Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Dave on April 24, 2013, 08:10:16 AM
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29th April 2013, Villa Park.
1-1
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Villa to win 2-1 and me to age a few years in the process.
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Villa 2-0 . However I always worry about former players coming back to their previous club. Carlos will probably score from a corner....in his own net!!!
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I'm not sure its just the hope that kills you. I think its also waiting, Its like a death march
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The bookies have it down to us or Wigan, can't believe the odds they are offering on Sunderland. Team selection is crucial for this game, pretty football will come second to the team willing put their bodies on the line and close down the opposition for ninety minutes, lose this and i believe we will go down win it and we will get out of this mess, Lamberts waterloo.
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Have to win this game, we just have to.
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Villa 3 Sunderland 0
All goals scored in first 25 minutes, all should have been given offside. Gary Neville describes it as "a touch unfortunate for Sunderland".
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I have a feeling we will keep a clean sheet in this one.....but unfortunately, so will the Mackensm 0-0
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Given what's at stake, and Sunderland's resurgence, this will be the toughest game we've had in a long time. Given our defensive generosity and lack of mental strength, I fear the pressure at home will get to us. Sunderland might be happy with a draw, and I think we'll struggle to get anything better than that. A defeat would be a disaster, but I think it'll end up 1-1.
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We beat them, they're right back in it. Lose and the Norwich game doesn't really matter - if Wigan pick up a win, goal difference will put us in touching reach. I've gone for a win nonetheless. 2-1 we won't keep a clean sheet.
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4 -0 win.
All our frustrations will come out and we will play with freedom and fluidity.
And...its about time we fucking battered someone
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Must not lose...probably be a draw given Sunderlands revival under Di Crazio.
Saturday is going to be a very interesting afternoon of fixtures, one of QPR and Reading may be relegated on Sunday, and we'll know whether or nor a draw will be a good enough result for us before we kick off on Monday.
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Villa win. Beaten Di canio already this season and we will do it again on Monday. Similar pressure to the Reading and QPR games, and with the crowd behind the team we will come through it.
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1-1 draw for me, to be followed by victory at Norwich 4 points from 6 will put the pressure on wigan.
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1-1 draw for me, to be followed by victory at Norwich 4 points from 6 will put the pressure on wigan.
I genuinely think we have to win both of those games.
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Just really hoping that we can put a solid 90 minute performance together at home.......I think we are better away at the moment and I'm more confident about beating Norwich.
Sunderland's bubble hopefully is due to burst, Paulo di Canio will have a training ground melt down and get in to a fight with Carlos and the black cats will slip away to championship mediocrity
oh....and the waiting till Monday is just a killer
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With the exception of Fulham, where we deserved to win anyway, we've been pretty good of late at winning the games we need to/should be winning (QPR, Reading, Stoke, West Ham) and I'd put Sunderland in that category. If Spurs beat Wigan, which you'd expect, then a draw isn't the end of the world, but I think if we play well we'll win.
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Di Canio has taken Sunderland into the last 2 games from a position of zero expectation, where any result would have appeased the fans. They over achieved in both games, playing 2 tired teams who couldn't get themselves up for playing Sunderland.
This will be a different ball game for Di Canio, people will be expecting the good run to continue and it won't. They aren't down at this end of the table for nothing. I just hope that a combination of Di Canio's "magic" wearing off and Lambert being more sure of where the squad is at, will mean we get the win.
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We win. We wonder what all the worry was about. I hope!
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We will crush the slimy fascist and his team of unspectacular journeymen.
Lambert will run onto the centre circle at full time, point to the villa fans in all four stands and then point to the skies, then point at the Sunderland fans and do a wanker sign, followed by a camp Hitler salute and pushing out of lower lip with tongue at Di Klanio.
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Us 2 them 1
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Absolutely must win this game and I think we will. 2-0 up with 10 minutes to go, then Sessegnon continues his new manager form to get one back for them, we hang on nervously for all 3 points. Hopefully a good crowd in spite of being moved from Saturday - ST holders can 'bring a buddy' anywhere in the ground for a fiver - great deal for me as my eldest son is coming home for this one.
btw - what's the situation with yellow cards and suspensions now? Card happy Mike Dean is the ref so we're bound to pick up a few
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It's time to go into true battle mode. 2-1 Weimann-Baker ....
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0-2
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Must win!!! Going for a nervous 2-1
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I believe if we win this, we stay up. Simple as that. We'd be left with 3 points to get from 3 games. I'd fancy us to do that. I do think we'll beat Norwich. We're marginally better away from home and they're not brilliant at the moment.
I'm just gonna hope that Sunderland fall back down to Earth again now. I'd expect Di Canio to be a manager of a wildly inconsistent side at this level. I might be wrong, but I think there'll be a club that wins two, then loses two. That said, that would mean mid-table next season for them and they'd take that.
Just as easily though he could lose a grip on things and it all fall apart.
2-1 Villa. Squeeky bum match. Tekkers and Gabby.
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2-1 Villa. I wish I wasn't going, I'm dreading it and will agonise for the full 90 but duty calls. Come on lads, it's a must, must win.
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It's going to be the football equivalent of that scene in 'The Deer Hunter' where Robert de Niro pretends he wants to play Russian Roulette, but instead shoots everyone in the room.
Di Canio to end the evening with a neat hole in his forehead and a surprised look on his face.
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3-1 Villa win.
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1-1. I normally go for us to lose as I am a pessimistic Brummie, however in this case, teams at the bottom very rarely win 3 in a row, well we don't.
Therefore I will go for an optimistic draw, together with my hidden sincere hopes for a Villa win.
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2-1.
0-1 down before HT to a Bennett og, then Weimann to make it 1-1 straight after the break and Benteke to wrap it up midway through the second half.
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Draw I reckon followed by a win at Narwich.
We need Spuds, Albion, Swans and Arse to beat Wigan. then we'll be safe
:D
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I wonder what the attendance will be?
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Yeah I'll go for a win too. 2-0. Think Benteke will score again after his two game drought. In fact, got the feeling he will bag both. If not, Gabby with the other. Think we will get an early goal too. I hope we stick with 4-3-3 as we look most balanced in that formation. My team would be: Guzan/Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Baker/ Westwood, Delph, KEA/Gabby, Benteke, Weimann
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I wonder what the attendance will be?
Will probably be affected due to it being on Monday. If we can get at least 36-37k then that'll have to do.
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I think we'll tear into this lot from the start and win 3-1.
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This is the first match this season I've viewed as 'must-win'. I suppose technically its not points-wise, but if we win, I think we'll survive, if we lose or draw it could be curtains unfortunately.
I think it will be an absolute battle, but we'll win.
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2-0 Villa - Benteke & Gabby
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The bookies have it down to us or Wigan, can't believe the odds they are offering on Sunderland. Team selection is crucial for this game, pretty football will come second to the team willing put their bodies on the line and close down the opposition for ninety minutes, lose this and i believe we will go down win it and we will get out of this mess, Lamberts waterloo.
The bookies have Wigan as slight odds on to go down and us slight odds against. Sunderland, Stoke, Norwich and Newcastle are all 100/1. That shook me up a bit when I saw the odds yesterday but I look forward to them being very different in a weeks time. I think that if we beat Sunderland and Norwich we will be safe without needing anything from the Wigan game by the time it comes around.
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The bookies have it down to us or Wigan, can't believe the odds they are offering on Sunderland. Team selection is crucial for this game, pretty football will come second to the team willing put their bodies on the line and close down the opposition for ninety minutes, lose this and i believe we will go down win it and we will get out of this mess, Lamberts waterloo.
The bookies have Wigan as slight odds on to go down and us slight odds against. Sunderland, Stoke, Norwich and Newcastle are all 100/1. That shook me up a bit when I saw the odds yesterday but I look forward to them being very different in a weeks time. I think that if we beat Sunderland and Norwich we will be safe without needing anything from the Wigan game by the time it comes around.
Don't the bookies just make the teams who are in the relegation zone at any given time the favourites to go down?
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The bookies have it down to us or Wigan, can't believe the odds they are offering on Sunderland. Team selection is crucial for this game, pretty football will come second to the team willing put their bodies on the line and close down the opposition for ninety minutes, lose this and i believe we will go down win it and we will get out of this mess, Lamberts waterloo.
The bookies have Wigan as slight odds on to go down and us slight odds against. Sunderland, Stoke, Norwich and Newcastle are all 100/1. That shook me up a bit when I saw the odds yesterday but I look forward to them being very different in a weeks time. I think that if we beat Sunderland and Norwich we will be safe without needing anything from the Wigan game by the time it comes around.
Don't the bookies just make the teams who are in the relegation zone at any given time the favourites to go down?
No, the prices are shaped by the amount of money on the outcomes.
So, if Reading spend three months in the drop zone, over that time, lots of people will be betting money on them to go down. As this happens, the risk management software used by the bookies will reduce the prices offered automatically to limit their exposure should Reading actually go down.
I am sure some bookmakers will still operate in the traditional way, ie a room full of blokes who don't shower enough and only ever think about sport, adjusting and fine tuning odds, but these are a dying breed nowadays. These days, it is pretty much all done by software rather than by human intervention.
There's a common misconception that the bookies are tweaking prices to reflect what they think will happen, ie they've got particularly large football brains and pay close attention to what is going on from week to week, but that's really not the case.
With the range of markets you can bet on these days, ie next manager to leave, player's club next season, name of new manager etc etc, there's really far too much going on from day to day for there to be any real human input at the bookie's.
Some of those markets only take relatively piddling amounts of money, anyway, so it really only takes a pretty small bet by someone to cause the odds to fluctuate wildly.
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The more I think about this game the more I think that Agbonlahor will be our key player. If he is on his game we have a chance. If not we will have to hope that Weimann hits his again. Benteke needs to up his work rate now that he is known as a big threat to opposition defences.
If we lose or even draw it will be a very black night indeed!
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A 1-1 draw for me Benteke scoring for us.
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Its the closest we've come to an absolute-stone-cold-must-win-last-chance relegation six pointer so far. A draw wouldnt be the worst result if Wigan lose, but time, games and points are running out fast.
That said, I reckon 2-2, with our nerves to be shredded for another week.
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3-2 to the Villa. Benteke, Agbonlahor and Bent in injury time (late substitute) for us, and two OGs.
If we win this one we will stay up, and we have been winning the games against fellow strugglers lately.
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The bookies have it down to us or Wigan, can't believe the odds they are offering on Sunderland. Team selection is crucial for this game, pretty football will come second to the team willing put their bodies on the line and close down the opposition for ninety minutes, lose this and i believe we will go down win it and we will get out of this mess, Lamberts waterloo.
The bookies have Wigan as slight odds on to go down and us slight odds against. Sunderland, Stoke, Norwich and Newcastle are all 100/1. That shook me up a bit when I saw the odds yesterday but I look forward to them being very different in a weeks time. I think that if we beat Sunderland and Norwich we will be safe without needing anything from the Wigan game by the time it comes around.
Where did you see those odds? I've just looked on oddschecker and the prices available on Sunderland, Stoke, Norwich and Newcastle being relegated vary between 16/1 and 28/1.
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Oddschecker yesterday. I couldn't believe it when I saw it. I would imagine it was so generous that enough people have bunged a few quid on to bring the odds down. I was tempted myself but firstly I didn't want to jinx us and secondly and more practically I agreed with the odds that Wigan would drop.
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Desperate for the three points but I think it will be a draw. 1-1
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A nervous, increasingly desperate young Villa side vs. A confident Sunderland side on a good run.
0-2 and more anguish I'm afraid.
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1-1 draw for me, to be followed by victory at Norwich 4 points from 6 will put the pressure on wigan.
This for me too. If Wigan lose to spurs a draw isn't an awful result - 4 points clear.
We've only won three league games by more than one goal and two of those required a last minute breakaway goal. So I think 3-0 is pretty unlikely.
I think we may have to come from behind to draw
Back to 433, with kea or Sylla in for nzogbia. But I think the latter may have a key role to play in the last 30 mins again
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A nervous, increasingly desperate young Villa side vs. A confident Sunderland side on a good run.
0-2 and more anguish I'm afraid.
The young Villa team won't be nervous because the Villa support will be creating a partizan, totally behind the lads, wall of noise.
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A nervous, increasingly desperate young Villa side vs. A confident Sunderland side on a good run.
0-2 and more anguish I'm afraid.
The young Villa team won't be nervous because the Villa support will be creating a partizan, totally behind the lads, wall of noise.
Just like against bradford ;)
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Hopefully yes, just like against Bradford. I would take a 2-1 win.
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Hopefully yes, just like against Bradford. I would take a 2-1 win.
Ditto.
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Less there because its a Monday night but QPR esque on atmosphere I reckon. Our fans will stand up and be counted for this one.
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Sometimes it is noisier with 35000 in than a full house. A capacity crowd usually attracts too many impatient moaners.
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Us: As Many as we want Them: fuck all.
Keep the faith!
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2-2. Sunderland can score goals now and hit us on the break. I'd have been very confident of winning this had MON still been in charge as they would've been the third relegated team.
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Us: As Many as we want Them: fuck all.
Keep the faith!
I can almost hear the results announcer on Sports Report on Saturday evening ..
East Fife four Forfar fuck all.
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We need to support like the Dortmund lot tonight!
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3-0 Villa.Honeymoon over for PDC
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This could be the moment we survive. Get down Villa park and scream and shout for our club. Give every one of our players an adrenelin rush they have never known before. Support our future if you love AVFC .........
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1- 1 draw for me
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4 -0 win.
All our frustrations will come out and we will play with freedom and fluidity.
And...its about time we fucking battered someone
This I like!
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This is the big one.
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Some people are drawing parallels to Bolton last season. I disagree. Last year the skies were dark grey with every chance getting darker and blacker. The football, the mood, the future. Everything was bleak. This game, while every bit as important, if not more so, still gives cause for tremendous optimism. There is a plan, there are good players and great player waiting to emerge in this squad. It's not all bad.
We will win and we will stay up.
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Sod it, why not believe for once?
Villa 3-0 in a footballing masterclass.
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there will be goals because they will score. but we will score more!
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Our home form is not the best and Sunderland will have gained a bit of confidence from their last two wins. I reckon this will end up a draw.
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If ever there was a time to conjure up a clean sheet it's this one.
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:) When you're smiling...when you're smiling, the holte end smiles with you...
:D :) :D ;D :) ;) :D ;D :D ;D ;) :) ;) ;D ;D ;) :) ;D :) :) ;D ;) ;D :) ;D ;) :) :D ;D ;) :) ;D
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Just meant to do one row- now it looks like one row and a bit and a rake of empty seats!!
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Draw.
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Some people are drawing parallels to Bolton last season. I disagree. Last year the skies were dark grey with every chance getting darker and blacker. The football, the mood, the future. Everything was bleak. This game, while every bit as important, if not more so, still gives cause for tremendous optimism. There is a plan, there are good players and great player waiting to emerge in this squad. It's not all bad.
We will win and we will stay up.
Agreed. There isn't the same sense of dread that there was last year. Last year we were watching villa be dragged back to the dark ages. This season has felt like the foundations of something special are being put in place.
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A Tekkers hattrick would be nice. He's due a goal after something of a goal drought given his form in 13.
Hopefully by Wigan he'll be netting his 20th league goal! ;)
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A Tekkers hattrick would be nice. He's due a goal after something of a goal drought given his form in 13.
Hopefully by Wigan he'll be netting his 20th league goal! ;)
What a wonderful thing that would be to achieve in his 1st season in England.
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At the very least he can get 2 more to beat JPA in 03-4 or 3 more to beat Yorkies best league hauls.
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They`ve definitely been given a lift by "The special-needs one", and we havn`t kept a clean sheet since just before the battle of Hastings, so we need to score a Minimum of 2, Going for a fraught 2-1 win, please God.
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Honestly I don't think anyone's put in a decent performance against Di Canio yet, and on our night we can take anyone apart. I think our attack will be too much for their defence.
3-1 Villa
Benteke, Weimann, Vlaar
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Paul Lambert says he's not one for playing the prediction game.
Fans will be spending the next few weeks forecasting the results of the various basement battles and working out how that leaves their team at the end of the season.
Lambert insists that's not something he buys into, instead concentrating on "taking care of his team's business" in the four-game run-in.
He said: "I don't do it personally.
"I have a different mentality from a lot of other people. It's probably because I played abroad and things like that.
"It's just something where you have to look after your own. You'll see results and how they go but if you don't take care of your own job? That's first and foremost. That's the priority.
"You have to concentrate on yourself. That's all you can do. That's important for myself - to keep focused on what we do.
"We can't influence what anyone else does. We can only influence our own game.
"If you do that, you see what happens. But you can't see about other results going your way without taking care of your own.
"What I would say is I think there will be swings, going one way and then the other way. There are a lot of permutations about what could happen."
Lambert also insists that playing on Monday instead of Saturday - when Southampton, Wigan, Stoke and Norwich compete - doesn't bother him.
He added: "It doesn't matter to be honest. You can only do what you can do. That's the way it is thrown up and you go with it.
"If you're mentally strong, you focus on what your job is. It doesn't matter then when you play."
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Honestly I don't think anyone's put in a decent performance against Di Canio yet, and on our night we can take anyone apart. I think our attack will be too much for their defence.
I didn't watch their game against the Barcodes but I did see a completely useless Everton side lose at the weekend. How Everton think they can qualify for Europe playing with no strikers, a half arsed Felliani in defensive midfield and a team that only turned up in the last few minutes is beyond me.
Sunderland worked hard, lots of hoofing up to the front, they love heading tennis, Johnson can once again beat a man but his final delivery is still shocking. Up front I was surprised they scored, they lack any real threat. They're not a bad side, certainly better than under the clueless MON but as long as we match them in effort, I don't think there's too much to worry about.
Di Canio will probably go for the point and hope for a bit of luck on the break. Their defence is nearly as bad as ours so I'd expect all our three strikers to have plenty of chances. As long as they improve their finishing which has been poor these last few games, I think we'll win comfortably. If they go for an open game, I think we'll score a shed load.
It all comes down to matching their effort, something Everton didn't even come close to.
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We need to win and I think we will!
I'm going for a real goalfest and Villa to come out on top 4-2 - Benteke, Agbonlahor, N'Zogbia and Weimann for us. Clark own goal and Cuellar for them
Bring on the Mackems!
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Aston Villa 2-1 Sunderland
Bennett, Benteke and Bennett (og)
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Had a bad feeling that we're gonna f**k-up all week so wasn't going to bother with a prediction. However this season i've been horrific at guessing our results so in the spirit of not jinxing a crucual game, 1-2 Sunderland.
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shitting bricks.
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No larsson free kicks . I hate that ba*****d and his free kicks
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I've gone for a win, the lord Mcgrath only knows if we'll ever keep a clean sheet again but this would be a good game to start! 3 beautiful tickets in my desk drawer and a ticking clock until Monday night. Hope the younger lads don't get a case of the jitters in this game, I think the atmosphere in Villa Park will be tense so an early goal would be amazing to settle the nerves. Let's remember, they are an awful awful team, just because they've built up a bit of a head of steam (and credit where it's due for doing so) doesn't make them any good. As many have already mentioned earlier, if we match them for effort we should be in with a very good chance of winning this game.
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3-1 to Villa. Benteke (2) and Gabby. Gardner will score for them.
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1-0 Villa :)
Cuellar own goal
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Lawrenson predicts a draw for Villa and a defeat for Wigan. At least we would be one point further ahead of Wigan, but that would all be slow torture.
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I prefer it when Lawro predicts us to lose
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We will crush the slimy fascist and his team of unspectacular journeymen.
Lambert will run onto the centre circle at full time, point to the villa fans in all four stands and then point to the skies, then point at the Sunderland fans and do a wanker sign, followed by a camp Hitler salute and pushing out of lower lip with tongue at Di Klanio.
I would absolutely love it if that happened.
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Every time I so much as think about this game, I get butterflies in my stomach, and the beginning of a sense of nausea washing over me.
Must win.
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Honestly I don't think anyone's put in a decent performance against Di Canio yet, and on our night we can take anyone apart. I think our attack will be too much for their defence.
I didn't watch their game against the Barcodes but I did see a completely useless Everton side lose at the weekend. How Everton think they can qualify for Europe playing with no strikers, a half arsed Felliani in defensive midfield and a team that only turned up in the last few minutes is beyond me.
Sunderland worked hard, lots of hoofing up to the front, they love heading tennis, Johnson can once again beat a man but his final delivery is still shocking. Up front I was surprised they scored, they lack any real threat. They're not a bad side, certainly better than under the clueless MON but as long as we match them in effort, I don't think there's too much to worry about.
Di Canio will probably go for the point and hope for a bit of luck on the break. Their defence is nearly as bad as ours so I'd expect all our three strikers to have plenty of chances. As long as they improve their finishing which has been poor these last few games, I think we'll win comfortably. If they go for an open game, I think we'll score a shed load.
It all comes down to matching their effort, something Everton didn't even come close to.
The old Roy Keane mantra (although like much of his "quotes" he probably robbed it from somewhere else) of matching them for effort and making our extra quality count rings true here. We absolutely need to match them physically though and stop them scoring first. If we score first, we could give them a bit of a hiding. They have some hideously average players in their team, as do we in fairness but their centre halves in particular are crying out to be taken to the cleaners if we can get behind them.
I watched the north east derby and the 3-0 scoreline really doesnt tell the story of the game. For one Newcastle had played midweek and were naturally a little flat to begin with. Sunderland took advantage of this and Segessenon cracked in a great goal. But from then on Newcastle took over, had a shocking offside decision against Cisse when they were in total control and looking like they would go on and win the game. Sunderland's other talented but hugely inconsistent attacking player Adam Johnson shot in the crucial second soon after against the run of play. Vaughan had another goal soon after but the game was done at that point anyway. Johnson and Sessegnon have ability but bit like Nzogbia are far too inconsistent to be playing at a better side than Sunderland. Di Canio has got them playing a bit better but the side has incredibly average players scattered through it.
Colback is a below average championship standard midfielder playing right back. Cuellar and O'Shea are done at this level but getting by with Sunderland defending so deep these days. Both are abysmal on the ball and hoof the ball back to the opposition routinely. Benteke has been muck the last couple of games but this is the kind of game he could finish one of those two careers at this level. Larsson is average personified in centre midfield providing decent set pieces and nothing else. McClean has regressed alarmingly this season while Graham has looked lost up there so far. What we need to guard against is Johnson and Sessegnon on the counter attack, Larsson's set pieces, Rose breaks forward pretty well at left back. NDiaye provides them with a decent physical presence in midfield. Graham caused us a lot of problems at Swansea earlier in the season and our centre halves arent up to much. We havent a midfielder that is comfortable in picking up someone like Sessegnon playing off a front man. Any winger worth their salt will fancy their chances against our full back duo, Lowton particularly. But on the evidence of the last 2 games, Sunderland dont hold onto the ball long enough to exploit our weaknesses, if we press 3 of their back four or their 2 centre midfielders we will get the ball back pretty quickly.
Both Weimann and Benteke seem to have gone off the boil. El Ahmadi probably did enough to earn a start last time out but isnt the kind of man marking midfielder needed really. Id go with Nzogbia and Gabby for the wide positions. Gabby up against Colback should be easy street for him. Bent for me deserves a start this time around but there isnt a chance of that happening. Really hope we are really positive in our play and push for the win. Expect both sides will settle for a draw though. 1-1 with a turgid second half.
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We're going to have to score at least two.
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Every time I so much as think about this game, I get butterflies in my stomach, and the beginning of a sense of nausea washing over me.
Must win.
Same here. I've said 'must win' before, but this really really is must win. We need to take the three points regardless of what Wigan do. If Wigan win then they'll be level with us with a game in hand, so we need to open that gap. If they fail to win it's an opportunity to put some breathing space between us and them.
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"Sunderland made the choice to bring in Paolo but I know how good a manager Martin is because I worked under him for five years."-PL
I'm hoping he'll be extra desperate to beat them because they sacked"the gaffer"
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Honestly I don't think anyone's put in a decent performance against Di Canio yet, and on our night we can take anyone apart. I think our attack will be too much for their defence.
I didn't watch their game against the Barcodes but I did see a completely useless Everton side lose at the weekend. How Everton think they can qualify for Europe playing with no strikers, a half arsed Felliani in defensive midfield and a team that only turned up in the last few minutes is beyond me.
Sunderland worked hard, lots of hoofing up to the front, they love heading tennis, Johnson can once again beat a man but his final delivery is still shocking. Up front I was surprised they scored, they lack any real threat. They're not a bad side, certainly better than under the clueless MON but as long as we match them in effort, I don't think there's too much to worry about.
Di Canio will probably go for the point and hope for a bit of luck on the break. Their defence is nearly as bad as ours so I'd expect all our three strikers to have plenty of chances. As long as they improve their finishing which has been poor these last few games, I think we'll win comfortably. If they go for an open game, I think we'll score a shed load.
It all comes down to matching their effort, something Everton didn't even come close to.
The old Roy Keane mantra (although like much of his "quotes" he probably robbed it from somewhere else) of matching them for effort and making our extra quality count rings true here. We absolutely need to match them physically though and stop them scoring first. If we score first, we could give them a bit of a hiding. They have some hideously average players in their team, as do we in fairness but their centre halves in particular are crying out to be taken to the cleaners if we can get behind them.
I watched the north east derby and the 3-0 scoreline really doesnt tell the story of the game. For one Newcastle had played midweek and were naturally a little flat to begin with. Sunderland took advantage of this and Segessenon cracked in a great goal. But from then on Newcastle took over, had a shocking offside decision against Cisse when they were in total control and looking like they would go on and win the game. Sunderland's other talented but hugely inconsistent attacking player Adam Johnson shot in the crucial second soon after against the run of play. Vaughan had another goal soon after but the game was done at that point anyway. Johnson and Sessegnon have ability but bit like Nzogbia are far too inconsistent to be playing at a better side than Sunderland. Di Canio has got them playing a bit better but the side has incredibly average players scattered through it.
Colback is a below average championship standard midfielder playing right back. Cuellar and O'Shea are done at this level but getting by with Sunderland defending so deep these days. Both are abysmal on the ball and hoof the ball back to the opposition routinely. Benteke has been muck the last couple of games but this is the kind of game he could finish one of those two careers at this level. Larsson is average personified in centre midfield providing decent set pieces and nothing else. McClean has regressed alarmingly this season while Graham has looked lost up there so far. What we need to guard against is Johnson and Sessegnon on the counter attack, Larsson's set pieces, Rose breaks forward pretty well at left back. NDiaye provides them with a decent physical presence in midfield. Graham caused us a lot of problems at Swansea earlier in the season and our centre halves arent up to much. We havent a midfielder that is comfortable in picking up someone like Sessegnon playing off a front man. Any winger worth their salt will fancy their chances against our full back duo, Lowton particularly. But on the evidence of the last 2 games, Sunderland dont hold onto the ball long enough to exploit our weaknesses, if we press 3 of their back four or their 2 centre midfielders we will get the ball back pretty quickly.
Both Weimann and Benteke seem to have gone off the boil. El Ahmadi probably did enough to earn a start last time out but isnt the kind of man marking midfielder needed really. Id go with Nzogbia and Gabby for the wide positions. Gabby up against Colback should be easy street for him. Bent for me deserves a start this time around but there isnt a chance of that happening. Really hope we are really positive in our play and push for the win. Expect both sides will settle for a draw though. 1-1 with a turgid second half.
Excellent post Brontebilly!.More or less sums up how I see it. Sessegnon is their most dangerous player. He has fast skills which are hard to deal with. I accept Lambert will not play Darren Bent as he thinks wingers went out with the Dodo. Which also means Jack Grealish (he of the Waddle skills) might have a little think about his future and move on in the next couple of years.
Carlos and O'Neill are not a top class pairing so its time for Benteke to return to his best form and tuck a couple away.
This waiting to Monday night is awful.
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Simon Mignolet texted a Belgian physio asking him if Benteke is fit to play on Monday. Picked up a minor injury of late apparently.
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Have we said it is a "must win" game?
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I am quite glad it is on Monday night. A Wigan defeat on Saturday would be a huge boost going into the game. If there were two teams I wouldn't want to play between now and the end of the season it would probably be Spurs and Arsenal.
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Villa 0 Sunderland 3
Sessignon 2, Gardner
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Feel sick just thinking about this weekend. We must win. No excuses.
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Villa 0 Sunderland 3
Sessignon 2, Gardner
Brimming with optimism then? ;)
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I am quite glad it is on Monday night. A Wigan defeat on Saturday would be a huge boost going into the game.
I don't think it's too much of an advantage that we're playing on Monday. We need to win the game regardless but i know what you're getting at.
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I hate these Monday night games cos here in Australia it's Tuesday morning. It feels like we've missed out on the weekend and it's a midweek game.
I'd love to see a banner with a picture of Alec Massie and the message AVFC - against fascism then, against fascism now.
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I am quite glad it is on Monday night. A Wigan defeat on Saturday would be a huge boost going into the game.
I don't think it's too much of an advantage that we're playing on Monday. We need to win the game regardless but i know what you're getting at.
A wigan win however would really see the pressure on us to get a result , can work in our favour or against us playing on Monday.
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Any ST holders taken advantage of the mates for a fiver?
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Villa 2-2 Sunderland
Weimann and Vlaar
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Any ST holders taken advantage of the mates for a fiver?
Yarp
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Any ST holders taken advantage of the mates for a fiver?
I've not, but then I have a spare anyway, cos my brother can't make it. So bringing the Emergency Football Mate. Utilized her availability at least six or seven times before; we've won all the home ones.
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Anyone got a view from their forums?
Its going to be tight but I simply expect us to score more than them. We have goals in us and create chances every game and if we score early for once the pressure will be off - until the usual desparate last 5-10 mins we always have to endure :o
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I used my mates ST reference. Ticket office said you could have 4 'buddies' per reference!!
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If sunderland have only taken the lower, will we be attempting to fill the upper?
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Anyone got a view from their forums?
The discourse and graphics on ReadyToGo make me queasy and uneasy.
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The Mackems have sold out and are confident of at least a draw apparently they are as tight as a drum at the back these days-The first thing Di Canio did was shore the back up nothing conceded draw your way to safety------Ring a bell time
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I reckon if Wigan beat Spurs and we lose against Sunderland we will be in the deepest shit
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Any ST holders taken advantage of the mates for a fiver?
I've not, but then I have a spare anyway, cos my brother can't make it. So bringing the Emergency Football Mate. Utilized her availability at least six or seven times before; we've won all the home ones.
Same here. My son can't make it, so my daughters coming with me. She's only been to 5 matches in the past, but is still to see us lose.
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@MatKendrick: The ref for Villa v Sunderland on Monday will not be Mike Dean after all. There has been a change - it will now be Lee Probert #avfc
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The Mackems have sold out and are confident of at least a draw apparently they are as tight as a drum at the back these days-The first thing Di Canio did was shore the back up nothing conceded draw your way to safety------Ring a bell time
Haven't they only taken the lower tier?
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2-1 Villa win.
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I think it will be a 1 v 1 draw, or we will nick a win.
I hope it's a better game than the dross served up by both teams at the SOL earlier in the season. One of the poorest games i've ever witnessed.
HA'WAY THE LADS! ;D
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I think it will be a 1 v 1 draw, or we will nick a win.
I hope it's a better game than the dross served up by both teams at the SOL earlier in the season. One of the poorest games i've ever witnessed.
HA'WAY THE LADS! ;D
You old rascal davey, a repeat of earlier in the season and a villa win will be fine- stuff the performance it's points that matter now ;)
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I think it will be a 1 v 1 draw, or we will nick a win.
I hope it's a better game than the dross served up by both teams at the SOL earlier in the season. One of the poorest games i've ever witnessed.
HA'WAY THE LADS! ;D
Are you worried about 'old boy syndrome' striking if Bent comes on as a sub Davey?
I've just realised 'old boy syndrome' sounds like a euphemism for having trouble with your plonker.
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I think it will be a 1 v 1 draw, or we will nick a win.
I hope it's a better game than the dross served up by both teams at the SOL earlier in the season. One of the poorest games i've ever witnessed.
HA'WAY THE LADS! ;D
Are you worried about 'old boy syndrome' striking if Bent comes on as a sub Davey?
I've just realised 'old boy syndrome' sounds like a euphemism for having trouble with your plonker.
It could work the other way around too as they've got about three ex-Villans!
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DiCanio at it again basically running us down. Teamtalk is not going to be difficult.
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Di Canio really is a narcissistic clown. I don't mind Sunderland at all, but this idiot makes me want them to go down even more than when they had O'Neill.
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I will hate losing to him way more than MON.
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DiCanio at it again basically running us down. Teamtalk is not going to be difficult.
Why, what's he said where at?
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Dross served up by both teams? Turn it in. You were lucky to get nil and we dominated for 80 minutes of the game.
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Any ST holders taken advantage of the mates for a fiver?
Is that the 6 pack?
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The Mackems have sold out and are confident of at least a draw apparently they are as tight as a drum at the back these days-The first thing Di Canio did was shore the back up nothing conceded draw your way to safety------Ring a bell time
They've played three: won two, lost one, drawn zero.
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Any ST holders taken advantage of the mates for a fiver?
Yup. My eldest son is coming home for this one so £5 was a nice bonus.
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I will hate losing to him way more than MON.
'would' ;)
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The Mackems have sold out and are confident of at least a draw apparently they are as tight as a drum at the back these days-The first thing Di Canio did was shore the back up nothing conceded draw your way to safety------Ring a bell time
They've played three: won two, lost one, drawn zero.
I was referring to the fact that the first thing he did was make sure his defence was up to standard and make it as difficult as possible for them to concede the wins have been built on this foundation their defeat at Chelsea was unlucky if you saw the goals and if we had done the same or even aspired to with the acquisition of a recognised accomplished defender from somewhere many must have been available across the globe we may just not be in the position we find ourselves in now
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A clean sheet is way, way overdue. We will definitely score. Let's rip 'em a new one.
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I think it will be a 1 v 1 draw, or we will nick a win.
I hope it's a better game than the dross served up by both teams at the SOL earlier in the season. One of the poorest games i've ever witnessed.
HA'WAY THE LADS! ;D
You old rascal davey, a repeat of earlier in the season and a villa win will be fine- stuff the performance it's points that matter now ;)
Aye Eastie, points make prizes marra, lol! The earlier game was a poor advert for footy though, real junior schoolyard stuff. It was awful to watch mate, awful. Early last week I got told i'd be alternating on to day shift for the coming week which meant i'd catch the game, but seeing the shift schedule i'm on nights again, ...... gutted!
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I think it will be a 1 v 1 draw, or we will nick a win.
I hope it's a better game than the dross served up by both teams at the SOL earlier in the season. One of the poorest games i've ever witnessed.
HA'WAY THE LADS! ;D
Are you worried about 'old boy syndrome' striking if Bent comes on as a sub Davey?
I've just realised 'old boy syndrome' sounds like a euphemism for having trouble with your plonker.
PMSL Damo, I hope OBS never strikes me! :D
Aye, i think Benty would be up for this game if he gets on, i don't think he'll need any motivation! Even if he plays though, i still fancy us strongly for at least a point.
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Dross served up by both teams? Turn it in. You were lucky to get nil and we dominated for 80 minutes of the game.
It was utter garbage as a spectacle, one of the poorest games i've ever witnessed.
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There is simply no way they will cope with Benteke.......2-0 Villa.
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I am preparing for it with a weekend in a log cabin in the Peak District!
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I thought we quite good at sunderland?
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I am preparing for it with a weekend in a log cabin in the Peak District!
I love the peak district. Its just a bloody shame about all the sheep, spoils good dog walking country.
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I am preparing for it with a weekend in a log cabin in the Peak District!
I love the peak district. Its just a bloody shame about all the sheep, spoils good dog walking country.
"You can take the boy out of the city but you can`t take the city out of the boy " :)
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Dross served up by both teams? Turn it in. You were lucky to get nil and we dominated for 80 minutes of the game.
It was utter garbage as a spectacle, one of the poorest games i've ever witnessed.
I think both teams will go into this game with more confidence than the last time they played each other, so I am expecting a better game.
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If the score stays as it is at the DW, the pressure will be really on. Can't see us rising to the occasion. We didn't do it against an indifferent Fulham, can't see anything against a resurgent Sunderland.
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Thank fuck for that Spurs equaliser. This game really is must win, we need to open a gap on Wigan.
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If the score stays as it is at the DW, the pressure will be really on. Can't see us rising to the occasion. We didn't do it against an indifferent Fulham, can't see anything against a resurgent Sunderland.
Sorry to disappoint you.
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I really fancy us to win this. 3-1.
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If the score stays as it is at the DW, the pressure will be really on. Can't see us rising to the occasion. We didn't do it against an indifferent Fulham, can't see anything against a resurgent Sunderland.
"If." Don't worry about the "ifs".
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All rational reasoning out the window as its really a must win game, unfortunately we still haven't cured our defence so we have to score at least 2 goals to win, therefore 2-1!
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I'm confused now - do we scream and roar them on with the possibility of unnerving them or play it cool and clap politely in the hope they don't take fright like Bambi?
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Give them a true old fashion Holte End Roar for 90+ minutes come on Villa this is a defo must win
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We'll score one more than them. Could be 2-1 or 7-6.
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The Holte will win it for the Villa. I know this in my bones.
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The biggest game at Villa Park for years. QPR and Fulham were big, but this, due to the timing and opposition is crucial with us being able to drag a few in if we win.
Have a sneaking feeling it'll be a draw just to prolong this incessant tension.
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Opportunity knocks, Villa. Please don't cock it up.
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The Holte will win it for the Villa. I know this in my bones.
But I sit in the Trinity! Can't we win it together Damo?
;-)
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Please Villa, win on Monday. Even though i cannot be with you in person, every fucking bone in my body will be supporting you and roaring you on to victory.
Win you Lions, and win well. UTV EVERYBODY.
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Dear Australian butterfly,
please flutter your wings in the direction of B6 6HE this Sunday.
Yours
Villa Lepidopterists.
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Dear Australian butterfly,
please flutter your wings in the direction of B6 6HE this Sunday.
Yours
Villa Lepidopterists.
Long way for a butterfly to come. But, if a butterfly flaps it's wings......................
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Been saying all year that we are due a resounding home win. It won't be Chelsea so come on Villa, do it Monday. Can't see Sunderland turning it around to get three on the bounce so it's a 4-1 for me
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Dear Australian butterfly,
please flutter your wings in the direction of B6 6HE this Sunday.
Yours
Villa Lepidopterists.
Long way for a butterfly to come. But, if a butterfly flaps it's wings......................
Ashley Young falls over in Manchester.
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Please Villa, win on Monday. Even though i cannot be with you in person, every fucking bone in my body will be supporting you and roaring you on to victory.
Win you Lions, and win well. UTV EVERYBODY.
Those who can be there will roaring the boys on!!!
We are as One...
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Weimman's due a goal or two and players tend to score against former clubs so bunging Bent on for a bit might be an idea. That said, we'll need to crock Gardner & Carlos early on too.
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I think if we put three centrally we will win.
I have been reading the press and reading their forums and don't buy this "Sunderland" are a good side and that the facist is leading some sort of revolution. I think our front three will cause a number in their back four untold problems. While I also think if they continue their lump into the channels/bypass the central midfield approach, then we will see an awful lot of the ball.
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I agree, need to go with Westwood, Delph and either KEA/Sylla across the middle with AW and GA supporting the big fella. Apparently, Sunderland averaged 34% of possession in their wins against NUFC and EFC so I can see us having plenty of the ball. My only worry is we may struggle to break them down and they do have players that can be dangerous on the break, which is why I'd play three centrally. O'Shea and Cuellar in defence gives us hope however and our forwards are due a performance having been quiet in the last two.
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I think this lot are made for us to play against, and we'll finally smash the shit out of someone at home for the benefit of our long suffering supporters.
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I think this lot are made for us to play against, and we'll finally smash the shit out of someone at home for the benefit of our long suffering supporters.
Maybe. It's more likely that we'll concede at least once though, and I can't see the confidence being there to smash anybody. 1-1.
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We definatley need to go back to three in the middle, we look a lot better playing that system.
Tactically though, Lambert can be a bit naive as his starting line up on Monday night showed so it would'nt surprise me if he went for it again.
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4-1 Villa
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4-1 Villa
Yeah, I'll go with that Dan.
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I think this lot are made for us to play against, and we'll finally smash the shit out of someone at home for the benefit of our long suffering supporters.
Maybe. It's more likely that we'll concede at least once though, and I can't see the confidence being there to smash anybody. 1-1.
What continues to worry me is that our defence is the worst in the league. Forget goal difference, I've never seen a team in the premier league look so completely overwhelmed (Its been a crisis most of the season) Newcastle's looked like ours yesterday but I would swap them in a second.
Yes Reading and QPR may be down and more than ten points away, but QPR is a team of mercenaries and Reading have just been bad throughout.
It wouldn't take very much bad luck to send us down and I'm feeling sick to my stomach!
I think we'll lose
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4-1 Villa
Yeah, I'll go with that Dan.
Although my nerves are shot before a ball has been kicked, i have a feeling that we are going to play some superb football on Monday night and Sunderland will have no answer to it. Benteke, Gabby and Weimen will rip them to shreds.
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Based upon our performances against the mighty Wigan and Newcastle at home I have grave reservations about this match. I recall the optimism leading up to the Bolton game last year and then the despair following the result. Taking into consideration our inability to keep a clean sheet and our poor home form I can see us conceding perhaps two, however if our strikers get decent opportunities I can see us scoring the same: 2-2 for me.
This potentially is one of the biggest games in our history (financially that is) and I dread the fallout should we lose. How we could rue the opportunities scorned during the season - why we failed to strengthen at the back is beyond me - I am informed that Lambert had funds available at his disposal in the last transfer window.
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The Holte will win it for the Villa. I know this in my bones.
But I sit in the Trinity! Can't we win it together Damo?
;-)
Shake your flask out for the lads
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Stamp your feet M`Lord
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A must win after the weekend matches, Beat the mackems 2-0, then the Geordie nation could be in
for an entertaining week or 2. Still they are used to being a laughing stock!!!!!
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knowing Villa , they will lose to Sunderland and beat Norwich away .
draw with Chelski
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If Di Canio does keep Sunderland up, as looks likely, it will have the side-effect of destroying O'Neill's reputation as a 'motivator' once and for all.
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Based upon our performances against the mighty Wigan and Newcastle at home I have grave reservations about this match. I recall the optimism leading up to the Bolton game last year and then the despair following the result. Taking into consideration our inability to keep a clean sheet and our poor home form I can see us conceding perhaps two, however if our strikers get decent opportunities I can see us scoring the same: 2-2 for me.
This potentially is one of the biggest games in our history (financially that is) and I dread the fallout should we lose. How we could rue the opportunities scorned during the season - why we failed to strengthen at the back is beyond me - I am informed that Lambert had funds available at his disposal in the last transfer window.
There's clearly that risk. But we were in terrible form, playing a formation we couldn't play, for those games.
Since we reverted to 4 at the back (half time v Newcastle) we haven't lost to any of the non-elite teams (if you include Liverpool).
Clearly, with our defence, we can self destruct at any time. But let's also remind ourselves that despite a couple of great wins, Sunderland will out out a team tomorrow that man for man isn't great. I think ours is better.
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I think we'll need to score at least 3 goals to win the game.
Think we'll just scrape it.
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It's a great opportunity to put some breathing space between us an Wigan and also to get Norwich in our sights to overtake them next week. However, we are not down near the bottom for no reason. Here's hoping for no cock ups and a 2-1 win.
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5-0 to take us up to 16th place with a GD of -22 and Barcodes on -23.
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I think we'll need to score at least 3 goals to win the game.
Think we'll just scrape it.
That'll do for me.
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5-0 to take us up to 16th place with a GD of -22 and Barcodes on -23.
;D I have to admit, if that result would relegate the Mags i think i'd quite happily take it! ;D
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Sunderland are shit. When was the last time they won three on the bounce in the Premier League? I doubt they've ever done it. They're not about to start now.
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I think we'll need to score at least 3 goals to win the game.
Think we'll just scrape it.
I agree. We'll let at least one in for sure.
I said after the last game that I reckon we'll score at least 2 goals in all of our remaining games, which I still think. Whether 2 goals in each game will win us the match is another question...
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We need to be clinical & cut out the errors or gifts. If we do that we'll be OK in all our remaining games & safely stay up.
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Can I just pray for a moment. Please, please dear lord keep my beloved team up. I promise not to look at my friend's wife anymore, nor will I eat grapes in Sainsburys without paying and I will not laugh at the misfortune of our friends in blue (Oh maybe not, but you obviously do not like them either)
The last 6 months has taken an awful toll on my mental well being. Please, please let us be safe before the Wigan game.
In love and light. Malandro
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Can I just pray for a moment. Please, please dear lord keep my beloved team up. I promise not to look at my friend's wife anymore, nor will I eat grapes in Sainsburys without paying and I will not laugh at the misfortune of our friends in blue (Oh maybe not, but you obviously do not like them either)
The last 6 months has taken an awful toll on my mental well being. Please, please let us be safe before the Wigan game.
In love and light. Malandro
Amen.
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5-0 to take us up to 16th place with a GD of -22 and Barcodes on -23.
;D I have to admit, if that result would relegate the Mags i think i'd quite happily take it! ;D
They must be fucking gutted they're going to have to want you to win tomorrow.
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Anyone concerned benteke might have an off day following a late night at the awards?
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Anyone concerned benteke might have an off day following a late night at the awards?
Nah.
He's not going to be doing shooters with Gareth Bale till 3 in the morning or anything daft.
I hope.
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I expect there to be a stirring rendition of the old Villa Park favourite "F**c Off Di Canio" as we put him firmly back in his box with a 3-1 win.
Benteke (3)
Craig Gargoyle for them.
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Isn't Gardner suspended?
I am not going to the match, and there is no way whatsoever I will be able to sit through watching it on the telly, so I will be doing a total detach from sources of news for two hours and diving into the post match thread to see how it finished.
I can't take this shit. I'd kill for a boring mid table finish for a change.
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Isn't Gardner suspended?
Suspension finished just in time to be back for the game against us.
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Tuesday morning is going to be fantastic or shockingly bad. That I do know.
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Isn't Gardner suspended?
I am not going to the match, and there is no way whatsoever I will be able to sit through watching it on the telly, so I will be doing a total detach from sources of news for two hours and diving into the post match thread to see how it finished.
Even if we batter them 4-0 can I therefore ask that everybody goes on to the post-match thread complaining about a 5-0 defeat?! ;)
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Isn't Gardner suspended?
I am not going to the match, and there is no way whatsoever I will be able to sit through watching it on the telly, so I will be doing a total detach from sources of news for two hours and diving into the post match thread to see how it finished.
Even if we batter them 4-0 can I therefore ask that everybody goes on to the post-match thread complaining about a 5-0 defeat?! ;)
Every post to be totally unpunctuated.
Fuckinellvillasortitouticantbelieveweve cometothepointwhereweneedfuckinWIGANtolosejusttokeepusinthePrem
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Isn't Gardner suspended?
Suspension finished just in time to be back for the game against us.
Good chance that DiCanio will have them in such a frenzy Craig will go 2 footed through someone in the first 10 minutes.
Sunderland are very, very poor, but are riding the crest of a confidence hit from the Newcastle result, which was referee assisted big time from Ciise scoring a perfectly good equaliser, and the goals Sunderland scored all being long range screamers. We need to keep our heads, as we are perfectly capable of being atrocious for 45 and 2-0 down, even against a side as bad as them.
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Villa just please do this and make my life happy again. Weimann is struggling and i think Bent would love to silence the mackems with a couple of goals. In PL we trust .......
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Isn't Gardner suspended?
I am not going to the match, and there is no way whatsoever I will be able to sit through watching it on the telly, so I will be doing a total detach from sources of news for two hours and diving into the post match thread to see how it finished.
I can't take this shit. I'd kill for a boring mid table finish for a change.
Exactly what i'm doing. I can't get up early to watch it as my nerves will be ripped to shreds so decided to go to the gym instead for a completely isolated and enclosed Spin class to use up the nervous energy - after which it'll all be over.
I reckon i'll be able to tell the result just by the number of pages in the Post Match thread 20 minutes after the end of the game.
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I'm going to the game and might do the same. If you see a Brad Pitt lookalike hiding in the bog in the Lower North with earplugs in the odds are high it's me.
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I will be at work watching on some dodgy stream, the game will dictate how much work I get done. I am feeling good about this one.
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3-2 Villa. A brilliant game ahead. Gabby to score the winner! Up the Villa!
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Sunderland are shit. When was the last time they won three on the bounce in the Premier League? I doubt they've ever done it. They're not about to start now.
But their odds aren't worse off for having won the previous two under a law of averages rule
I'm already feeling really nervous. I'm genuinely not sure I can watch it! It does feel too much like the Bolton game last year to be comfortable
I keep changing my mind as to how I'd view a draw. That would put a lot of pressure on the norwich game, and I was just reading they've only won two games since mid December, but also only lost against 3 top four sides at home this season. That points to a draw there too. But I've just always fancied us to win that game. I'd take 4 points from the next two games I think but we need six to be safe before the Wigan game
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No sleep..... check
Shaking a bit... check
Thinking of nothing else... check
Want to close eyes and wake up tomorrow am... check
Shitting oneself... check
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Things went our way over the weekend which will help the atmosphere. The air of dread will be greatly reduced in comparison to the fear that a Wigan win would've instilled.
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We need another QPR atmosphere. The players and fans were up for that one and there was also a real air of belief throughout the 120 minutes or however much it was the f***ing ref decided to add on in the end.
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The air of dread is with me!
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Fuck me I feel so nervous, it's that Monday Bolton feeling all over again where last year I thought I would need to throw up while walking to the ground, c'mon Villa please please please win this game.
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I'm confused now - do we scream and roar them on with the possibility of unnerving them or play it cool and clap politely in the hope they don't take fright like Bambi?
Yes we take the roof off, nothing less.
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I feel sick. Just win tonight Villa, please God win.
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I have a very busy day ahead which will help to take my mind off things until 5 pm - a huge night and very important we get the result.
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We will crush them.
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I can strongly recommend a weekend away as preparation for a game like this. Outside of Saturday afternoons scores I haven't given it a great deal of thought.
Checking out in a minute, pit stop at Thomasland at Drayton Manor and in The Bartons for four as I am off tomorrow as well. Marvellous.
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Papermache Ron in today's Torygraph states that it's a must-win ... perceptively.
My California-based brother is over for his first live game in several years (well, he's over to see my sick mother but couldn't resist an opportunity for self-flagellation and torture at B6 tonight).
Our future is in our hands this evening (ooh, err Missus).
So, that'll be a 0-0 then.
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Alhough not the absolute end of the world, a draw would be pretty horrifying for the neutralising effect it would have. It'd effectively roll over the sense of utter horror to next weekend.
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I may go for a long walk by the canal with a couple of bricks in my pocket
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I'm taking what's becoming a yearly trip to VP to hook up with a mate. Last year's happened to also be the Sunderland match, at which the only bit of spice was MoN's return; when planning this season's trip I expected something similar, a fairly meaningless end of season affair. So in a way I'm pleased it will be anything but that, the atmosphere has to be cracking. As for the score, it won't be a repeat of last year's 0-0.Let's go for Villa to storm to 2-0 in the 1st 15 minutes, miss a hatful to make it safe by half-time, get increasingly nervous, concede in the 80th minute, but hang on for 2-1. DiCanio to be sent to the stands.
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Well, the tortoise has poked its head out a couple of times already this morning.
...can only see it getting worse closer to kick off.
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The only time I usually feel like this is when we play Blues. It's a hard feeling to describe, but it's a mixture of excitement, dread and feeling slightly woozy.
Perhaps I should man up, grow a pair, etc.
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This season has been slow like torture - probably worse than the last two. I don't know what happened in August 2010, but the shockwaves are still reverberating now nearly 3 years on. I hope we win tonight but I think it'll be 1-1. Our defence is our achilles heel and will still haunt us - shockingly bad decision from the board/management not to address this area last January. Still think Lerner's heart isn't really in it anymore - I wonder if he'll attend tonight? Not sure when his last appearance at Villa Park was?
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I'm looking forward to it. We'll batter them 2-1.
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Didnt get much sleep myself. ffs Villa , why you do this me !!!!
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It's not excited nerves. It's being sick with worry. This lot have let us down so much over the past few years I'm lacking in confidence somewhat today. Sorry for being negative, hope I'm in a very different mood by 10 tonight.
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This season has been slow like torture - probably worse than the last two. I don't know what happened in August 2010, but the shockwaves are still reverberating now nearly 3 years on. I hope we win tonight but I think it'll be 1-1. Our defence is our achilles heel and will still haunt us - shockingly bad decision from the board/management not to address this area last January. Still think Lerner's heart isn't really in it anymore - I wonder if he'll attend tonight? Not sure when his last appearance at Villa Park was?
Maybe we should have a thread dedicated to this?
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feeling less confident as the game approaches. would be far more confident if this game was away from home. some of our players seem to go into their shells at villa park. think swansea at home was the only game we have won convincingly all season so its hardly going to start now. The wins against Stoke and QPR we almost threw away. Reading and West Ham wins were hardly convincing. I guess when it has come down to it we have beaten the sides around us but a commanding victory at this stage of the season seems beyond us lets be honest.
score early and we will win and probably pretty easily. however the longer the games goes on without us scoring, crowd start getting a bit iffy, sunderland score first and all hell could break loose. have a horrible feeling both sides will settle for a draw over the last 10 mins or so.
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I think we'll get battered for the first 15 minutes, Sunderlands only tactics since DiNobio arrived seemed to be to get in the oppositions faces right from the off. Hold firm at the back, weather the storm and we'll be at least 1 maybe 2 up by half time. They'll get a goal & we'll win 3-1.
Newcastle right in the shit as of 10pm tonight.
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Biggest game of our Premier League history? Probably. I expect both teams to go for it and can see our defence leaking a few, that being said, Sunderland are still a poor side with numerous weaknesses that we can expose, so I'm going for a 3-2 win and for me to be a ball of jelly by 10pm tonight.
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The only time I usually feel like this is when we play Blues. It's a hard feeling to describe, but it's a mixture of excitement, dread and feeling slightly woozy.
Perhaps I should man up, grow a pair, etc.
You're fine. If we didn't feel like that on days like this, then what'd be the point of football-supporting?
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I think this is a game where the side that handles the pressure best will win. Lambert needs to send them out focused and confident. If we do that, then I think we have better players, so should win.
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I think one team will win 2 or 3 nil, I just hope it's us. I'm really nervous.
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I'm looking forward to seeing Benteke bludgeon O'Shea; to watching Weimann and Gabby give Cuellar the runaround; and to seeing Delph man up to Gardner / Colbach (whoever is in their midfield).
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Need to score first ..let them break us down no reply on counter attacks and long shots
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3-1 to the home team. Mr Benteke to bag all three.
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I have the exact feeling I had prior to us beating Blose 5-1, so I'm hoping for a similar result.
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I think this is a game where the side that handles the pressure best will win.
This is a very good point. I'm undecided as to whether playing at home is to our advantage or not given our poor form at VP.
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Advantage I'd say. Crowd will be immense tonight, hope the team will be too. Di Canio will have his louts well up for it, need to make sure we match them in fight and take our chances. It's going to be open, we can't afford for our strikers to waste chances anymore.
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I'm looking forward to it so much I've got two tickets in case I lose one.
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I'll go for 2-1 Villa. Benteke x2 for us, and Gardner for them. If I was a neutral, I'd say 1-1.
We have both lost to Man. Utd. recently, but they managed to lose to QPR away aswell. Our strikers are better, and their defence is only marginally better.
We need to score first, and early.
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My guess is a draw. One thing i am sure of though is that they'll score first.
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Tuesday, the timer on the microwave packed up.
Thursday, gas safety check, pressure test, gas leak somewhere, currently disconnected, no heating, no hot water, no hob.
Yesterday, fridge in the kitchen joined in with the non-functioning malaise.
I'm due a change in fortune.
4-1 us, tekkers, gabby hat-trick.
And any chance we can all send a designated person down to get the half-time refreshments in instead of all piling down? Be good for the babbies to not be faced with half-empty stands when they come out.
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I just feel that if we score early we win. Sunderland haven't had a setback under Di Canio as yet (Chelsea game was always a bit of a right off). Their confidence will still be fragile enough, it was only 2 wins against teams who couldn't put it up to them. As per every game this season, we will need to score at least 2 if we want to win, which I think we are well capable of.
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My tummy is all squirming.
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I now really want to go to the game but wont have time to buy a ticket before the match
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This reminds me of a game v Man City in 1995 with 3 games to go. We drew 1-1 with a Hand of God type goal from Ugo (IIRC)
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I hope the Fascist's negative comments about Villa Park rile up our supporters. 'An easy place to go'.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/skippers-dire-warning-to-villa-players-29227815.html
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What a twat. Hope we murder them.
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just win, score doesn't matter, performance doesn't matter, JUST WIN!!!
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I hope the Fascist's negative comments about Villa Park rile up our supporters. 'An easy place to go'.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/skippers-dire-warning-to-villa-players-29227815.html
He really is a despicable cnut - come on lads hammer the fascist bastard
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I hope the Fascist's negative comments about Villa Park rile up our supporters. 'An easy place to go'.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/skippers-dire-warning-to-villa-players-29227815.html
He really is a despicable cnut - come on lads hammer the fascist bastard
Yep I hate fascists
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I hope the Fascist's negative comments about Villa Park rile up our supporters. 'An easy place to go'.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/skippers-dire-warning-to-villa-players-29227815.html
What is he rambling on about? Talking shite, as usual.
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I feel sick and have thought about nothing else all morning, damn you football!
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PDC is actually being rather clever he is making comments to put focus on himself and away from the team.I wouldn't put too much effort into worrying about his comments at all.
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(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q736/Mortimers_Bear/27_2013042910253335_zpsb4518119.jpg)
To quote our fanzine, what's not to like?
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Forget the manager, lets just focus all our attention on the game. And winning the fcuker.
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My hate for him grows.
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Villa win, that is all.
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Anyone else nervous?
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Got two children's tickets (they never check) in the Holte. Free to a good home.
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I hope the Fascist's negative comments about Villa Park rile up our supporters. 'An easy place to go'.
http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/skippers-dire-warning-to-villa-players-29227815.html
He really is a despicable cnut - come on lads hammer the fascist bastard
Finally we agree on something!
Come on Villa, lets smash this jumped up little facist wanker into the middle of next week.
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Got two children's tickets (they never check) in the Holte. Free to a good home.
Try shifting them on Viagogo if you're having trouble.
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Anyone else nervous?
I'm so nervous I'm going to the match on my own. None of my mates can make it and was going to follow from home but got a ticket this morning - can't miss this one. Looks like it should be a decent crowd - lower Holte looks almost sold out.
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I fucking hate Di Canio but as someone else pointed out it is fiendishly clever of him to take the pressure off his team by piling it on himself.
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To paraphrase Joliet Jake... I hate Makem Nazis.
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Anyone else nervous?
Put it this way, I'm definitely not constipated today.
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under this clueless manager every home match worries me, Would love to say i think we will win but i dont think we will,it will be 1-1 in a hard fought draw .Must be lowton or Vlarr turn to score og
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Got two children's tickets (they never check) in the Holte. Free to a good home.
I'll take them off your hands if I can find someone to come with me - just going to text a few people now. Let me know. Ta :)
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Any news on injuries / team etc ?
I hope we don't start with CNZ on this one, we need bottle, and also the pace of Gabby could be very useful tonight.
3 points, hard earned ( as usual) and a nail bighting end to the game with DiCanio saluting the Holte End :)
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To quote the Mail from 1974 after our 2nd Division side beat Arsenal in the cup:
“The mountain of humanity known as the Holte End must be included in the scoreline. There are times when a crowd can be very much part of a performance. This was one of them.”
The same again tonight please, gents and you'll count yourselves lucky to have been there tonight.
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We'll blatantly let a goal in, so I'm going for 2-2 or a 2-1 win for either side.
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We'll blatantly let a goal in, so I'm going for 2-2 or a 2-1 win for either side.
Basically I think we'll either win, lose or draw.
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5 more hours to go.. christ.
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Forget the manager, lets just focus all our attention on the game. And winning the fcuker.
Exactly that, Des.
Best way to piss off Di Canio is to make sure every decision goes our way, his players make numerous mistakes and his side take a hiding. Then we can all sit back and laugh as his head spins before imploding.
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We'll blatantly let a goal in, so I'm going for 2-2 or a 2-1 win for either side.
Basically I think we'll either win, lose or draw.
Agree can't see a postponement or abandoned match
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We'll blatantly let a goal in, so I'm going for 2-2 or a 2-1 win for either side.
Basically I think we'll either win, lose or draw.
Agree can't see a postponement or abandoned match
Yep, any chance of that has disappeared now that Legion won't be at the match
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(http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q736/Mortimers_Bear/27_2013042910253335_zpsb4518119.jpg)
To quote our fanzine, what's not to like?
Makes a change from the hand salutes he normally makes.
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I feel sick.
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I feel sick.
As do I, I was trying to explain the feeling to a non football supporting co-worker and she just thought it was ridiculous. She's probably right.
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I feel sick.
As do I, I was trying to explain the feeling to a non football supporting co-worker and she just thought it was ridiculous. She's probably right.
I haven't felt like this since 03.03.03 and we all know what happened there.
I just hope Lambert let's the lads know they're in for a huge battle tonight. It's going to be frentic and I'd certainly be having serious thoughts on whether Sylla can keep his head and not get sent off with one of his late tackles. Like that match ten years ago, we ended up playing with 10 men. Whilst I would look to bring in another midfielder in place of N'Zogbia, I'm not sure who I trust in there. Shame Lambert doesn't rate Clark as a midfielder, I really think he could do a great job there tonight.
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I feel sick.
I'm fine.
I've decided i could do with a beer though.
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I feel sick.
As do I, I was trying to explain the feeling to a non football supporting co-worker and she just thought it was ridiculous. She's probably right.
I haven't felt like this since 03.03.03 and we all know what happened there.
I just hope Lambert let's the lads know they're in for a huge battle tonight. It's going to be frentic and I'd certainly be having serious thoughts on whether Sylla can keep his head and not get sent off with one of his late tackles. Like that match ten years ago, we ended up playing with 10 men. Whilst I would look to bring in another midfielder in place of N'Zogbia, I'm not sure who I trust in there. Shame Lambert doesn't rate Clark as a midfielder, I really think he could do a great job there tonight.
Sunderland haven't become Barcelona overnight, man up man.
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I feel sick.
As do I, I was trying to explain the feeling to a non football supporting co-worker and she just thought it was ridiculous. She's probably right.
I haven't felt like this since 03.03.03 and we all know what happened there.
I just hope Lambert let's the lads know they're in for a huge battle tonight. It's going to be frentic and I'd certainly be having serious thoughts on whether Sylla can keep his head and not get sent off with one of his late tackles. Like that match ten years ago, we ended up playing with 10 men. Whilst I would look to bring in another midfielder in place of N'Zogbia, I'm not sure who I trust in there. Shame Lambert doesn't rate Clark as a midfielder, I really think he could do a great job there tonight.
Ditto.
Pounding headache due to the nerves I think. What I would give for 4 more points than we have that we have chucked away this season.
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I feel sick.
As do I, I was trying to explain the feeling to a non football supporting co-worker and she just thought it was ridiculous. She's probably right.
I haven't felt like this since 03.03.03 and we all know what happened there.
I just hope Lambert let's the lads know they're in for a huge battle tonight. It's going to be frentic and I'd certainly be having serious thoughts on whether Sylla can keep his head and not get sent off with one of his late tackles. Like that match ten years ago, we ended up playing with 10 men. Whilst I would look to bring in another midfielder in place of N'Zogbia, I'm not sure who I trust in there. Shame Lambert doesn't rate Clark as a midfielder, I really think he could do a great job there tonight.
Sunderland haven't become Barcelona overnight, man up man.
It's a fair point, we need to play the team not the occasion. Sunderland are not a good side, they've had a brief lift from a new manager but so did QPR. This is the night the collapse again and we'll hammer them.
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I'm giving DB of this parish a lift to Villa Park tonight, maybe there's an omen in those initials.
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Aston Villa 5 Sunderland 3
8)
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Dozy Bastard? For driving I mean! This is one for a livener or 7 before the match without a doubt.
For what it is worth, I have an inkling we will take the lead early and might just batter them.
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Right I'll have three beers in reserve tonight. Dependent on the state of the game, I may chug them all at half time!
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Sunderland haven't become Barcelona overnight, man up man.
Ha! I'm not concerned about their footballing skills, more the effort they will put in. We need 3 points tonight, not one and I'm sure Sunderland will be more than happy with a point and will probably set up to get just that. As long as we match their effort, we'll beat them with our superior technique and strikers.
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Dozy Bastard? For driving I mean! This is one for a livener or 7 before the match without a doubt.
For what it is worth, I have an inkling we will take the lead early and might just batter them.
It is a night for a sharpener or 7, but little other transport options for us West Berkshire glory hunters.
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The one plus is i've got a mega busy day, so i'm either out or on the phone which is helping keep my mind off the game as much as possible. Downside is i'm struggling to get any food down me. Why do you do this to me at my age Villa! I still love you though. And we'll stay up. Still feel sick though.
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Helicopter?
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Helicopter?
As nice as they are I couldn't even eat of those right now.
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The one plus is i've got a mega busy day, so i'm either out or on the phone which is helping keep my mind off the game as much as possible. Downside is i'm struggling to get any food down me. Why do you do this to me at my age Villa! I still love you though. And we'll stay up. Still feel sick though.
If you feel like this now, imagine how you'll feel if it goes to the last game........
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Helicopter?
Is that the new Vauxhall MPV?
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4 hours.
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Why do I have this feeling that in 4 hours we will be 2-0 down and staring down the fucking chamber?
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Leaving on the 2 hour trip to the game now,come on you villa boys!!
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Leaving on the 2 hour trip to the game now,come on you villa boys!!
Good luck sir....
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Maybe some of you need to start thinking along the lines of 'if we get relegated we're not all gonna drop down dead'.
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Why do I have this feeling that in 4 hours we will be 2-0 down and staring down the fucking chamber?
That's what Villa do. However tonight, we'll be 3-0 up at half time and by full time we'll have won 5-0 or 5-1.
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Leaving on the 2 hour trip to the game now,come on you villa boys!!
Good luck sir....
Are you coming from another time zone?
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Maybe some of you need to start thinking along the lines of 'if we get relegated we're not all gonna drop down dead'.
No, it'll just feel like it. I go through days when I rationalise it like this, e.g. football will still exist etc, and then I contemplate it and go aaargh.
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Fuck this I'm off to the Bagot, I need to settle my nerves.
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Maybe some of you need to start thinking along the lines of 'if we get relegated we're not all gonna drop down dead'.
Don't even think it, Percy. Tonight will be another page in our great, illustrious history, a night when those lucky enough to be there will talk about great Villa Park games where the Holte rose up as one and inspired the lads to a great victory.
3-0 Villa.
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I think we'll get battered for the first 15 minutes, Sunderlands only tactics since DiNobio arrived seemed to be to get in the oppositions faces right from the off. Hold firm at the back, weather the storm and we'll be at least 1 maybe 2 up by half time. They'll get a goal & we'll win 3-1.
Newcastle right in the shit as of 10pm tonight.
This for me. Let's hope we're a bit more resilient than during the same period at Old Trafford! If we can get on top and bully them a bit in the first 15 minutes or so hopefully they will lose a bit of belief.
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Maybe some of you need to start thinking along the lines of 'if we get relegated we're not all gonna drop down dead'.
Don't even think it, Percy. Tonight will be another page in our great, illustrious history, a night when those lucky enough to be there will talk about great Villa Park games where the Holte rose up as one and inspired the lads to a great victory.
3-0 Villa.
On the other hand .........
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Respect to all those fans having to make a long journey to VP tonight. I take it for granted that I'm only 8 miles from the game and with a fair wind can get back home in 40 mins. So much at stake tonight, the long journey home can be torture if we've lost.
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I am very, very excited about tonight, so much sot hat I have done a raft load of work to keep my mind clear. All this bloody waiting is getting on my nerves.
Roll on 5pm so I can jump in the car and smash it down to B6.
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excited is not a word I would use to describe the knotted, sickly feeling that has been growing steadily all day.
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Fuck this I'm off to the Bagot, I need to settle my nerves.
In the Bagot?
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In the pub sinking pints of Ubu Purity, which is nice. Not nervous at all, but if the excitable chap at the back of P6 starts hid "get it forward" mantra early doors, I mightose my equilibrium.
Message to Il Duce:
Forza Livorno!
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Maybe some of you need to start thinking along the lines of 'if we get relegated we're not all gonna drop down dead'.
It is true, and of course we would simply just talk about Villa ad nauseum in the Championship as opposed to the premiership. I was thinking on my drive home today if I could go through some kind of meditation or hypnosis that would allow me to simply not give a shit. Still support Villa, but be able to switch off in the week from it without a care in the world, and then turn back on at kick off. And I just can't - why does it do this too us?
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Maybe some of you need to start thinking along the lines of 'if we get relegated we're not all gonna drop down dead'.
Don't even think it, Percy. Tonight will be another page in our great, illustrious history, a night when those lucky enough to be there will talk about great Villa Park games where the Holte rose up as one and inspired the lads to a great victory.
3-0 Villa.
Seem to remember some people saying the same about the home game against Bradford earlier in the season!! We could really do with an early goal to settle some of the nerves.
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Getting nevous now. Not sure I can even watch tonight's game.
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Maybe some of you need to start thinking along the lines of 'if we get relegated we're not all gonna drop down dead'.
Don't even think it, Percy. Tonight will be another page in our great, illustrious history, a night when those lucky enough to be there will talk about great Villa Park games where the Holte rose up as one and inspired the lads to a great victory.
3-0 Villa.
Seem to remember some people saying the same about the home game against Bradford earlier in the season!! We could really do with an early goal to settle some of the nerves.
True but then how were they to know Lambert would get his tactics so spectacularly wrong, learning nothing from the first leg.
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Do you believe in the Villa!
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Do you believe in the Villa!
No, I'm pretty sure they are just a figment of my drug fuelled imagination.
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Lambert's my one worry about tonight. He needs to leave N'zogbia away from the starting line up and Bowery away from the bench.
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I am really starting to get nervous now. I have no idea what I am going to be like by 8pm.
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I just don't know how it will go.
Don't have Sky, off the beer so a pubs out and I don't think I have the courage to listen to it on the radio even if I hide behind the setee. Might have to walk around the block for 2 hours.
Come on Villa, for once in a fair old time, just win a must win game.
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2-2
The reaper's on its way up the M6.
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Time to dust off our claret and blue cudgels and bat the Nazi clown and his band of automatons back up the motorway to horse-punching country.
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2-1. I shall be at the game, watching through fingers held over my eyes. On top of that I have to buy a copy of H&V from Mr Woodhall. What a stressful evening!
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Do you believe in the Villa!
We believe in you so take a chance on a couple of kooks hung-up on the Villa.
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3 hours to go. Getting the feeling, reading recent posts, that some of you might not last that long!!!
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3 hours to go. Getting the feeling, reading recent posts, that some of you might not last that long!!!
My wife just took the pencils and underwear off me.
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3 hours to go. Getting the feeling, reading recent posts, that some of you might not last that long!!!
I'm feeling fine now. Really think we'll be right up for it and we'll put in a great performance. Just wish I was over to see the game.
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Nerves kicking in big time! Actually feel quite sick.
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I going to match but I'm going to turn around because I can't bear to watch.
Seriously though, stop shitting it. This is sport, high drama. I think we'll win but just enjoy it. Whatever happens this season we're always going to be Aston Villa and this club will always drag us through periods of agony and ecstasy but mainly mediocrity. Bring it on.
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Wife out, kids will be in bed, stella chilling come on the villa!
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Don't worry about this one.
I am detaching from all sources of news and sport for the evening soon. When I do that, it always works out for us.
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Nearly time to go to last meeting and then head to the ground. Good luck tonight ladies and gents.
Come on you Lions!! Believe. UTV
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As nerving as it is, I think I was more concerned when we played QPR than tonight. We had to win that and did. We can not win tonight and still be ok, in my opinion.
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"Oh come on all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!!!"
Black Grape on 6Music - let's hope so Shaun!
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Leaving in 20 to go straight to the ground (well Eddies) from work .....Come on you Villa Boys!!
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We must win (pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease)
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30 minutes until I start out and collect a lad for only his second Villa match (Fulham his first).
Have to try and convince him it's not always like this!
53 years old and like a bride on her honeymoon - Jeez!
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I hesitated as I voted for a win. First time all season... Have done three poohs today as well.
I was feeling confident, but was suddenly filled with fear - a cold, dread that I have only felt once before, on the day I found a burglar in my storage unit.
3-2 us. Vlaar hat trick, all from set pieces. Or something. Hopefully.
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Heading down the local in Brixton to watch the game, it should be dead, very nervous, come on you lions.
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Just about to leave when my stomach decided to 'move south'.
It was massive, and also a complete phantom, so I'm taking that as a good omen.
4-0 Villa.
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I do hope Craig Gardner's not selected by De Canio. He can be deadly from free kicks. I hope Lambert is aware of this if not Gabby should bring it to his attention quickly.
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I going to match but I'm going to turn around because I can't bear to watch.
Seriously though, stop shitting it. This is sport, high drama. I think we'll win but just enjoy it. Whatever happens this season we're always going to be Aston Villa and this club will always drag us through periods of agony and ecstasy but mainly mediocrity. Bring it on.
When Fergie of the black eyed peas said:
You don't want no drama
No, no drama
She wasn't kidding around
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I think Gardner will start. He's exactly the type of player Di Canio loves as he gives 100% and can get a bit nasty if necessary.
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Don't worry about this one.
I am detaching from all sources of news and sport for the evening soon. When I do that, it always works out for us.
I will do the same from 65 minutes, which worked against stoke and west ham, and the final 10 of Qpr
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Me too. Gardner is the type of player you'd want in a relegation battle. Hard working, determined, fighter and goal threat.
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Please, please, please, Villa. Just win this one. 3 points tonight and Chelsea, Bradford and Millwall will be partly forgiven.
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Come on me babbies, we can do this!!!
3-1 Benteke x 2, Gabby.
Up the might Villa!!!!!!!!!!
Nervous as heck but confident we'll get the win, would love to be at Villa Park tonight, roar them to victory lads!
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M6 between cov and Aston at a standstill
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Just about to leave for the match. We can beat these bastards and we WILL stay up!
Come on you Villa boys!!!
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The time has come- lets do it !
@MatKendrick: Kevin Friend is the ref for Villa's game at Norwich on Saturday. Before that it's Lee Probert tonight after he replaced Mike Dean #avfc
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Don't worry about this one.
I am detaching from all sources of news and sport for the evening soon. When I do that, it always works out for us.
I will do the same from 65 minutes, which worked against stoke and west ham, and the final 10 of Qpr
Maybe if everyone on here did this, we could have an amazing cumulative effect.
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The time has come- lets do it !
@MatKendrick: Kevin Friend is the ref for Villa's game at Norwich on Saturday. Before that it's Lee Probert tonight after he replaced Mike Dean #avfc
1 win 3 draws and a defeat to United 1-0 under Probert over 2 seasons, with the home win over Reading this season from what I can see.
Dean is statistically our best ref though I think, so maybe not a great omen.
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As for Friend, mixed bag, Wigan and United home defeats, QPR home win, though I distinctly recall the first half of that game almost everyone on the match thread thinking that he and Redknapp were headed for a shot-gun wedding, so again, could be better!
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There is a band outside the North Stand playing some of the usual shite you associate with England & Sheffield Wednesday.I hope to f*ck they are not inside Villa Park tonight.
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Dave has started the match thread, which may be a good omen. I am clutching, desperately to straws.
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Dave has started the match thread, which may be a good omen. I am clutching, desperately to straws.
I also started the ManYoo one.
I'd throw those particular straws away.
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I feel like I'm just about to sit my economics A level again. My guts are looping the frigging loop. Whatever happens Lambert, I'll never forgive you for putting us all through this!
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Di Canio is such a disrespectful tosser, you could get to loathe him very easily if you don't already....
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R5 still trying to say it is just us and Wigan to go down, nothing like Alan Green being completely ignorant of the facts
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C'mon Villa!