Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp admits Rafael van der Vaart has handed him a tactical headache.
Redknapp has been delighted with the 27-year-old's impact since his dramatic £8million transfer-deadline-day move from Real Madrid, which is looking more of a bargain by the minute.
All three of Van der Vaart's home games have seen him start on the right wing with a licence to roam.
But with Redknapp also fielding two strikers, as well as allowing Luka Modric and Gareth Bale to push forward from midfield and his full-backs to bomb on, it has left Spurs all too exposed to the counter-attack.
Redknapp was forced to withdraw Roman Pavyluchenko at half-time on Saturday and play Peter Crouch as a lone striker, with Van der Vaart tucked in behind.
And the Tottenham boss acknowledged this may be the only way of setting up his side if he is to persevere with Gareth Bale on the left wing, the Welshman being Tottenham's other outstanding performer this season.
"Difficult one to find the right balance," said Redknapp, whose side's victory took them up to fifth in the table.
"It's not easy; to play with two strikers is almost impossible.
"Because Rafa doesn't play wide right.
"He floats around, really, and comes off the line and plays where he wants - almost.
"And then you're very open."
He added: "You're not going to get two strikers in your team with Rafa and Gareth Bale on the left - it's not possible.
"You have to change the whole shape of your team; you'd have to play with a diamond or you'd have to play, certainly, with three midfield players and Rafa playing behind two strikers if you want to get two in.
"The way we started the (Villa) game - like the way we played against Twente the other night - it's an attacking team that is very open to the counter-attack and they were very dangerous on the counter first half."
