AvonVillain

Really looking forward to this game. Record season ticket sales & a first home game of a new era. To this end let's hope we have a new patient approach in the stands, and the support lasts for the entire 90+ minutes regardless of the score. The only disappointment for me last weekend was Villa following the old script of allowing a player/club to achieve something they have thus far been unable to do (Kane scoring in August).

I don't know him personally no. Have to take your word for that mate I guess. Surprised that the lad or one of his friends or anyone in the club didn't report him if that was the case, as that sounds quite savage, or that such an event wouldn't have made the news and landed him in enormous trouble, given his previous. Anyway, I'm only going on what I've read about him, his interviews over the years and the more recent, in-depth look at his life by the BBC and Telegraph etc. not personal experience.

Yeah I've heard this is true, though unfortunately not listened to him myself yet. I think it's more the media trained autopilot bullshit we're all so tired of. Instead of ex-pro's or players' winding down their careers speaking without any real thought, insight, or care for the subject at hand - Charlie Adam anyone? - why not employ people to talk about football who really care and want to offer something, and actually need the job, like a sports journalists for example, not people simply with time to spare. Anyway sorry to highjack the thread.

Jailed for affray, yes. It might be worth checking out the interview he did before the FA cup final if for no other reason just to hear a footballer speak in a way footballers simply do not speak. He covers that period, his difficult youth in Chelmsley Wood and a multitude of interesting things. I've always found him refreshingly honest and articulate and not afraid to speak his mind. I genuinely think he is a class act, that wasn't a flippant comment. I personally despise this idea of footballers as role models for example, and when this was trotted out to Deeney during an interview once, his completely honest reaction, unafraid of the inevitable wave of criticism on social media etc., kind of confirmed to me what an unusually thoughtful footballer he is.

I remember that interview. He actually didn't make much of the goal and spoke about being a fan of Midlands football. He was on our books at one time. I think as a man he is a class act, but would agree as a footballer he's not what we need, I don't think.

Bath. Turns out there's quite a big crew of Villa fans about...

Absolute scenes in the pub down in the South West! Turned out one of the more lively fans was Tyrone Mings' sister, going absolutely nuts dancing around on the tables. Incredible atmosphere during that penaly shoot out... Amazing what this club can put you through. Feel we were quite lucky overall over the 2 legs, but you need luck and so be it. On to Wembley.

West Brom losing.

Class.

Team scrapping for their lives in the bottom 3 refuse to let opponents walk all over them shock!

Scrappy affair. Fair play to Bolton they look motivated and up for it despite everything. Class will tell eventually.

Stephen Warnock talking us up on 5Live as automatic promotion contenders. Good to hear.

Need to freshen things up here....

Can I just confirm, having not listened to or watched the match, that Nyland saved a penalty toward the end!? There's often a big reaction to events on here without further (or any) explanation. Of course no other media source outside the midlands are remotely interested in the details either... 5Live didn't mention a thing about it. *EDIT* - just read StewieK2's post made as I was writing this.

Best possible response! No manager can legislate for a defender passing to the opposition at the worst possible moment like Elmo did at VP against the strongest team in the league. That 2nd spot is definitely up for grabs.

We have to absolutely go for it now. Nothing to lose. Big 10 minutes.

You could argue that Whelan would be extra motivated to play well against his old club though.

Definitely take a draw here. West Brom looks odds on to challenge the top two all season long. A win would be the finest result we've had in some time.

Goal saving block by Hutton.

Entertaining first half. Are there really two stronger teams than this in the league?

Fantastic atmosphere.

Bloody hell 30 more minutes!!

I think we've been quite lucky here. Obvious corner to Blues not given, go up the other end and Tammy looks to have fooled the ref somewhat for a pen. He also did his best to miss the thing.

Naturally this game isn't on national radio anyhwere. So frustrating. Can't wait to be back in the prem.

Having just read an article on Henry's brief reign so far at Monaco, I'm so very pleased to think we perhaps finally have owners post-Ellis astute enough to see substance over hype and reward someone who had worked themselves into a position of strength. There's a kind of parallel too with the owners ditching the previous ideas of dumb recommendations or current football media darlings. For me, a managerial appointment hasn't felt so right as this since Lambert, who came here with more swagger and a far stronger CV before being de-motivated into the husk of a manager he currently is. In the appointment of Dean Smith, I can't help but feel that lessons have finally been learned. I've still got the childish thrill of actually looking forward to the season unfold.