Match Thread: Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur

[Neil_Vaughan]

Talk about the game in here before, during and after.

[Keanoldinho]

what happened to the Reading game that's on our fixture list for Saturday?

[Ginola's Son]

WHAT AN ERROR!!

I refuse to talk about this game until after the Reading game

Oh I can't resist....

4-4

[Keanoldinho]

WHAT AN ERROR!!

I refuse to talk about this game until after the Reading game

Oh I can't resist....

4-4


I thought it might of got post-poned and I just didn't hear about it because I'm all the way over here in the states:confused:

[berbzy 'G']

Our players will be ****ing knackered by the time this game comes straight after we played Reading...

But start with Defoe against Villa... He'll be fresh... Also I'd like to see him prove Reo-Coker wrong about them kicking us 'apparently' :eek: :eek: :eek:

whatever :D

[gazzaG8]

This is going to be a tough one, i'm going for a 2-2 draw

[MarlowSpurs]

Well after the past couple of games I'm going for a 8-7 win to the mighty spurs.

[berbzy 'G']

We're not gonna get 3 points... :(

[Chewy]

I think we can nick this one. Villa don't have a big squad so we should take advantage of that and play some fresh players.

I'd go with:

Robbo
Chimbonda King Rocha Lee
Lennon Boateng Jenas Taarabt
Berbatov Defoe

Bench: Cerny, Malbranque, Huddlestone, Bent, Keane

The team I put out is very attacking so I doubt it will be that line up with the state of our defending against reading. I'm sure Huddlestone will start so he can sit deep.

[JuicE]

3-3 and a few REDs!

[singapore spur]

.....0-0..... :)

[berbzy 'G']

Whenever I put a bet on Tottenham to win a game on an accumulater... They always lose... It happened against Birmingham, Everton, Getafe, Newcastle, Arsenal at WHL, and Blackburn... but when I for once put a bet on us to draw against Portsmouth, We win 1 0...

I even put a bet on Newcastle to beat Derby... What the **** happens, Derby get a draw... So tomorow I'll put a bet on Spurs to lose to Aston Villa, and I can garente we will win :mad:

[Keanoldinho]

I think we can nick this one. Villa don't have a big squad so we should take advantage of that and play some fresh players.

I'd go with:

Robbo
Chimbonda King Rocha Lee
Lennon Boateng Jenas Taarabt
Berbatov Defoe

Bench: Cerny, Malbranque, Huddlestone, Bent, Keane

The team I put out is very attacking so I doubt it will be that line up with the state of our defending against reading. I'm sure Huddlestone will start so he can sit deep.


I like that line up. Defoe has earned a start and Taarabt/Lennon on the wings is something I've been wanting to see for a while. Boateng must start instead of Hudd though because he'll get stuck into NRC and Barry were as Hudd will just get passed around. Big game for us like the City and Portsmouth ones I just hope Ramos sorts our defence out because Villa have a great attack with alot of pace down the wings.

[TURKISH]

[QUOTE=Keanoldinho;71788]I like that line up. Defoe has earned a start and Taarabt/Lennon on the wings is something I've been wanting to see for a while. Boateng must start instead of Hudd though because he'll get stuck into NRC and Barry were as Hudd will just get passed around. Big game for us like the City and Portsmouth ones I just hope Ramos sorts our defence out because Villa have a great attack with alot of pace down the wings.[/QUOTEI

I sense a draw but a good defensive display is key.

The battle will be won in centre of the park as they are a competitive team.

[\jackdaw]

Got a feeling this will be another good game to watch .. not a 6-4 but a good game none the less.

2-2 for me

[Chewy]

Just noticed Zokora is back so i'd like to see him start as he'll be raring to go after sitting out 3 games.

[Apples]

Just noticed Zokora is back so i'd like to see him start as he'll be raring to go after sitting out 3 games.

Zokora and King in defence? good call :D

[jrio]

Zokora and King in defence? good call :D
Problematic as it's untried, King is still finding his way back and Zokora's returning after 3 games out. Better to start with King and Dawson if feasible, with Zokora coming on if King can't last the game.

[berbzy 'G']

Problematic as it's untried, King is still finding his way back and Zokora's returning after 3 games out. Better to start with King and Dawson if feasible, with Zokora coming on if King can't last the game.

Dawson seems to play much better in Defence when he's with Ledley King... Lets see what happens tomorow...

[Apples]

Problematic as it's untried, King is still finding his way back and Zokora's returning after 3 games out. Better to start with King and Dawson if feasible, with Zokora coming on if King can't last the game.

Probably best option, though Dawson's missed as many games, only coz Dawson and King established a good partnership together. Just hope that King's gets back to top of his game.

Have to say though Zokora did really nicely in his time in defence and wouldnt mind seeing if King and Zokora would work.

[Chewy]

Why play zokora in defence when we now have 4 fit CB's?

[Apples]

Why play zokora in defence when we now have 4 fit CB's?

Coz he used to play there and he plays better there than in midfield imo

[Chewy]

I disagree - he did his role well when asked to play there but he did come out of position quite a bit. We need him as a bit of muscle in the centre.

[jrio]

King and Rocha are unlikely to last 90 mins, Dawson's fitness is uncertain whilst Kaboul cannot be relied on. Zokora also seems more stable at CB, notwithstanding his lunge in the City tie.

[berbzy 'G']

**** it, I'm going for a 4 1 win :eek: :eek: :eek:

[SCIFIN17YID]

What will this game be showing on sky ? is not let me and the other's know stream links please, p.s I will post up the two download link's for us vs reading game.

[gazzaG8]

Sky Sports One 5:15

[SCIFIN17YID]

Sky Sports One 5:15

Thank you ! COYS !!!!

[Keanoldinho]

interesting line up Zokora at RB Daws in for King and Defoe starting with Berby. 3-1 Spurs COYS

Tottenham
01 Robinson
04 Zokora
05 Kaboul
20 Dawson
03 Lee
08 Jenas
15 Malbranque
17 Boateng
25 Lennon
09 Berbatov
18 Defoe

Substitutes
12 Cerny, 10 Keane, 19 Taarabt, 22 Huddlestone, 24 O'Hara

[Ioang]

Odd, odd line up. Is king injured again? Or just rested? I think chimbo's off in jan.

[Sparkystav]

Think Kings just being rested for Saturday and Wednesday.

But no defender on bench? and Dawsons not played for a few games? not liking that.

Good chance for JD though.

stav

[jrio]

Presuming this isn't 3 at the back with Lennon and Lee as wing backs. Surely Ramos would have preferred Tainio at RB as Zokora's never played there, unless Jenas, who has, is playing there? Not easy to make sense of the line-up. It could even be Kaboul at RB.

[matthius23]

Agbonlahor is gonna eat our back 4 alive :o

[shakey18]

Set ****in piece

[berbzy 'G']

Another set piece again for **** sake... :mad:

Sort it out Tottenham...

[SurreySpur]

****ing terrible defending

For **** Sake

[matthius23]

Prior to freekick, Andy Greys exact words... "Melberg and Dawson are wrestling again, but Dawson has decided to leave him for now and go elsewhere."

Oh, Melberg scored. Well done Daws.

[\jackdaw]

Lost Dawson as the ball came over .. good cross .. 1-0 Villa ffs

[berbzy 'G']

This is just typical...

[LifeTimeYido]

We are woefull - cant pass - tackle or defend - and if Robinson punches the ball again when he could have caught it - im gonna go down there and rip is ****in spleen out and beat him to death with it..

Young and Agbonglahor are eating out back 4 alive.

****ing Awfull display so far

[tez1503]

****ing awful! whats with all these unchallenged headers in midfield?:mad:

[Apples]

Looks like all use lot saying Jenas is quality are looking like fools! Jenas is an embarrassment to our football club, no passing quality, no influence in a game, absolutely clueless!!!

Where the **** is a goal gonna come from?????????

Unfortunately Hudd is not there useless he maybe creative he is!!!

What the **** Jenas does please please please tell me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad:

[\jackdaw]

Villa are way the better team at the moment and look to go on and score more.

Pretty woeful as others have pointed out so far but what can Senor Ramos do at half time to shake them up. He has done it before can he do it again?

Dosnt help with Dawson being booked already, if he goes we will be even more fooked.

[Keanoldinho]

Lost Dawson as the ball came over .. good cross .. 1-0 Villa ffs


No he didn't just before the corner was taken dickhead Daws walks off and leaves him wide open. Piss poor performance so far we never looked like doing anything until after they scored. The whole team needs a rocket up their arse no one played well that first half it was awful to watch. A waste of 45 minutes out your life feckn woeful.:mad:

[Sparkystav]

Completely awful so far.

Get Dawson, KPB, Jenas, and Berba out.

Dawsons useless.
KPB and Jenas are just shit
And Berba really doesnt give a toss today.

Stav

[Apples]

Completely awful so far.

Get Dawson, KPB, Jenas, and Berba out.

Dawsons useless.
KPB and Jenas are just shit
And Berba really doesnt give a toss today.

Stav

100% agreed

[\jackdaw]

No he didn't just before the corner was taken dickhead Daws walks off and leaves him wide open. Piss poor performance so far we never looked like doing anything until after they scored. The whole team needs a rocket up their arse no one played well that first half it was awful to watch. A waste of 45 minutes out your life feckn woeful.:mad:

Yep your right.. just watched it again

[Keanoldinho]

Looks like all use lot saying Jenas is quality are looking like fools! Jenas is an embarrassment to our football club, no passing quality, no influence in a game, absolutely clueless!!!

Where the **** is a goal gonna come from?????????

Unfortunately Hudd is not there useless he maybe creative he is!!!

What the **** Jenas does please please please tell me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad:



ffs like Jenas was the only one not playing well the whole team were shit that half and JJ did play one lovely ball through to Lennon but overall the WHOLE TEAM were shit. You really do seem like you're going to be an annoying ****er.

[denis-cro]

Absolutely Terrible Performance From Spurs. Wtf Is Lee Still Doing In Our Squad....he´s ****ing Useless...and Dawson...he´s ****ing Stupid... I Do Not Rate Him As A Good Defender Any More... I Must Say That I Understand Why Berbatov Wants To Leave Asap... At The Begging Of The Next Season All Our Defensive Players Should Be Sold And Complete New Defensive Line-up Must Be Added To The Squad If We Want To Be Big Club, Cause At The Present, With This Type Of Performance From Our Defensive Players, We Look Like A Championship Team...

[Apples]

ffs like Jenas was the only one not playing well the whole team were shit that half and JJ did play one lovely ball through to Lennon but overall the WHOLE TEAM were shit. You really do seem like you're going to be an annoying ****er.

Lol, am I annoying you?

Whole team is playing crap, but when people tell me Jenas is a class act its just too laughable and I wanted to see today if you were all right that he has got better?

After 45 mins no change in my opinion.

Lets hope he sorts it out for the next 45 and we go on to win this!!!

Come on you Spurs!!!!

[neilmcnab]

CAN EVERYONE SEE JJENAS, PERFORMANCE, now he suppose to be our creative midfielder, and it seems as if we only have boeteng, in there against villa mid pair,

he annonymous, and when he does get the ball, quickly gives it away usually to opponent, AND HE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE SAME PERFORMANCES,

AND dawson seems completly out of depth, and villa are just hard working, they have alot of mistake makers in their team,BUT THEIR NOT EXPOSED....

WELL SEE WHAT SENOR RAMOS DOES AT HALF TIME... HE GOT HIS WORK CUT OUT....THINK HE DEFINETLY GONA BUY MORE THAN A FEW,...

[SurreySpur]

We can get something out of this game but we need to stretch the play a little because Villa are squeezing it and winning the ball back too easily. Bringing Keane on would be a good start.

Villa 1-2 Spurs

[Keanoldinho]

Lol, am I annoying you?

Whole team is playing crap, but when people tell me Jenas is a class act its just too laughable and I wanted to see today if you were all right that he has got better?

After 45 mins no change in my opinion.

Lets hope he sorts it out for the next 45 and we go on to win this!!!

Come on you Spurs!!!!


I agree with that I just don't like players being singled out when the whole teams been shit especially Daws on that fecking corner we need better movement off the ball to try and stretch Villas defence because at the minute we've been especially shit in the final 3rd no movement no options. COYS

[\jackdaw]

Huds for the Prince ... not sure I would do that then I am not the manager !!

[Glenn Huddle]

There is definitely something here for us. I fancy Keane to come on and nick a goal.

COYS

[\jackdaw]

Here comes Keano ... for Lennon.. could be an interesting move that.

[SurreySpur]

****ing hell, 55 minutes gone and we haven't even had a corner yet!!

[Glenn Huddle]

Go on O' Hara, how quality would it be if this kid changes it for us.

[SurreySpur]

Ok i take that back!

[matthius23]

All subs on now... Hudd for KPB, Keane for Lennon, OHara for Kaboul...

[\jackdaw]

O'Hara for Kaboul? .. must of beent he injury in first half.. does that mean the Hudd in defence?

God help us.

[Glenn Huddle]

This ref hasn't given us shit.

[SurreySpur]

What a ****ing awful touch by JD

[Glenn Huddle]

Fcuk me, Jens is the worst player on this planet.

[Glenn Huddle]

sorry read Jenas.

[shakey18]

That should have been 2-****in shite

[shakey18]

I wish Andy Gray would shut the **** up

[shakey18]

Geddin Jermain!!!

[Glenn Huddle]

Now for the winner lads. great finish by JD. A win here could really kick our season into gear.
COYS

[SCIFIN17YID]

easy ****ing DEFOE sick ****ing goal !!! w000t, COYS !!! let's get in there and get out confidence back !!! COYS !!! 1 - 1 !!!

[matthius23]

Well done JD, well done... :)

We've been the better team this half, so well deserved goal.

[LifeTimeYido]

Get in - a better 2nd 1/2 for us - better by miles

[\jackdaw]

Get in there JD .. nice strke. Bit of luck after the crafty chip in from Daws but who cares .. 1-1

[SurreySpur]

Lovely finish JD

Now lets grab the winner boys!!

[Glenn Huddle]

hes got that pace in his locker and when do we see it? That is what frustrates me most about Jenas.

[shakey18]

****in again-crap

[matthius23]

Andy Gray calls it again...

"Ohara Vs Laursen... total mismatch"

[SCIFIN17YID]

pfft im off.

[\jackdaw]

Yet another ****ing corner ... but saying that what defence have we got out there at the moment.

[SurreySpur]

****ing shite yet again/

Lets just save ourself time and effort and award teams goals when they get a ****ing corner!

[hastingsyid]

**** sake................

[Glenn Huddle]

I feel for O'Hara. Hes come on as a sub and ends up marking their most dangerous threat from set pieces and what is he 5 foot nothing. We are crying out for an organiser at the back and have been all season.

Oh well at least its January now we can go and get one.

[LifeTimeYido]

WTF is O'hara marking Laursen for - ****ING GET A GRIP !!!

And ****ing Robbo should have claimed that - 6 yards out - started to come then ****ing chickened out.

All that hard work.................pfft - same old Spurs.

[denis-cro]

we´re getting ridiculous with this our defending set pieces ... this is getting embarrassed every game more and more ....

[wayne wonder]

Ive never seen a team defend so bad in my entire life ****ing hell :mad: im mad and ive got a hangover from hell

[shakey18]

If Levy thinks we don't need to do too much business in Jan then he's having a ****in laugh.

[berbzy 'G']

We are ****ing shit at set pieces... ****ing embarissing... We need atleast 2 new defenders, mind you, who the **** would wanna come to us...

[shakey18]

Laursen is someone we should get-now.

[SCIFIN17YID]

IF LEVY does not buy and start getting rid of player's then he is a **** we clearly got mad ass problems in that crap ass defence, I am getting fed up of this shit.

DVD = OUT
16 MILL TENT = OUT
SHITERI = OUT
ECRAPOTU = OUT
PENCIL SHARPNER = OUT

Good Replacement's please ! January sort it out !

[Sparkystav]

We were absolutley wank tonite.

I personally think only zokora JUST about deserved to wear the shirt.

Villa didnt even play well we were just shit.

[Keanoldinho]

We need a new RB, 2 new LBs and 3 new CBs because our defence is rubbish. FFS school boy errors it's embarassing I'm pissed off we played well in the second half and as per usual threw the ****ing game away with shit marking and free headers off set-pieces. Bale, Chimbo, and King are the only defenders we have worth shit the rest of them need to be shipped the **** out. Plus King and Bale are injury prone as **** so maybe we need more new defenders to compensate for that. Happy ****ing new year pppppffffftttttttt.

[denis-cro]

Well, with all Ramos/Poyet effort some mistakes haven´t been rectified at all. There´s been some improvements but we´re still making same mistakes. So the main reason for that are obvious the players. Some of the players do not deserve to wear Spurs´shirt, and this fact must be accepted whatever we like it or not. By this, I especially refer to Y.P.Lee ...I just do not understand how some player could be so useless like he is for our team... When he´s on the pitch it looks like we´re playing with 10 men.... :o
There are few players more who doesn´t deserve to wear Spurs´s shirt, but this is for some other thread.
Despite some good performances under Ramos´s regime, my only hope and wish, ( and I think is very realistic under current circumstances ) for rest of this disappointingly ( so far ) season is that we just avoid relegation...:o

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL THFCTalk members...COYS!!!

[mjbmedia]

how long have you lot been SPurs supporters????

FFS its january and without fail we do SHITE in January

[berbzy 'G']

We need a new RB, 2 new LBs and 3 new CBs because our defence is rubbish. FFS school boy errors it's embarassing I'm pissed off we played well in the second half and as per usual threw the ****ing game away with shit marking and free headers off set-pieces. Bale, Chimbo, and King are the only defenders we have worth shit the rest of them need to be shipped the **** out. Plus King and Bale are injury prone as **** so maybe we need more new defenders to compensate for that. Happy ****ing new year pppppffffftttttttt.

Do you think we should give Gunter a run in RB?

[denis-cro]

Poyet´s reaction after Villa defeate:

"We had a chance (to win) the game, we changed the system (in the second half) and we were controlling the whole game.

"But we conceded two goals from set pieces again, it's not about individuals, but week-in week-out it's different players, it's a team problem.

"We are going to have to change, maybe we are going to make big changes."

It was about ****ing time for those changes...:)

[gazzaG8]

Yeah saw that, it's the right time to reslise that Gus.
We desperately need new defenders

[jrio]

The signs were there when Bendtner came on to head in unchallenged a few weeks ago. Despite the obvious frustrations communicated by Poyet, I'm not sure how much scope there is to do anything about it in this window. Conceding late from corners was a continual problem under Jol during his tenure. It won't be fixed that easily.

[Indianspur]

Need ledley to help organise things and obviously someone better than kaboul and dawson needs to be brought. this will allow dawson and kaboul to be good covering defenders, because i believe they can still do a decent job !!

defo need someone more creative on the left wing, some like ashley young who runs at defenders.shame we missed out on him. prob cause of commoli the nob!

[wayne wonder]

I bet in true spurs style we wont uy anyone till 5mins before midnight on the last day of the transfer window:(

God we need some serious help right about now

[RuFuS]

Need ledley to help organise things and obviously someone better than kaboul and dawson needs to be brought. this will allow dawson and kaboul to be good covering defenders, because i believe they can still do a decent job !!


I posted this on another thread a while ago :o

Robbo takes charge of Dawson for set peices.Dawson takes charge of the defence who in turn get a grip of the midfield and make sure that they are responsible for stopping the oppos on or near the half way line.

If we dont concede corners, we dont concede goals.

[berbzy 'G']

Loving those strong words from Gus Poyet on skysports news... '' We've had enough ''... Anyone else seen it yet?

It's asif he's just given up on the players... **** knows what must have been said to the players in the changing room after the game...

[jrio]

I posted this on another thread a while ago :o



If we dont concede corners, we dont concede goals.

We would concede about half as many goals.

That analysis is very simplistic and implies that the units can be linked by vocal chains that command robotic effect. If it really worked we'd see most games with 70% possession in midfield and games averaging barely a goal a game. It doesn't but all managers wish it.

[JuicE]

Loving those strong words from Gus Poyet on skysports news... '' We've had enough ''... Anyone else seen it yet?

It's asif he's just given up on the players... **** knows what must have been said to the players in the changing room after the game...

Not given up on them, just completely sick of them!

[Keanoldinho]

I walked out the room as soon as Villa got the corner to take a piss because I new we were fecked I didn't want to watch it and sure enough I walked back in and it was 2-1. We need an old head in the back because the ****ers we got out there are young idiots with no common sense especially Dawson who should be taking control of the situation and organizing the defence on corners and set pieces around the box. He's got more experience in the EPL than Kaboul but he seems to be a complete air head did you see the look on his face after Laursen scored ****n idiot.

The first 2 people you pick up on a fecking corner are the 2 CBs because they're usually the best headers in the team but we continually left the ****ers open to punish us and that's what they did it's pathetic really. Mellbergs goal was hilarious how Dawson just walked to the front post and left him wide open like he was scared of him or something and then how the **** O'Hara was left marking Laursen is beyond me Hudd, Daws, Jenas, and Berby should of been marking Mellberg, Davies, Laursen and Moore. I just don't understand how our players are so fecking thick and stupid they can't get organized and mark up on set-pieces they get paid shit loads of money every year and continue to make school boy errors.

We need a clear out in defence that's our #1 priority **** the LW we need about 2 more LBs first because if I see Lee bombing down our LW then trying to cut back to his right foot one more time I'm going to go mental. Emanuelson would be a great start to the transfer window followed by the pompey lad Taylor then we need CBs with experience because Kaboul and Dawson doesn't work. I'm beginning to have my doubts about Daws he's looking like a big liability and cashing in on him might not be a bad idea. I'm just ready for heads to roll I'm sick to death of watching the same shit week in week out it's ****ing depressing these young players we got just don't learn for shit Daws is progressing backwards as is Lennon the one trick pony and Hudd will always be a big slow **** who can't defend. Whole sale changes needed but I'm sure Ramos already knows this and at the start of next season we'll be sorted this seasons a fecking write off. Ramos came in to save us from relegation which was looking a strong possibility with Jol at the helm and he's done that but with this current group of young binge drinking thick ****s we won't progress they're getting worse as they get older.

[jrio]

We need a clear out in defence that's our #1 priority **** the LW we need about 2 more LBs first because if I see Lee bombing down our LW then trying to cut back to his right foot one more time I'm going to go mental. Emanuelson would be a great start to the transfer window followed by the pompey lad Taylor then we need CBs with experience because Kaboul and Dawson doesn't work. I'm beginning to have my doubts about Daws he's looking like a big liability and cashing in on him might not be a bad idea.
Lee's been driving me mental doing that for the past 2 years. It's a basic weakness and limits him by at least 50%. By all accounts of Emmanuelson from those who saw Ajax at the weekend, he isn't the answer to defensive problems. He seems all attacking and little defending. But we do need a LB with some left-footed ability, and Lee has none.

[berbzy 'G']

Most players learn from mistakes and understand where they've gone wrong to make sure it don't happen again... But not us :mad:

So as Keanoldinho more less said... the players are thick, stupid, and overpaid...

[TURKISH]

Im with gus enough is enough!

Im glad Ramos and Gus have gave the players the chance to earn there place and they havent done it so changes will be made!

The players themselves seem to not have the will power to win tackles or battle for points or to stop conceding stupid goals.

I hope to god we bring in a solid left back and a centre back who will strike fear into the players who want to daydream how they want to spend there money whilst waiting for the opposition to take a corner!:mad:

[mjbmedia]

if some thick Anti Spurs knobend like Andy Gray immediately spotted the craziness of OHara on Laursen they why the feck didnt one of the 10 other Spurs players or anyone on the bench.

Its like in attack , how many times do one of our lads go to the near post to be first to the ball on a cross???? hardly ever, no lets rely on maybe two defenders and the keeper being bypassed or missing it before i may then get my chance, dumb ****ers, ditto if someones having trouble getting a chance to cross the ball, do you all stand still in the area giving them no help and then whinge when the cross doesnt get to you or do at least one of you (tho not all of you) go to them to give them an easier option :mad:

Good Footballer + brain = winner

[singapore spur]

dawson looked scared , was bullied and run away , ohara shouldnt have been put in that position , one of the senior guys shpould have stepped up and taken responsibility .

[Gino Ginelli]

Same old same old then?

I was ready to crown Ramos as king of the comebacks. There have been a number of games now where we have gone in at half time losing and he has changed things around for the second half, resulting in a great comeback. This time it looked like a repeat, with Hudd coming on for Boateng, a player who for me has proven himself to be uneffective in a game. Things looked even rosier when Keano stood up, but I was dissapointed that it was Lennon and not Defoe who came on. Lennon had been one of our better players up til then, working really hard on that right flank, not just playing as an attacking winger, but a proper Right Midfield player. Very impressed.

Ok so Defoe scored our equaliser, and very good it was too. Plenty of agility and athelticism to get to that. But up until then he was anonymous. Just nowhere to be seen. Berbatov, while more prominent, and at least got on the ball now and again, was rubbish. Yes I said it. He was rubbish. Stray passes, one shot straight at the goalie, and failed to pull off his tricks and such.

But the most noticebale thing yesterday was the lack of key players in certain positions. Dawson and Kaboul as a defensive partnership is just poor. Not good enough. They get beaten all the time, in the air and positionally. They don't understand each other, and are properly nervous. I'm afraid Daws without Ledley is lost I'm sorry to say, as he was immense last year. Kaboul is just not good enough, simple as that. Zokora did well enough at RB, and Jenas did ably in a wingback role. But with us playing a barely recognisable system in the end, I'm not suprised we lost it.

But the basic problem is there for us all to see and agree on. The defenders are just no good, and we need to sign sensibly this month. one or two big, experienced and above all good defenders. Wish we had gone for Curtis Davies now...

[neilmcnab]

well ramos changes immedietly created chances for us , keane miss hit one and ohara had a heavy touch for one and defoe also had a heavy touch for one,

and jj did not create nothing for our front two in the first 45mins, hence not efforts on goal from defoe or berba,

i think when he put mal in centre mid, it showed up jenas, how really poor he plays,as mal made a lot of movement to receive ball, also hudd needs to move in order to create space to receive ball....

but when ramos had his side out chasing at 1-0, they looked likely to win the game,
UNTIL WE SCORED....THINK IF WE HAD SCORED EARLIER WE WOULD OF GONE ON TO WIN....ONEIL L MADE HIS CHANGE AND SAW OUT GAME....