Here is Brian Judson's preview of the game.

Full Record of Spurs -v- Aston Villa

Prem          Pl  W  D  L   For-Ag  Pts
Home          11  4  4  3   12 -12  16
Away          11  1  4  6    8 -16   7
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Total(Prem)   22  5  8  9   20 -28  23
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Football Lge
Home (Div 1)  47 25  5 16   99 -77  62
Away (Div 1)  47 17 11 19   72 -75  48
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Total(Div 1)  94 42 16 35  171 -152 110
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Football Lge
Home (Div 2)   2  1  1  0    4 - 3   3
Away (Div 2)   2  0  1  1    1 - 3   1
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Total(Div 2)   4  1  2  1    5 - 6   4
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Total(Prem)   22  5  8  9   20 -28  23
Total(Div 1)  94 42 16 35  171-152 110
Total(Div 2)   4  1  2  1    5 - 6   4
======================================
Grand Total   120 48 26 45  196-186 137
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Sunday's match means that I will be able to see the action from White Hart Lane and, hopefully, a victory to add to David O'Leary's problems whilst lifting us up into the top half of the table. There is little doubt in my mind that we have improved since Hoddle was sacked. The table has reverted to 4-4-2 and the defence is not as porous as it has been.

Once upon a time a Spurs- v Aston Villa match, no matter where it was played, was always expected to end in a Tottenham victory. Villa were wedded to tactics that the Hungarians had taken apart in the 1950s at Wembley and Budapest, with long balls being hoofed upfield and no one there to play the ball. Tottenham's team under Rowe were playing exciting football but were coming to the end of its days. Rowe was already thinking of recasting his team when he decided to seek the transfer of Danny Blanchflower from Aston Villa in November 1954. But Arsenal matched his bid of £28,000, which was a great deal of money for approaching his 28th birthday. But Tottenham increased their offer to £30,000 and the rest was history.

Blanchflower had joined Aston Villa in 1951, aware of their long history and past successes but there had not been any successes for a long time (they would win the FA Cup in 1957, beating Manchester United 2-1, to prevent them from accomplishing an event until Ferguson achieved it. But Blanchflower became disillusioned by the training. Villa did not permit their players to do any ball-work until they ran out five minutes before the kick-off on a Saturday afternoon, the thinking being they'd be the more hungrier for the ball come the Saturday. Even then Blanchflower was interested in tactics and how best to take advantage in dead ball situations and argued with the-then manager George Martin there was no point in training if there was no ball practice.

Of all the Spurs v Aston Villa matches I have seen the match in March 1966 is always the one that sticks out most of all. Both sides were in mid-table and free from all other distractions. Spurs were 5-1 up by 3.55pm but Villa (with four priceless goals by Tony Hateley) had pulled them back to 5-5 by 4.30pm. With three minutes to go, Deakin won a one-on-one situation with Pat Jennings and had only to tap the ball into an unguarded net. But Deakin fatally hesitated and Mullery was able to clear his delayed shot off the goal-line. Otherwise we would have lost 5-6!

Aston Villa are so cash-strapped that they have been unable to strengthen their side. Graham Taylor at least stopped the rot that John Gregory had allowed to creep in but what was really needed was a fresh face to look at Villa. Whilst David O'Leary has suspect (for us!) connections O'Leary does at least prefer his teams to play football. Given time, I think he will eventually turn Villa round.

Tottenham need to start winning consistently if they are to achieve European qualification. The sooner we have Freddy Kanoute back, the better. Postiga is taking far too long to settle down and Zamora might not be able to adjust to the higher standard of play. At least we have climbed away from the nether regions of the Premiership but we need to win more games than we are currently. I take us to win 2-1 on Sunday afternoon and we might even be celebrating a Postiga or Zamora goal, too. BUT we MUST be patient and not grumble if things do not go our way initially.

COME ON YOU SPURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers, Brian

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