maqroll

I regularly listen to the Guardian Football Weekly podcast, it's good. But they have an occasional guest on who really grates on my nerves. He's called Lars Sivertsen. Speaks with an unusual accent, sort of a hybrid of generic Irish and West Country. He routinely sidetracks the conversation with drawn out, bland stories and anecdotes that he thinks are really interesting and funny. /rantover

When will we know for certain if 5th place does the trick?

We need them to do well in the CL though..

I almost just hope Liverpool win the league after watching this farce.

I made the mistake of watching 20 minutes of "Fool Me Once" on Netflix. Dire.

Watched premiere episode of "A Gentleman in Moscow" on Showtime. Really good!

Silva can look pub league on occasion

I know. They could pay an academy player 5% of Jack's wages to do the same thing.

Nah, he just plays for the wrong club.

Grealish is toast

As does NASCAR.

We've already beaten these sides this season and nothing I'm seeing today suggests that we can't do the double on both.

Portly Mason Mount all smiles at full time.

10 Hag will be managing a windmill next season.

Honestly never heard of 66.6% of those players.

LOL

Gary O'Neill is a smug, beady-eyed word removed.

Get him on a 10 year "Boehly" immediately!

Gotta bury that, Ollie!

That is one of the most brain-dead own goals I've ever seen.

Well alright, Luton!

The crowd will be well up for this local grudge match and probably a bit emotional about the Sid Cowans situation. Woofs players might go into a shell, especially if we score early. I think we can batter them, honestly. 5-0 to the Villa, but I'll take 1-0 on an own goal in stoppage time. Spurs are highly unlikely to drop points at home vs Luton, and we'll know the result before we kick off. Every single league game from here on in will be fraught with tension, especially if we concede first. We have to be aggressive from minute one and I hope Emery doesn't try to be too cute and clever. Stick to what has made us such a formidable team this season. We need to try to channel the spirit and application we showed vs Man City the rest of the season. Tall order, I know, especially with tired legs. But the players must suffer if they are to achieve rewards for their work beyond a salary. They have to strengthen their collective mentality and see this campaign out with a CL spot the glorious prize that is within their grasp. Up the Villa!

My father's mother lived with advanced Alzheimer's for about 20 years in a nursing home. The first time I saw him cry was after he returned home from visiting her and she no longer knew who he was. Just a totally barbaric disease that I pray doesn't steal any more of my loved ones, or steal me, for that matter.

Spot on, @NurembergVillan Exactly how that should be handled. Let it die a quick death. Impossible to know the actual context. I think there should be more portraits/murals of Villa legends in and around Villa Park, so players (and younger/newer fans) can become more familiar with the faces of Aston Villa heroes. I regret not having seen Sid play. His stature at the club has been apparent all the while. When I started following Villa in 1994, 1982 seemed like ancient history. But retrospectively, it was really just around the bend of time. So I do feel connected to Sid, through you guys, and I thank you for that. And I wish the absolute best for Sid and his loved ones.