good side, but you lot don’t play the beautiful game, you tend to grind out results, which to be fair, you do rather well.
There’s an english core to your team, so much respect for that, but like us you don’t utilise your squad properly. I blame the managers for that, both are headstrong & set in their ways. Both managers are strict disciplinarians, neither suffer fools gladly.
Villa fans must be the most fickle on terra ferma. Nobody, & i mean nobody moans like a Villa fan.
You can boast of a proud history, so we also share that in common.
You are also bottlers, & we most certainly share that in common.
Have i left anything out? Yes i believe i have. We both live in mortal fear of losing our beloved star players to the vultures, aka the Top 4.
Dimitar Corelone
I think your manager pretty much has the same problems Harry does. One track minded, refuses to make use of the squad and won’t acknowledge we need new fecking strikers.
Villa are a well run club though with an English core so I can’t say I have anything against them, except when we play obviously.
Your fans are more fickle than ours though and that’s pretty extreme, I was amazed at the number of your lot calling for Martin O’Neils head when you were actually in the top 4 for a long period. Amazed me.
liamspurs14
dont reall give 2 hooters about villa so why you coming on here? except id have james milner all day long give you jenas keane and crouch for him lol
innispurs
For most of my football supporting days, Villa really meant little to me. They have never had a large Irish following so I never met any fans here at home. I probably thought your European Cup winning side was the poorest of the English sides to have won it but I was not especially bothered – congrats anyway!
Two things changed my perception of Villa. One, you got the man I hoped we’d get to manage us – Martin O’Neill (whom I knew slightly at school all those years ago) and he began to work wonders on your standing. Now you are one of our main rivals for that elusive CL spot.
The other thing that changed was Vital Villa fans swarming all over our site last year when we were in the doldrums and laughing at our plight which I thought was a bit inelegant and lacked class. But there you go. Now there seems to be a bit of an edge about Spurs/Villa relationships.
We do share one thing – past glories and little recent history so we tend to have a nostalgic streak in both of us!
griddo
I have no problem with Villa,but cant see them breaking the top 4,i think they are the weakest of the contenders tbh,but if it wasnt us,i would rather they upset the applecart,Gabby and Heskey are awful strikers,they need to improve there for a start,and not enough guile in the middle of the park,and with the striking options they have,or lack of,thats the least they need,they are a regimented side like all MON sides,but only have the one gear for me,i hope they win on weds though..
spursex
I like Villa – aspirational club, with a sensible Billlionaire owner who wants to build on a solid base; a similiarity we share.
Always liked my trips to Villa, fans there are pretty genuine, although I’d say that they all also seem to have this local trait of being able to moan about everything and anything! In fairness many of them prepared to spend their last spare penny in tough times to follow their team. A team with history, much like us and who like us are desperately trying to break into that top echelon and shake up the status quo.
Don’t like the way you’ve played ‘park the bus’ sometimes this season at home (especially against us), but again in fairness MoN seems to have made it very effective, and you’ve shown us how you can grind out results when necessary, even if it would make me go hunting for a knife to slit my wrists with if I had to watch it game in game out….Having said that think you’ve been a different team again since Downing came in, Young moved to where he should have been playing and Milner finally moved into the middle and now seems intent on being everything I thought he could be.
Like us, you have a problem with you captain who I cannot see anything worthwhile in – but then a lot of fans say exactly the same about ours!
If we can’t get forth spot, I hope it’s Villa.
Keane swap for Carew, makes sense.
The latest rumour in the Mirror today about John Carew to Ferenbahce is the latest in a long list of rumours about Carew. Whilst he is true that he scores goals and is a great fans favourite, I also have seen the last couple of games how effective we can be with Heskey up front because he always gives 100% unlike Carew.
We can never be sure with Carew if we will get a Bolton performance or the majority we see this season which effectively leaves us one player short, because of this if Carew has to go then so be it. So therefore if there is any truth in a Mirror rumour (hardly likely) then lets looks at what could happen.
The style of football we saw against Portsmouth and Hull since Milner’s positional change and Downing starting is based on a fast fluid system with mostly balls to the feet. The first 20 minutes against Hull was as good as anything we have seen from a MON side. Heskey in this role is far better but does not score goals so who else is available as I would only let Carew go if a suitable replacement can be found.
I have the ideal player for us, he can control the ball with the ball at his feet and through skill and quick feet is very good at holding up the ball . He also has an excellent top flight scoring record of 145 goals in 398 games and is a player we should have brought years ago.
If rumours are true then Spurs are looking for a new centre forward (Van Nisterroy is heavily linked) and ROBBIE KEANE is clear out of favour with Redknapp as Crouch appears to be first choice. Keane for me would be perfect for Villa as he offers experience, goals and mobility to our front line. Also I think we could get him on the ‘cheap’ at around £10m because of his age and being out of favour.
He would be my number one clear target.
Over confidence for Spurs, a bonus for Villa ?
Is there a better time to play a team off the back of a 9-1 win ?
Strange question I know but does that kind of win over a team who collapsed lend to a team been too confident and thinking that they are unbeatable. I ask this question because on Saturday Evening Spurs will visit Villa Park with belief but a record against the top half which with the exception against Liverpool is abysmal.
I want them to come to Villa Park with full attacking mode on because that will lead to a great chance for us. We all know we are set up for teams who attack us and the defence is now looking very solid and would not be too worried about the threat Spurs may have. For example is Lennon really going to have a field day against Warnock, I doubt that.
At the other end the pace and power of Gabby and hopefully a fully motivated Carew will ask serious questions of Spurs defence which is porous and very susceptible to pace. Down the wings, Spurs have their strength but young and Milner will look at the Spurs full backs and defensive wing cover and must think they will have plenty of the ball to cause some havoc.
However for us the problem could be in the centre of midfield. The omission of NRC last week led to plenty of comment and led to accusations of favouritism in favour of Petrov. As it is I have never believed the choice is between them two but more likely the probable omission of Sidwell with Downing close now to full fitness.
It should be a very interesting game, it may be very exciting but as always with Villa we have a fair few questions to be answered and MON has choices to be made.
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