cb_82

I think we may go

olsen

cash konsa torres digne

bailey tim luiz rogers

mcinn wattkins

On 28/04/2024 at 00:57, VillaChris said:

They're not as good as Lille.

Looking at their squad and plenty of experience. Vicente Iborra as DM in midfield is 36. El Arabi their main CF is 37 and Jovetic comes in at a youthful 34. Their main danger will be Podence on loan from Wolves who caused us issues at VP last season.

I think we can take a 2 goal lead to Greece and that should be enough.

Mendilibar is their coach so it will be a very very low block for this leg so we'll have to be patient. Really hope Unai just dosen't treat it like a chess match due to facing a compatriot as he overthought the Wolves games last season facing Lopetegui and that played into their hands more than ours.

Can see us winning this 3-1.

Podence played like Messi that night lol

3 minutes ago, TheStagMan said:

No, no and hell no.  Just cannot do it. 

Ive got no pride at the moment if secures CL football so I will be cheering them on & singing blue moon if that what it takes 

6 minutes ago, abdulaziz1 said:

The stress is from all sides, yesterday was even much worse than watching Villa the other day, was stressed more than Arsenal fans probably.

Then now we the semi final, and supporting Chelsea against Spurs. Not sure how I’m to handle all of that. Even without games, we’re worried about Martinez, Youri and Olsen. 

I know what you mean, i couldn't watch the last 5 mins of spurs game!

I think if Spurs took 10 points from whats left - 3 wins/one draw/one loss then they will have done really well and in turn we would need 4 so I remain optimistic that we can get the job done

That Chelsea game feels pivitol though as a negative result could really knock them ahead of  then playing Liverpool Sunday

Report says hes aiming to be back for second leg

Not ideal though missing Brighton

Funny enough having a look on the Spurs message boards there is a lot of tension and in arguing plus questions around Big Ange they dont seem very confident but then results can change that perspective eg a win v Chelsea

As much as Saturday night was frustrating it felt like a point gained at the time and yesterdays result meant it was (Being greedy i would have like to gain a couple of goals too!)

This week they have Chelsea & Liverpool and we have Brighton, would obviously love to gain on them but I think if we can get through these games neutral and so still with the 7 point lead then I think that would be us just needing to win one of the last 2 games.

Chelsea you have the London derby factor so i think that may be the tougher of the 2 games as Liverpool just dont look at it and to be honest form wise Brighton are one we should target for 3 points

Really is squeaky bum time!!!

I think the suspension is because he was booked in the first leg so with the 2 in the second league he has hit 3 which is the total that you can get before a suspension between groups and semi finals?

The argument would be should that yellow count towards the 3 as it was at the end of the game in another phase

Strange game, Chelsea are the type that could chuck it in after losing in the cup or be like prime Barca.

Game v Arsenal helps us as they will be up for that and put alott into it to try and stop Arsenal im sure - Hopefully a couple of red cards for Palmer and Enzo!

Interesting....scouser said to me about the farmers comp we are in so i admit i took the bait....

Based on uefa coeffient club rankings

We have played AZ 42 Ajax 24 Lille 44 and Olympiakos to come 48

Only top 50 team they played was Atalanta who battered them!

Gave me a good come back but I also thinks the strength of some of the teams we have played - Fiorintina 50th and Bruge 25th means IF we got through we would face another 

I think 6 points will do it now, Spurs will take points in those ''bigger'' games 

11 hours ago, HolteExile said:

Most improved, maybe. 

I would agree with that, i think he would be my alternative player of the season eg most improved/vs expectation at the start - He was gone in mosts minds with Moreno and Saudi talk but hes been 7 out of 10 most weeks when played and nicked a vital winner at Luton!

I think all 3 play Saturday with Mcginn further forward and Diaby or Bailey out right

Poor discipline in first place but 6 points and a couple of games off and maybe like Mcginn its just kept them a little bit fresher

Been great last couple of games and love his crowd interaction

I think he plays with Luiz Saturday and Mcginn will play up with Watkins

On 20/04/2024 at 20:46, wedge said:

Spot on, I think our European adventurers this season have opened our eyes a bit. Legia Warsaw, Ajax, Lille away have all shown us how modern stadia can be conducive to a stadium-wide constant and electric atmosphere for 90 minutes including fans of all ages. 

I think the other thing is too that the Ultras have so much power in these clubs that extends way beyond just the singing that its easier to build on top of this eg have an area/pyro/flags etc - I noticed in Lille a couple of them were constantly over the hoardings at the front for example which you would never get in England!

Fair play to the lads in 1897, one thing it will do is extend that holte singing into other areas and keep going

Also replying to comment above, agree we can be to nice - Couple of fouls yesterday where we should have been up off our feet calling for yellows, im convinced it influences refs

NEC talked about alott, what about Alexander stadium ? Obviously in a different format but is that council owned and could we develop the site? Its in Villa area too

On the pensioner debate i actually think this is something that should be kept if not for now in your mind but for the future, gone are the days of rich pensioners in my opinion as time moves on with pensions decreasing at both government & workplace level and even inheritance being hit by increasing care bills for many for parents etc.

I really think in 20 years time you will see a completely different demographic in that area and for what its worth BTW I think we should continue to discount and support at the younger ages too

1 minute ago, Tommo_b said:

Is that celebration not him silencing the wet spam fans? 

I was sat in West Ham end right by there and he definitely aimed it towards the Villa fans, I called it out to my son as soon as I saw it 

9 minutes ago, The_Steve said:

People are seriously getting mad about him celebrating a crucial goal?

Im not mad about it, just thought all a bit embarrassing for him 

One thing I will say having been at West Ham yesterday in the home hospitality is that you can see where we miss out on revenue eg 15k less seats and various lounge/hospitality offerings 

One I was in was seat, 1 free drink, lounge use and is 2.5k per season so you can see how that soon adds up

Hes been crap, one goal doesnt change that and running round shushing fans is pathetic - Go on a run of scoring and playing well and maybe but facts are he has more yellow cards than goals and assists, usually for stupidity 

10 hours ago, useless said:

Wolves are the comeback kings, they always win after a defeat, so that will be a tough game, even without Neto and Hwang, they will probably play a lot like West Ham did today, try and cause us problems from set-pieces and get in as many crosses as possible. They also aways seem to be much more fired up for the game than us, treat it like a derby, they will be fired up not just for their own European challenge, but would love to play their part in stopping us getting Champions League

We got difficult challenge ahead, as because two of the next four are Arsenal and Man City away, that puts a lot of pressure on us to get six points from Wolves and Brentford

Spurs

Luton (h), West Ham (a), Forest (h), Newcastle (a)

Man Utd

Brentford (a), Chelsea (a), Liverpool (h), Bournemouth (a)

 

I would say 7 points a piece from that for both of them........

If you then gave us 4 points from Wolves/City/Brentford/Arsenal then that would leave it at 

Villa 60 

Spurs 60

United 54 

Which would have two of the toughest games left done with ahead of Spurs then playing their tough run and us probably needing to take 9 points from Brighton/Bournemouth/Palace/Liverpool/Chelsea to get at least 5th

Thought it was decent in the main last night !

Players will be chomping at the bit for this and will all want to play, go strong as possible, win the game and make changes - UTV

Emery said recently there were 7 better teams and fans didn't like it, i think its more down to language barrier re the term better but Arsenal/United/Spurs/Liverpool/City/Chelsea and Newcastle after CL qualification all have much bigger resources at the top end alongside huge revenues, and the point Emery has been making is we are punching above our weight being in the thick of that group and significantly better in certain areas.

We have 10 games to go and if we take 12-13 points in that time we will finish 5th for the first time since 96-97 season so even if we dont get 4th we have done something we haven't done in nearly 30 years alongside the opportunity to win a trophy which is very much alive at the moment

I think some of the over reaction i have read and heard since yesterday has bordered on entitlement and although i get the disappointment in parts has been embarrassing