---
title: "Villa fans criticise Drinkwater after Spurs defeat"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2020/02/17/villa-fans-criticise-drinkwater-after-spurs-defeat/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Abdullah Mulla"
section: "Features & Analysis"
published: "2020-02-17T13:00:00Z"
modified: "2026-09-03T11:43:19Z"
---

# Villa fans criticise Drinkwater after Spurs defeat

Danny Drinkwater was handed a start against Tottenham Hotspur by Dean Smith in the 3-2 defeat on Sunday.

Some fans were disappointed by the decision to start the 29-year-old when the [team was announced.](https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1229027685487214592)

Drinkwater [joined Villa on a loan deal](https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2020/01/07/drinkwater-signs-for-aston-villa) from fellow Premier League club Chelsea until the end of the season last month.

The Englishman was[substituted after 60 minutes](https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1229062898858807298) by Smith, with Marvelous Nakamba coming on to replace him.

And many Villa fans were not pleased with Drinkwater’s display at Villa Park and took to Twitter to share their frustration.

The midfielder made one key pass in the match but had zero shots, won zero aerial battles and made three fouls before being taken off ([WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1376079/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-Aston-Villa-Tottenham)).

In just 30 minutes, Nakamba made three interceptions and two tackles compared to only one interception and one tackle from Drinkwater in an hour of football ([WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1376079/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-Aston-Villa-Tottenham)).

These fans feel that the midfielder is a liability in the middle of the pitch and is far too slow for the pace of the Premier League.

> Twitter: @JBaker\_24 He’s a liability (@avfc2k15)

> Twitter: @JBaker\_24 I’ve never seen a man so slow to react and so unaware of his surroundings once he gets the ball (@SFennell93)

> Twitter: @JBaker\_24 Worst player I’ve seen in my time at the villa (@carterbrough)

> Twitter: @JBaker\_24 He can’t run, let alone play football. To play him over Hourihane is a shambles. (@finley\_chalmers)

> Twitter: @JBaker\_24 Plays like someone that retired as a pro 25 yrs ago (@Massimo\_Fanucci)

> Twitter: @avfchistory This is not even a debate. Drinkwater is in the top five of worst players I’ve seen in a villa shirt.… https://t.co/7ZJqgkz8V4 (@arkyta)

> Twitter: @avfchistory Drinkwater simply isn’t fit enough to play. (@peterluckhurst)