briny_ear

0-1 isn't too bad in theory & in reality we should be able to pull that back at home. Trouble is, based on tonight's and Saturday's performances, I just can't see how we have either the heart or ability to do that.

Gloom.

Time for Ashley Young to deliver methinks.

Just lulling them into a false sense of security :winkold:

From the Mail

ASTON VILLA striker John Carew has pulled out of Villa's squad for the second game in a row after coming down with a virus.

The Norwegian target man missed Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by Wigan after getting an injured toe.

Like tonight's game at Rapid Vienna, Carew's absence on Saturday was only announced on the day and the player had travelled out for tonight's Europa League game.

O’Neill named Carew in his original list of substitutes for the Wigan game but replaced him with Nathan Delfouneso at late notice after receiving permission from Wigan and the match officials.

O'Neill later insisted it was Carew's decision to sit the game out because of his toe - but there has not conviced the conspiracy theorists on web forums.

Is ''Vast Minority'' not a complete condradiction of terms?

I took it as 99% of people took it -

When you think of the continuous stream of negativity and vitriol that is poured out against NRC, day by day, on this site, it is just a joke that he is now way in the lead for captain!

Wow, 102 wants him gone now.. end last season, it was only around 4

Are the257 who want him to stay worth a mention?

O'Neill said himself squad was too small last season...boring i know but ; 4 - 4 + 4 = 0

Fact - as you might say ... O'Neill would acknowledge that.

Maybe you were trying to be a bit too clever?

I think 7th maybe 8th if we cock up like last year, and its not becuase we are stepping backwards, its because teams like Spurs and Man City have improved greatly from last year

Citeh fair one, but have Spurs improved greatly?

8th-10th for me unless MON pulls out 3 very large rabbits from the hat in the next 2 and a bit weeks.

As things stand, I cannot see us finishing ahead of the Sky 4 or Citeh/Spuds as they have bigger squads with as much quality as us and they don't have Europe to distract them.

I think it will be tough to finish above Everton as I think they have more resilience and fight than us.

If we get injuries and/or don't bolster the squad then we could even struggle to stay ahead of teams like West Ham/Fulham/Sunderland imo.

If you believe all that, you should have voted for 11th - do the math

Actually it is you that maybe should do the English!

I said "we could even struggle to stay ahead of........" "Could" does not mean "will". At no point did I say that they will definitely finish above us.

More pedantry on villatalk...no surprise there!

You don't really believe all that.

You are perhaps just mentioning it to add to the general air of gloom and panic that some people seem to enjoy promulgating on the site.

8th-10th for me unless MON pulls out 3 very large rabbits from the hat in the next 2 and a bit weeks.

As things stand, I cannot see us finishing ahead of the Sky 4 or Citeh/Spuds as they have bigger squads with as much quality as us and they don't have Europe to distract them.

I think it will be tough to finish above Everton as I think they have more resilience and fight than us.

If we get injuries and/or don't bolster the squad then we could even struggle to stay ahead of teams like West Ham/Fulham/Sunderland imo.

I see Spurs with one hell of a side.

Are you mad, sir???!!!

No, a thousand times no!!

Ha, ha - thought this was one of those polls that had been dredged up from 2-3 years ago.

This is seriously bonkers.

For me, it has to be "Go if you feel like that!".

If such short term issues could make you question your long term loyalty to the club, when it is finally on the up after 10 years of mediocrity, I don't think there's a place for you at Villa Park.

Just my opinion, mind...

Sorry to have missed this - I forgot it was on, but I wouldn't have given up my Friday night for it anyway.

The main things that come across are (a) we are getting into our stride & getting a bit of momentum. Let's hope this carries over into the first few games of the season; ( this is an ill-named competition. MON banned from the touchline for shoving the ball into an Atlante player's chest, Heskey sent off for thumping a Porto player during a general melee..."Peace Cup"?? Ha!! © It took a good 30 minutes on this thread for the negative comments to start flowing again after the shock of a win. Come on guys, you need to get in training for the new season. I thought

A friendly is one thing, but NRC was easily our worst player.

Only caught the last 30 mins. Massive step forward compared with the Malaga game. Albrighton looked great and the defence looked composed as they defended the lead. I iked Cuellar a lot, and NRC.

Those people saying we are nowhere near ready to play a Premiership match seem to be overooking thed fact that, in terms of our preparation, we ARE a long way off playing our first match. We haven't even got our full existing squad together yet, we are looking to buy new players, and there area a few more warm up matches to go.

People should get off the team's back.

Surely I wrote that, not you. It was exactly what I thought. And still do.

Hi General. I'm usually a Villa optimist but I found this newspaper quote from MON a bit depressing. He was talking about Manchester City and tipping them as contenders to win the league:

“The frustration has come from the type of player they have been able to attract,” he said. “You are looking at trying to get value for money, but Manchester City are putting it beyond an awful lot of teams.

“You think, well, you got quite close last year and suddenly another club has just stepped over you immediately before you can go on. It kind of punctures you."

Is that how the Villa Board see this generally? "A bit punctured"?

The main interest in these old threads is to see how many posters now have red cards - 4 on this thread!

Also the amazing insight of some posts:

I certainly would have picked Milner over Bentley, mainly because we know what we are getting with Milner and have even had a chance to see him in action in an earlier stage of his development - when he was bloody good and worked really hard.

I think the jury is still just a little bit out on whether Bentley is going to show that consistent hard work and commitment to match his skills.

9 is now a realistic vote (well, not Saha ) so I guess that reflects progress.

Only caught the last 10 of this but it looked pretty dire.

Harewood.

Why?

Sidwell just got booked for being ginger....which is fair enuff if you think about it

My guess -

.....................Friedel

Young (if fit).Cuellar.Davies.Shorey

............NRC.Sidwell.Petrov

Albrighton.......................Young

....................Carew

I just hope to heaven no injuries!