conorm

That is the only possible mitigation - that the shootout booking somehow exists in isolation

Emi was definitely booked in the first leg. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68783693

I know right? It felt to me like every single player had been booked (at least once) by the end of that game!

Exactly. In the same way that McGinn, Diaby, Dougie, Tielemans, and Cash would have been suspended for the semi had they been booked - as they were carrying two bookings into the game. It just happens that Emi got his second and third bookings in the same game!!

What a great watch that is. Lee Hendrie is all of us in that moment.

Dang. Then it's true - No Emi for the first leg.

It is true, unfortunately. At least until they appeal the stupid shootout booking.

#yerba

How about this beauty from 1992 - purchased in the Villa store ahead of the 3-1 win over Man City (my first trip to Villa Park).

The use of 'was found' is what seems to imply it was lifted from Shutterstock for use in our crest. It may be careless or something more, but I do think it reads that way. 'has been found' would have been more helpful, suggesting it has since been found on Shutterstock, after the fact.

Best I've ever seen us play. A real deal performance.

Off topic but who is it takes hold of the first pass and turns in midfield? Is it KEA? Really runs the first half of that move. Surprising to see Delph so far forward in the move but looking on it again, he makes a run about 7 passes too early and decides to stay forward. Interestingly, shows how it might be if we had a support striker alongside Benteke. Been mentioned a bit lately here that Benteke has been playing quite deep - watch when KEA receives the first pass and turns, see Weimann and Gabby sprint forward while Benteke comes short.

Thank god - thought it was just me. At one point his missus, aka Daft Bird (on back of shirt) gave him a bear hug and bit his ear for about 10 seconds. Proper love/hate those two. Had a great view of Westwood's goal. Very clever thinking but, in fairness, keeper's position was poor. Guy next to me even said it just before Westwood struck. Same view for Wycombe's first and I honestly don't think there was much Guzan could have done about it. Very low key performance all-round. I thought Bacuna looked solid and Luna comfortable. Shame not to see Helenius, Okore or Tonev. Not sure what Lambert will have taken from the game - like he says, though, it's pretty much about fitness at the moment.

Thanks both. I'm on Oyster prepay so will just get the return from Marylebone (ahem), making my own way from Epsom via Waterloo. Will be dizzy and in need of a drink when I get there. Might head for the marquee at the ground - unless there are other suggestions?

Excuse my temporary dyslexia! Mary le bone, it is. I'm more worried about booking onto a specific train but think that only applies if reserving a seat, which I don't plan on doing. Cheers

According to the Twitter account for Villa match day policing (@WMPVillaFC) all pubs are away friendly and Wycombe are putting on a marquee outside the ground selling alcohol for away fans. FWIW I had the opportunity to meet the Wycombe chairman a few weeks ago - top bloke who was delighted that PL was returning - they're planning on it being an "appreciation" game of sorts for him. Anyway to get back to topic my brother is coming on the train and I'll be meeting him at Wycombe station so will probably tag onto other fans off the train Cheers for the tip. Following @WMPVillaFC myself now. Marquee sounds like a good enough bet. Might see you there!

It will be tight getting back in 30 minutes, Adams Park is a good three miles from High Wycombe station and as said earlier because the ground is at a dead end at the top of a long street which also happens to be an industrial estate then it can be a pain in the arse trying to get out in a vehicle. Taxis might be reluctant to come to the stadium because turning around at the top is tricky when it is busy, so you might be best served by walking down to the roundabout at the bottom of the street and trying to get a taxi from there. I don't think you have any chance of making it back to the station if you walk or get the bus. As for the train trip? Like I said, I work for the company who run trains between Birmingham and High Wycombe. There will be an inspector on the train, often they aren't booked to get onto the train until Banbury but there will be one. If you are on the "wrong" train then you can hope the inspector will use their discretion and let you off, especially if you explain you bought the ticket in good faith thinking you would be back for the 17:30 (might be worth telling them you missed the 17:30 by a few seconds!) but it really is up to them. There are some people who will let you off, there are some who wont. Probably worth mentioning that a lot of the inspectors on Chiltern are bluenoses though. The_Rev, do you have any insight into travel to/from London (Marleybone)? I had thought I'd just get a return which could be used at any time that day. Do Chiltern require you to purchase onto a specific train?

Cheers Rev. Do you know if it is away fan friendly, or does it even matter? Anyone interested in meeting up in The Bootlegger (or elsewhere in Wycombe) beforehand? I'm heading up on my own - would be good to meet some friendly, if not familiar, faces.

Yeh, I'll jump on the bus I reckon. Do you know what pubs are good for away fans?

Thanks to Electric Avenue, I have snagged a ticket to the Wycombe game. What are people's plans for travel, arrival, drinks and afterwards? I'm coming from London (well, Epsom) by train so would be keen to either meet up for a drink near Marleybone and make our way out or just meet near the ground. Not been to Adams Park before so don't know the lay of the land. Looks like a 13:55 bus from High Wycombe station. Assume away fans will gather around the station somewhere or at the ground itself?

I'd love to buy the adult ticket from you but not the child one. How does that sound?

Anyone able to do me a favour for this one? Don't have a booking history (well, it's just been YEARS since I booked so can't dig out a reference) so would need to purchase through someone who does. Would, obviously, be happy to transfer money in advance... Cheers Conor

Erm... what about honouring the rest of the 4 year contract he and his agent were more than happy to sign less than 12 months ago? Im fairly certain he owes us enough to shut his mouth, do his job and play football whilst wearing our shirt and crest until the date on a certain piece of paper that resembles an employment contract that has the scribble that roughly looks like his name on it expires... It should be down to another club to make a bid that we are willing to except or for us to say he is welcome to leave before he is allowed to make any choices regarding his future... He should have no rights but to kick a ball and do as he is told.... He is paid FAAAAR too much as it is... Until he decides to retire, his rights as a human being should also be forfeit... After all, he could have joined the military, earned a shite side less and been shot at for a living... You take the rough with the smooth! Seen a lot of this talk about him "being an employee" who should play out the four years of his contract. Does anyone really want him to run down his contract and walk away for nothing? Does anyone even believe that that is remotely desirable? You are essentially writing incoming transfer fees out of your model with this approach. Clearly, contracts protect a player's resale value and are almost never designed to be played out. Admittedly, one year is a bit cheeky but there is no way the AVFC business model includes players playing out their contracts.

Great post. I'd agree 100% but think the last paragraph needs emphasising. I think there is a misconception that people here are happy to buy cheap and sell on at a profit ad infinitum - the "1 step forward, 2 steps back" viewpoint. The key step is reinvesting to make slight overall improvements so that we gradually improve our standing, to the point where we become a more and more attractive proposition for quality players in our own right. I liken it, crudely, to getting on the property ladder and gradually acruing capital which allows you to make steps up to bigger and better homes. It doesn't happen overnight - but it is a pretty standard way of getting where you want to go.

Thought we'd get one more season but not shocked by this news. The club's stance is a good one and, as many have said, we are in a pretty strong position. Great reaction here on VT - people really seem to have bought into the model and this situation shows exactly how it should work. It's difficult to see our best players go but we can definitely look to make gradual progress by investing the proceeds of any sale into several prospects covering several positions (energetic AM pls). As for Benteke's next club, ideally he'd go abroad but I guess that seems unlikely. Arsenal and Chelsea would be preferable - he goes to Spurs and they are almost complete, especially with AVB at the helm. Scary how we were challenging them just a few seasons ago. Let's hope a few are in for him so we can get this price up. Finally, if there was any doubt over it, Benteke has to go down as the league's signing of the season now; relatively low fee, low wages, saved us from relegation and tripled/quadrupled in value. That is textbook for a club like us and is a massive endorsement of Lambert's approach.