The Fun Factory

Utterly pointless fixture done to fulfill tv contract. The magic of the cup.

Agreed. I think its Villa just being polite after the 2019 League Cup debacle. The U23 have not pulled up any trees in the football trophy or whatever its called nowadays and that's playing either league one or two sides. Going back to the Euros there is no way that Uefa will just gladly scrap it. It is worth hundreds of millions for the organisation. Even if it did happen I can't see it happening as played with thousands of fans tramping around European cities for a month. I suppose what could happen it just move it to one country say France or Germany with no crowds and base it around half a dozen grounds. It would be incredibly soulless though, hardly the festival of football that is usually is.

My dad is a spurs fan and Greavsie is his all time hero. He met him once by chance at his local leisure club (might have been some golf function) and had a good chat with him over a non alcoholic drink. Belatedly given a MBE this year. Its sad to see his health now.

He always seemed a good un. His autobiography is a good read, shame his academy did not work out.

If the season is to be extended to the summer there will be a huge row between the big leagues and UEFA. A lot of lawyers would be involved.

Big time. Deano all the way. Either that or battleships.

Not really a surprise. Given all the mixing between teams from different leagues the 3rd round will probably results in loads of league games being called off. Football taking a circuit break is about as inevitable as a government U turn. It's going to happen. It's going to be the mid winter break that they planned anyway. I thought it was optimistic that they could complete a full season with one less month in September. Now i think its delusional. No chance.

Oh yeah forgot that Wigan won the cup but they got relegated in the same season and have collapsed since. I used to like the away day though, used to be really cheap tickets!

Yes I remember 2015 we had such a flukely draw until the semi final when we somehow beat Liverpool. That was my best moment for Villa between MON leaving and Deano getting the job though that was very slim pickings. Lets just pretend the final didn't happen.

I don't think Citeh have massively increased the ticket prices and then expanded or don't they count as they are not run as a proper business?

Well maybe but Birmingham is hardly London. I think unemployment rate is nearly 10% already. I don't think its going to be a good look for clubs to introduce swingeing ticket price increases when the great unwashed are allowed back in next season.

Virtually all winners of the cups are top 6 sides or former top 6 (Arsenal). It's probably only been Portsmouth and Blues who have won cups outside the usual lot in about the last 20 years. The teams that we have lost to in major cup finals this century have been Chelsea, Man U, Arsenal and Citeh. The same lot every time who look bored when they win the cups. I don't think is either/or , it is all or nothing. You are either in the elite, or out.

I remember the last game of 15/16 when we were already relegated and lost 4 nil to Arsenal away. There was a Villa congo and renditions of we will meet again. Class.

Did he also put pencils up his nose and say wibble?

11-17 is quite a wide range. I would still be happy with a 11th to about 14th. Anything below that would be disappointing given our good start. Top 10 would be fantastic. However we are a few injuries away from that to be very difficult to achieve. Overall optimistic about the Villa for the first time in years. Less optimistic about finishing the season and the wider world in general.

Just imagine the electoral arithmetic if/when Scotland become independent. It would be practically a one party state with no escape out. Sleep well.

Like supporting Villa circa 2011-2018.

So for example I think the county of Herefordshire has in about a months period has gone from Tier 2-Tier 1-Tier 2-Tier 3-Tier 4. How can any business plan for that? It makes you pine for Jeremy H*nt being the PM. Well nearly.

I think the Glorious 12th should still be fine m'lord.

Virtually all shops (well the ones that are still left open), indoor gyms, swimming pools, and you are supposed to go outside to exercise once a day.

I have a extremely low opinion of Johnson and he lowers it every time he opens his pie face. A national embarrassment on stubby legs.

So they have gone from threatening court action to stop schools from closing to a complete educational lockdown within a couple of weeks? Not bad. Well what do you expect when our nation's youth are governed by a former lying journalist and fireplace salesman of the year. I have serious doubts this season will be finished. Oh well.

Jordan Jarrett Bryan. Ok he is not a fan of Smith but he talks mostly rubbish. I am fed of up this revisionist history of the Shef Utd keeping us up. What about the ludicrous disallowed goal at Palace?

Will this be on in Lockdown 3? Can't we just bin off the cups this year?

Does he still exist? When was the last time he played for us? About a year ago? Too slow for the prem. Otherwise a technically decent defender.