Writer: OxfordSpur 
Date:Monday November 23 2009
Time: 6:13PM
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'If It's Football, It's Vital'
And the team for Villa is...
You won`t see too many nine goal exhibitions like the weekend too often in your life and its surely one to savour, perhaps unless your name is Robbie Keane...
Weeks don`t come much worse for a player. Losing the dream of a World Cup place and then being "rested" for the weekends game and seeing your team-mates record a record win and play in a manner that hasn`t been seen at White Hart Lane in many years. Sometimes things just click and yesterday was certainly one of those occasions.
This morning all the credit seems to be going to Jermain Defoe and perhaps he should get the plaudits, as he sits on top of the scoring charts and let`s face it, you don`t score five in a game too often. Suddenly Robbie`s four against Burnley looks distinctly average.
The golden rule in football, is to never change a winning side, and surely that will be the thinking of Harry for next week`s trip to Villa Park. Outstanding displays from every Spurs player should be enough for Harry to simply say "same again" next time. Not great news for Robbie, JJ or even the possible return of Luka Modric and Ledley King, who prior to Wigan were name`s we would all have put in our side without a moment`s hesitation.
The performance of our midfield four were for me, just as outstanding as that of Jermain Defoe, and even those five goals don`t put Jermain more than a hairs width ahead of Lennon as my man of the match. Has Aaron ever played better?
Tom Huddlestone has more than his fair share of fans doubting his ability to truly be a Premiership force, whilst, Palacios, has looked a little off of his game in recent weeks, but both were fantastic and ripped Wigan to shreds, whilst also rolling their sleeves up to battle. Similarly Niko Kranjcar looked to be playing with greater freedom than I have seen him in a Spurs shirt and on that form, could we really drop him, even for the greatest living Croatian, Luka Modric??
In truth the idea of dropping anyone from the staring eleven is almost unthinkable. But could you honestly discount the chances that Harry would pick, Ledley King, Sebastien Bassong, Jermaine Jenas, Luka Modric or Robbie Keane for a much tougher game against Aston Villa?
Personally I am in favour of picking the players in form, regardless of name or reputation. If you are in the team you have to work bloody hard to keep your place, but if you aren`t playing you have to work even harder to force your way in. This is what Harry spent so much in the summer to achieve and if the big names missing have a few mixed feelings this morning, so be it, they are now the ones who need to fight harder, but the ones in possession know they have to produce the goods next week or they themselves will be the one out in the cold.
Prior to the game I hoped that the break would re-ignite something in Tottenham and they produced in spades. The sight of all the players looking so happy after the game, was as good as seeing the score line. Spurs have looked jaded in recent weeks and this result, whether as a result of our own brilliance, the ineptitude of the opposition or a bit of both, it doesn`t really matter if it returns the belief to the players.
Being back in the Champions league places is just what we need, but all this will count for nothing if we don`t follow it up with a result against Villa next week. Freak results do wonders for morale, but nothing works better than a long unbeaten run of games and that is what we have to do now. Meanwhile I am just going to continue enjoying the moment...
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Your Comments
this will be no easy win. i would be satisfied with a tie but a win would excel us on our way to making it into the top 4. all done i am still hoping for the win on the road but no disappointment with a tie because villa is no walkover team. i see it very difficult to change our lineup for them after playing this way i expect defoe and crouch up top and if modric is fit...and not coming in as a sub i see kranjcar starting in mid over hudd and modric on left only for the sole reason on how HR praised him after the match....but i see a 2-1 defoe and crouch scoring
Andyflag679
Should be a cracking game - I'm looking forward to it!
godzvilla
I feel the Villa game is our most important game so far (perhaps our starter against Liverpool was even more vital). This is a 6 pointer. I really don't care who plays as long as we win. But I will have a lot of opinions on who should have played if we don't win :p COYS!
NorwaySpurs
Other than the possibility of king returning ill bet the rest stays the same.
asherthesmasher
just like previous post (asher), I will only swap King for Dawson purely cos of Agbonlahor's pace.
theotheyid
Villa are good in the air so it's vital we have the giraffe starting. Keane should remain on the bench
theotheyid
I would make one, maybe two changes! As well as he played, Hudd will not suit an away game at Villa! And JJ played a blinder their last season! And there is the quandry as to whether Crouch makes way for PSB! I have to say i would be in favour of not changing the front two, but if we aren't playing well, we start to panic and start lumping it to Peter, then Keane would be ideal! So in summary, one change! Bring on the Villans! Its building up to be a cracker!! Live on EPSN!!
Jabberyid
Jabber, good point on Huddlestone. I was toying with the idea of not playing him against Villa cos of their tigerish midfield. But then I convinced my self to let Thudd stay in though I will rather have JJ against Villa
theotheyid
theotheyid, King looked way off the pace against Arsenal and whilst he was marking (he says through gritted teeth) one of the best strikers in the league, he didn't seem right! If we're worried about pace i'd be inclined to play Bassong!
Jabberyid
Nice compilation on GDS here, even the music was okay and not that fckin disco c**p that usually plays in the background. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPgUoagFbYg&feature=related) Really hope we keep him. Use as impact sub, soon please - long term - replace Robbie Keane! Wow that was off topic :) (the headlined blinked after wathching lates HR interview :)
NorwaySpurs
Jabber, but that was a shocker from Ledley and hoepfully a one off as it wasn't the same Ledley who put Drogba in his pocket against Chelsea before his injury. But have you thought about the fact that Bassong is a left footed CB and Agbonlahor primarily runs through the inside left channel? Bet yer scratching yer head now
theotheyid
God I can't wait for the Villa game.
cajic
the otheryid correct dawson done well but need kings pace!! as wanted all along keane on the bench! it has to be crouch and defoe all the time seriously now! keane can only be a bench player
j dog!
I'd be more than happy to come away from villa with a 1-0 win from an abolute stinker of a game. The line up?...thats a hard one as who deserves to be told you dont make the next game after yesterday. JJ for hud maybe but tom looked quite mobile yesterday so i dunno. I just hope we're as balanced and grind one out if need be. Still loving the fact skysports wrote it as.. Tottenham 9 (nine) - Wigan 1..as if to say yep, thats a god damn nine not a typo.
Himwhatwhats
theotheyid, i wasn't aware of that, on the other hand, i don't really go with this left side/right side of the CB position! If Harry needs someone with pace to do a job on Agbonlahor, Bassong would be ideal, and Woody is exactly the type of CB to do a job on Carew, who made the alleged England international CB Cahill look stupid (For pitys sake, how Cahill is considered above Woody for England is beyond me, even in the media he isn't considered, injury can't be an issue cos look at King, did Woody play at Real Madrid under Capello? Maybe they don't get on).
I really hope that was a blip and King was rushed back for Le Scum and with a 3 or 4 week break he should be fresh and hopefully fit, if so, he is a must. Having said that,his light is fading and Bassong is pretender to the thrown, he is young, but is the future at CB!
Jabberyid
Jabber, I take it you haven't played at CB before. Unless you are really two footed like Ledley, you have a preference and it's a big difference. You either play on the side of the right back or the side of the leftback so a predominantly left footed CB is very likely to play on the side of the LB. Ledley predominantly plays on the left side of CB as most of his partners have been right footed, but when he plays with Bassong he moves to the right. When Maldini played at CB, he played on the left side. It's easier for right footed CBs to adjust to the left side but no so for left footers. You see right backs playing left back like Corluka or Chimbonda, but can you imagine BAE at right back. Most fullbacks who play both sides are mostly right footed, but how many left footed right backs do you know? Same for the CB.
As for Woody not in the squad, I take it he might have peed off Capello at some point. It baffles me. He is better than Lescott and Upson hands down.
theotheyid
difficult to drop anyone after yesterday but Harry has to pick the best 11 each week for each game, that's the best 11 on form and play the players in their proper positions. Personally I would start with the same 11 as they are allon form and King hasn't b een at his best and Bassong maybe faster than Daws but we need a good header in the back line and Modric can have more rest because we will possibly need himover the busy xmas period and as long as we don'trevert back to the long ball Crouch deserves to keep his place. If it doesn't work we can always bring the likes of JJ, Keane, King, bassong or Modric on to chcnge things. Isn't that the way to do it, lets the lads show they can produce again before making changes and if changes are made the players coming in have to prove themselves.
loz
Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, Dawson, Assou Ekotto, Lennon, Huddlestone, Palacios, Kranjcar, Defoe, Crouch. That's right, keep it exactly the same. At the back I think too much is made of pace, I think Dawson's reading of the game makes up for his lack of pace. Huddlestone we can't write off just because it's an away game, Jenas can come on if things look bad. No-one in the side deserves to be dropped after yesterday's performance. Crouch and Defoe up top is neccessary. Got to be the best partnership with the service we can provide. Their understanding of each other's games was truly incredible yesterday, playing off one another. Villa is a massive test. They spent well on areas that needed improving. Hopefully since our away form hasn't been woeful we can get at least a point.
bernio3000
It was an exhilarating game. The football was out of this world and we looked and attacked like a top 4 side. Just outstanding, WELL DONE SPURS. As to the starting line up for the Villa Game, i would keep it the way it is and add keane and Jenas on for Crouch and Thudd later on in the game to inject some pace in when they all tire out. Really excited about it but I was when we were about to play Manu after our terrific start and look what happened there...
spurs4evaa
urgh! waiting all weeks sucks! lennon is going to show young who the real best winger in the country is. Abunglehor vs defoe? come on now. but milner is a good player, and they have good pace throughout the team
attwooll9
Theotheyid, no, i agree there will be a preference that will be comfortable for a CB, but i don't agree that its essential. I think, King unfit apart, Bassong would be ideal to shackle another fast striker, like Agbonlahor. I used to play both right and left back, and whilst, being prodominantly right footed, i didn't have a problem playing left back. I think its a similar, if not exact, as a right footer playing left wing. Therefore i feel its even less of an issue for a CB! Whilst i would prefer using my right foot, obviously, i could cope on the left, and i think a professional football would be even more able to cope!
Jabberyid
You may be confused on the laws of punctuation, but you certainly write a damn fine article! Keep the team the same against Villa - we'd be foolish to do otherwise. The only argument would be to bring in King, and that would only be if he's fully fit. Modric certainly won't be match fit, but it could well be an opportunity to give the lad a few minutes at the end. Thank goodness the old Jenas/Huddlestone 'debate' has finally been put to bed.
Magic_Oli_Ramos
Jabber, as you said you are right footed and can play both sides. But as I asked, how many left footers do you see doing what you can do? OK, CB may not be as obvious as full back, but we are talking about the Premiership here and left footers are not really as adaptable as the right footers. Most two footed players are naturally right footed.
theotheyid
I might be in the minority here, but is anyone peed off that we conceded that goal yesterday especially when it was a clear hand ball. Am a bit gutted Defoe didn't score 6 to set a record. That would have given us ten goals which would have been another premiership record.
theotheyid
keep it the same. start crouch, dont try and squeez keane in the squad on the left wing ever again pls arry. niko is superb and give us decent balance on the left side. woody and daws did fine.
pachna_spurs
Magic_Oli_Ramos: JJ/Thudd debate dead? Noooooo :) A game like this is like throwing petrol onto a fire :) Now all the Thudd lovers are really convinced he is the real deal and JJ is not good enough :) Me, I don't want to choose between them, they certainly contribute in different ways. If I were the undisputed despot at spurs, actually would buy someone better :) Or do you mean Palacios + Modric/Kranjcar is the real deal? I think it can be fantastic....but a bit thin if we consider injuries, participating in Europe, two national cups in addition to weekly PL......
NorwaySpurs
Good article OX, BUT, you said.... "But could you honestly discount the chances that Harry would pick, Ledley King, Sebastien Bassong, Jermaine Jenas, Luka Modric or Robbie Keane for a much tougher game against Aston Villa?"..... I don't necessarily agree with that mate. Different, YES. Tougher, I'm not so sure... Villa have shown this season that they can be just as pants as anyone. They lost against Wigan at home 2-0, Beat Liverpool 3-1, Fulham2-0, Birmingham 1-0, Portsmouth 2-0.
coopsieyid
They then lost against Blackburn 2-1, Drew 1-1 with Citeh, Beat Chelsea 2-1, then drew with Wolves and Everton 1-1, Lost to West Ham 2-1, Beat Bolton 5-1 and then drew with Burnley at the weekend. Look at the games they dropped points in or lost... They ARE there for the taking. Blackburn, Everton, Wolves, West Ham and Burnley have all been pretty crap this season, yet they all got something out of Villa.
coopsieyid
Also, we've all said ho well EVERYONE played yesterday. So don't you find it just a bit surprising that SIX players have not had a single vote for man of the match?..
coopsieyid
i agree sith loz. After reading your posts it seems to me starting with the same 11 makes sense. Villa are most dangerous in the and daws is great in the air. We should take as much gime as we can get away with in bringing modders back. He and king should be on bench imo.
asherthesmasher
I think we need to keep playing Woodgate and Daws with maybe Bassong acting as back up, Ledley is not fit enough of the time and his constant inclusion whenever fit is only ever going to slow down the development of a good central pairing learning to work well together.
spurkent
COME ON YOU SPURS!!
bassong#19
Easy win against villa 10 - 1 i reckon!!
TornadoYid
In regards to team selection - I would keep exactly the same 11 that smashed wigan. I am one Keane's beggest supporters but surely even he will have to say fair play if arry sticks with the same 11. The only tweak I might look at is swapping Jenas for Thudd as we will need a lot of energy and tracking back on saturday away to villa and I dont think Tom is up to it as much as Jenas is. Jenas is the man away from Home and Tom is the man at home. Still couldn't argue if arry sticks with Tom though.
TornadoYid
i would start keane instead of crouch. away from home we tend to hoof ball to crouch when he plays. also i was really impressed with keane vs france and i think if he would of played yesterday he would of scored goals forfun aswell. i would start with gomes bae charlie king woodgate hudd palacios lennon krancjar defoe and keane.
artn1984
Coopsieyid - to be fair..those game you mentioned where everton, wolves, burnley, blackburn and west ham have gotten something out of us...they were ALL away games. I think we were the first team to take points off burnley at home this season (and we played crap). Goodison is never easy, Wolves is a derby, and west ham and black burn - well..*****s sake!
los_angeles_villan
first of all i think villa away is a good game to have coming off the back of this result becausewe shouldnt get complacent and should be well up for it! (i would worry about this if we had say hull or bolton away). but keep the team the same going forward without question, the only choice is IF ledley is fit then will he or bassong be back in to compensate for the pace villa have! woodgaet has been amazing since he came back so it would have to be daws out im afraid....of corse we dont know if king will be fit untill friday
stuboi10
Look like the Vote might not be such a silly question! LOL. Anyway how can you talk about Villa as a games we should expect to get 3 points from, Villa Park is a hard place to go for anyone, yes I think we are capable of winning but realistically I think a draw would do.
stu_u2k
Stunning performance against Wigan lads - Defoe and Lennon were world class. Look forward to watching the Villa game and i hope Harry keeps the same line up.
Thaibluefan
Same Team as this week
They got a great flow going.
No need to change.
ronwol
I'm originally from North London and used to be a season ticket holder but now live in Cork,Ireland.It was my birthday on sunday and when i first saw the fixtures at the start of the season,i was hoping to travel over for the weekend to celebrate my birthday and get to the match.Unfortunately i was unable to get over and i'm gutted!! It was fantastic to see the lads play like that and score 9 on my birthday but i really wish i'd been there to witness it in the flesh.Does anyone know where i can get a programe from? UP THE SPURS!!
shelfside65
Any team that doesn't involve Robbie Keane, will have a good chance. This overwhelmimg victory was no co-incidence. I'm not saying we would not have won with him playing, but theres no way it would have been 9, far more like 3-1. Lennon's freedom had masses to do with Niko who was outstanding on the other side. Normally they would surround Lennon, and kill our supply. This time if they tried to mark him, Niko done the business, and vise versa. Massive test and real 6 pointer against Villa, a win would cement our intentions. COYS
YidEdy
Best performance from Niko since he arrived in England I think.He actually looked like he went up a gear from his Pompey days where he never tracked back and just loafed around the park with the odd flash of brilliance.Maybe he's finally turned the corner and decided to up his game and add defence and actual running to the usual walking.Good news for Spurs, and us Croats as well. Not sure he'd start some tougher matches when it gets cold and muddy but he definately has alot to offer when the conditions are right.Look out Modders
pompman
Has to be the same side. Even if Jenas makes more sense tactically (for example), to change the starting line up would reduce confidence IMO, unless he really starts to institute a rotation policy. The only change that really does make sense is King coming back, and if hes thought of as highly by the players as by fans then I dont see this as a problem. Frankly even if king didnt come straight back I dont think there could be any complaints. Prior to the wigan game I would have been very happy with a draw, but with confidence high id like to see a win this weekend - Harry will have his hands full keeping their feet on the ground after that one tho!
Joshtottenham
Ill definitely take a point this weekend.
WhiteHartSpur
I think harry will make 2 changes, King and Keane will probably come in for Crouch and Dawson. It would be hard on Daws but to be honest i cant see harry giving Daws a place on the bench against villa. i cant see us having two CB's on the bench.
Yid_from_India
Once again,dont fix it if its not broken..every player that played apart of the Wigan smashing desrves to start against Villa..
Daz Hotspurs
Ok so we play one great game and as usual the crazy talk begins. Ox Im no football manager but I know when not to rest on what u have, to be honest i was peeved we did not see some other fringe players get a go on sun.Bently is excused as he needs games,but why not Bale or naughton or Hutton why were they not there??? Thud had a good game but I still beleive JJ is better suited to the position. What a headace Harry will have when modders comes back. IMO Krac was MOTM even though defoe scored 5.
Mix26
I will seriously be p!$$&@ off if Kranjcar goes back to the bench for Keane to start...
Daz Hotspurs
If HR drops anyone for this game he's gonna send out a bad message to those players 'even if you play out of your skin and produce the best result of any team in the epl this season, i will still replace you with my favorites'! He will have some very pi%%ed off players! Bad for morrale imo, reward them with the start they all desserve against villa, and as for thud, villa love to break forward quickly with thier fast wingers yes, but that leaves gaps behined them and thud is the best at picking out the hole left for lennon and krank to exploit this! If it aint broken don't fix it!
calyid
Calyid would it not be wise to asses the sqauds performance over the last 2-3matches and decide who should get a role on the park? I mean the team were not so hot a couple of weeks back. Harry stuck with some poor performers,ie Wilson and defoe. This is a team sport and rightly so. U tell me who does not deserve a game against villa and ill tell u why they should. Wigan were ***** poor, we completely dominated that game! U find out more from your players when its a tough scrap rather than a walk in the park.Harry has his game plan and he does not give a monkey about breaking a few hearts...
Mix26
shelfside65, what a fecking birthday present. where in cork are ya mate? im in the same boat as you im a londoner now living in cork (fermoy) lovely weather we are having eh? lol........I always get my programmes from ebay.
paddypower
we have to start with the same side barring a injury,we now hav a gap between us and 5th place which we need to strengthen.
the run in to xmas is now a crucial one,where harry has to pick his strongest team and not his favourites!!
WestStandEnclosure
Good article! Yes it has to be the same team even though I still do not
trust Dawson. Those mistakes of his can happen at any moment. I would
play Bassong there but maybe Harry should stick to the exactly the same
11? He is the boss! Great to see Hudd showing us again that he is a
different class to JJ! I think Harry after giving JJ many chances has
finally sussed that Hudd is the man! lets not forget that Harry in the
Wigan game returned to the exact midfield formation that won those first
5 games on the trot! Hudd and Wilson in the middle, Lennon on the right
and the superb Kranjcar stepping in for mighty Modric! That was best
midfiled I have seen at Spurs since the Galvin, Ardiles, Hoddle, Villa
midfield of the early eighties!!!
geoff stern
Darren Bent has taken a lot of stick from us yids over the past few
weeks, but I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for making
it a perfect weekend for us all by scoring the winner against the ARSE!
Good on you Benty!!!
geoff stern
Thinking Back, Harry must have said to the Team "STOP F*****G HOOFING THE BALL UP TO CROUCH" because we played amazing football! I noticed when the Defense got the ball we played it back out from the back to the midfield! I think that through ball by Krankjar to Defoe (right foot outside of the boot) was the pass of the game Krankjar's vision yesterday was truly amazing and the thought of him and Modders working interchanging with eachother will give us many many options!
GrinsteadYid
Its all good saying that 'if it aint broke, dont fix it'. But thats not how football works. We have to put out the team that has the best possible chance of getting 3 points on the day. I think harry will make 2 changes i.e King and Keane in for Daws and Crouch. I think Hudd will keep his place.
Yid_from_India
i hope the same team will start as they deserve to but you never know.if king is fit surely he will come in for dawson and i didn't see the reason to give a run out to bassong against wigan unless maybe harry has plans to start him alongside woodgate instead of dawson which i think would be a mistake. keane won't start and i think harry used to ireland v france game as an excuse to drop robbie and now robbie will have a bit of a tough time starting games in the future which i hate to admit is a good thing. whatever the changes made i think it's great that we are discussing if changes should be made after a great performance instead of what changes should be made after a bad performance.
dwight schrute
shelfside65, paddypower, im from cork to, havent been to lane yet grrrrrr, but un real seeing it raining goals
123spurs
Gomez,
Corluka, King, Woodgate, BAE,
Lennon, Huddlestone, Palacios, Kranjcar,
Crouch, Defoe,
SIMPLES!!
GrinsteadYid
GrinsteadYid, I'm with you on your team selection if the KING is fit!!!
geoff stern
is modders back for this game?
jljyid
calyid, I agree if Harry changes anything it sends out a poor message and isn't good for morrale. The 11 that started are good enough to start against Villa and if they don't produce then make subs that's what it is all about. Players should prove themselves and if they do they should keep their starting place. No one is bigger than the team. Maybe JJ, Keane and King or Bassong would be better for this game but realistically we don'tknow that. Keane hasn't been that prolific, JJ is inconsistent, King isn't really fit and Bassong has just come back from injury as well. It's all if's and but's. Reward the lads from Sunday and make changes if necessary simple and send a message out to the other players on the bench that they have to earn their place and the rest of the season should be good. If you drop players after delivering that sort of performance your asking for trouble and if you accommodate players like he has in the past we willbe punished. On Sunday that is the best balanced side I've seen in ages. It's the best PARTNERSHIP I've seen up front this season.
loz
Harry has come in and really done well the team is so balanced and we are capable of a CL spot this year! On another note, Did you see that Tottenham were the first London club to put a formal request in to host the 2018 world cup games! I take it the Planning Permission has been approved then?
GrinsteadYid
Please help these people Yid from India... 1 great game in 4 and now these players should get a hall of fame award. Nice and cuddly uncle reddy said the boys deserve a sweetie and can enjoy the cotton candy next week cause they all played so nicely against the girls team...
Mix26
Sorry, no, you can't just pick a team based purely on the Wigan game! What if we were playing Man Utd at OT on Saturday, i wouldn't start Hudd then, would definitely play King if fit and ready. You'd even still think about putting Modric in if fit! We aren't and maybe Hudd would be ok, but for away games i don't think Hudd performs, you need a grafter which JJ does, he may not have been great for England against Brazil, but he worked hard and sorry no-one can argue Hudd does that! I don't think it will affect morale at all, players aren't THAT stupid, they won't think they are an automatic choice and if certain players will fit a certain system and against certain teams Harry will make that change and players HAVE to accept it!
Jabberyid
I see the light. Is that u reality....
Mix26
Why oh Why do we keep getting linked with Anton ferdinand and for 12 million pounds...I would not buy Rio these days for that amount...
Daz Hotspurs
if harry keeps the same team i beleive it will send out a message to the very high on confidence starting 11. keep performing and u are my team. they will give it there all no doubt and villa will have to play out there skin to stop us
pachna_spurs
And the rest of the team u watch these guys and learn, then maybe we will give u a reserve game.
Mix26
how are they high on form for 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FECKING GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mix26
Have to say normally when away from the lane I would go with the team selection to suit the opposition and nullify their threat, but in this case I feel MO'N will not be going all out attack. He tends to be a bit more defensive against the better attacking sides(that's us by the way). I would certainly try very hard not to get carried away as Villa are exceptionally quick and good on the counter attack. I think that I would play King and Woody (sorry Daws). One area that does concern me is BAE as Villa will single him out for particular attention and I think Milner is top drawer!!
There is a case for JJ for Hudd as the Villa midfield is quite mobile which Hudd struggles against, but with Krank there he didn't struggle as much as he has done. I think that Krank is the answer a midfielder with skill, passing ability and work rate!! So for me its just Ledley in and BAE needs to really be on his game!! Have to say I think a spell on the bench will do PSB the world of good!!
RODSPURS
It was quoted by Harry, that Joe Jordan plotted the way to play Wigan and they worked on that with a set team plan. Lets do the same plotting on how Villa play and pick the right side for our game plan. They will have us to worry about too. I hope they find the right way though and hope it is the same team.
COYS R US
You poor desperate JJ fans are getting real scared now the midfield is back
to it's winning ways! Like it was in the first 5 games when JJ was out
injured! Good old Harry! Oh Tommy Tommy...
geoff stern
Shelf, Paddy, 123 Im from Cork too. Used to live near Turners Cross on the south side. From N17 moved there when a lad but back in UK in Portsmouth these days.
nomorewhlegends
Mix26...When Spurs play bad the fans curse but when they play well the fans cheer...Its just the human thing...We still got a long way to prove ourselves but I say you are only as good as you last game
Daz Hotspurs
i agree with Mix. Why is everyone having orgasmic blow-ups in their pants over 1 game. Damn, anyone would thik we just won the premier league. Im really lookig forward to the Villa game, but we are Spurs, the greatest inconsistant team on planet earth. I bet, if we lose on Saturday, you will all feel like C"""S! Harry will pick the right team, the players wont cry and ill be happy if we win.
Machineguncupid
Mix26 if it was exactly the same side that had played badly in the previous 3 games before Wigan then you'd have a point. You still do to a certain extent. I agree that there's no room for sentiment in the game and we can't just play the same team because they did well on sunday, but I honestly think that team had the right combinations of everything. You can say "one good game in 4" or whatever but it wasn't the same side for the other 3 was it?
bernio3000
machinegun, if i cant cum in my pants when tottenham score nine then when can i, its all about enjoying this week and the positive media for once, then worry bout next week when it comes. HARRY CANT CHANGE THE TEAM, if he does and we lose he would leave himself wide open for critism, he must play it safe and start the same then change at half time or 60mins, u cannot change a team who just won 9-1.
liamyid
Same team, and not just because of the win but because King is (sorry to say it) done or close to and been off a little lately ie. Arsessrus, Keane is just FUC+ING sH+IT and has had more then his fair share of chances but for all you Keane fans lets just say he's been BADLY off form as of late (whole season), JJ - well his record speaks for itself too him out = WIN ( and a good performance) so now I have cleared that up what's left is to slowly bring back from injury Moddrs and Bassong and there is no rush as we have pretty good players who are ready and fit and soaring in confidence When all fit
Gomez
Charle Bassong/Daws Woodgate BAE
Lennon Palacios Modric/Kranjcar Modric/Kranjcar
Defoe Crouch
or
Gomez
Charlie Daws/Bassong Woody BAE
Hudd Palacios
Lennon Modric Kranjcar
Defoe/Crouch
Not saying get rid of King but soon, very soon
Give Bentley and Pav GDS a proper go in cup or something...Sell if not right....
SELL/GIVE AWAY kEANE, sell JJ, Hutton
SsSpurSs
How any spurs fans cannot enjoy a 9-1 win at home in such style is
incredible! Sure we aint Man Utd or the Chelsea scum yet, but that stylish
win took us back into the top four and level with the Arse! Come on you
Spurs and stay strong with the player power thing Harry. Your the BOSS!!!
geoff stern
I think we should pick the team with Villa in mind. It would be moronic to just say "We'll we thumped a below average Wigan side 9-1 so that means the same team will surely beat a quality Villa side pushing for the top 4". The fact is that this is 4th vs 5th and could possibly be our most important game this side of Christmas. We need to be tight and I think not losing is more important than winning this weekend so I would go with Corluka, King, Dawson and Bassong at the back. BAE is a decent player and good worker but he's not water tight by any means. I'd run with the same midfield as I think we can cope with Villa's physicality and pace with Krank, Thudd, Wilson and Lennon in there. Villa will go with a back 4 of Beye, Dunne, Collins and Warnock. Not one of these players have played for Villa longer than 4 months so there is definately cracks to be exploited and I think Defoe and Keane are the ones to do it. Dont get me wrong, I love 2 Metre Peter and I thought he did well last week but I think pace and movement will work better than back post crosses against this particular back 4.
KierzoSBC
EVERYONE KNOWS ITS A MARATHON AND NOT A SPRINT SO TAKE IT GAME BY GAME..BE HAPPY WHEN WE HAVE A GOOD WIN AND BE ANGRY WHEN WE HAVE A S#!T GAME..WE KNOW WE HAVE NOT ACHIEVED OUR GOAL YET BUT ATLEAST BE OVERJOYED WITH A RESULT LIKE SUNDAY..
Daz Hotspurs
Bernio spot on they played amazing but we played wigan not Villa. To sit and say well xyz played well so lets make sure we use the same players and play like we did against wigan.Even worse is the fact that we beat them 9-1 thats just too rosey if u get my point?We need to focas on how to beat villa not just say oh well boys no need to train hard this week,them boys are on the park against villa. I think Harry knows he has found a replacement for modric and or JJ/Thudd in Kranc but why its taken so long is obvious that he nneded to gel with the side.If u think back to our formation,game play etc its the same,just a few new additions.Now thats what exites me!!! Winning 9-1 was spectacular it was sublime but the article is on what team for next week so little Geoff perhaps write an article how much u love thudd and how happy u are.
Mix26
Paddypower,i'm down in Kinsale.Nuff Respect to all the Cork Spurs Crew!! Bring on the Villa and for me,only change i'd make is JJ for Thudd,as he is more mobile and much better suited to Villa away.Tom's done nothing wrong but it's a squad game.
shelfside65
kierzo, what do u think it would do 4 keanes confidence if harry did start him and we lost misrebily?? Not saying it would be he's fault but u no how people would react, hes already being slated! It would be much better to start wiv the same team then bring keane/jenas etc on if we need them..Im sorry but not one player deserves to get dropped out of that team from sunday, why change it??? ****** how the other team set up when we have come off the back of a 9-1, Man u or chelski dont change 4 no1 (yes i know were not them) but that starting 11 will be buzzing come saturday!!!!
liamyid
Exactly White Hart Spur....... A point at Villa would be a good point. Villa are exactly the opposite to Wigan, Strong, Organised and direct. They have good wingers too, Corluka and BAE are in for a tough game. Id take a draw right now.
HuddersfieldYiddo
Villa is the most important game for us so far, and i think that only the game against City, could be more important, as there game in hand could vring them to 1 point away from us, as it stands now. While we are all saying that, this is a MONSTER game for them too, as we are the direct competition for them now, and they need to close the gap on us. Also remembering, that if City win aswell and they lose, they will go below City, and maybe Liverfool. This is a big game for Villa too and they will make sure they are even more prepared, after the result we just had. Its not just about Spurs you know.
Machineguncupid
Now would be the perfect time to sell Lennon and Defoe - their stock are now sky high and we can easily replace them with Dean Ashton and Michael Kightley.
HuddersfieldYiddo
No no I completely see your point there Mix26, I love how great it is that the team doesn't pick itself. If Keane came in for Crouch, Jenas in for Huddlestone, King for Dawson etc etc I wouldn't be disappointed because none of the above are neccessarily any worse. I do see what you mean about 9-1 being too rosey, complete recipe for complacency. I'd be fairly happy to make changes its just I'm thinking with my heart instead of my head.
bernio3000
Kierzo - I was just about to agree with you 100% until you blew it with "I think Defoe and Keane are the ones to do it" Keane has been pants and Crouch deserves his chance! We need 2 metre Peter for the attacking arial presence and for defending corners!!
HuddersfieldYiddo - please say your kidding Ashton & Kightley?
RODSPURS
ROD as much as I love robbie I do agree the bean pole deserves to get a run. Q who was captain on sat? I didnt notice was it woodgate?
Mix26
yeah woody, and it was sunday fella, wake up mix!
liamyid
Woody was a good choice for CPTN I think!
GrinsteadYid
i hope keane scores the winner saturday and shuts some of ye up no matter who plays we sud b supporting them as a team coys
glendalough yid
glendalough yid, why do you say that?. Do you think there's some sort of alterior motive for those of us that don't want Keane in the team, or don't think it's coincidence that we produced the best Spurs display for years whilst he was not in the team?. It's not because he's only capable of pointing and shouting, or left for his "boyhood heroes" . It's because he's been CRAP since he came back. If he could produce anything like the form before he deserted (I mean left) us for the bin dippers, there would be NO problem. Unfortunately he's been pants. And even with that description I'm being kind...
coopsieyid
I think Harry will look at starting the same team if they are all fit. King if fit would be an improvement but Woody and Dawson have played well together many times. Better to ease the King back in now these two are match fit...the Wigan game was a bonus as they had a work out without being pushed. Bassong I would also ease back in. The depth of the squad allows us to carefully bring players back from injury. This means that as much I love Modric there is no way he should start a game after three months out; when fit he too will need a few games to get match fit and back in the team
Forever Spurs
Harry won't change it. He'd have to be a mug to change it. If we don't score after 45mins then he'll change it.
Fanman
i think that kranjcar should get a start ahead of huddlestone even though he is having his best spell with us. also is or when modric back
yid kid
I have said many times that I am against the Keane bashing that goes on amongst the fans - however even I must agree that arry should probably leave him out come saturday against the villains. And I'm sure Keane wouldn't argue with that either because he is a true professional & he will understand that it makes sense to stick with that side that beat wigan 6, i mean 7, oops i meant 8, ffs i mean 9 - 1!
TornadoYid
I'm all for sticking with a winning team, but you also need to pick a team that will suit going to Villa. I think Jenas will suit this game more than Tommy will, but if Harry picks the same 11 you can hardly blame him.
spursgirl_4_life
my only problem with switching any player right now is....umm imagine being in the game you won 9-1 and now coach taking you out after a fantastic showing....thats bad for moral its a downer on confidence! i stick with same 11 jenas is no better then hudd...we need a solid 11 week in week out not adjust to teams but them adjust to us!!! we need consistency. im sorry but we cant change line up it would hurt confidence to much to any player being changed after that kind of display...even if we do lose it happens and everyone should go in expecting a tie as a good result and a win as an unexpected but fantastic result. we are good team but we have to not get down on ourselves if we do not win
Andyflag679
If any of you think Harry is going to leave Robbie out where have you been all season. He made him club captain and he will start with him on Saturday evening sure has eggs is eggs. I dont agree with this by the way but he will start.
johna
Johna - A friend of mine has been saying all season that Keane has it in his contract that if fit he will start in the PL. I said I didn't believe it. I was a bit confused that Harry said he'd wait to see if Keane wanted to play against Wigan?? But if he starts against Villa after that performance?!?!?...i'm not so sure!
RODSPURS
lots of good points chaps, but instead of us 'prepairing a team that can match villa', let them prepair a team that can match us! if that makes sence? m o'n was at the lane sun and i bet his pants were itching just a bit.
calyid
johna, I thought/believe Ledley is still club captain and Robbie is team captain. Confusing I know.
COYS R US
Don't get too carried away lads, we've had our fair share of false dawns. I know that it may seem fairer to leave the team the same for the trip to VP, but that would not be the wisest option in my opinion. It will be a completely different match and the pace of the game will be different. Calyid, the fact that MON was there will mean he'll have already devised a plan having watched exactly how you took Wigan apart, another good reason to change the line up. Anyway, i'll be in the Holte End on Saturday for what should be a cracker. Good luck Yids.
Villan-in-Cyprus
lets hope jermain defoe proves that it wasnt luck and that it was pure skill by scoring against villa
leeimp95
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