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Tottenham v Aston Villa Lineups

By Ryan Wrenn

Jul 29, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld (4) controls the ball in the first half of the 2015 MLS All Star Game at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 29, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld (4) controls the ball in the first half of the 2015 MLS All Star Game at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tottenham welcome the Championship’s Aston Villa to White Hart Lane Sunday for the fourth round of this season’s FA Cup.

As with any match featuring a strong Premier League side like Tottenham and a middling Championship side like Aston Villa, many expect a rout here. Appearances can be deceiving, however.

Mauricio Pochettino telegraphed just how highly he regards this competition by his lineup selection for the day, as discussed below. This simply isn’t a competition that ranks high on Spurs’ priority list, especially now that there’s some increased chance of a long-awaited Premier League title.

Aston Villa then might be slightly more hopeful than they would be otherwise however. Under Steve Bruce their plight has improved considerably, and they are fielding just about as strong a lineup as they can on the day.

Still, Tottenham hold eight FA Cup victories on their record, among the highest of any team in England. There’s some incentive to defend that legacy.

Perhaps more importantly, this is a chance to give valuable minutes to players who don’t usually get starts in the Premier League. The inclusion of Harry Winks, Vincent Janssen and Michel Vorm offers will be a real test of Tottenham’s strength in depth.

Perhaps the most notable inclusion here is Cameron Carter-Vickers. The young American is a product of Spurs’ Academy and seems set to rise quickly through the first team. This is his third start for the club this season, having previously played in EFL Cup matches in the autumn.

The American is included here alongside Toby Alderweireld and Kevin Wimmer, suggesting that Pochettino will once again field his no-long-experimental 3-4-3 system. Seeing as how it was enough to beat league-leaders Chelsea midweek, the shape should suit them well against Villa as well.

As mentioned above, Bruce brings his best team to London in hopes of making it onto the fifth round. With Villa underperforming in their first season since relegation from the Premier League, a deep run in the FA Cup might be their only hope for some small amount of glory this season.

Tottenham will have to be mindful in at least a couple areas of the pitch. In Mile Jedinak, Villa have a stubborn defensive midfielder with plenty of Premier League experience. In Albert Adomah and Jack Grealish, the visitors have tricky wingers who can cause havoc if they play at their best.

Perhaps the biggest threat is Jordan Amavi though. Though he was injured for much of his first year with the club, the young Frenchman is perhaps one of the most exciting full-backs in the Championship. He’s aggressive going forward and will do whatever he can to exploit the space left in behind Kieran Trippier along with Grealish.

Next: FA Cup Third Round Preview: Tottenham v Aston Villa

Check back here after the match for a full assessment of the result and what it might mean for Spurs’ short and long term.