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Fri 1st Nov: CROSSOVER | Spurs X Villa
16 Plays1 month ago
In this episode of The Daily Tottenham, we preview Tottenham’s crucial Premier League clash against Aston Villa. Joe's joined by Craig as we dig into recent form, injury updates, manager insights, and key player stats. With Ange Postecoglou’s tactics on trial and Villa’s fierce momentum under Unai Emery, we break down every angle of Sunday’s matchup. Don’t miss out on predictions, player analysis, and a tactical look at what both Spurs and Villa fans can expect!
The Daily Tottenham podcast. Talking Tottenham, every weekday.
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Transcript
Introduction to the Daily Tottenham Podcast
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to the Daily Tottenham Podcast from the Global Sports Podcast
Preview: Spurs vs Aston Villa
00:00:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Network. I'm Joe Forrester and as Reuben Amorim boards his chartered Learjet to Manchester ready for his burgeoning reputation to be ruined and his bank balance to Fatton, our eyes are on two slightly less glamorous managers going head to head in N17 this Sunday. Yep, today we're sizing up Aston Villa with Craig from the Daily Villa Podcast as we ask will Spurs sizzling homeform be enough to counteract Villa's awesome away
Engage with Us on Social Media
00:00:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
record?
00:00:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Will Mechie van der Venne even play? And is John Duran the most dangerous sub since I paid two quid for a foot long miscellaneous meat feast on Peckham High Road in 2014? Well, you have to listen to find out. And remember, you can have your say at GSP and Tottenham on all social
Guest Speaker: Craig from Daily Villa Podcast
00:00:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
media. And we do have Craig here from the Daily Villa podcast. Thanks for joining us, mate. How you doing?
00:00:55
Craig Birtwistle
Doing very well. Very excited about this game coming up this weekend.
00:00:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you know what? It's been a very exciting time for for Villa fans. it's quite I kind of like to start these these crossover pods to kind of get a sense of what the mood is like for the fan base. What's it like being a Villa fan right now?
Villa's Current Form and Fan Sentiment
00:01:12
Craig Birtwistle
Right now it is like walking on a cloud. It is crazy. it's um I'm 42 so I've experienced all the ups and downs. I was born the year we won the European Cup and then ah I've always joked it's been downhill since. So we're finally on the up and um it's a delight at the moment. We're playing good football, we're getting good results. We are on a cloud nine, really. ah
00:01:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think I know the answer to this, but but what do the fans think of the manager?
00:01:44
Craig Birtwistle
It's too early to build a statue, but we're getting close.
00:01:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, i think I think a lot of football fans, I think particularly teams like Spurs, who kind of consider themselves in in the same area as Villa, kind of look at ah Villa with envy and go, oh, that that's what it looks like to get it right when you bring a coach in. Because it's it's kind of ah the turnaround was pretty rapid from Let's remember kind of Steven Gerrard and kind of booze at full time and all that sort of thing to suddenly all sunshine and roses and and beaten by Munich in the Champions League and stuff. And that's what a good manager does.
00:02:22
Craig Birtwistle
And it's the most amazing thing about it, there isn't that much difference to the squad that Steven Gerrard had.
00:02:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:02:28
Craig Birtwistle
And i've I've promised myself on many, many podcasts now to not mention that name again, because it puts a sour taste in my mouth and the listeners of Villa just have gladly forgotten him.
00:02:39
Craig Birtwistle
But yeah, we've come through, a lot of people call it a roller coaster ride, but I find it hard to say that because there's no been no downs so far. so we And speaking of downs, how is Spurs season?
00:02:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
so right okay it were We're less than three minutes in. It it started off so amicably.
00:02:56
Craig Birtwistle
yeah
00:02:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Do you know what? I've got one mate who's a Villa fan. I thought, yeah I'm not going to bring the prejudice I have about him into this pod, but you yeah you're the same as him.
00:03:03
Craig Birtwistle
Ah.
00:03:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, um and do you know what? it's um yeah it's It's been a mixed bag this season. It started really poorly. kind of Very turgid, stodgy football. The word that kept getting used was overplayed.
00:03:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there was that horrible boring thing. If you'd see Spurs camped out around the opposition area, three, four, five passes, lose the ball, turnovers, get hit on the counter. It was it was disappointing. It felt like a lot of the same problems from last season. Got beaten by Arsenal, which is the worst thing that can happen to Tottenham. And it really turned the season around. um There's been a couple of blips since then, obviously losing to Palace, um the turnaround against Brighton.
00:03:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But by and large, I make that eight games and six wins since then. um And that's that really has been pretty good. And this is one of the things I think that's going to be really important on Sunday. Spurs home form has been absolutely excellent, but Villa's away form has been excellent as
Season Highlights: Villa's Performance
00:03:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
well. um What's what's kind of your start to the season been like?
00:04:01
Craig Birtwistle
It's been good. like ah weve We had that wonder feat against Arsenal and it's getting to the point now where we're disappointed with drawing where Man United, that's how difference gas season's gone. I know it's not the Man United of old, it's not the 90s, it's not Beck and Keenan's goals.
00:04:20
Craig Birtwistle
or anything like that but it's still a name that carries a lot of weight so for us to be disappointed with our performance against Man United, we looked flat after coming out of Europe, we got a draw against Ipswich and I know a lot of people were disappointed with our draw against Bournemouth but
00:04:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:04:38
Craig Birtwistle
Bournemouth are a good team
Challenges and Improvements for Villa
00:04:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:04:39
Craig Birtwistle
and i I will fight anyone about that.
00:04:42
Craig Birtwistle
Bournemouth did well and I think honestly when you look at the the way that game played that Bournemouth did deserve something from that game. The only thing we were disappointed was giving away a wide cheap free kick 10 seconds before the end of the game to get for them to get an equaliser.
00:04:57
Craig Birtwistle
So obviously you're going to be downplayed on that but As a Villa fan, we have to understand how far we've come in such a short time and know there's going to be peaks and valleys throughout our season. And I'm not as familiar with the Spurs fan base as like you are, but our own fan base sometimes really annoys me. We've got some of the best fans in the world, but we've got a small pocket that mowing every time something goes slightly wrong. And I honestly, we're top of the Champions League. We're in the top four of the Premier League.
00:05:30
Craig Birtwistle
What can you be complaining about?
00:05:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
that is a very consistent thing I think across all football fan bases and the annoying thing is is that on social media and on twitter and whatever kind of these people the complainers they get retweets and they get comments and the algorithm rewards that so it boosts them to the top of your timeline but they they don't represent a football club which is why I always feel a bit gutted when you hear stories about players getting abused online and deleting their social media accounts think that doesn't that's just an idiot sat in his I don't know, just sat on his own somewhere.
00:05:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
um kind of yeah With no real concept of of reality, it doesn't represent a real fan.
00:05:59
Craig Birtwistle
right
00:06:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
um In terms of potential injuries, looking ahead to to this game, as far as I make out, Villa only, I mean, Ross Barkley potentially might not be fit.
00:06:17
Craig Birtwistle
Yeah, we've got pretty much a clean bill of health unless it's been like hidden from media and everything like that So we're confident we can put out a good strong team this weekend
00:06:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:06:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep. Spurs obviously saw Mickey van der Ven limp off in the game against City on Wednesday night. um and And that kind of, encaps that week encapsulates everything you need to know about Spurs. Lose to Palace, who hadn't managed to win a game this season. Go and beat City and play some scintillating football um to get two early goals. it's that that is That's Tottenham in a nutshell.
00:06:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:06:48
Craig Birtwistle
Well we lost the palace as well in the cup so what are you going to do?
00:06:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
maybe they' buy Maybe they're Maybe they're back.
00:06:52
Craig Birtwistle
yeah my good
Injury Updates: Spurs Roster
00:06:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But yeah, so Micky van der Venne at the moment, Ange Postekogli suggesting today in his press conference that van der Venne would be fit. Great news for Spurs because Tottenham are very, very ah light in the centre back position. We have kind of three serviceable centre backs and and Ben Davis, who's a converted left back, who's probably a little bit past his best, um with kind of all due respect. And Sun still not necessarily fit, um which is obviously talismanic player for Spurs. But that being said,
00:07:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Timo Werner scored on Wednesday night, which I didn't think I'd ever see again.
00:07:26
Craig Birtwistle
Right.
00:07:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
So who knows? And apart from that, kind of the the the other the rest of the front two, Solanke and Johnson are going pretty well. um Do you expect John Duran to so start on the bench again?
00:07:41
Craig Birtwistle
I do, yeah, I think um Watkins has proved that he can't be dropped at the moment, he's just informed and I know we've played with the the idea of Watkins and Durand both being up front as well and it's one of those that I wouldn't be disappointed if that happens because I do think they could work together.
00:08:00
Craig Birtwistle
but that means Morgan Rogers gets dropped and at the moment Morgan Rogers is on fire. he It's funny because this is how far football has changed that suddenly we're excited by a guy that can dribble.
00:08:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:08:12
Craig Birtwistle
Did you know what I mean? A few years ago, that would have sounded crazy, but he's is's a player that's exciting to watch, loves running at defences, he pulls centre backs out of position, and Ollie's loving playing with him because of that, and Duran loves playing with him because they find the pockets of space in behind the centre backs then, after Morgan Rogers' is run, and it it's just been electrifying, so I don't think Duran will start, but you definitely will see him at some point.
00:08:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm with you actually, I'm with you. that There's nothing more exciting in football than somebody running at a full back or a center half and that scrabble where people are backpedaling.
00:08:46
Craig Birtwistle
Yeah.
00:08:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is one of the greatest sites in football. um Having Duran and Watkins though, that's quite a rare situation. I can't really think of... any other clubs in the Premier League off the top of my head, maybe Liverpool, where you've got two very, very good strikers who are kind of interchangeable. um And it's the feeling that that they're they're pushing each other, he's keeping walking sharp.
00:09:12
Craig Birtwistle
Pretty much yeah and I think the reason you can't think of many teams that have got that is because I feel like centre forwards are becoming a rarity in the game.
00:09:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
no
00:09:20
Craig Birtwistle
That's why like even Spurs paying so much for Slanky who I think is going to turn out a very good striker. I really do and I think you will get your money's worth but It's a lot of money for a player that was just decent in a Bournemouth team.
00:09:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:09:35
Craig Birtwistle
Do you know what I mean? so And the reason for that is is because there are very little out and out centre forwards out there now. So us having Duran and Watkins is a major strength in our bow.
00:09:47
Craig Birtwistle
And I saw a meme the other day, this scariest Halloween costume, which was basically Duran with a 60 minute mark time underneath him. and it's very true whenever you see him warming up if Villa need a goal it kind of reminds me back of the old days where you'd see Fergie tapping at his watch it even that sight made you fear it and at the moment Duran coming off the bench is a fear for most clubs
00:10:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:10:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Are you saying that John Duran is the 2024 Oligoneso show? Is that what we're saying?
00:10:16
Craig Birtwistle
oh it ah Based on current form, yes,
Spotlight on John Duran: The Impact Sub
00:10:21
Craig Birtwistle
but like for him to be the 2024 Oligan Solskjaer, it's got to be prolonged over a long period of time.
00:10:27
Craig Birtwistle
And knowing Duran as I do, um he's not going to settle for being the sub for as long as Oligan Solskjaer did because Solskjaer was happy in that role.
00:10:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:10:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:10:37
Craig Birtwistle
And you're not going to find many players that are.
00:10:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, for our younger listeners, and you're thinking, why are they talking about that guy that used to manage Manchester United? He was also a very serviceable super sub at Manchester United.
00:10:50
Craig Birtwistle
Yeah. and
00:10:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Look, we're going to talk tactics in a minute, but first up, it's time to let you know that this podcast is part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only network bringing you exclusive daily news and views on your Premier League team, the Premier League, women's football and fantasy football.
00:11:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's a unique listening experience that puts fans first. bringing you the very latest breaking news from your team. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and make us your first listen every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network, every club, every day. um right We've heard from the managers um on Friday ahead of the game at the weekend. um And was talking tactics, something interesting that Spurs fans
Spurs' Defensive Strategy and Impact on Villa
00:11:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
won't have heard from him before. He said, we've been working on refining our defensive shape. Didn't even know he knew the word defensive.
00:11:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
um especially after recent results, the priority is to stay on the front foot without compromising at the back. now Craig, one thing I would say potentially that might cause a little bit of concern for Villa fans is because the way to beat Spurs, generally speaking, particularly if if we're playing at home, sit back, soak up that pressure, as I mentioned, the overplaying it, hits on the county, got players like Watkins, Lightning, getting behind, it's just, it feels, it that that just feels to me like that's that's ah that's a goal every time. If Pastor Cogloo has finally realized in his 50s that you need to defend sometimes when playing top level football,
00:12:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
then Emery might have to tweak his tactical plan a little bit um because Spurs might play in a way that he's not anticipating. um what What do you think kind of tactically Emery will look to do on Sunday?
00:12:24
Craig Birtwistle
Here's the thing, when you when you sit back and you watch all of the Villa games, you'll see that there isn't a lot of big tweaks, if you will. We play our way and we expect that our play will break down most teams.
00:12:41
Craig Birtwistle
It's not a case of twisting twisting the tactic like park the bus against teams when you're away from home. It's not like go full throttle when you're at home and so on. But there's subtle tweaks that he does to each game that like but When he goes into a team, he knows that how the team is going to play. So that little press conference from Ange and talking about that might throw a spanner in the works. It simply might. Or it might just be him saying that sort of thing to try and second guess Emory.
00:13:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:13:16
Craig Birtwistle
So I don't see much difference. I do think it's going to be a very interesting game because we like to possess. We don't like to sit back. We like to get forward. Spares very much want to go on the front foot. They're very exciting to play.
00:13:32
Craig Birtwistle
ah To see watch to watch I should say so I expect a game and it's one of those games that I think it's either gonna be nil nil because we'll nullify each other or it could be a 4-4 because it's a case of if you throw everything that I lost will throw everything back and It's gonna be a very interesting watch.
00:13:50
Craig Birtwistle
It's it's one that I'm not anticipating Yeah
00:13:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. I mean, Emery did mention in his press conference the fact that Spurs like to have the ball as well. So as you say, it could be two similar styles that I think Angie's kind of very set in his ways and the way he likes to play Emery's slightly more pragmatic. And I'd say he's a more accomplished tactician generally, kind of given how deep he's got in cup competitions and things like that. He's he's had to be and had to be Yeah, I think a bit more tactically subtle than that. And in all honesty Spurs fans are worried about this game, because this is this is a game that Tottenham look at and you go, okay, well...
00:14:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Our aim is obviously going to be to finish fourth. That's harder than ever because there are six or seven really decent teams. But we've got to aim for that even if it ends up being fifth or sixth. And right in the mix for us there and a team that have edged us recently, um if you look at the form, is Villa. And it is a game that we think, okay, at going to Villa Park is one thing, but at home,
00:14:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
we should be looking to take three points here. But Villa have won the last two games at Spurs. um Only Liverpool and Forest have more away points than Villa. Do you feel confident going into the game?
00:15:06
Craig Birtwistle
It's a strange one because I feel pretty confident in most games at the moment because i when hearing the players talk the attention to detail that Emory puts into every trying session in order to how to play against a team. It sounds like when they go on the field, they know exactly what to expect. They know exactly what their game plan is going into the game. And it's just a case of how sharp will we be on the deck. So i'm I'm confident in that. the In terms of like Spurs and the way they play, I feel at the moment, our advantage is gonna be the fact that
00:15:47
Craig Birtwistle
He's very strict on the way you want Spurs to play. That's how it feels. Unless he's going to adapt, I feel that we'll know how to break that down because and I know Spurs fans will hate me for making this analogy. ah But I see you guys as when Arteta started at Arsenal.
00:16:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:16:05
Craig Birtwistle
right as in the fact he was so gung-ho with his philosophy and had to do it it was detrimental to the final result so but now when you look at Arsenal they are attempting to play differently in order to get points whether it is sitting back and defending and everything like that and I think they're one year away from really doing a big challenge on Man City and I think you're similar to that I think once he figures out that
00:16:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:16:33
Craig Birtwistle
There has to be subtle differences in each game in order to not not completely sacrifice your philosophy or anything like that, but break it down slowly in order to play against teams that are going to play similar type football. Is he going to out possess Villa? That's going to be the question.
00:16:51
Craig Birtwistle
If it's not, you've got to figure out a different way to beat
Villa’s Consistent Playing Style
00:16:54
Craig Birtwistle
us. and And truly, I feel villas most weak when we play against teams that sit in. Because I find like when you saw us last year in the conference league, for example, every team sat in against us and we found it hard to break them down. So I think that's the team. When a team comes at us and leaves space in behind, that's when I think we're more most successful.
00:17:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
this is it and this is why it's ah it's a game where Ange needs to prove himself to Tottenham fans here. not I mean, he's done a good job and don't but I still obviously remember the Conte time. I think lots of fans forget that quite quickly, but it's I'll tell you what, it's it's an awful lot better than that. But I think there's still that element of we need to show that we can beat a good team like Villa, playing attacking football, but also being defensively solid. And that is a real test for us. um I think in terms of ah players that kind of we identify as as Spurs fans that can really hurt us. Ollie Watkins without a doubt that pace that clinical finishing getting in behind if it even if it is van de Ven with his famous pace sat up on the halfway line we're only ever one slip or one misread of of a ball through from from him to being completely exposed.
00:18:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah We've got an excellent goalkeeper, but he can only do so much. So that that really is kind of where we feel exposed. Do you think there's any any Spurs players that kind of Villa fans will look at and think they're potentially a threat or that they might be worried about?
Key Threats from Spurs
00:18:24
Craig Birtwistle
I think Solanke, I do think that he he hasn't had a bad start to the season by any stretch, but I do think there's more in him.
00:18:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:18:33
Craig Birtwistle
And I think that's a chance that if Villa get caught on the counter with the pace that you have in your team and trying to slip him into the center, I think he could pull players out of position and cause us some damage.
00:18:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. And he's he's done a very unglamorous role for Spurs so far. He's done a lot of ball-winning heart, the pitch and that kind of thing. um So yes, if as you say, if you can add the goals as well. Oh, he scored a few, but if you can add add more goals, then yeah, be a good signing for us. um We're going to talk predictions in a few moments time, but first up, do you have a story to tell that the world needs to hear? Have you struggled with reaching new audiences who are engaged with your story? Well, it might be time for you to start a podcast. Let me tell you about a platform we use here at the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:19:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Zencaster makes it easy to start a high quality podcast built for growth from day one. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes arms, arms, your nose, and 22 other speech patterns, Zencaster makes it super easy to start a podcast that sounds great. Ready to tell your story? Check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster.
Match Predictions: Villa vs Spurs
00:19:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So Craig, it's that time. Spurs Villa, it's a 2 p.m. kickoff um in the UK, 9 a.m.
00:19:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Eastern time, I believe it'll be. So an early one for you. ah what What are your school predictions? What is your school prediction for Sunday?
00:19:50
Craig Birtwistle
I think it's going to be a very interesting game and I think it will be number one on match of the day because I do think it's going to be one of those entertaining games. Probably some for the wrong reasons for both of us at times. um So I think it's going to be full out attack. um I am going for a 3-2 villa win.
00:20:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
See, this this is the thing because, so so I looked at the Opta website earlier, their supercomputer has Spurs 47.2% probability of winning. um I think that's just the the home form um and kind of that just natural home advantage as well. i can I can never go against Spurs, but I do find it very hard to imagine it being 4 p.m. on Sunday and thinking, oh, that was a good win over Villa. So, oh, um I'm gonna say score draw,
00:20:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
um To all. To all.
00:20:43
Craig Birtwistle
So we think there's going to be a lot of goals in this game then.
00:20:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
To all.
00:20:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Goals, action, that's what we're after, yeah. um
00:20:49
Craig Birtwistle
You watch, this will be played back to us. It will be a nil-nil draw with no shots on target.
00:20:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah That's That's it.
00:20:55
Craig Birtwistle
Something like that.
00:20:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
When you get an hour into match of the day, and you go, oh, I missed the Spurs game. You go, no, we haven't been on yet. You go, oh, no. We've had a nightmare.
00:21:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, look, Craig, thank you so much for joining us. It's been an absolute pleasure. Thank you.
00:21:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And that's it for today, everyone. Don't forget to listen. Monday will be looking back at, hopefully, Tottenham's blistering victory over Villa. And remember, you can have your say at GSB and Tottenham and all social media. Plus, if you're enjoying the pod, please do remember to give us a review. Five Stars is often easiest, we find, as it really does help other Tottenham fans to find us. Thank you for listening to the Daily Tottenham Podcast from the Global Sports Podcast Network, the place where we talk Tottenham every single weekday. Bye.
00:21:08
Craig Birtwistle
absolute pleasure.