nick76

Just now, R.Bear said:

Let me put it this way. If an away tie against Lille intimidates us, we have no business being in the Champions League.

I don’t think it has intimidated us, Emery always tries to kill the atmosphere first half and then more expansive second half in away games in Europe.  Our passing has been poor and their goal was sublime but they haven’t done much else, just we haven’t done anything.

Just now, NorthernGordon said:

I heard the ref has just red carded the tea lady for putting the milk in first. 

To be fair I’d red card her for doing that

2 minutes ago, The_Steve said:

Leon loves a goal or assist from the bench. Get him on. 

Yeah but he’s had his left knee massively wrapped up on the sidelines…hopefully only need him if we are desperate 

2 minutes ago, R.Bear said:

They're 4th in the French league, behind Brest. We shouldnt be making them look this good and terrifying.

Best French team record at home though, even better than PSG.

Just now, Chindie said:

The only way this ends without a red is if the referee trips and hits his head at half time or someone steals his cards.

The ref is so bad, he’ll probably send himself off

Good goal by them and while I’m completely bored, it’s going to plan I think.  Emery kills the atmosphere first half and bit more expansive second half.  We need to improve our passing though as some has been woeful.

Damn that’s not good, we Knee-d him for the rest of the season

2 minutes ago, duke313 said:

Not what you need 2 hours before a European quarter final 2nd leg

Isn’t that £50k per week?  Would’ve thought he would’ve got more given his profile.  That’s not even an average salary in the PL these days.

8 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

Also remember it’s only a game.

3 minutes ago, Mazrim said:

Phil Taylor

37 minutes ago, Jareth said:

Yer can’t kill the coefficient- 3 games tonight! 

Yep nobody thought we’d beat Arsenal at the weekend so I don’t predict anything anymore, Liverpool could do one of their European comeback performances and West Ham could surprise with a comeback with Leverkusen who are coming off the hangover from winning the league, and we could win and then it would be back on.  

More likely it won’t happen but nothing surprises me these days.  

The coefficient isn’t dead, it’s just hanging precariously on the edge of the cliff and the ledge is giving way.

I was putting my hopes in getting fourth anyway.

1 hour ago, duke313 said:

They might have a seat at the big boys table, but they’re left feeding of their scraps.

Ok, we just don’t agree and that’s fine.

4 hours ago, DJBOB said:

8 hours ago, magnkarl said:

What do you think is the chance of the discharge petition going through? How long can Maga-Mike keep up this idiocy? Does it take another Iranian attack for him to buckle?

It's an interesting contradiction for the GOP because no matter what, there's a strong contingent of warhawks and national defense types. With the resignations bringing the majority to a razor thin amount, it would only take a few defections for the discharge petition to go through.

I think most of them are doing a wait and see approach with MAGA-Mike to see if the separate Ukraine funding bill is a trap or actually a good faith effort to pass it. It's genuinely hard to tell with the margins as thin as it is, but not only on the GOP side. Could see a few Dems taking umbridge with a combined discharge petition that would include Israel as well.

Yeah, while I believe up to 195 signatures (including some Republicans) as of this morning they are still 23 signatures short of the required amount and a number of Democrats have issues with it because of the Israel part.

This is from a few days ago…

2 minutes ago, duke313 said:

We'll still lose players, even if we qualify for CL or not, there will always be bigger teams.  United at their absolute peak in 2009 lost Ronaldo to Madrid, Liverpool lost Coutinho to Barca, Spurs lost Bale and Modric to Madrid, Arsenal lost Henry and Fabregas to Barca.  All happened while they played CL football regularly.  That won't change if we suddenly get CL for a season or two.

Of course but to a far greater extent for us.  More chance of our players overall stopping with us than pushing for a move, we’ll also have more bargaining power if a big club comes in for one plus we’ll be more attractive for possible replacements.  Plus that PSR/FFP/UEFA rules will give us more leeway than having to sell players.

We can both see the positive sides of the argument, it’s such a fine line…let’s just get both CL place and a trophy this season, so this argument is put to bed.

2 hours ago, duke313 said:

What long term success have Spurs had?  Hosting a Beyonce concert?  A Patriots game?  I'd say the majority of their fans would trade all that in and CL football to win a few trophies. 

Very valid points, I just want us to be consistently competing with the Top 4 places regularly and the revenue that generates than having to sell our best players every season just to comply with FFP/PSR/UEFA rules or those players getting poached by the big 6.

As for Spurs fans, yes they would be it’s ok for them because they are already at the big boys table.  Ask them if they would give up being at the big boys club and I’m not sure they would be as keen, that they would be equivalent to West Ham, I don’t think they would.

2 hours ago, Mic09 said:

So you would rather have the money generated in order to win trophies rather than... winning trophies? 

I’d rather be at the table with the ability to win trophies consistently than win a trophy every 30 years…..Yes!  Added that winning that trophy would be likely at the expense of having to lose key player or two so one step forward and two steps back.  Having that money strengthens us to keep key players, add key players and take us another step forward.  If we can stabilise at this ‘competing for champions league places’ for a few seasons then I would pick trophy every time then.  Our future has to be in the game regularly rather a plucky winner once every thirty years imo.

16 minutes ago, duke313 said:

Seems like Arsene Wenger convinced a lot of people that winning the "4th place trophy" is more important than winning actual trophies.

No, the money generated is more important to the long term success of the club.  

Winning one trophy is always special but hopefully the money generated will aid us be more competitive so we can win multiple trophies in the future, but the longer the money divide in football continues the further away we fall.  

So winning one trophy is fabulous but I think we need the money to remain competitive and not lose our key players and maybe even our manager.  

Nothing to do with Wenger but more to do reality of being competitive and not losing key personnel because other clubs offer them CL and more money.  

Currently, financially because of FFP/PSR/UEFA rules we are going into a gun fight with a pea shooter in regards to elite end football.

2 hours ago, Nicho said:

Do we sign some free transfers like Hermoso, Ndidi and Ilheanacho so that we can sign 2 expensive players? One of them being Zaniolo.

Zaniolo is ok but if he’s what we are spending a lot of our budget on then no thank you.

18 minutes ago, Wainy316 said:

 

Wow!  That’s too random not for me to get unrealistic hopes up.  I mean we aren’t a foreign neutral’s second team…

Nah too obvious, maybe Villa are Massssssssiiivvvveeee!

edit: it was a present from Diaby apparently and him, Bailey and Diaby are close friends

Just now, Vive_La_Villa said:

Are people really getting stressed though? I thought it was all a bit of banter during the games. 

Just reading last week and so far this week, it feels like some are suffering more than just banter to be honest

2 minutes ago, PaulC said:

At their best they can do it 

Yeah I still think Liverpool are in it, they just have the firepower to score 6 or fluff loads and score none.

Too many fans getting twisted up not only on the week but per night and even within games. Too many twists and turns by other teams, let’s just focus on us and the rest will be what’ll be.  It’s interesting to speculate but I think too many are getting worked up with each goal.