Ghost_of_Pongo_Waring

There's quite a big difference between us finishing 6th and 7th. Finish 6th and we start a month later in the Europa League. With it being a World Cup year that shouldn't be under-estimated. We need to finish on a high and finish above Liverpool, so the strongest team possible should be played.

I think that would be a good idea as well Paul. With a good few people stopping Saturday and Sunday there's more time to drink, , and more need to sort out drinking holes than an ordinary away day. Wembley is a very special day out and deserves a seperate boozer and travel thread.

I think the majority of people are just not sure how it all works at the new Wembley as we've not been to a final for a decade. There's plenty who'd like a ticket and won't be able to get one. Of course there's an area where I'd prefer to sit but as long as I'm there I'll be delighted. Very sorry to hear you might not make it General. Still no news on when you can fly yet? One thing I don't think you've answered is did Randy hear the fans on the pitch and in the Holte End sing "One Randy Lerner" after the semi-final? I know he's not one for adulation but it was spontaneous and heartfelt. I hope you can make the final General. If not maybe the FA Cup semi's or final ...... if we make that stage.

we managed to get a premier inn for £39 per room, booked 4 rooms for the crowd of us that will be goin!! Cheers Dean. Found this site which might be useful for others Booking.Com The link is set for Wembley stadium Well I'm sorted now. Travel by Megabus for £6.00 return and two nights in Ealing is setting me back £65 including a buffet breakfast. You can't grumble at that.

Does anyone have any info on cheap hotels close to Wembley? I've looked up Formule 1, which I've used in Paris, but their two in London are miles away.

Easily Tranmere. As has been said before, we were so close to going out so many times during that tie. It was in the balance right upto the final kick and the athmosphere was a different level. Last night was still a special game though and one I'm sure none of us will forget

SSN said the Stoke v Fukham game was going ahead despite bad weather. They didn't mention our game.

On a Blackburn forum they are saying the figures include those sold to Villa so we'll have virtually as many fans as them there if they don't have a surge in sales before Tuesday night :shock:

I want the same things. I've been lucky enough to see Villa win League Cups, and League Championship and the European Cup ..... and I want more. All I'm saying is finishing fourth this season guarantees nothing. Not even Champions League football next season. Winning a trophy will give the players a taste for success and that should not be undervalued. Of course the really stupid thing is that us winning the League Cup doesn't preclude us from finishing fourth. In fact the boost it'll give the club and players as we approach the sharp end of the season means it could well be a big help in us finishing in fourth rather than an hinderance.

That's because Liverpool and Arsenal are in positions where they try and challenge for the title therefore sacrafice League Cup and also weaken teams in the Fa Cup, if Liverpool and Arsenal really wanted to make finals of these cups, I'm sure they would of done so. So if we were to finish fourth, as it would be expecting a lot to immediately challenge for either the title or champions League, do we just accept not winning anything or do we go for the domestic cups? One of which we're in with a reasonable chance of winning now, without claiming fourth. Regardless of the importance they place on different trophy's Liverpool and Arsenal have won nothing since 2005. Not the League, Champions League or domestic cups. Finishing fourth is not a guarantee of silverware in the future. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. I've just watched a recording of last nights game and interestingly Dion Dublin was asked this same question. Without hesitation he said he'd rather win the League cup. Players want to win medals and trophys. Don't get me wrong fourth would be a great achievement but winning the League cup means Aston Villa are winners again not nearly men.

The feeling of sacrificing a trophy this season because fourth would mean more trophys in future seems to me to be rather flawed thinking. Liverpool and Arsenal have finished in the top four every year since 2005 but neither have won a trophy since then, and these are top sides who we're trying to match. You can't pick and choose when you win a trophy. It's fourteen years since our last silverware and it may well be a similar time before we are close again, nothing is certain. I can tell you how many times we've won the League, FA Cup, League Cup, European Cup and European Super Cup but I couldn't tell you how many times we've finished fourth.

Hope you and your family have a great Christmas General. Is it likely that you'll be able to make any of the big games coming up? It'd be a real shame if you missed out on the semi-finals ( I don't want to tempt fate by looking any further forward than that).

I had tickets for this and she was amazing. I can't wait for her to visit again. I saw her at the Beautiful Days festival in August. I hadn't a clue who she was but wasn't over keen on the act on the main stage and popped in to see what she was like. She absolutely blew me away, such a great voice.

What a superb day. On the coach up there keeping an eye on the other results and they were all going our way I was waiting for spurs & man city to spoil things and end up winning. When the other games finished giving us the opportunity to climb to third I knew, KNEW, that we'd fail to take the chance. That second half seemed to last a week but I'm so proud of the lads. Finally we've won at Old Trafford again. It's days like these that make all those crap matches and defeats worthwhile. Three of the 'big four' beaten. Come on Villa do Arsenal and get the full set

It used to be the case that any away game against the 'big 4' was seen as an expected defeat but I really feel this is changing. I'm not expecting a victory tomorrow but neither am I going thinking a defeat is the only realistic possibility. Man Utd are a better team but I really feel, whatever the outcome, that we will make them know they've been in a match. I've got to work in the morning, although I'll be finishing at noon so I can get to the coaches for the match, and I'm going to show my Man Utd supporting manager my ticket ................ after all he's never seen an actual ticket for Old Trafford up close before He's certainly not expecting an easy game

We did have horrendous injury problems with two of our first choice defenders last season, one lasting the whole season, one lasting half the season. That might possibly have had a bearing on it.

No it wasn't. You don't receive any more points, money or anything else tangible for any of the things you mention. 6th is 6th. One of the things I mentioned was that we got more points last season than the previous season. That is quite tangible.

Finishing 6th isn't much of an improvement on finishing 6th though is it? Finishing sixth, with more points, having challanged for fourth place for most of the season was an improvement on the previous season. Not a massive improvement granted but still an improvement. Especially as our previous top six place was, according to many, only because we had virtually no injuries that season. Last season we had serious injuries to half our preferred defence and our top striker out for a couple of months. So, yes, it was an overall improvement.

How has it taken MON four years to build a solid defence, considering that he joined August 4th 2006. In the three seasons under his stewardship he has totally rebuilt the side and also managed to progress each season rather than having a period of stagnation while rebuilding. That, in my opinion, deserves recognition.

General can I just say thanks to the club for the very kind gesture of free entry to the League Cup game against Cardiff for those season ticket holders who went to the Rapid Vienna match. It is very much appreciated

I was purely pointing out that the O/P was incorrect that the squad was smaller. 0 - 4 + 4 = 0 fact , :winkold: Yes like everyone else I'd have liked to see more players come in before the kick off, but the window isn't closed. I think MON is well aware of what we need and will have been doing all he could to get the players he wanted to the club and will continue until the window closes. Personally I think we should reserve judgement until it is but I understand why some may disagree.

How is it a 'bit of a joke'? We've replaced two 'first team' players, one back up player and one third choice keeper with two 'first team' players, one back up player and one third choice keeper Whether the quality is the same or worse is subjective but the fact that we've lost four and signed four players is just that, a fact.

How is the squad smaller? Four out : Barry, Laursen, Knight, Taylor Four In : Downing, Delph, Beye, Marshall When you consider that Albrighton & Clarke have progressed to where they are viable first team players we're actually up on numbers. At the very least we've the same size squad. We'll be up there challenging again, imo of course.

I'm glad I'm not in work til eleven. Time for one more celebratory beer

What a **** brilliant win. The kids were superb. Showed composure against very good players. I haven't got the new home shirt yet but when I do I think I'm going to have Albrighton on the back. He has the makings of a star at Villa. I'd like to see him given some time against Fiorentina, he's deserved it. I know it's only a pre-season friendly tournament but it's still sends shivers down the spine to see the Claret & Blue holding a trophy aloft. Brilliant performance from MON & the lads. Well done all.