VillaFaninLondon

I actually think this is a shocking performance and result. Couldn't have asked to play Spurs at a better time really and they've once again beaten us as they always effing do. Fulham and Brighton gave them better games than we have. It's an insult. Can't be bothered watching any more of our shite attacks for the evening. If Jack ain't back next game we may as well give up cos we're toast without him.

Cash has had an absolute nightmare.

What's shocking is the CMs can barely control the ball. What's even more shocking is we still haven't had a shot at Lloris' goal and we still continue to lump crosses in that are easily dealt with.

Smith's reliance on one player really is quite astounding. Let's hope his confidence that he's back for the Fulham game is an accurate call, sick of seeing him sat in the stands. No one else can seemingly help us at the moment.

Out of the bench options, they're probably the only ones who could maybe offer something going forward and might grab a goal. As long as Barkley doesn't do something daft in his own half anyway.

Our players need to learn to shoot. Had so much of the ball in their half and no shots, it’s a disgrace! GetAEG on at HT, at least he’ll try shooting at goal like none of the other cowards.

We never come back from 1-0 down so makes watching the 2nd half a pointless decision.

Completely undeserved. Emi with a big mistake, should have just cleared it to touch. We’ve been all over them but once again have barely had a shot at goal, no surprise.

But he;s on the bench

Still don't understand Trez over AEG, neither great but at least AEG has shown he can score goals this season. Other than that I quite like that lineup.

They're level on points with Chelsea though who have a far superior squad to them. They underachieved last season but are definitely overachieving this season.

Wet Spam are the biggest overachievers in the league this season. It's almost unheard of for a player like Lingard to go there without playing football for 12 months and put in the performances he has, particularly as he was so poor when he did play at Man Ure. Moyes before he went there was a no hoper, I wouldn't wanted him here tbh, yet he's done a job no one could have expected. Spam do have some good players in certain areas (CM, especially) but I am really surprised at how good they have been this season and Moyes must be up for Manager of the Year if it continues.

We're playing against a Spurs side without Son, Kane should be knackered after playing 120 mins on Thursday in Croatia, they have Mourinho in charge who is not exactly renowned for playing scintillating football, they've just lost 2 on the bounce, there are divisions in the dressing room, I could go on. I'm pretty negative re Villa myself but to say we're incapable of getting something is quite odd, almost like accepting a defeat before ko. We're not in great form and still without our talisman, but I expect them to believe they can get something from this game and play like they can too.

Smith said: "Bert has had an injection and will train tomorrow (SAT). He should be available. He got a whack in the rib, took a tumble over the billboards and was in a lot of pain. He went to hospital but thankfully there is no bleed and he's just had painkillers for it." If Traore can't play I'd actually be tempted to play Barkley on the right and AEG on the left. Trez is just so ineffective and runs into blind alleys.

I was confused why Cash didn't start against Newcastle too, but I'd be shocked if he wasn't in tonight. He's much better than Elmo and Smith should know that. It's important he gets the selection right tonight, but like you I get confused by the team selections at times. For me Ramsey is still learning at this level and should be only coming off the bench in a team like ours (would choose Sanson, Nakamba and even Barkley over him for this one), and Trez just lacks any kind of quality going forward. I'm pretty sure Traore will be in though as Smith namechecked him as available in his press conference.

Yes, he said that in Friday's press conference (well technically he said 99%). Skip to 3:30 in the video below.

I highly doubt Elmo will start, that would be catastrophic, Cash is back now so he'll go back in the side. I'd imagine Traore and Sanson over Trez and Ramsey. If he picks that team I'd be a bit worried tbh.

Once again this contradicts what Smith said. He said they'll make a decision Sunday morning, unless of course the decision was taken early because he wasn't able to train with the squad yesterday. Still don't understand why if he's pain free and running freely why he can't train with the first team, but hey ho. Smith said he's 99.9% sure he'll play against Fulham, I hope this isn't disingenuous or there's gonna be a few disgruntled fans that's for sure.

A good start is absolutely vital. Need to start like we did against Wolves but this time take our chances.

Not sure how effective Barkley is on the left, but I'd almost be trying to fit him in somewhere where he has runners behind him to win the ball and where he can receive the ball in good areas. We're just not scoring enough at the mo and Smith has to try injecting more creativity and goals in the team. I actually thought Barkley improved our attack when he came on against Newcastle, but then he lost the ball near his own penalty area which nearly led to a goal for them. He has to use more common sense. I certainly don't think this is a game for Ramsey. A midfield 3 of Luiz, McGinn and Sanson probably our best bet, possibly Nakamba who has done well against better opposition but his passing limitations might not make him suitable. Despite how good our defence is, Spurs' strength is their attack. It looks like they are missing Son and you'd think Kane will be knackered, but even so you'd think it will be tough for us to keep a clean sheet. Their defence I think is their weak link, Højbjerg has been brilliant but their CBs are weak and their RB is weak (whether it's Doherty or Aurier). Our attack has been off form for a while, you would hope eventually it would click again for us and maybe today it will but DS has to alter the midfield a bit because currently it isn't working. Given Spurs' weakness at RB (from a defensive point of view at least) it's a shame by the sounds of it Jack won't return. Smith said he will assessed this morning and it's up to Jack whether he plays, which sounds odd because if it's up to him he'll absolutely say he wants to play. So who knows, maybe we'll get a surprise when the teams are announced at 6:30 tonight, but I'm not holding my breath.

Absolutely awful recent record against these. I was there the last time we beat them at Villa Park on New Year's Day in 2008 - typical O'Neill win with both our goals from set pieces. About time that changed. They played 120 mins on Thursday night, with a certain Mr Kane playing every min of that game. No Son will be a loss. Seems to be major discontent in the dressing room given Lloris' long rant of an interview after the game on Thursday and Kane hasn't given an interview since November. But without Jack (which I imagine will be the case given the vague answer Dean gave on Friday) we just look toothless going forward. Need Traore, Ollie, McGinn and AEG to start producing in the final third for a change, or it could be another shite game. It's the sort of game someone like Barkley's creativity would be useful, but he looks useless every time he takes to the field.

If Eric DIRE is being called up over him despite not playing at all in 5 of Spurs' last PL matches then he may as well go and team up with Dias for Portugal. They have a shortage of quality CBs at the moment and I'm pretty sure their manager would welcome a player of Konsa's quality. I'm pleased for Watkins (and also slightly surprised he was picked) but leaving out Konsa when he's been our best defender this season in favour of inferior players once again shows Southgate's shortfalls. I did welcome Stones coming back into the fold, however.

Good point made about the periods of good and poor form. It's very noticeable and I find Dean struggles to get us out of periods of bad form both in terms of results and performances. Definitely needs to find a way to win without Grealish, even if it means winning ugly for a few games. But another midfield playmaker signed in summer could help a great deal with that, Barkley was supposed to be that guy but unfortunately he looks to be becoming a failed signing. The only thing I disagree with is on the backup players - I personally think every signing we make should be with a view to improving the first team. If we sign a LB, for instance, I want them to either have the ability to challenge Targett for a first team place (as good as he has been this season) or have the potential to be better than him. Similarly if a striker like Tammy was to become available this summer I wouldn't want us to turn it down just because we have Watkins. I also want to see Smith utilise the squad more next season and if we can say rotate the full backs or the CMs with very little if any drop off in quality we'll become a much better side. If the likes of Luiz, McGinn and Traore were no longer guaranteed to start next season and we were able to bring players like that off the bench will show a big improvement next season.

Good points made. I think it's even more frustrating the way we're playing now because there is such a drop off in performance from earlier on in the season. I know there are some on here who criticise Smith strongly, just like there are some who defend him to the hilt, but I like to think I make constructive comments even if you don't fully agree with them. He has proven over time he can change for the better, the work he did on the defence to keep us up being an example, but I also still think he has a lot to learn. For example, he has to learn how to adapt when we go 1-0 down because we haven't won a game all season when we've conceded first (and only taken 1 point overall). As I say, I would say calling for him to go is ridiculous but then Twitter does tend to generate that type of person. But pointing out where he can improve as a manager, so that we as a club can improve, is perfectly reasonable. We also need better players, of that I don't deny, and I'm sure we'll have a stronger squad next season to try to move forward again. Ultimately we will both be very worried if this continues until the end of the season, but I'm with you: we should turn it around at some point surely. I'm just concerned that this is has been going on for 2 months now and I want to see the Villa from December back again.

The last time was the 10/11 season after we finished 6th in 09/10. Unfortunately in none of our European seasons at that time did we ever make a real fist of it, except in 08/09 when MON decided to play the kids against CSKA Moscow in the knockout stages. No, I am not saying I expect us to get there next season. I'm saying if we can't get to that level then I'm not sure Jack would stay beyond the end of next season. And given how reliant we've been on him for 3 years now, unless that suddenly changes next season which I hope it will, then post-Jack Grealish Aston Villa could be a stressful time. I believe we'll be in competition with the traditional big 6 as well as Leicester, Everton, West Ham and probably Wolves (who will be better next season). I believe the aim should be to try to get European football but there are a lot of teams to compete with. If we finish in the top 10 this season, the players we can attract this summer will be significantly higher than last summer. Reportedly some players were put off coming to Villa last summer because they thought we'd be battling relegation again. This summer should be a lot different.