jackbauer24

If you're Sherwood you say "clean slate, if you want to play in the final then you need to earn it over the remaining matches" - anyone not playing to their full potential is told there place isn't safe - from Vlaar to Benteke. (Even if he's bluffing!)

I don't think is a hard decision at all. On current form Westwood is light years ahead of Sanchez. Whether there is potential for Sanchez to take that position is a different question but Westwood didn't put a foot wrong recently and rarely does. He's a 7/8 of ten pretty much every game. Sanchez is 10 out of ten one game then 2,3 and 1 the next! I think Westwood is very under-rated on here and he didn't look out of place alongside Delph or Cleverley yesterday - the weakest midfielder we had was N'Zogbia. If it'd have been Westwood that had failed to clear for their opener (instead of Delph) he would have been slaughtered, yet I can't remember a single thing he did wrong yesterday and in many matches. He plays 100%, keeps things tidy and is calm. He might not be the most attacking midfielder we've got but if we put on 11 forward minded players we'll just end up getting relegated having scored the most goals ever!

I'm afraid to say zilch unless you know someone who can't go, can get in with a corporate group or if you're loaded and can buy one from 'select sources'... I'd be prepared to sell mine... A 10% deposit on a new house MIGHT persuade me!

Very interesting site, but having looked at it closely it'd actually work out more than the plane so, unless you're really enjoying the views or can break up your journey, it's just not worth it. Ah well, always look for something new!

I'd posted this in the 'YouTube hilarity' thread but was advised to put it elsewhere - so if this is the wrong place please move it. I made this video by re-editing the 140th Celebrations video with David Bradley. It was a little too sombre for me, so I cut David, remixed video, added more and shoved on a song that just seemed so fitting for Villa! Tried tying the video to the lyrics as much as possible too. I made it about a month back but just got round to uploading it. I have rarely edited videos before but this was just crying out to be made! Fight Like Lions! We're Aston Villa, and we'll go down in history... Not looking for praise, just think it pumps Villa fans up ready for Sunday.

I hope I'm doing this right.... I made this video, might put it in the Villa section if that'd be better place? Basically a pumped up remix of the 140th video we did with David Bradley seeming a little sombre and though it needed a kick. I don't edit videos at all and it was only because I heard a song that sounded so suitable for Villa (especially when we were in trouble) that I just felt I had to make it!

This may not be an educated response but I noticed Tunisia was incredibly cheap, too cheap almost... I think it's a bit volatile there at the moment but how far that spreads and whether it impacts on tourist areas I'm not sure. However it's obviously reduced travel, the museum incident in Tunis won't have helped but it might be perfectly fine. I'd have gone, other half wouldn't as she said any above average risk is too much for a holiday.

Cheers for that - was more 'thinking aloud' than actual planning. Thinking now of one way flight to Budapest, week there, some form of transport to Split in Croatia, week there, then fly homeway. But it's all just thought at moment. Might be worth a separate thread but anyone tried Airbnb type services? Seems pretty cheap for Split. Don't need anything for Budapest as I'd be camping (Sziget Festival).

Has anyone travelled extensively abroad using trains? I'm thinking of heading to Budapest in late August and am trying to decide whether to take the plane or try something new and go by train. I'm not going to drive it as I've done that before! I know it'd take about a day on the train but no idea as to how much it costs (way more or less than plane?) is it too much hassle and has anyone ever used a sleeper train? Plane costs circa £180pp return. Train Route is; Lon St Pan - Paris (Eurostar) 3hrs (+1.30hr for connection) Paris - Zurich (TVG) 4hrs (+1.15hr for connection) Zurich to Budapest (Sleeper) 12hrs Budget is a major consideration due to change of personal circumstances but I quite like the idea of a different way of travelling. Any thoughts?

Reading a follow up article on BBC, it seems as though the whole argument is flawed; as the stand was up for demolition it was no longer insured.

I thought this too BUT I strongly suspect those that got online tickets got way less choice regarding seats than people who phoned up and spoke to a person. I got my tickets online and had choice of about three high tiered blocks. No ideas of row etc. For the record I was quite early in the queue (ST with 2 FA Cup) but was quite disappointed with the options/ information. I was on at 9am on my first day of sale so wasn't exactly hanging about either. Should we get to the final, I'd definitely phone up next time.

Whilst my opinion on Cleverley has softened to the point where if he stays I'd be quite content, I still don't think he's done enough to make us bend over backwards to keep him. If financial constraints remain in place then the difference in quality between Cleverley and Westwood is not enough for the difference in cost. Personally speaking, I think Westwood is more than capable of matching Cleverley. Despite nearly the same number of appearances (TC 26 & AW 22) the stats seem to suggest Westwood is out performing Cleverly, admittedly it's not been a great season though. Westwood has an assist, Cleverley doesn't despite being fit during out upturn in form. Cleverley has picked up 6 yellows to Westwood's 2. Westwood intercepts, clears and blocks more than Cleverly which perhaps only indicates a more defensive position despite having provided an assist. Westwood has made more key passes and is dispossessed less than Cleverley. I'm sure there are plenty of stats the other way round but I don't think enough to warrant Cleverley being chased and huge chunks of any budget being used on him. At his best, he's marginally better than Westwood but largely no different and often worse.

Does anyone else just get the sense that politicians chose the colour of their tie by the likliehood it'll give them power?! I don't believe many of them really feel passionately about most of the issues facing Britain/ the public and will simply flow the way of least resistance to maintaining their grip on power. Lib Dems killed any political will/hope in this country. Once a party that could provide 'change' and were different to the others quickly sold their soul to grab a morsel of power. It just highlighted they're all the same really; rich, well-educated, white, middle-aged males who just care about title. Few have cares more than whether they'll stay in power. How can anyone really inspire the masses to care about a general election when all it really is seat swapping exercise for like for like personalities than value self promotion over making a difference? If the public unanimously said they'd only vote for Raving Mad party, they'd all scramble for their novelty ties just to stay in power. Lib Dems not only abandon free education policy but raise cost to get power. Tory MPs become UKIP as their bandwagon roles on. UKIP members become Tory so they have more chance of votes. The party system doesn't work. I'm not sure what the alternative is but this system is now broken. Maybe all MPs should be independent, they have all year to discuss, research, decide issues that are relevant to their constituents without being told what to do by a party. They abstain from votes that they don't have opinions on. In the modern age almost all issues could be decided by anonymous, referendum type entries on computers. Very few people will agree with every policy with just one party; how do you vote if you're for one thing but against the other a party suggests? I'm rambling. Suffice to say I wont be voting. I see no point, little changes other than the colour of the tie.

That's what I've booked too - cheap, direct, easy. All that's needed. Gets there in plenty of time to soak up atmosphere, no messing with the tube, straight back after match. Would have preferred Official Travel but that's £10 more per person which seems ridiculous since Villa should be arranging a mass discount for all the coaches they are supposed to be putting on. I can't see how National Express can put a special coach from Digbeth to Wembley for 33% less but there you go!

I still fear we are over hyping him. He's played a handful of games, has had some tidy movement, had limited impact in a few games, one assist (?) and one sending off. Ultimately his end product is severely lacking at the moment, his greatest contribution normally comes from winning free kicks. Don't get me wrong, he's got bags of potential but I don't think he should be starting still. I think N'Zogbia (recently) and Gil (on the few games he's played) offer more from kick off. Grealish should still be an impact sub, using his trickery against tired legs. He might be ready for starts next season but needs a little more strength and think we need more experience in that position until we are mathematically safe.

What really irritates me about Sanchez is he makes the SAME mistakes every week. He is constantly trying to let the ball roll across him but will get tackled easily, he has very little strength and fails to hold up the ball nine times out of ten. He doesn't approach the ball and waits for it to come to him and you don't have that luxury in the middle of the park. So whilst he blocks some balls well, he has no ability to hold the ball up, pass to other players or read the play. He always looks like he might get sent off with his delayed reading of the game. It feels like every goal we concede comes from Sanchez hesitation! But I'm not writing him off, for a time he looked like he'd got up to speed but it hasn't been maintained. He's our weakest midfielder and needs to start next season a lot better than this if he is not to be replaced.

MASSIVE. I don't even care who played well or badly. I just care about the three points that should go a long way to keeping us up. On saying that, missing Sanchez for a bit isn't exactly a bad thing either!

Half Time ratings: Guzan - 7 - Solid, one good save, some poor distribution Vlaar - 7 - Solid Bacuna - 7 - leaving a lot of space in defence but a threat going forward Clark - 5- Unfortunate injury (or conspiracy theory, saving himself from card?!) Baker - 6 - bit behind play but done ok Richardson - 4 - much better than Tuesday but still awful, been caught out a lot and easily beaten Delph - 5 - not got much of a hold on the game, few key passes and struggling to go past players Sanchez - 4 - Haven't seen him do anything other than be turned by players and tackle very late! Cleverley - 7 - Holding midfield together Grealish - 6 - some good play but very little impact on game Gabby - 7 - Very unlucky not to score but limited impact otherwise Benteke - 7 - been winning every header but being caught when on the ball frequently. Great goal though. We won't keep a clean sheet so we need more goals.

Richardson<ANYONE Vlaar<Okore And where is Gil still?! Exactly same team and subs as Tuesday I believe. That struggled to DRAW with QPR. At home. Stupidity...

Really not good enough. If we hope to survive in the Premier League, then we need three points against the likes of QPR at home. We're in big trouble. Very odd selection tonight too. I know we're ravaged with injury but why Richardson gets in ahead of ANYONE is beyond me. I'd rather play Given in that position than him! Why Okore was dropped I'm not sure either, Vlaar was hardly holding defence together. Grealish starting when Sherwood says we are too lightweight seems odd too. Sanchez is far too slow and gets caught on the ball constantly but I know our injuries might force his selection. Guzan - didn't distribute quickly or well enough. Bad communication early on too. Solid otherwise - 6 Vlaar - solid, but should win more headers and not as strong as he can be - 6 Clark - won every header going, not great when being taken on though - 7 Bacuna - good going forward, lazy getting back. Always a gamble what you'll get from him - 6 Richardson - I see no reason for him...existing. If I give him 1 it's being nice. Sanchez - slow, not committed to winning a ball and lazy, scuffed passes. Not good - 4 Delph - the only midfielder who pushes us forward, tackles hard, passes well and moves forward - 8 Cleverley - surprisingly relieved he was back! Swept up well, but still passes poorly - 7 Grealish - clever feet, little end product but potential. Not sure starting was great idea though - 6 Agbonlahor - held up play well, good vision but little impact on goal - 7 Benteke - winning headers, getting involved. That's all we ask! Three well taken goals - 10 Sherwood - really odd first XI, Richardson should have been hauled off at half time at latest and didn't respond to QPRs change of formation that meant our midfield disappeared for half an hour - 6. We're in big trouble.

Prices 'frozen' for next season; http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~4621276,00.html? Although fairly sure you got 5% Villa Cash automatically last year and 10% if you paid in full before x date, whereas this year it's gone for all but people who pay in full and that's reduced to 5% So actually a 5% increase which is cleverly hidden in marketing. Won't stop me buying a new one though, I just can't walk away! Edit; just read more, actually payment plan buyers will get 3% Villa Cash instead of 5% (2% rise in amount you pay) and in full buyers will get 5% VC instead of 10% as stated above.

I was looking to read fans views on this surprising story but couldn't find Bent thread... Why so premature to put him in former players group? He's still a Villa player, or are Tonev, Bennett, Luna, Gardner and all the other players on loan in the 'other football' forum too? Odd.

I speak from my own point of view, but I too could be considered as suffering from severe depression on multiple occasions. I have seen doctors and taken medication. However, not once have I ever thought of killing other people - even if I've been less than concerned for my own life at points. People need to be very careful pigeon holeing mental health issues and restricting what they can and can't do based on a label. Clearly this man should not have been able to fly, screening should be in place to ensure (as best as is possible) that such circumstances can not happen again. But take away a whole host of job opportunities just because one man clearly had multiple mental health issues will result in thousands of people being at more risk from themselves as another shred of light is taken away. I think the issue with this event should be about safeguarding opportunities that place anyone in a position to do this much damage to families. It should not be about adding a stigma or risk to anyone with mental health problems - most people will suffer from them at some point in their life, whether they live with it daily or experience it after horrible periods in their life.

I'm genuinely not trying to take the mick or slate what is probably very advanced maths; but all these updates just seem to mirror our league position whenever it's refreshed. What am I missing?

We are where we are for a reason. People assume we were just going to go on a run but I had my doubts. Worryingly we could struggle to pick up many points for a few games now. NZogbia and Bacuna are prime examples. They've been highlighted as reinvigorated players but I never saw that - I just see very good players 4 times out of every ten matches. They aren't consistent enough and having both increases the chance of them both going AWOL in the same match like yesterday. Benteke looked lazy then got injured. Cleverley should have been replaced by Westwood as Sanchez is really appalling. Sinclair was incredibly selfish as he wanted to impress former employers and Gabby had a quiet game too. Bad day at the office all round. Main problem is we haven't got many days at the office left and people's complacency we're going to be fine worries me. We're three points clear. Three. It's nothing, I'd be worried if we had all rubbish teams left to play whilst our rivals played Champions League teams - these kinds of margins are too small to be so relaxed about it. We're in big trouble and we could be even worse by end April.