Originally Posted by itownvillan

hot and cold? title contenders one week and relegation fodder the next?

of course id prefer pretty continental football, who wouldnt. but as it is now we have a very good manager who has us playing great (if not spectacular) football. you should watch more Villa, we arent just longball merchants no matter what that cock wenger says.

if we had a proven top class goal scorer, thered be no doubting Villas effectiveness, we'd score shed loads.

I have to agree

im hoping Gabby has finished with his barren spell and starts knocking them in. hes only 1 away from his final tally last season, he just keeps improving year on year.

i think next year we'll finally be seeing more of Delfouneso in the first team, the kid is a natural finisher, very exciting prospect if he can bulk up a bit.

Originally Posted by itownvillan

hot and cold? title contenders one week and relegation fodder the next?

of course id prefer pretty continental football, who wouldnt. but as it is now we have a very good manager who has us playing great (if not spectacular) football. you should watch more Villa, we arent just longball merchants no matter what that cock wenger says.

if we had a proven top class goal scorer, thered be no doubting Villas effectiveness, we'd score shed loads.

I'll have to take your word for it for now. But I have my opinion, perhaps a little strong, and will have to make another judgement for myself.

The last part makes me laugh though, if Spurs had a top class goalscorer, we'd also scored shed loads. So would Portsmouth.

Originally Posted by YIDDO

I'll have to take your word for it for now. But I have my opinion, perhaps a little strong, and will have to make another judgement for myself.

The last part makes me laugh though, if Spurs had a top class goalscorer, we'd also scored shed loads. So would Portsmouth.

what i meant was, as a team we create alot of chances, we just dont have that clinical finisher who can put them away. i cringe when the ball lands to heskey in a good position, cause i know that the majority of the time hes going to fluff his chance.

Gabby is looking promising though, hes coming on well, but i think he needs a partner who can anticipate a channel opening up and can make perfectly timed runs and bury his chances. Gabby can play the hold up role very effectively now so i think he needs to be played along side somebody whos a clinical finisher. id love to see a Gabby-Defoe partnership, i think that'd be lethal, but we have as much chance of signing Torres as we do Defoe, so i dunno who could get. Vagner Love would be ideal imo.

one thing is for sure, we WILL buy a striker or two in the next transfer window.

Originally Posted by gb

We won't lose against Leeds and we wont lose against Villa either.

Well you got the first part right Mucka

villa for me

Originally Posted by jcasper

villa for me

I have gone for the draw,sitting on the fence

Originally Posted by geordieloon

I have gone for the draw,sitting on the fence

if you sit on the fence for much longer mr loon
you will end up bieng fed bread by old people

Originally Posted by jcasper

if you sit on the fence for much longer mr loon
you will end up bieng fed bread by old people

Thats true lol,

White Hart Lane, London N17 - The World Famous Home of the Spurs
Saturday 6th February 2010, Kick Off 17:30
Premier League, Match 25 (24 for Aston Villa)

Tottenham Hotspur: 4th in Premier League, 42 points from 72
Aston Villa: 7th in Premier League, 40 points from 69

Referee: Chris Foy
Assistant referees: Phil Sharp & Martin Yerby
Fourth official: Peter Walton


COMMENT:

Fourth placed Tottenham Hotspur entertain seventh placed Aston Villa at White Hart Lane in this late kick-off televised Saturday match with both teams pressing for a Top Four finish to the season. Spurs come into the match fresh from a hard-fought FA Cup win at Leeds United in which Jermain Defoe scored his third hat-trick of the season. Their previous Premier League outing saw a 1-1 away draw at Birmingham City in which Defoe also scored.

Aston Villa's last match was a good 2-0 away win at Fulham in which Gabby Agbonlahor grabbed himself a brace of goals.

Both teams are through to the FA Cup Fifth Round where Spurs face an away trip to Bolton Wanderers while Aston Villa travel to South London where they play Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Villa have also reached the Football League (Carling) Cup Final after an epic two-legged Semi-Final tie against Blackburn Rovers. Villa meet Manchester United in the Final at Wembley on 28th February.

The reverse fixture at Villa Park ended in a 1-1 draw with Villa going ahead after 10 minutes through Agbonlahor and Tottenham's equaliser coming from Michael Dawson. Last season the away teams were on top with Villa winning 2-1 at White Hart Lane while Spurs won 2-1 at Villa Park. Darren Bent scored in both games for Spurs with Jermaine Jenas also scoring at Villa Park.

Aston Villa have the upper hand in Premier League meetings with 13 wins to Tottenham's 9 with a further 13 matches drawn. Overall, Spurs are two victories ahead of Villa's 59 wins with 37 matches drawn.

Aston Villa's current squad includes former Tottenham Hotspur Academy graduate Luke Young, who went on to make 56 first team appearances for Spurs.

TEAM NEWS:

New arrivals Eidur Gudjohnsen, Younes Kaboul and Kyle Walker go straight into the squad for Saturday's big Premier League clash against Villa. Neither were available for Wednesday's FA Cup replay at Leeds United, although Eidur can now play in the fifth round at his former club Bolton. Younes and Kyle are cup-tied.

Ledley King is fit again and both Luka Modric and Wilson Palacios come back into the frame after being on the bench for the 3-1 win at Elland Road. Roman Pavlyuchenko remains a doubt with a groin problem and although Aaron Lennon is also out with his groin injury, there is encouraging news on his progress.

"He's getting closer," said Harry. "He's working with the fitness coaches at the moment. "He's not doing ball work yet but he's running again in straight lines and will soon be checking, twisting and turning again. He's on his way back."

Benoit Assou-Ekotto (hip), Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Carlo Cudicini (wrist, pelvis) remain sidelined. Meanwhile, in terms of the role of captain following Robbie Keane's loan departure to Celtic, Harry added: "Michael Dawson has been captaining the side and Ledley King can as well, it's not a massive problem.

"They are both terrific characters and if it's not one of them, there are many other players who can do it. "Whoever takes the armband I've got faith in them to be able to carry out what I want from them on the pitch."

Aston Villa hope to welcome back John Carew, who has missed the last four matches with a knee injury. Captain Stiliyan Petrov will play despite a troublesome Achilles, but Stephen Warnock (shin) has been told to rest for two weeks. Nigel Reo-Coker is a long term absentee with a foot injury. Villa failed to bring-in any new players during the January transfer window but Nick Shorey joined Fulham on loan while Craig Gardner joined Birmingham City for GBP 3 million.

MATCH FACTS:

Head-to-head

• Both matches last season were won by the away side by the same scoreline, 2-1. Four of the last six Premier League meetings between the two sides have ended 2-1.

• Aston Villa's win at Tottenham last season ended a run of eight trips to White Hart Lane without a victory.

• In-form striker Jermain Defoe has scored four goals in his last five Premier League starts against Villa.

Tottenham Hotspur

• Spurs have kept four clean sheets in a row at White Hart Lane, which is only the second time they have done this in the Premier League. Both these times have been under Harry Redknapp (last season they kept six clean sheets on the spin at home).

• Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch have scored 28 goals in the 28 Premier League matches they have started together.

• Only Manchester United have managed to score more than once against Spurs in the last 29 Premier League games at White Hart Lane.

Aston Villa

• Aston Villa have won just five of their last 17 Premier League matches away from home, but three of those victories have come in their last four trips on the road.

• Villa have only failed to score in one of their last 15 league away matches.

• Martin O'Neill's side ended a run of four league matches without a goal when they beat Fulham last weekend.

LAST MATCH LINE-UPS:

Tottenham Hotspur (W 3-1 Leeds United A):

Gomes, Corluka, Dawson, Bassong, Bale, Bentley, Palacios, Huddlestone, Jenas, Kranjcar, Defoe, Crouch.

Substitutes: Alnwick, Dervite, Modric, Parrett, Palacios, Rose, Fredericks

Yellow Card: Bentley

Goals: Defoe 37, 73, 90+

Aston Villa (W 2-0 Fulham A):

Friedel, L Young, Dunne, Cuellar, Collins, Downing, A Young, Milner, Petrov, Agbonlahor, Heskey

Substitutes: Guzan, Davies, Shorey, Beye, Sidwell, Delph, Delfouneso

Yellow cards: Heskey, L Young

Goals: Agbonlahor 40, 44

MARK LAWRENSON'S PREDICTION (BBC):

I was very impressed with how Tottenham dealt with the challenge of Leeds on Wednesday and they will throw everything at Villa. But these sorts of games suit Villa because of the way they play on the counter-attack. But I think striker Jermain Defoe looks so sharp, his partnership with Peter Crouch has improved and winger David Bentley's form has improved. I think they'll be a real handful for Villa's back four.

Verdict: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Aston Villa

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

Saturday's match will be the 158th meeting between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.

The two clubs have twice met at Wembley - in the 1971 League Cup Final with Spurs winning 2-0 and in the 1981 Charity Shield, resulting in a 2-2 draw.

Here are the results of the previous 157 matches with Spurs' score shown first:

11-Apr-1896 Friendly - H L 1 - 3 Logan
23-Jan-1897 Friendly - H D 2 - 2 Lanham (2)
25-Apr-1898 Friendly - H L 2 - 3 Hartley, Black
21-Apr-1900 Friendly - A L 3 - 4 Cameron, Copeland (2)
07-Mar-03 F.A. Cup 3 24,500 H L 2 - 3 Woodward, Copeland
20-Feb-04 F.A. Cup 2 32,000 H X 0 - 1 (Abandoned due to crowd trouble after 38 mins)
25-Feb-04 F.A. Cup 2 Replay 30,000 A W 1 - 0 Jones J.
20-Nov-09 Division 1 25,000 A L 2 - 3 Minter, Steel R
02-Apr-10 Division 1 34,000 H D 1 - 1 Humphreys
19-Nov-10 Division 1 28,000 H L 1 - 2 Humphreys
25-Feb-11 Division 1 17,000 A L 0 - 4
18-Nov-11 Division 1 30,000 A D 2 - 2 R Steel (2)
23-Mar-12 Division 1 19,000 H W 2 - 1 Middlemiss (2)
26-Oct-12 Division 1 18,000 H D 3 - 3 Cantrell (2), Middlemiss
01-Mar-13 Division 1 27,000 A L 0 - 1
13-Dec-13 Division 1 30,000 A D 3 - 3 Walden, Cantrell, Bliss
18-Apr-14 Division 1 22,000 H L 0 - 2
24-Oct-14 Division 1 25,000 H L 0 - 2
27-Feb-15 Division 1 16,000 A L 1 - 3 Bliss
06-Mar-20 F.A. Cup 4 52,179 H L 0 - 1
11-Sep-20 Division 1 55,000 A L 2 - 4 Walden, Dimmock
18-Sep-20 Division 1 42,000 H L 1 - 2 Bliss
05-Mar-21 F.A. Cup 4 51,991 H W 1 - 0 Banks
24-Sep-21 Division 1 47,017 H W 3 - 1 Clay (pen), Seed, Bliss
01-Oct-21 Division 1 40,000 A L 1 - 2 Dimmock
07-Oct-22 Division 1 50,000 A L 0 - 2
14-Oct-22 Division 1 43,252 H L 1 - 2 Seed
15-Mar-24 Division 1 30,000 A D 0 - 0
22-Mar-24 Division 1 28,771 H L 2 - 3 Lindsay, Elkes
01-Nov-24 Division 1 19,054 H L 1 - 3 Handley
07-Mar-25 Division 1 25,000 A W 1 - 0 Lane
05-Dec-25 Division 1 28,821 H D 2 - 2 Osborne, Elkes
17-Apr-26 Division 1 11,774 A L 0 - 3
06-Nov-26 Division 1 19,496 A W 3 - 2 Seed (2), Dimmock
26-Mar-27 Division 1 30,614 H L 0 - 1
12-Nov-27 Division 1 30,759 A W 2 - 1 Osborne (2)
26-Mar-28 Division 1 21,537 H W 2 - 1 Grimsdell (pen), Lindsay
02-Sep-33 Division 1 44,974 H W 3 - 2 O'Callaghan, Hunt GS, Evans W (pen)
06-Jan-34 Division 1 35,296 A W 5 - 1 Meads, McCormick (2), Howe, Hunt GS
17-Feb-34 F.A. Cup 5 44,365 H L 0 - 1
22-Sep-34 Division 1 42,088 H L 0 - 2
02-Feb-35 Division 1 36,973 A L 0 - 1
07-Nov-36 Division 2 37,220 A D 1 - 1 Morrison
13-Mar-37 Division 2 35,652 H D 2 - 2 Meek, Miller
04-Dec-37 Division 2 37,238 H W 2 - 1 Hall GW, Morrison
16-Apr-38 Division 2 43,730 A L 0 - 2
02-Feb-46 Football Lge Sth 30,736 A L 1 - 5 Burgess
20-Feb-46 Football Lge Sth 19,300 H W 3 - 0 Jinks (2), Whitchurch
30-Sep-50 Division 1 36,538 A W 3 - 2 Murphy, Duquemin, Medley
17-Feb-51 Division 1 47,842 H W 3 - 2 Ramsey (pen), Baily, Medley
20-Oct-51 Division 1 49,247 H W 2 - 0 Bennett, Duquemin
08-Mar-52 Division 1 56,475 A W 3 - 0 Walters, Duquemin (2)
22-Nov-52 Division 1 32,265 A W 3 - 0 Bennett, Duquemin, Dicker
11-Apr-53 Division 1 39,217 H D 1 - 1 McClellan
19-Aug-53 Division 1 50,202 H W 1 - 0 Parkes og
12-Dec-53 Division 1 27,480 A W 2 - 1 Walters, Baily
21-Aug-54 Division 1 44,193 A W 4 - 2 Dowsett, Bennett (2), Baily
18-Dec-54 Division 1 28,131 H D 1 - 1 Baily
26-Nov-55 Division 1 23,836 A W 2 - 0 Clarke, McClellan
07-Apr-56 Division 1 36,235 H W 4 - 3 McClellan, Harmer, Smith R, Brooks
15-Sep-56 Division 1 43,947 A W 4 - 2 Harmer, Smith R, Stokes, Robb
19-Jan-57 Division 1 38,934 H W 3 - 0 Smith R, Stokes (2)
16-Nov-57 Division 1 28,390 A D 1 - 1 Smith R
29-Mar-58 Division 1 34,102 H W 6 - 2 Medwin (2), Smith R (4)
27-Mar-59 Division 1 45,059 H W 3 - 2 Medwin, Smith R, Jones
30-Mar-59 Division 1 34,354 A D 1 - 1 Norman
24-Sep-60 Division 1 61,356 H W 6 - 2 Mackay, White (2), Smith R, Allen, Dyson
11-Feb-61 Division 1 50,786 A W 2 - 1 Smith R, Dyson
18-Feb-61 F.A. Cup 5 65,474 A W 2 - 0 Jones, Neil og
30-Sep-61 Division 1 38,099 H W 1 - 0 Dyson
21-Feb-62 Division 1 49,892 A D 0 - 0
10-Mar-62 F.A. Cup 6 64,000 H W 2 - 0 Blanchflower, Jones
20-Aug-62 Division 1 55,630 A L 1 - 2 Medwin
29-Aug-62 Division 1 55,650 H W 4 - 2 White, Greaves (2), Jones
16-Sep-63 Division 1 36,643 A W 4 - 2 Jones, Greaves (2), Dyson
25-Jan-64 Division 1 36,394 H W 3 - 1 Posse, Greaves, Dyson
21-Nov-64 Division 1 29,724 H W 4 - 0 Mullery, Robertson, Greaves, Dyson
19-Mar-66 Division 1 28,371 H D 5 - 5 Brown L, Robertson, Greaves, Saul, Gilzean
03-Apr-65 Division 1 24,930 A L 0 - 1
25-Sep-65 Division 1 29,856 A L 2 - 3 Norman, Robertson
29-Oct-66 Division 1 31,014 H L 0 - 1
04-Mar-67 Division 1 31,718 A D 3 - 3 Mullery, England, Gilzean
04-Sep-68 League Cup 2 24,775 A W 4 - 1 Jones, Chivers (3)
12-Feb-69 F.A. Cup 5 49,986 H W 3 - 2 England, Greaves (2, 1pen)
17-May-69 Tour - N D 2 - 2 Greaves (2) (Match played in Atlanta, USA)

27-Feb-71 League Cup Final 100,000 W W 2 - 0 Chivers (2)
02-Aug-72 Friendly - A D 0 - 0
11-Oct-75 Division 1 40,048 A D 1 - 1 Pratt
13-Mar-76 Division 1 24,169 H W 5 - 2 McAllister, Perryman, Duncan, Robinson, Nicholl og
20-Apr-77 Division 1 42,047 A L 1 - 2 Armstrong
30-Apr-77 Division 1 30,690 H W 3 - 1 Hoddle, Jones, Taylor
23-Aug-78 Division 1 47,892 H L 1 - 4 Hoddle (pen)
24-Mar-79 Division 1 35,486 A W 3 - 2 Jones, Hoddle (2)
15-Dec-79 Division 1 30,555 H L 1 - 2 Ardiles
26-Apr-80 Division 1 29,549 A L 0 - 1
18-Oct-80 Division 1 30,940 A L 0 - 3
21-Mar-81 Division 1 35,091 H W 2 - 0 Archibald, Crooks

22-Aug-81 Charity Shield 92,500 W D 2 - 2 Falco (2)
05-Sep-81 Division 1 31,265 H L 1 - 3 Villa
13-Feb-82 F.A. Cup 5 43,419 H W 1 - 0 Falco
17-Feb-82 Division 1 23,877 A D 1 - 1 Crooks
30-Oct-82 Division 1 25,992 A L 0 - 4
23-Mar-83 Division 1 22,455 H W 2 - 0 Falco (2)
27-Dec-83 Division 1 30,125 A D 0 - 0
18-Apr-84 Division 1 18,668 H W 2 - 1 Roberts (pen), Mabbutt
22-Sep-84 Division 1 22,409 A W 1 - 0 Chiedozie
30-Mar-85 Division 1 27,971 H L 0 - 2
30-Nov-85 Division 1 14,099 A W 2 - 1 Mabbutt, Falco
03-May-86 Division 1 14,854 H W 4 - 2 Falco (2), Allen C (2)
23-Aug-86 Division 1 24,712 A W 3 - 0 Allen C (3)
24-Jan-87 Division 1 19,121 H W 3 - 0 Hodge (2), Claesen
28-Oct-87 League Cup 3 29,114 A L 1 - 2 Ardiles
29-Oct-88 Division 1 26,238 A L 1 - 2 Fenwick (pen)
01-Mar-89 Division 1 19,090 H W 2 - 0 Waddle (2)
09-Sep-89 Division 1 24,769 A L 0 - 2
21-Feb-90 Division 1 32,472 H L 0 - 2
29-Sep-90 Division 1 34,939 H W 2 - 1 Lineker, Allen
16-Mar-91 Division 1 32,638 A L 2 - 3 Samways, Allen
07-Sep-91 Division 1 33,096 A D 0 - 0
05-Jan-92 F.A. Cup 3 29,316 A D 0 - 0
14-Jan-92 F.A. Cup 3 Replay 25,462 H L 0 - 1
04-Apr-92 Division 1 26,370 H L 2 - 5 Lineker, Teale og.
21-Nov-92 FA Prem 32,852 H D 0 - 0
10-Mar-93 FA Prem 37,727 A D 0 - 0
28-Aug-93 FA Prem 32,498 A L 0 - 1
12-Jan-94 League Cup 5 31,408 H L 1 - 2 Caskey
02-Mar-94 FA Prem 17,452 H D 1 - 1 Rosenthal
19-Nov-94 FA Prem 26,889 H L 3 - 4 Sheringham, Klinsmann, Bosnich og
25-Jan-95 FA Prem 40,017 A L 0 - 1
23-Aug-95 FA Prem 26,598 H L 0 - 1
21-Jan-96 FA Prem 35,666 A L 1 - 2 Fox
12-Oct-96 FA Prem 32,840 H W 1 - 0 Nielsen
19-Apr-97 FA Prem 39,339 A D 1 - 1 Vega
27-Aug-97 FA Prem 26,317 H W 3 - 2 Ferdinand (2), Fox
26-Dec-97 FA Prem 38,644 A L 1 - 4 Calderwood
07-Nov-98 FA Prem 39,241 A L 2 - 3 Anderton (pen), Vega
13-Mar-99 FA Prem 35,963 H W 1 - 0 Sherwood
29-Dec-99 FA Prem 39,217 A D 1 - 1 Sherwood
15-Apr-2000 FA Prem 35,304 H L 2 - 4 Iversen, Armstrong
11-Nov-00 FA Prem 33,608 A L 0 - 2
28-Apr-01 FA Prem 36,096 H D 0 - 0
18-Aug-01 FA Prem 36,059 H D 0 - 0
29-Dec-01 FA Prem 41,134 A D 1 - 1 Ferdinand
24-Aug-02 FA Prem 35,384 H W 1 - 0 Redknapp
18-Jan-03 FA Prem 38,576 A W 1 - 0 Sheringham
23-Nov-03 FA Prem 33,140 H W 2 - 1 Ricketts, Keane
01-May-04 FA Prem 42,573 A L 0 - 1
22-Nov-04 FA Prem 35,702 A L 0 - 1
30-Apr-05 FA Prem 36,078 H W 5 - 1 Kanoute (2), King, Reid, Kelly
17-Sep-05 FA Prem 33,686 A D 1 - 1 Keane
21-Jan-06 FA Prem 36,243 H D 0 - 0
14-Oct-06 FA Prem 42,551 A D 1 - 1 Angel og
26-Dec-06 FA Prem 35,293 H W 2 - 1 Defoe (2)
01-Oct-07 FA Prem 36,094 H D 4 - 4 Berbatov, Chimbonda, Keane (pen), Kaboul
01-Jan-08 FA Prem 41,609 A L 1 - 2 Defoe
15-Sep-08 FA Prem 36,075 H L 1 - 2 Bent
14-Mar-09 FA Prem 41,205 A W 2 - 1 Jenas, Bent
28-Nov-09 FA Prem 39,866 A D 1 - 1 Dawson
06-Feb-10 FA Prem A

Spurs Team News:

New arrivals Eidur Gudjohnsen, Younes Kaboul and Kyle Walker go straight into the squad for Saturday's big Premier League clash against Villa. Neither were available for Wednesday's FA Cup replay at Leeds United, although Eidur can now play in the fifth round at his former club Bolton. Younes and Kyle are cup-tied.

Ledley King is fit again and both Luka Modric and Wilson Palacios come back into the frame after being on the bench for the 3-1 win at Elland Road. Roman Pavlyuchenko remains a doubt with a groin problem and although Aaron Lennon is also out with his groin injury, there is encouraging news on his progress.

"He's getting closer," said Harry. "He's working with the fitness coaches at the moment. "He's not doing ball work yet but he's running again in straight lines and will soon be checking, twisting and turning again. He's on his way back."

Benoit Assou-Ekotto (hip), Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Carlo Cudicini (wrist, pelvis) remain sidelined. Meanwhile, in terms of the role of captain following Robbie Keane's loan departure to Celtic, Harry added: "Michael Dawson has been captaining the side and Ledley King can as well, it's not a massive problem.

"They are both terrific characters and if it's not one of them, there are many other players who can do it. "Whoever takes the armband I've got faith in them to be able to carry out what I want from them on the pitch."

i think myfootballfacts is a spurs fan

what makes you think that

Location: israel

With Liverpool occuping 4th spot makes this a massive game.