Chalkboard For Villa

Good morning.

Here we go then. Our valiant boys return from a game I wish I hadn’t watched. A game I hope they were forced to watch the tape of.

Speaking of games you wouldn’t want to watch has anyone noticed that Paul Lambert, Bob Matthews and Brendan Rodgers are all sat in a row on 5 points on the League? Each of them spending most of their spare time talking down relegation battle talk.

All three were shortlisted by varying degree to take over by Spurs fans. All three I campaigned strongly against as none of them has a CV worth a damn. Yes, yes, it’s early doors to quote Big Ron and in fact I wouldn’t be shocked to see him brought in to manage any of them by Christmas.

In fact he’d be a great fit a Liverpool, go down well in Norwich and would get on like a house on fire with Dave Whelan. So don’t dismiss this prediction.

I’d like Hugo Lloris to get a break but expect Brad to start.

The back line sort of picks itself with Jan being first name on the team sheet. I want to see him use the channels either side of Defoe and Dempsey and let the the quietly impressive Caulker act as cover here.

Caulker is great for set pieces in the final third and should alternate with Jan for those if both go – then Sandro drops in . Villa are likely to give us some space and it’s vital that Moussa finds it and uses it to pull the strings in the midfield.

Kyle needs to get a grip. It would be great to see him seriously owning that whole part of the pitch I swathed in yellow arrows there. 1. Defend 2. Defend. 3. Supply. He is a liability making these Forrest Gump runs and I can’t cope with him getting so far out of position to then lose possession much more.

That said Villa may not be equipped to punish us if that happens, but who wants to prompt them and find out?  The lad needs good habits drummed into him sooner rather than later.

We can beat this lot handsomely or it can all end in boos as our players look gormlessly at each other. Villa aren’t much cop but they’re better than the mob that very nearly beat us on Thursday.

Oh yes and Bale needs to justify his central role. Y’know. A goal.

BIOYAVC!

Tottenham (from): Lloris, Friedel, Gomes, Cudicini, Smith, Gallas, Dawson, Walker, Vertonghen, Caulker, Falque, Huddlestone, Mason, Bale, Lennon, Sandro, Dembele, Dempsey, Sigurdsson, Carroll, Townsend, Defoe, Adebayor, Obika.

Aston Villa (from): Guzan, Given, Lowton, Bennett, Lichaj, Clark, Vlaar, Baker, Herd, El Ahmadi, Westwood, Bannan, Delph, Holman, N’Zogbia, Bent, Agbonlahor, Benteke, Bowery, Weimann, Burke, Johnson, Williams.

Referee: N Swarbrick Assistants: A Garratt, G Beswick Fourth Official: M Halsey