Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Smirker on March 14, 2018, 12:29:31 AM
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After tonight's disappointing loss, I thought I would look at the fixtures after reflecting and having something to eat.
Our next three are Bolton and Hull away and Reading at home.
We then have Norwich away before we play Cardiff at Villa Park.
Cardiff have Derby away up next, a tough game. Should they lose and we win, we will have the same points gap that we had at 7pm tonight. We didn't think it was over then.
They then have Burton at home and Sheffield United away, before playing Wolves at home. Burton should be a win for them but they can drop points in the others.
We just have to stay focused on our games and make sure the gap doesn't get any bigger. We can reduce it. The game at VP could be massive yet.
It's not over. I'm thinking of it as a 4 point lead for Cardiff with the other 3 points in our hands. We just need to better two of their results. It's not unthinkable.
Let's be positive and see what the team can do. It's not over.
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It's not over.
As far as automatic promotion goes, it is. Sadly.
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I don't think it is just yet.
We have closed bigger points gaps in fewer games this season already.
Things can change quickly in this league.
Autos still possible.
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Not over yet. Still games to play and still points to be won and lost by all teams involved.
So why throw the towel in?
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I don't think anyone is throwing the towel in, they're just being realistic that automatic promotion has become unlikely.
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I think it has become more unlikely but we still have a decent chance.
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I'm with you Smirker mate. I like your taste in music and agree with you here.
I've been a massive critic of Bruce, and am delighted he's proved me wrong in a lot of respects recently. But, reading his post match comments, I wish the bloke would trust his instincts more and be a little braver-freshen it up, you've got the players/squad to do so. Just bloody do it. No regrets etc etc.
But anyway, we've got ourselves in a decent position, and have a good team who can win game after game. Second is possible, and we need a little luck, but I still think we'll get there.
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If we didn't before we now have zero margin for error and have to hope that results go our way elsewhere, unlikely but still possible.
They key is we MUST win at least 7 from 9 and one of these MUST be our game against Cardiff. That at least gives us a chance, anything less and forget it.
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I hope to be proved wrong ,but if I was a Cardiff supporter I’d feel pretty confident at the moment. We can only hope this result puts us on an unbeaten run till the end of the season.
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It is over.
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Win the next 5 and it’s game on.
If Cardiff .......
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is there any set dates for the play offs or do they get sorted after the season has finished?
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We'll finish 4th.
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worse case scenario is we will still have a crack at the playoffs
there is no way we will not be in those, absolutely nailed on to finish in the top 6
we can still hold hopes for second but can try and be positive about the three cup finals if not
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It is over.
That's the spirit.
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We have to win the next five including Cardiff.
Then if they...
Take four points from Derby and Sheffield United away
Beat Burton at home
Draw with Wolves at home
... we will be ahead on goal difference. None of those Cardiff scenarios are incredibly outlandish. Win our games and we still have a chance. No more performances like yesterday.
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I'm not going to get on the manager or player's backs too much. We'd scored 11 goals in three games before last night and as disappointing and frustrating as last night was, we need to get over it quickly which good sides tend to do. Time to stay positive.
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I'm with you Smirker mate. I like your taste in music and agree with you here.
I've been a massive critic of Bruce, and am delighted he's proved me wrong in a lot of respects recently. But, reading his post match comments, I wish the bloke would trust his instincts more and be a little braver-freshen it up, you've got the players/squad to do so. Just bloody do it. No regrets etc etc.
But anyway, we've got ourselves in a decent position, and have a good team who can win game after game. Second is possible, and we need a little luck, but I still think we'll get there.
Thanks mate.
As I said in the other thread, after the next round of games we could be four points off with the game at VP vs Cardiff.
Not over yet 8)
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It's not over yet, but it is a tall order. Win all of our remaining games and we are in with a shout. 110% effort required now. Don't bet against us!
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What did you have nice to eat?
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It is over.
Had the results been reversed (lost to Wolves 3-1 and beat QPR 4-1) would we still have been so negative or much more upbeat? 3 points from 6 was what I expected but not how we achieved it.
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It is over.
Had the results been reversed (lost to Wolves 3-1 and beat QPR 4-1) would we still have been so negative or much more upbeat? 3 points from 6 was what I expected but not how we achieved it.
Largely irrelevant. The manner of gaining 3 points from 6 doesn’t alter the fact that it’s not enough and there’s now a 7 point gap between us and second.
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It's not over by a long shot. There are still nine games to go and they still have Wolves at their place and still have to come to us. We've a good side and have been on great form of late. One game doesn't mean that's all gone out the window.
I'm with Smirker. We could be right in the mix by the time they come to Villa Park.
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I'm hoping that the QPR result was a freak and will galvanise the team once more for the final push.
Cardiff have what seems like a very comfortable 7 point cushion, but, they can't afford to drop points as they still have to come to VP. Obviously we have to continue to win.
We're on 69 points and there are 27 points to play for. It's said that 90 should take an automatic spot, that will be interesting as I reckon 4 clubs could see that total :)
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Since Blues we have taken 10 from 18 which is a real shame. Personally I think to turn over a 7 point difference in 9 games is to much.
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Since Blues we have taken 10 from 18 which is a real shame. Personally I think to turn over a 7 point difference in 9 games is to much.
Plus hoping that Cardiff suddenly start to drop points , they have been on it all season .They can lose to us and Wolves and still keep a gap to us thats the scale of the problem now.
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I'm positive we'll finish in the play-offs.
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Even if Villa do manage to catch Caerdydd, I expect Fulham to have done so as well.
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It's not over by a long shot. There are still nine games to go and they still have Wolves at their place and still have to come to us. We've a good side and have been on great form of late. One game doesn't mean that's all gone out the window.
I'm with Smirker. We could be right in the mix by the time they come to Villa Park.
It’s not the one game, it’s the seven points.
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To be fair the players have given everything especially since Brentford. They are physically knackered now
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Which the manager and coaches should see in training etc and use the squad we've expensively assembled.
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I'm positive we'll finish in the play-offs.
;D ;D
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It is 2 courses for a tenner at The Bartons on a Tuesday and we have another couple of Tuesday night home games yet.
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Looking at the respective teams remaining fixtures, just have a feeling that Fulham will finish second. Sad really as each time we seem to get ourselves in a good position, we then have an inexplicable performance to bring us back down again.
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O.k positivity....
I reckon we could take Boro, PNE, Brizzle, Cardiff or Derby in two legged play off/one off final.
Fulham's the only one I wouldn't fancy us against in either scenario, we would struggle to contain Sessegnon on the big Wembley pitch and worry with a two legged play off is they'd get a similar score at the Cottage to the league game and we'd find that difficult to overturn at VP.
That said I don't see much chance of us finishing 4th and them 5th (or 3rd-6th) so maybe they'd lose in the other play off like last season when they were highly fancied.
Still lots of football to be played before that scenario happens anyway.
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I'm still positive that we are going up, I'm just not sure how. Automatic or play- offs?
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I'm feeling positive because despite the dire set of results last night we're not out of it. We've been in great form this year and being 3rd beats the rest of this decade hands down. On to Bolton and hopefully victory.
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It is over.
Had the results been reversed (lost to Wolves 3-1 and beat QPR 4-1) would we still have been so negative or much more upbeat? 3 points from 6 was what I expected but not how we achieved it.
Largely irrelevant. The manner of gaining 3 points from 6 doesn’t alter the fact that it’s not enough and there’s now a 7 point gap between us and second.
Yes absolutely irrelevant. We are not talking about emotional difference here. The fact is Cardiff's form meant we had to win both matches so losing either has the same material difference. We need too many snookers it's out of our hands and the gap is too big. Nothing negative about just plain facts.
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It is 2 courses for a tenner at The Bartons on a Tuesday and we have another couple of Tuesday night home games yet.
Now that really pisses me off as I will have to eat both courses >:( How can I be positive?
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Do you want to bet against us
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It is over.
Had the results been reversed (lost to Wolves 3-1 and beat QPR 4-1) would we still have been so negative or much more upbeat? 3 points from 6 was what I expected but not how we achieved it.
Largely irrelevant. The manner of gaining 3 points from 6 doesn’t alter the fact that it’s not enough and there’s now a 7 point gap between us and second.
Yes absolutely irrelevant. We are not talking about emotional difference here. The fact is Cardiff's form meant we had to win both matches so losing either has the same material difference. We need too many snookers it's out of our hands and the gap is too big. Nothing negative about just plain facts.
Still not sure Cardiff have enough to be certainties from this position. What concerns me about last night is that I'm not sure we have enough to capitalise on any slip ups, especially as we have got a few midweek games coming up and looked so flat and devoid of energy last night.
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Do you want to bet against us
Sadly, I absolutely do. And probably will.
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Do you want to bet against us
Yes. Offer me some odds?
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I have not looked at oddschecker but my back of a fag packet would go 1/20 Wolves, 2/5 Cardiff, 4/6 Fulham, 6/4 Us, 2/1 the field for promotion. Much for us hinges on when and if we play Fulham in the play offs. It is Occam's Razor (I think). Head to head we are in with a good shout against Wolves or Cardiff but they have the points cushion. Fulham are the bogey.
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There's much I prefer about this league over the premier league. It is less pompous, attracts far less empty media dialogue and is more competitive. I suppose the thing I like most about it is that we win lots of games in it. So there lies the rub. I think the fact is that with FFP, we will be less competitive in this league next season, so we *need* to go up, but I won't be crying in my beer if it doesn't happen.
This is the first season in half a decade that I've enjoyed. So for that, even if we don't go up, the players and manager largely have my gratitude.
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That's the spirit.
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There's much I prefer about this league over the premier league. It is less pompous, attracts far less empty media dialogue and is more competitive. I suppose the thing I like most about it is that we win lots of games in it. So there lies the rub. I think the fact is that with FFP, we will be less competitive in this league next season, so we *need* to go up, but I won't be crying in my beer if it doesn't happen.
This is the first season in half a decade that I've enjoyed. So for that, even if we don't go up, the players and manager largely have my gratitude.
Kind of my opinion too. I want us to go up because otherwise there's nothing to aim for, but if we don't so be it. Maybe next year we'll have to use more of the youth players and hopefully the likes of RHM and O'Hare would play a leading role.
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Paul Lambert's dream of reducing Villa fans' expectations has come to pass.
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It's not over by a long shot. There are still nine games to go and they still have Wolves at their place and still have to come to us. We've a good side and have been on great form of late. One game doesn't mean that's all gone out the window.
I'm with Smirker. We could be right in the mix by the time they come to Villa Park.
It’s not the one game, it’s the seven points.
True, Riss, but that might be down to four points by Saturday night, with Cardiff having to go to Derby on Sunday. There are still twists and turns to come.
Until we are seven points behind with 44 played, then we can still do it.
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We’d absolutely ballsed up in ‘88, went into the last game needing to win and other results to go our way, drew, and found incredibly that the two other teams that could have took second spot lost at home to teams with nothing to play for.
It’s not over.
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There's much I prefer about this league over the premier league. It is less pompous, attracts far less empty media dialogue and is more competitive. I suppose the thing I like most about it is that we win lots of games in it. So there lies the rub. I think the fact is that with FFP, we will be less competitive in this league next season, so we *need* to go up, but I won't be crying in my beer if it doesn't happen.
This is the first season in half a decade that I've enjoyed. So for that, even if we don't go up, the players and manager largely have my gratitude.
Kind of my opinion too. I want us to go up because otherwise there's nothing to aim for, but if we don't so be it. Maybe next year we'll have to use more of the youth players and hopefully the likes of RHM and O'Hare would play a leading role.
The problem with this being that with every passing year and starting with next year we no longer have financial advantages over the also rans and will become one ourselves. So the enjoyment will soon dissipate. I honestly believe the other night was a watershed moment, this season's Stoke game. I just hope I am wrong.
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It's not over by a long shot. There are still nine games to go and they still have Wolves at their place and still have to come to us. We've a good side and have been on great form of late. One game doesn't mean that's all gone out the window.
I'm with Smirker. We could be right in the mix by the time they come to Villa Park.
It’s not the one game, it’s the seven points.
True, Riss, but that might be down to four points by Saturday night, with Cardiff having to go to Derby on Sunday. There are still twists and turns to come.
Until we are seven points behind with 44 played, then we can still do it.
Cardiff will do Derby. Derby will do well to make the play offs.
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We’d absolutely ballsed up in ‘88, went into the last game needing to win and other results to go our way, drew, and found incredibly that the two other teams that could have took second spot lost at home to teams with nothing to play for.
It’s not over.
I was thinking that the QPR result had similarities to those run-in home games in 88 v Stoke and Leeds. I'm hoping that our game v Cardiff will be the Bradford one.
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It's not over by a long shot. There are still nine games to go and they still have Wolves at their place and still have to come to us. We've a good side and have been on great form of late. One game doesn't mean that's all gone out the window.
I'm with Smirker. We could be right in the mix by the time they come to Villa Park.
It’s not the one game, it’s the seven points.
True, Riss, but that might be down to four points by Saturday night, with Cardiff having to go to Derby on Sunday. There are still twists and turns to come.
Until we are seven points behind with 44 played, then we can still do it.
Cardiff will do Derby. Derby will do well to make the play offs.
Agreed, they're falling apart. We just have to make sure we don't follow suit.
If I had to put my money on it now I'd say Villa v Fulham in the play-off finals which on paper would be a cracking affair. Who comes through that is anyone's guess really.
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It's not over by a long shot. There are still nine games to go and they still have Wolves at their place and still have to come to us. We've a good side and have been on great form of late. One game doesn't mean that's all gone out the window.
I'm with Smirker. We could be right in the mix by the time they come to Villa Park.
It’s not the one game, it’s the seven points.
True, Riss, but that might be down to four points by Saturday night, with Cardiff having to go to Derby on Sunday. There are still twists and turns to come.
Until we are seven points behind with 44 played, then we can still do it.
Cardiff will do Derby. Derby will do well to make the play offs.
Derby will have no Huddlestone if he gets suspended due to his red card
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I have not looked at oddschecker but my back of a fag packet would go 1/20 Wolves, 2/5 Cardiff, 4/6 Fulham, 6/4 Us, 2/1 the field for promotion. Much for us hinges on when and if we play Fulham in the play offs. It is Occam's Razor (I think). Head to head we are in with a good shout against Wolves or Cardiff but they have the points cushion. Fulham are the bogey.
Wolves 1/100
Cardiff 2/7
Fulham 1/1
Villa 15/8
Middlesborough 9/2
Derby 5/1
Bristol C and Sheff Utd 14/1
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It is over.
That's the spirit.
He's an accountant.
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It is over.
It's not you, it's me.
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Paul Lambert's dream of reducing Villa fans' expectations has come to pass.
Assue you mean me Brian - I'm just saying it like I see it. Making up the numbers in any league isn't my idea of having the right 'spirit'. And unless we spent £200m + that's all we'll be doing.
Don't get me wrong, I know where you're coming from. But Paul Lambert has jack shit to do with my opinion. I juts can't be arsed getting emotional about going back up to a league we will, at best, tread water in unless there is serious money available.
Nowt wrong with enjoying watching the Villa again.
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It is 2 courses for a tenner at The Bartons on a Tuesday and we have another couple of Tuesday night home games yet.
Now that really pisses me off as I will have to eat both courses >:( How can I be positive?
The brandy glazed chicken wings starter is a triumph.
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It is over.
It's not you, it's me.
haha
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There's much I prefer about this league over the premier league. It is less pompous, attracts far less empty media dialogue and is more competitive. I suppose the thing I like most about it is that we win lots of games in it. So there lies the rub. I think the fact is that with FFP, we will be less competitive in this league next season, so we *need* to go up, but I won't be crying in my beer if it doesn't happen.
This is the first season in half a decade that I've enjoyed. So for that, even if we don't go up, the players and manager largely have my gratitude.
Although I'd like to be in the Premiership, I prefer the football coverage on 5 than on the BBC - Colin Murray might be a "poor man's" Gary Lineker, but better for it too.
And it has been wonderful to play games and win ( more often than not.....)
And yes we should have beat QPR, but the win against SheffWed was lucky as they should have been clear of us by half-time. Its Swings and Roundabouts ( & slides and monkeybars for good measure)
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There's much I prefer about this league over the premier league. It is less pompous, attracts far less empty media dialogue and is more competitive. I suppose the thing I like most about it is that we win lots of games in it. So there lies the rub. I think the fact is that with FFP, we will be less competitive in this league next season, so we *need* to go up, but I won't be crying in my beer if it doesn't happen.
This is the first season in half a decade that I've enjoyed. So for that, even if we don't go up, the players and manager largely have my gratitude.
That's you and Doug who want to be in the Premiership
Although I'd like to be in the Premiership, I prefer the football coverage on 5 than on the BBC - Colin Murray might be a "poor man's" Gary Lineker, but better for it too.
And it has been wonderful to play games and win ( more often than not.....)
And yes we should have beat QPR, but the win against SheffWed was lucky as they should have been clear of us by half-time. Its Swings and Roundabouts ( & slides and monkeybars for good measure)
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We are in the third biggest football league in Europe for attendances,behind the Premier League and the Bundesliga,and certainly far more competitive than other major European leagues.
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Big reason for being 3rd rather than 4th or 5th is all the extra games as it was based on aggregate attendances not average. Plus Newcastle pulling 50K a week won't have hurt the numbers.
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I am still positive.
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Fair play Smirker, wish I was
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Fair play Smirker, wish I was
Don't worry old son, I've got enough positivity for both of us
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I'm still being positive.
Could be four points tomorrow.
It's on.
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I'm still being positive.
Could be four points tomorrow.
It's on.
This thread is amazing!! Imagine next Friday what it will be like!! Come on villa!!
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There's much I prefer about this league over the premier league. It is less pompous, attracts far less empty media dialogue and is more competitive. I suppose the thing I like most about it is that we win lots of games in it. So there lies the rub. I think the fact is that with FFP, we will be less competitive in this league next season, so we *need* to go up, but I won't be crying in my beer if it doesn't happen.
This is the first season in half a decade that I've enjoyed. So for that, even if we don't go up, the players and manager largely have my gratitude.
That's you and Doug who want to be in the Premiership
Although I'd like to be in the Premiership, I prefer the football coverage on 5 than on the BBC - Colin Murray might be a "poor man's" Gary Lineker, but better for it too.
And it has been wonderful to play games and win ( more often than not.....)
And yes we should have beat QPR, but the win against SheffWed was lucky as they should have been clear of us by half-time. Its Swings and Roundabouts ( & slides and monkeybars for good measure)
I agree with the whole theme that this is an enjoyable, genuine league and that it's been great to compete, but that really we should be in the Premier league. Has it indeed come to pass that we now see the joy of being a Baggies fan, alternating between championship promotion and Premier league survival, drama at every turn, nothing ever certain and Wembley trips booked for alternating years.
Boing Boing Villa Villa Boing Boing
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I can't wait to get out of this poxy league.
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I'm still being positive.
Could be four points tomorrow.
It's on.
This thread is amazing!! Imagine next Friday what it will be like!! Come on villa!!
Thanks footyskillz. Just trying to think of the positives and keep believing.
UTV
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I can't wait to get out of this poxy league.
Amen.
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There's nothing for us to play for in the Premier League. We'll never win the league or get in the CL, it'll be Europa at a push and bimbling around 7th to 15th forever with the odd cup run. The Championship is a far, far better league.
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There's nothing for us to play for in the Premier League. We'll never win the league or get in the CL, it'll be Europa at a push and bimbling around 7th to 15th forever with the odd cup run. The Championship is a far, far better league.
We won't win the league or qualify for the CL with the current team in the current footballing climate, no.
In my lifetime, Blackburn, Chelsea, Man City and Leicester have won the league. Granted, three of them required obscene levels of financial doping to win it and the other was a near miracle.
But the point is, things can change. We won't win it now, but we could in the future. Tottenham have come very close twice and are CL regulars now. Is it really that unthinkable that a club who have been champions of England seven times could win an eighth title?
One thing is certain - we won't win it playing in the Championship.
Being PL gives us a better chance of the cups too.
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Without a multi-billionaire willing to chuck about 1 or 2 billion quid at us then we've no chance. That's not going to happen, so I think it's time we pulled up a chair, relax, and accept our place with the also-rans.
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Without a multi-billionaire willing to chuck about 1 or 2 billion quid at us then we've no chance. That's not going to happen, so I think it's time we pulled up a chair, relax, and accept our place with the also-rans.
Spurs don't spend like an oil club and they challenge for the title and play in the CL every season.
Dortmund came back from the dead in Germany.
Montpellier won the French league.
I'm not accepting that we can never win the league again or even finish top 4.
It can be done with good running of the club.
It's just difficult.
We will get there eventually.
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The way we are playing at Norwich, not sure we will make the premier league next season
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I admire your optimism but I look at our record and we've won one league title in 108 years. Anything is possible I suppose, and we're due a win in 2052.
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Fuck off.
Call it off until the play offs. Time off work to see us Tuesday and Friday? These bottling gutless ******. Fuck off.
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(https://i.pinimg.com/736x/3b/93/2f/3b932fc2924f52b58da50e5f403f2d89--design-products-kitchen-accessories.jpg)
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Soon be summer.
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I'm still being positive, but accepted autos are gone now after today's pathetic loss. Horrific results recently.
But I'm positive we will go up via the play offs.
Who's with me!?!
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I'm still being positive, but accepted autos are gone now after today's pathetic loss. Horrific results recently.
But I'm positive we will go up via the play offs.
Who's with me!?!
Not me. On current form there's no way we'd even get to Wembley, never mind beat the likes of Fulham or Cardiff.
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Positive? Because the master tactician has got us into the playoffs, we should be happy we have got him! I’m amazed, it’s a disgrace we are not in the top two, or close. No positivity from me, angry and very disappointed
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I'd have snatched your hand off to be in this position last season. Get the one more win to confirm our play off place on Tuesday and help Fulham go up automatically. Millwall will get another 10 points max from the games they have left. Then rest some players because they look like they need it, give some of the fringe players/youngsters a run out. If we end up 6th and have to play a Cardiff team that's just dropped into the playoffs I'd take that. If you look at Hull's results in 2016 from January until the play off final it was a rollercoaster, seems to be the Bruce way. I still think we'll do it
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A big positive is I was out all day so knew nothing about the game until after FT. Small mercies and all that.
And this is still a shit poxy league.
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There's nothing for us to play for in the Premier League. We'll never win the league or get in the CL, it'll be Europa at a push and bimbling around 7th to 15th forever with the odd cup run. The Championship is a far, far better league.
This season has mostly been a breath of fresh air but really down to how terrible we've been since 2011.
It's not like we've dominated the league in the manner of a Wolves or Newcastle.
Not sure how much different this season is to the ones we had under MON given we're likely to finish 4th or 5th now and we finished 6th in those years.
I accept the premier league is a mostly a closed shop but you can still have decent top half seasons playing good football and winning plenty of games as Burnley are doing currently.
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I'm still being positive, but accepted autos are gone now after today's pathetic loss. Horrific results recently.
But I'm positive we will go up via the play offs.
Who's with me!?!
Count me out.
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I've enjoyed both this season and last but it's gone a bit sour last few weeks.
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I'm still being positive, but accepted autos are gone now after today's pathetic loss. Horrific results recently.
But I'm positive we will go up via the play offs.
Who's with me!?!
Count me out.
I mentioned Slim and none.
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We go again?
;)
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Feeling happier now the Play Offs are all but secured, a win on Friday to make it a mathematical certainty would be nice.
Showing Cardiff up for what they are was good too.
There's nobody to fear in these play offs.
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And we're back 8)
Still have a chance come on lads.
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I still think we can get 2nd :) :) :)
🔴🔵🔴🔵🔴🔵🔴
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W are not Sunderland
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Well after the last year of Gerrardball and now having a manager who knows what he's doing, with us just four points from Europe with more than half the season to go I thought I'd bring back my positivity thread.
We are challenging for Europe THIS SEASON.
Unai is magic.
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We are four points off top 6. We need to turn the goal difference around but upwardly mobile now, rather than looking over our shoulder.
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What a thread this is! It does feel like we're going to start scaring the league soon.
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We have survived 12 months of being managed by Steven Gerrard with our sanity just about intact.
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Frustrating we threw so many points away earlier in the season. And the league cup. But… we look like an organised team and have options. Also, a manager that is a proper manager, can adapt, knows how to change a game and seems like a good guy too. The new badge is ok as well.
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Well after the last year of Gerrardball and now having a manager who knows what he's doing, with us just four points from Europe with more than half the season to go I thought I'd bring back my positivity thread.
We are challenging for Europe THIS SEASON.
Unai is magic.
8)
When was the last time you felt this positive about the Villa?
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Lots of times only for it to be kicked into touch by a dreadful defeat in the next game. The last sustained period of positivity I honestly can’t remember. Even the MoN years our winning runs were huff and puff more than a controlled fashion like we are forging now.
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Lots of times only for it to be kicked into touch by a dreadful defeat in the next game. The last sustained period of positivity I honestly can’t remember. Even the MoN years our winning runs were huff and puff more than a controlled fashion like we are forging now.
And even under O'Neill, this was the time of year when everything usually fell apart.
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Lots of times only for it to be kicked into touch by a dreadful defeat in the next game. The last sustained period of positivity I honestly can’t remember. Even the MoN years our winning runs were huff and puff more than a controlled fashion like we are forging now.
My recollection is earlier.
Stoke was February. I think.
And even under O'Neill, this was the time of year when everything usually fell apart.
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Lots of times only for it to be kicked into touch by a dreadful defeat in the next game. The last sustained period of positivity I honestly can’t remember. Even the MoN years our winning runs were huff and puff more than a controlled fashion like we are forging now.
And even under O'Neill, this was the time of year when everything usually fell apart.
My recollection is earlier.
Stoke was February. I think.
(quote failure correction)
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For me it was probably prior to the Leeds game in our second season back.
Winning four on the bounce was ridiculous especially how it happened. The last minute Barkley winner, coincidentally also away to Leicester.
Hopefully this Forest game doesn't go the same way as the Leeds game did.
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My recollection is earlier.
Stoke was February. I think.
(quote failure correction)
March was always the month where we went to shit under O'Neill.
06/07 - D2 L1
07/08 - D2 L3
08/09 - D1 L3 (The draw was the 2-2 with Stoke that ruined everything)
09/10 - W1 D3 L1 (The loss was the 7-1 thrashing by Chelsea)
17 games in the month of March in 4 years, with 1 win.
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And we're back 8)
We're challenging for the Champions League places THIS SEASON.
Second top scorers in the league.
World class manager.
Join the positivity party.
Only negative right now is the shirts.
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...and the catering.
...and the commercial 'offers'.
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And the injuries.
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This is for positivity. We're still on course for CL even with the injuries and shit shirts!
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We've only just got started and made beating the new Brazil '70 6-1 look routine.
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I am afraid of positivity for The Villa.
Every time I start to get excited about our future, we remind me why I shouldn't, lol...
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We're class and I pretty much brush off any loss these days. Everton barely registered. Feels good.
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Well I don't think it's worthy of its own thread so I thought I'd post here.
We've got a good run of games coming up and I think we can get ourselves into the top four during it.
West Ham H
Luton H
Forest A
Fulham H
Our next four.
8 points has to be the absolute bare minimum for me from that. If we are serious about Champions League anyway. But I really could see us winning all four. None of them are as good as our team and none of them have a manager as good as we do.
I'm excited about these four games. Any team coming to VP now should be absolutely shitting themselves. You can't just turn up and take the piss any more.
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Yeah, they're a set of games that - with the greatest of respect for each of those teams - a club chasing Champions League football would look to get a double figure number of points.
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West Ham are another bogey side for us, somehow.
They used to be the easiest home win of the season.
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West Ham are another bogey side for us, somehow.
They used to be the easiest home win of the season.
I think you're forgetting we win every home game these days
(Adopting an Emeryesque approach to the Carabao Cup there by ignoring its existence)
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16 points from first 8 is a magnificent haul imo.
Considering the state of us on the opening day when we were badly exposed defensively and also lost two key players in 48 hours with potential season ending injuries and everyone would've snapped off the points total and place we currently are in the league.
We're well on track to be in the mix or "there or thereabouts" this season.
I mentioned it briefly on another thread but I don't get why we've played five away from just 8 games so far. When we're as strong at home as anytime since the mid 1990s it seems an unnecessary handicap compared to teams around us in the total who've played four or even five home games so far.
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We haven't really looked at our best this season so far, I don't think, and we are carrying some serious injury problems. We also got tonked at Liverpool, deservedly, although I think the Newcastle game was a one-off of particular circumstances.
However, despite all that, we are fifth in the league, and have tricky away games like Liverpool, Newcastle, Chelsea all behind us.
We also are still doing the 2 points a game thing, which is by and large Emery's record since coming here. Over a season that's 76 points, which puts us in the CL places.
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16 points from first 8 is a magnificent haul imo.
Considering the state of us on the opening day when we were badly exposed defensively and also lost two key players in 48 hours with potential season ending injuries and everyone would've snapped off the points total and place we currently are in the league.
We're well on track to be in the mix or "there or thereabouts" this season.
I mentioned it briefly on another thread but I don't get why we've played five away from just 8 games so far. When we're as strong at home as anytime since the mid 1990s it seems an unnecessary handicap compared to teams around us in the total who've played four or even five home games so far.
Because of the VP events this summer we asked for an additional away game in our opening games so the pitch would be OK. The next two are at home so we’ll be caught up on 5 home and 5 away by the end of the month.
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16 points from first 8 is a magnificent haul imo.
Considering the state of us on the opening day when we were badly exposed defensively and also lost two key players in 48 hours with potential season ending injuries and everyone would've snapped off the points total and place we currently are in the league.
We're well on track to be in the mix or "there or thereabouts" this season.
I mentioned it briefly on another thread but I don't get why we've played five away from just 8 games so far. When we're as strong at home as anytime since the mid 1990s it seems an unnecessary handicap compared to teams around us in the total who've played four or even five home games so far.
Because of the VP events this summer we asked for an additional away game in our opening games so the pitch would be OK. The next two are at home so we’ll be caught up on 5 home and 5 away by the end of the month.
I get that in August. In September though we really should've had three homes to balance things up as half the league seemingly has.
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16 points from first 8 is a magnificent haul imo.
Considering the state of us on the opening day when we were badly exposed defensively and also lost two key players in 48 hours with potential season ending injuries and everyone would've snapped off the points total and place we currently are in the league.
We're well on track to be in the mix or "there or thereabouts" this season.
I mentioned it briefly on another thread but I don't get why we've played five away from just 8 games so far. When we're as strong at home as anytime since the mid 1990s it seems an unnecessary handicap compared to teams around us in the total who've played four or even five home games so far.
Because of the VP events this summer we asked for an additional away game in our opening games so the pitch would be OK. The next two are at home so we’ll be caught up on 5 home and 5 away by the end of the month.
I get that in August. In September though we really should've had three homes to balance things up as half the league seemingly has.
It doesn't really matter though, and now we've got a fairly straight forward looking October/November after a nice two week break.
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16 points from first 8 is a magnificent haul imo.
Considering the state of us on the opening day when we were badly exposed defensively and also lost two key players in 48 hours with potential season ending injuries and everyone would've snapped off the points total and place we currently are in the league.
We're well on track to be in the mix or "there or thereabouts" this season.
I mentioned it briefly on another thread but I don't get why we've played five away from just 8 games so far. When we're as strong at home as anytime since the mid 1990s it seems an unnecessary handicap compared to teams around us in the total who've played four or even five home games so far.
I mentioned this elsewhere, but it is fitting for this thread too...
I think it is mighty impressive considering not only the injuries, but the Jekyll & Hyde nature of some of our performances too...
When we get Moreno & Ramsey back, & the defence clicks properly, we could be a very dangerous side...
And its a point I will stand by despite my fear of positivity...
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Aside from the many positives surrounding villa that have already been mentioned, I think its encouraging that our main challengers are not in great shakes at the moment!!
Spurs top of the league confirms that. They struggled to beat Luton and Sheffield Utd and media coverage has been way OTT.
Man City - Lost three in a row. Struggle without KDB and Rodri. Sold three top players, newbies not firing and Grealish not stepped up to the plate.
Arsenal - Solid but uninspiring.
Liverpool - Defensive frailties, midfield in transition, deadly attack.
Man Utd - Too many divas. shyte manager.
Brighton - Blow 'hot and cold'
Newcastle - Dodgy on the road.
Chelsea - Confused
On our day, we are capable of beating any of the above and it's a long time since I thought that. :)
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There's lots to be positive about and the media and pundits have now started to join in and have recognised Villa and Emery as a force.
So many now speak of our Club in glowing terms and contenders for challenges at the top echolens.
Just brilliant! Enjoying every moment.
Let us dare we dream of the big champions league nights?
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West Ham are another bogey side for us, somehow.
They used to be the easiest home win of the season.
And now they're only third....
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Is it just me that feels that a win against Luton on Sunday is about 98% likely? Anything other than a Villa win would feel like a freak result. I’m not convinced I’ve ever felt this confident about a win.
Not at all certain about tomorrow night’s game mind
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Is it just me that feels that a win against Luton on Sunday is about 98% likely? Anything other than a Villa win would feel like a freak result. I’m not convinced I’ve ever felt this confident about a win.
FFS mate!
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Is it just me that feels that a win against Luton on Sunday is about 98% likely? Anything other than a Villa win would feel like a freak result. I’m not convinced I’ve ever felt this confident about a win.
FFS mate!
I know....shakes head....
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Is it just me that feels that a win against Luton on Sunday is about 98% likely? Anything other than a Villa win would feel like a freak result. I’m not convinced I’ve ever felt this confident about a win.
FFS mate!
I know....shakes head....
The only way we could see an upset here is if we’re complacent. Just thinking all we have to do is turn up will not be tolerated by Emery.
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Is it just me that feels that a win against Luton on Sunday is about 98% likely? Anything other than a Villa win would feel like a freak result. I’m not convinced I’ve ever felt this confident about a win.
FFS mate!
I know....shakes head....
There was Fate, sitting there bored reading an old copy of Hello!, when suddenly his ears pricked up.
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Do you think if we lose to Luton it'll be like Old Trafford when they'd lost to someone average in the first few years after Fergie left? The TV cameras pan to the people in the crowd, mouths wide open in disbelief, women with hands over their mouths, kids almost (or actually) in tears, grown men with their heads in their hands, some rocking back and forth. Or do you think we've got some way to go to get to that level of entitlement :-)
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Next step is getting bored of winning.
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Lenglet, Bailey & Tielemans all came into the team and played brilliantly tonight.
The positivity is the depth we are starting to get in our squad. If we can keep the players happy, we are going places.
It's brilliant.
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Do you think if we lose to Luton it'll be like Old Trafford when they'd lost to someone average in the first few years after Fergie left? The TV cameras pan to the people in the crowd, mouths wide open in disbelief, women with hands over their mouths, kids almost (or actually) in tears, grown men with their heads in their hands, some rocking back and forth. Or do you think we've got some way to go to get to that level of entitlement :-)
Lose to Luton ! Come off it. And I get accused of writing nonsense?!
We're looking at a potential record win tomorrow!
I personally be more surprising if we didn't score 6 goals plus !
I really believe it's possible for 7 or 8 .
I not sure why you're entertaining defeat on a positive thread.
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Do you think if we lose to Luton it'll be like Old Trafford when they'd lost to someone average in the first few years after Fergie left? The TV cameras pan to the people in the crowd, mouths wide open in disbelief, women with hands over their mouths, kids almost (or actually) in tears, grown men with their heads in their hands, some rocking back and forth. Or do you think we've got some way to go to get to that level of entitlement :-)
Lose to Luton ! Come off it. And I get accused of writing nonsense?!
We're looking at a potential record win tomorrow!
I personally be more surprising if we didn't score 6 goals plus !
I really believe it's possible for 7 or 8 .
I not sure why you're entertaining defeat on a positive thread.
😂
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Lose to Luton ! Come off it. And I get accused of writing nonsense?!
We're looking at a potential record win tomorrow!
I personally be more surprising if we didn't score 6 goals plus !
I really believe it's possible for 7 or 8 .
I not sure why you're entertaining defeat on a positive thread.
Indeed, there are none so blind as those who will not see. Vamos El Maestro!
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Such a big quality gap between top 7/8 and bottom 10. Win home and away against the bottom 10 gives 60 points.beat top 9 at home but lose away. 27 more points. 87 points = top 3 at worst.
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Do you think if we lose to Luton it'll be like Old Trafford when they'd lost to someone average in the first few years after Fergie left? The TV cameras pan to the people in the crowd, mouths wide open in disbelief, women with hands over their mouths, kids almost (or actually) in tears, grown men with their heads in their hands, some rocking back and forth. Or do you think we've got some way to go to get to that level of entitlement :-)
Lose to Luton ! Come off it. And I get accused of writing nonsense?!
We're looking at a potential record win tomorrow!
I personally be more surprising if we didn't score 6 goals plus !
I really believe it's possible for 7 or 8 .
I not sure why you're entertaining defeat on a positive thread.
I expect a bg one but I'm still taking my 'we'll be back" flag just incase.
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Anyone else been looking at the league and thinking ... maybe .... just maybe?
Our form over the past 8 months has been pretty damn good. Excluding the brain farts against Liverpool & Newcastle (and Legia Warsaw, though we were mostly playing the stiffs in that one), we've been pretty bloody incredible so far this season, and that's with missing two of our most influential players (Tyrone Mings and Jacob Ramsey); Alex Moreno - who looked brilliant towards the end of last season, but probably hasn't played enough to be classed as 'influential' yet; and Emi2, who started to look pretty good at the end of last season too. Tielemans has taken a while to bed in, but is also beginning to look like the kind of player who plays for a top side.
I dunno, there's plenty of time for things to go horribly wrong ... but if we can keep going as we have been for another, what, 6 months? .... I mean, Man City will turn in to a machine come the 2nd half of the season, but I sort of think that we might too. Unai Emery just seems the sort of manager who'll get the squad fixated on righting the wrongs of the Newcastle & Liverpool matches, and end up going on a season-long winning streak in the process.
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Anyone else been looking at the league and thinking ... maybe .... just maybe?
Our form over the past 8 months has been pretty damn good. Excluding the brain farts against Liverpool & Newcastle (and Legia Warsaw, though we were mostly playing the stiffs in that one), we've been pretty bloody incredible so far this season, and that's with missing two of our most influential players (Tyrone Mings and Jacob Ramsey); Alex Moreno - who looked brilliant towards the end of last season, but probably hasn't played enough to be classed as 'influential' yet; and Emi2, who started to look pretty good at the end of last season too. Tielemans has taken a while to bed in, but is also beginning to look like the kind of player who plays for a top side.
I dunno, there's plenty of time for things to go horribly wrong ... but if we can keep going as we have been for another, what, 6 months? .... I mean, Man City will turn in to a machine come the 2nd half of the season, but I sort of think that we might too. Unai Emery just seems the sort of manager who'll get the squad fixated on righting the wrongs of the Newcastle & Liverpool matches, and end up going on a season-long winning streak in the process.
I'm hoping we can stay in this top 4-5 group, and if we do anything is possible. It looks a lot more competitive at the top this year with everybody capable of beating everybody else. As a few people have said now, we'll know more once we've played Spurs, Man City and Arsenal at the end of Nov/start of December. If we can keep spanking the lesser teams and can take points off the the likes of Man City and Liverpool, who knows?
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Anyone else been looking at the league and thinking ... maybe .... just maybe?
Our form over the past 8 months has been pretty damn good. Excluding the brain farts against Liverpool & Newcastle (and Legia Warsaw, though we were mostly playing the stiffs in that one), we've been pretty bloody incredible so far this season, and that's with missing two of our most influential players (Tyrone Mings and Jacob Ramsey); Alex Moreno - who looked brilliant towards the end of last season, but probably hasn't played enough to be classed as 'influential' yet; and Emi2, who started to look pretty good at the end of last season too. Tielemans has taken a while to bed in, but is also beginning to look like the kind of player who plays for a top side.
I dunno, there's plenty of time for things to go horribly wrong ... but if we can keep going as we have been for another, what, 6 months? .... I mean, Man City will turn in to a machine come the 2nd half of the season, but I sort of think that we might too. Unai Emery just seems the sort of manager who'll get the squad fixated on righting the wrongs of the Newcastle & Liverpool matches, and end up going on a season-long winning streak in the process.
I'm hoping we can stay in this top 4-5 group, and if we do anything is possible. It looks a lot more competitive at the top this year with everybody capable of beating everybody else. As a few people have said now, we'll know more once we've played Spurs, Man City and Arsenal at the end of Nov/start of December. If we can keep spanking the lesser teams and can take points off the the likes of Man City and Liverpool, who knows?
Yep, for the time being all I want is for us to keep building on the gap between us and Newcastle/Brighton/whoever. If we go into January and there's still a very clear top5, with us in it, then we'll have given ourselves a chance to really kick on and with something genuinely exciting to offer to new signings.
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Do you think if we lose to Luton it'll be like Old Trafford when they'd lost to someone average in the first few years after Fergie left? The TV cameras pan to the people in the crowd, mouths wide open in disbelief, women with hands over their mouths, kids almost (or actually) in tears, grown men with their heads in their hands, some rocking back and forth. Or do you think we've got some way to go to get to that level of entitlement :-)
Lose to Luton ! Come off it. And I get accused of writing nonsense?!
We're looking at a potential record win tomorrow!
I personally be more surprising if we didn't score 6 goals plus !
I really believe it's possible for 7 or 8 .
I not sure why you're entertaining defeat on a positive thread.
I have only just noticed this.
The post was a piss-take of entitled fans (specifically Man Utd), not a prediction of the result. I'm not surprised i've had to come back to explain that to you though for fucks sake !
Anyway, your prediction was bollocks although i will admit that we should have had 6 and shouldn't have conceded.
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Talking positivity, it's hard to think of anything negative at all around the club directly related to what's happening on the pitch. The manager appears to be one of the best we've ever had, the owners have splashed enough cash to be able to buy a superstar in the making in Diaby and we have a tremendous squad at the moment who all seem happy. Long may it continue.
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Sweaty shirts.
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Someone called Dan Bardell is being as positive as a Brummie can be.
There is "no reason" why Aston Villa can't qualify for the Champions League this season according to fan and broadcaster Dan Bardell.
A run of five wins in their last six Premier League games leaves Unai Emery's side fifth in the table, four points behind leaders Tottenham.
On how realistic it is for Villa to jump from the Europa Conference League this season to the Champions League next year, Bardell told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I think depending how the coefficients go, we know that fifth place may well get Champions League football this year.
"I look at the Premier League at the moment and Tottenham are going brilliantly. There’s Liverpool, there’s Arsenal and there’s Manchester City as well who I think will be the top three. I do think Tottenham will fall away a bit.
"But after those three teams, I don’t think there is a massive amount of difference between the other teams in that position. Manchester United aren’t there, Chelsea aren’t really there either. I don’t think Brighton are going as well as they were last season.
"So I see no reason why Villa can’t compete to finish fourth or fifth. We have got such a good team and Unai Emery just deals with everything that comes his way. His tactical plans are so well-instructed, the players know exactly what they are supposed to be doing both on and off the ball every single minute of every game.
"They can just adapt and Emery leaves no stone unturned. The fact that we are where we are, it’s absolutely staggering what we’re doing at the moment."
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Remember last season when we just kept on winning but could not move away from 11th and Chelsea
It is how i feel now with top 4 - need a couple above us to start dropping a few points although we have Spurzzz, Shitty and the Arse in our sights - we could do with taking points off them as well as beating the dross like Luton, Burnley and Chelsea ;)
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Anyone else been looking at the league and thinking ... maybe .... just maybe?
Our form over the past 8 months has been pretty damn good. Excluding the brain farts against Liverpool & Newcastle (and Legia Warsaw, though we were mostly playing the stiffs in that one), we've been pretty bloody incredible so far this season, and that's with missing two of our most influential players (Tyrone Mings and Jacob Ramsey); Alex Moreno - who looked brilliant towards the end of last season, but probably hasn't played enough to be classed as 'influential' yet; and Emi2, who started to look pretty good at the end of last season too. Tielemans has taken a while to bed in, but is also beginning to look like the kind of player who plays for a top side.
I dunno, there's plenty of time for things to go horribly wrong ... but if we can keep going as we have been for another, what, 6 months? .... I mean, Man City will turn in to a machine come the 2nd half of the season, but I sort of think that we might too. Unai Emery just seems the sort of manager who'll get the squad fixated on righting the wrongs of the Newcastle & Liverpool matches, and end up going on a season-long winning streak in the process.
I was going to post a thread called 'The T Word' but decided not to until Forest and Fulham have been played and if we get 6 points from that.
Then I'll post it.
Why not? Let's dream.
I think it's too early even for me as an ultra positive deluded Villa fan to start talking about it. But I did see tweets from fans of other clubs (MU and Chelsea) over the weekend asking that same question.
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This bloody club has even deprived me of the masochistic pleasure of being miserable now.
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Bloody hell the medjia was blowing smoke up Spurs arsehole after scraping a few dodgy wins over Sheffield and Luton
If we get through Forest & Fulham with 6 points* heading into the Spurs game with potentially JJ and Alex back - who knows
*More probable is Luiz / Digne get yellows in either of those game and miss the Spurs game.
Maybe a strategic "yellow" for both if we are comfortable at Forest.
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Well I don't think it's worthy of its own thread so I thought I'd post here.
We've got a good run of games coming up and I think we can get ourselves into the top four during it.
West Ham H
Luton H
Forest A
Fulham H
Our next four.
8 points has to be the absolute bare minimum for me from that. If we are serious about Champions League anyway. But I really could see us winning all four. None of them are as good as our team and none of them have a manager as good as we do.
I'm excited about these four games. Any team coming to VP now should be absolutely shitting themselves. You can't just turn up and take the piss any more.
Mad looking back at this now because if we do end up getting 8 points, I'd be disappointed considering how the last two games have gone.
Should be 10 now.
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I'm getting a sign...two numbers...1 and 2.....twelve? Yes, 12 points...and something else....top of the...it's flat with four legs. Table, yes, that's it, top of the table.
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I'm getting a sign...two numbers...1 and 2.....twelve? Yes, 12 points...and something else....top of the...it's flat with four legs. Table, yes, that's it, top of the table.
That's what this thread is for 8)
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Looking at the bottom three, on a points per game basis, we have already avoided relegation this season.
Pretty good after 10 games!!
Now its, onwards and upwards :)
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Someone called Dan Bardell is being as positive as a Brummie can be.
There is "no reason" why Aston Villa can't qualify for the Champions League this season according to fan and broadcaster Dan Bardell.
A run of five wins in their last six Premier League games leaves Unai Emery's side fifth in the table, four points behind leaders Tottenham.
On how realistic it is for Villa to jump from the Europa Conference League this season to the Champions League next year, Bardell told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I think depending how the coefficients go, we know that fifth place may well get Champions League football this year.
"I look at the Premier League at the moment and Tottenham are going brilliantly. There’s Liverpool, there’s Arsenal and there’s Manchester City as well who I think will be the top three. I do think Tottenham will fall away a bit.
"But after those three teams, I don’t think there is a massive amount of difference between the other teams in that position. Manchester United aren’t there, Chelsea aren’t really there either. I don’t think Brighton are going as well as they were last season.
"So I see no reason why Villa can’t compete to finish fourth or fifth. We have got such a good team and Unai Emery just deals with everything that comes his way. His tactical plans are so well-instructed, the players know exactly what they are supposed to be doing both on and off the ball every single minute of every game.
"They can just adapt and Emery leaves no stone unturned. The fact that we are where we are, it’s absolutely staggering what we’re doing at the moment."
I love the way they sneaked in that Dan Bardell is a Villa fan, as if to say that his opinion is not really worth the paper written on as he is a biased fan of the club.
We don't get, "Melissa Reddy, who is a Liverpool fan, followed by her opinion on Liverpool", whenever she does an article about Liverpool.
Condescending pieces of shit...
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Who is Dan Bardell?
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Who is Dan Bardell?
I am Spartacus...
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I've been going since 1966.
The last time I had a really positive outlook was in 1996. We won the LC, were in the semis of FA Cup, and 4th in the League. It proved to be a false dawn, if Collymore had come off who knows ?
This team is better than Sir Brians team, it's better than Big Rons team, it better than Sir Grahams team.
I suspect in time it's going to prove at least the equal or better than Ron Saunders 76/77 and 80/81 teams.
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This bloody club has even deprived me of the masochistic pleasure of being miserable now.
In the past seasons whenever I set off for Villa Park and someone said enjoy the game I looked at them with total bewilderment. Clearly they don't understand a football fans state of mind getting ready to take up his/her seat in the stadium. Whatever else comes to be one thing you know is that it's NOT enjoyment. It's or was always sheer misery for 90 plus minutes and you may be lucky and team wins. So relief yes enjoyment NO.
That was until this season and long may it continue.
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I've been going since 1966.
The last time I had a really positive outlook was in 1996. We won the LC, were in the semis of FA Cup, and 4th in the League. It proved to be a false dawn, if Collymore had come off who knows ?
This team is better than Sir Brians team, it's better than Big Rons team, it better than Sir Grahams team.
I suspect in time it's going to prove at least the equal or better than Ron Saunders 76/77 and 80/81 teams.
Correct ALITA. When I were a kid I was confident for almost every match but then it was Saunders team however in my grown up life I have only ever been confident about two matches where I had no doubt whatsoever that we will thrash the opposition. One was the 96 League Cup final and the other was 5-1 demolition of Small Heath.
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This bloody club has even deprived me of the masochistic pleasure of being miserable now.
;D
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Who is Dan Bardell?
I am Spartacus...
He's the new Howard Hodgson
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This bloody club has even deprived me of the masochistic pleasure of being miserable now.
Have you tried watching Eastenders?
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As of today, we're projected to be in next season's Champions League.
Positive link. (https://twitter.com/FootRankings/status/1719062864843981000?t=8wfIsqqNE6pMs9OVVzim3g&s=19)
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As of today, we're projected to be in next season's Champions League.
Positive link. (https://twitter.com/FootRankings/status/1719062864843981000?t=8wfIsqqNE6pMs9OVVzim3g&s=19)
I know we aren't there yet, by a long way, but the fact we are in the discussion should make everyone feel very proud. We haven't had to cheat or be backed by an oil state to get to this point.
I need to calm down. We're only ten games in.
I'm excited for Villa even when the team is doing shit but if we're still in with a shot by the beginning of May next year I'm going to be like a kid at Christmas x 50.
I definitely prefer this to a relegation fight 8)
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As of today, we're projected to be in next season's Champions League.
Positive link. (https://twitter.com/FootRankings/status/1719062864843981000?t=8wfIsqqNE6pMs9OVVzim3g&s=19)
Had a quick look to see if 538 were doing their predicted finishes, but it isn't up yet after 10 games and they're still showing last season's table.
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Is it just me that feels that a win against Luton on Sunday is about 98% likely? Anything other than a Villa win would feel like a freak result. I’m not convinced I’ve ever felt this confident about a win.
FFS mate!
I know....shakes head....
Have faith. Football is easy when you’ve got Unai Emery as coach.
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Who is Dan Bardell?
I am Spartacus...
He's the new Howard Hodgson
Why does that name ring a bell?
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As a team, we are currently as good as anything since 1980/81. However, as individual elements of the team, I think they have been better in the past 40 years. For example, the defence’s with McGrath, or even O’Neills best back four. And upfront maybe Yorke or Benteke.
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I'm so positive this is a brilliant feeling watching Aston Villa we have the bad times now it's the good times long may it continue.
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Before reading this, YES, I KNOW BEING GREAT IS BETTER THAN BEING SHIT, so don't tell me the obvious.
Anyway, this post inspired a bit by reading something Monty wrote in the Forest thread, which chimed with me, but does anyone else find themselves increasingly nervous the longer our run of good results goes on?
I mean, it's like we've emerged from a decade plus of mostly shit, in which the predominant emotion prior to a match was that things would go as shitly as they always do, to stumble into a new era where we are, frankly, fucking great only to find that presents itself with a whole new raft of emotions?
I'm looking at the top five and how tight it is, and how there's at least now a gap forming behind us, and how despite winning very frequently, the standards up there are so high that it isn't enough to move you up the table that much, because all the teams up there are great, meaning that dropping any points at all is potentially expensive.
I find this makes watching our games on telly (or stream) really tense (this as I've always found watching on telly way more stressful than watching at the ground).
I guess it's part of supporting us in recent years, that feeling that we're going to bollocks it up at some point, because, other than about 3 or 4 years in my 50 plus years of life experience, that's basically what Villa do (I am not permitting promotions in that tally, as IMO, getting promoted just balances out getting relegated in the first place, so it's zero sum).
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It takes such a long time to readjust your mindset after so many years of being either fairly average or absolutely dreadful. Lots of people were expecting a "typical Villa" performance against Luton, but what transpired was the most boringly straightforward win in years. I think the only thing that might derail us is further injuries, as we just haven't got the strength in depth that other teams around us have. Other than that though, averaging 2 points a game for as long as we have doesn't happen by chance.
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I mean, it's like we've emerged from a decade plus of mostly shit, in which the predominant emotion prior to a match was that things would go as shitly as they always do, to stumble into a new era where we are, frankly, fucking great only to find that presents itself with a whole new raft of emotions?
It won't be the first time we've gone from the second division to Champions of Europe in less than a decade. Enjoy the ride! 8)
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Before reading this, YES, I KNOW BEING GREAT IS BETTER THAN BEING SHIT, so don't tell me the obvious.
Anyway, this post inspired a bit by reading something Monty wrote in the Forest thread, which chimed with me, but does anyone else find themselves increasingly nervous the longer our run of good results goes on?
I mean, it's like we've emerged from a decade plus of mostly shit, in which the predominant emotion prior to a match was that things would go as shitly as they always do, to stumble into a new era where we are, frankly, fucking great only to find that presents itself with a whole new raft of emotions?
I'm looking at the top five and how tight it is, and how there's at least now a gap forming behind us, and how despite winning very frequently, the standards up there are so high that it isn't enough to move you up the table that much, because all the teams up there are great, meaning that dropping any points at all is potentially expensive.
I find this makes watching our games on telly (or stream) really tense (this as I've always found watching on telly way more stressful than watching at the ground).
I guess it's part of supporting us in recent years, that feeling that we're going to bollocks it up at some point, because, other than about 3 or 4 years in my 50 plus years of life experience, that's basically what Villa do (I am not permitting promotions in that tally, as IMO, getting promoted just balances out getting relegated in the first place, so it's zero sum).
I found myself thinking today, what if we do beat Forest, Fulham, get some sort of result at spurs, but then lose to Man City and possibly to Arsenal, how will I and the supporters in general react. And I started worrying about this, which I know is a bit ridiculous and irrational.
I think its called something to lose and the hope being the thing that kills and all that.
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It takes such a long time to readjust your mindset after so many years of being either fairly average or absolutely dreadful. Lots of people were expecting a "typical Villa" performance against Luton, but what transpired was the most boringly straightforward win in years. I think the only thing that might derail us is further injuries, as we just haven't got the strength in depth that other teams around us have. Other than that though, averaging 2 points a game for as long as we have doesn't happen by chance.
Yeah, I know, but, you know.
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As long as we put up a better showing against Spurs, Man City and Arsenal than we did Newcastle and Liverpool, I don't really mind. I think we will, as well. And as long as we don't get absolutely done by VAR or the refs, either.
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It's even a good time to be an armchair Villa fan, from our next ten league games six of them are televised.
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Before reading this, YES, I KNOW BEING GREAT IS BETTER THAN BEING SHIT, so don't tell me the obvious.
Anyway, this post inspired a bit by reading something Monty wrote in the Forest thread, which chimed with me, but does anyone else find themselves increasingly nervous the longer our run of good results goes on?
I mean, it's like we've emerged from a decade plus of mostly shit, in which the predominant emotion prior to a match was that things would go as shitly as they always do, to stumble into a new era where we are, frankly, fucking great only to find that presents itself with a whole new raft of emotions?
I'm looking at the top five and how tight it is, and how there's at least now a gap forming behind us, and how despite winning very frequently, the standards up there are so high that it isn't enough to move you up the table that much, because all the teams up there are great, meaning that dropping any points at all is potentially expensive.
I find this makes watching our games on telly (or stream) really tense (this as I've always found watching on telly way more stressful than watching at the ground).
I guess it's part of supporting us in recent years, that feeling that we're going to bollocks it up at some point, because, other than about 3 or 4 years in my 50 plus years of life experience, that's basically what Villa do (I am not permitting promotions in that tally, as IMO, getting promoted just balances out getting relegated in the first place, so it's zero sum).
I found myself thinking today, what if we do beat Forest, Fulham, get some sort of result at spurs, but then lose to Man City and possibly to Arsenal, how will I and the supporters in general react. And I started worrying about this, which I know is a bit ridiculous and irrational.
I think its called something to lose and the hope being the thing that kills and all that.
Briefly the other day, I caught myself thinking about a title challenge.
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It'll be interesting to see how we cope with the 8 games we have in December. As for us losing, we will at some point. We do tend to bounce back quickly though under Emery apart from that run last year when we let a few in. Each game as it comes and all that.
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Paulie has just described exactly how I feel but I also acknowledge Dave Woodhall's point that us feeling like that is a big part of what hold the club back. 40+ years of expecting our next step to be the one of the cliff edge has led to an ingrained view of our own club not being deserving of being consistently successful. Just like our acceptance of the Unai Emery style of patient build-up from the back on the pitch we have to begin to see our club as long-term winners rather than feel inferior to the media's favourite clubs just because that same media tell us that's how we should feel. If that means we need to shift our traditional Brummie pessimism to something nearer to the arrogance associated with Mancs or Scousers then that is what we need to do.
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I mean, it's like we've emerged from a decade plus of mostly shit, in which the predominant emotion prior to a match was that things would go as shitly as they always do, to stumble into a new era where we are, frankly, fucking great only to find that presents itself with a whole new raft of emotions?
I like the cut of your jib, sir 8)
It won't be the first time we've gone from the second division to Champions of Europe in less than a decade. Enjoy the ride! 8)
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It'll be interesting to see how we cope with the 8 games we have in December. As for us losing, we will at some point. We do tend to bounce back quickly though under Emery apart from that run last year when we let a few in. Each game as it comes and all that.
The level of consistency since that run of games has been astonishing. We just feel like a train running on the most even of tracks now.
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As long as we put up a better showing against Spurs, Man City and Arsenal than we did Newcastle and Liverpool, I don't really mind. I think we will, as well. And as long as we don't get absolutely done by VAR or the refs, either.
Have you noticed how, and I know I'm tempting fate here, VAR and such things don't seem to fuck us up nearly as much as it used to and does to lesser teams?
It might be just me, I don't know.
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Before reading this, YES, I KNOW BEING GREAT IS BETTER THAN BEING SHIT, so don't tell me the obvious.
Anyway, this post inspired a bit by reading something Monty wrote in the Forest thread, which chimed with me, but does anyone else find themselves increasingly nervous the longer our run of good results goes on?
I mean, it's like we've emerged from a decade plus of mostly shit, in which the predominant emotion prior to a match was that things would go as shitly as they always do, to stumble into a new era where we are, frankly, fucking great only to find that presents itself with a whole new raft of emotions?
I'm looking at the top five and how tight it is, and how there's at least now a gap forming behind us, and how despite winning very frequently, the standards up there are so high that it isn't enough to move you up the table that much, because all the teams up there are great, meaning that dropping any points at all is potentially expensive.
I find this makes watching our games on telly (or stream) really tense (this as I've always found watching on telly way more stressful than watching at the ground).
I guess it's part of supporting us in recent years, that feeling that we're going to bollocks it up at some point, because, other than about 3 or 4 years in my 50 plus years of life experience, that's basically what Villa do (I am not permitting promotions in that tally, as IMO, getting promoted just balances out getting relegated in the first place, so it's zero sum).
Going back to this, I'm finding the exact opposite.
I fully understand where you're coming from but the manner of how we're going about things is leading me to sit relaxed watching us, not shitting bricks when opponents have the ball or remotely intimidated by their previous exploits.
My problem is with reality itself, it feels a bit like some weird out-of-body-experience that I'm watching in a dream state. I fear I'm going to wake up at some point and Gerrard will still be in charge and Connor Gallagher will be our record signing that just 'needs time'.
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It takes such a long time to readjust your mindset after so many years of being either fairly average or absolutely dreadful. Lots of people were expecting a "typical Villa" performance against Luton, but what transpired was the most boringly straightforward win in years. I think the only thing that might derail us is further injuries, as we just haven't got the strength in depth that other teams around us have. Other than that though, averaging 2 points a game for as long as we have doesn't happen by chance.
I slightly disagree because I think our squad has as much depth as Spurs and isn't massively weaker than Arsenal either, take 4 of the matchday 20 (3 starters) out of either of those squads and I think they'd look as thin as we do.
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We also need to get used to this feeling of actually being successful and not having things fall apart because the manager doesn't actually attend training, or his entire plan is on us rolling up sleeves or giving it our best shot against the next opponent. This manager and team are obsessed with preparation and winning. And even when we don't win, he learns from it. He doesn't depend on bits of magic or needing to look anyone in the eye. He doesn't need to go again. He doesn't create bomb squads or divisions within the camp. It's ruthless levels of prep and accountability that happens if you want to be the best. We are a long way from the finished product. We've won nothing at all under Emery. But the trajectory is something we can all rely on and enjoy because of who is in charge.
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I genuinely feel that Shitty and to a lesser degree 'The Mighty Reds YNWA' are significantly better equipped to be the top 2 teams in this division with Shitty being the stronger of the 2.
Then i can actually see us having no fear / complex about the likes of Arsenal & Sperms who i now consider to be on an equal footing with ourselves for the race for 3rd / 4th / 5th spot.
Win against Forest and Fulham, almost secure our league position in Conf league with a win against AZ and i see us going to Sperms and scaring the shit out of them.
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For the first time I remember, we now have:
1) Fantastic and wealthy owners with business guile.
2) One of the top three managers in the league
3) The means to retain our star players (many poached over the years)
4) Increasing strength in depth
5) Great stadium and fan base
6) The fear factor (read other teams forums, even Notts Forest next Sunday)
It's only natural to expect us to win a lot more than we lose. We have replaced Manchester United in the pecking order.
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Going back to what Paulie said about being more nervous when we're good. I found the end of last season progressively more stressful as it looked like we might actually qualify for Europe. I suppose it's the longer term equivalent of being more nervous st 1-0 than 0-0 because you're worried about chucking it away
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For the first time I remember, we now have:
1) Fantastic and wealthy owners with business guile.
2) One of the top three managers in the league
3) The means to retain our star players (many poached over the years)
4) Increasing strength in depth
5) Great stadium and fan base
6) The fear factor (read other teams forums, even Notts Forest next Sunday)
It's only natural to expect us to win a lot more than we lose. We have replaced Manchester United in the pecking order.
Great points - especially the part about other teams fans comments. I think this is brought on by
A manager who has never been heard to criticise refs or VAR - even when we have had some shitty ones against us.
Even though we have very wealthy owners we have not threw money around like a drunken sailor on shore leave.
We are as much surprised at our form for the last 12 months as most people and are enjoying it instead of being arrogant and claiming we are the 2nd coming (yes i mean you Wolves wankers)
There are not many individual players in the core of our team that i would swap for any others - and that is not just ability but also their humble attitude
Long may it continue
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The core of our team have joined and grown with the club now, there's been ups and downs along the way but it's mostly ups. I think there's a bond that's not there in most other teams and I think it will help with keeping hold of those we don't want to lose.
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Bumping this. Never lose sight of the championship days and how we would kill to be where we are now. Ftf utv and vtid. And other cliches! Now let’s funeral Fulham! Up the fucking villa!!!!!!
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For the first time I remember, we now have:
1) Fantastic and wealthy owners with business guile.
2) One of the top three managers in the league
3) The means to retain our star players (many poached over the years)
4) Increasing strength in depth
5) Great stadium and fan base
6) The fear factor (read other teams forums, even Notts Forest next Sunday)
It's only natural to expect us to win a lot more than we lose. We have replaced Manchester United in the pecking order.
Point number 6 made my balls tingle.
Can't wait to poach their players. Although there isn't one I'd take at the moment. Maybe Garnacho?
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Bumping this. Never lose sight of the championship days and how we would kill to be where we are now. Ftf utv and vtid. And other cliches! Now let’s funeral Fulham! Up the fucking villa!!!!!!
Its such a great thread. We got very, very close to promotion as well when I posted it and we were miles off.
When we win one of the big three, this thread will be locked and preserved in the H&V hall of fame.
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I've decided we're going top before 2023 is up and we'll see how we go from there.
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I think we're going to win the league.
Please come back and check this post in May.
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I think we're going to win the league.
Please come back and check this post in May.
Do you genuinely think this? Cos I think we could go top over the next few weeks but even I don't think we'll win the league.
Who knows though, going top might cause an explosion of adrenaline that powers us through one game at a time.
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I've decided we're going top before 2023 is up and we'll see how we go from there.
If we go top by Xmas, Jenas might admit we're in the mix for a top half finish.
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In my opinion our next three games are our most important league games in decades in the sense of what we could achieve.
Bournemouth A
MC H
Arsenal H
If we come away from those with two wins and a draw then I think it's time to get really excited. We haven't beaten MC in the league since 2013 when Weimann scored that winner. We are due one. I don't fear Arsenal, I think we'll beat those.
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In my opinion our next three games are our most important league games in decades in the sense of what we could achieve.
Bournemouth A
MC H
Arsenal H
If we come away from those with two wins and a draw then I think it's time to get really excited. We haven't beaten MC in the league since 2013 when Weimann scored that winner. We are due one. I don't fear Arsenal, I think we'll beat those.
I don't think we will, but if we play as poorly against Arsenal and Oil CuntsMcCuntycunts as we did in that first half against Spurs, we'll be in big trouble.
Let's fucking smash the pair of them.
As an aside, I look forward to the massive gulf in class attitude-wise, win, lose or draw, in the post match manager interviews.
Unai versus possibly two of football's biggest foreskins - Giant baby Guardiola and Scott Tracy
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Waking up with The Villa in the Top Four.
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It's going to be interesting to see where we are after we get through these batch of games in December.
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I'm really enjoying the ride at the moment and long may it continue.
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Positivity still scares me & I think that as soon as I start to get really excited, I will jinx the fuck out of our season.
Emery is slowly reprogramming the way I think regarding the Villa, but I have been a fan for over 40 years, so that kind of experience means that its difficult to change the way one thinks overnight.
But by god, it feels great to be sat in 4th at the moment...
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I think both Citeh and Liverpool will be too strong this season but 3rd is there for the taking
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Oh it's a massive positive feeling tonight !!!
All aboard the Emery Express !
Ain't no stopping us!
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Great thread.
I could not be any more positive about the Villa right now.
Atmosphere on Saturday is going to be electric after that.
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Great thread.
I could not be any more positive about the Villa right now.
Atmosphere on Saturday is going to be electric after that.
8) 8) 8)
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It has been a magic year to be a villa fan, we are right in the mix.
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Great thread.
I could not be any more positive about the Villa right now.
Atmosphere on Saturday is going to be electric after that.
8) 8) 8)
Evening mate. Hope you are smirking tonight like I am 8)
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It s not easy to be a Villafan these days and find an outlet for moaning at anything Villarelated. Myself I have found the thing that we need a RB.
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I don't like they hyped up player announcemnets on the PA, so there's that.
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There's always the Lower Grounds to moan about, of course.
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I feel so positive about the Villa.
The only thing that can make this week better is if the club announce Nike as our new kit maker.
UTV
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Still need a couple of wins if we're to avoid a relegation scrap.
In other news, I'm working out how I'm going to pay for going on holiday to Athens along with the last home game of the season, and maybe an off-the-cuff trip down to South London in May...
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Still need a couple of wins if we're to avoid a relegation scrap.
In other news, I'm working out how I'm going to pay for going on holiday to Athens along with the last home game of the season, and maybe an off-the-cuff trip down to South London in May...
Just bet on the Villa every weekend.
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Still need a couple of wins if we're to avoid a relegation scrap.
In other news, I'm working out how I'm going to pay for going on holiday to Athens along with the last home game of the season, and maybe an off-the-cuff trip down to South London in May...
Just bet on the Villa every weekend.
I won £78 on a Man City/Arsenal double last night! The cash outs were really tempting too but I held on!
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Looking back on the start of this thread - incredible journey.
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Bringing positivity to some kids who need a cheering up at Christmas. Well done skipper. Hoping Bert didn’t get injured carrying that bag.
https://x.com/1onkarsingh/status/1737520651764711569?s=46
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It was a bad one last night, but it’s still been a fantastic first half of the season. We need to battle hard and get 3 points against Burnley, but most of the sides near the top have had a shaky run - we’ve got injuries and suspensions to key players, although that seems to go under the radar from outside commentators. We’ll bounce back.
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Agree, we'd all have taken this amount of points after 19 games, no question. A couple of new faces in Jan, some time to give JJ the chance to get fit, Diaby to find his early season form and Kamera/Torres back in the 11, all will be good.
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Think the January mini break will help too. I'm still feeling positive.
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It was a bad one last night, but it’s still been a fantastic first half of the season. We need to battle hard and get 3 points against Burnley, but most of the sides near the top have had a shaky run - we’ve got injuries and suspensions to key players, although that seems to go under the radar from outside commentators. We’ll bounce back.
Agree, it's been a great first half to the season. Currently sit 3rd in the league and through to the knockout stages of the European competition with the FA Cup coming up.
After Saturday, we will.have reached a point of the season where we will mostly only have one game a week for a couple of months and can regroup somewhat, add a few reinforcements and push again.
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Every single person on this board would've taken the points leads we have against Newcastle, Man. United and Brighton after the trauma of the opening day.
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Unai giving it all a sense of perspective with his '39 points at the halfway stage' being absolutely brilliant. Rightly so. Although it didn't feel like that last night.
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I see the "Press" are now saying that M.City are keeping pace with L.Pool & Arse, no mention of AVFC.
I see that as a positive, let them write us off at their peril.
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I see the "Press" are now saying that M.City are keeping pace with L.Pool & Arse, no mention of AVFC.
I see that as a positive, let them write us off at their peril.
It's really not that surprising after that completely gutless performance against Man U. If we want to be taken seriously we can't putting on displays like that.
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Having calmed down, and watched the highlights, if we had a bit of luck and taken either of the SJM or the Bailey chances I think we would have won that game.
Fine margins that will average out over a season
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This is the positivity thread so to be in the conversation at the top of the League after 50% of the games is insane.
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We’re in a very good place. With half the season gone we’ve maybe lost 1 too many games but haven’t drawn too many so that balances out and are in the mix for Champs League with an outside chance of a title shot. The last few weeks have really stretched the squad which can be rectified in the next few weeks. With the 2 week mini winter break coming up after the Everton game I’m feeling positive about a reset and further progress in the second half of the season.
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I'm delighted with the first half of the season. I thought we'd be better than last season.but didn't expect it to have gone as well as it as so far. There's been a few mis-steps which is inevitable and there's room for improvement but overall, I'm happy with it so far.
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Having finally calmed down after Boxing Day result, it really is remarkable we have 39 points at the halfway stage.
For perspective that total beats 5 seasons where the total points achieved was less than 39 through the whole season!
If we get 78 points, i.e. repeat the first half season performance, that will comfortably beat our previous highest PL total of 74 points achieved in 92/93.
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Back in after tonight's results 8)
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I see the "Press" are now saying that M.City are keeping pace with L.Pool & Arse, no mention of AVFC.
I see that as a positive, let them write us off at their peril.
To echo what Neil said:
BBC Sport online coverage of Arse v Spam, after Spam had taken the lead:
"It's suddenly quiet inside The Emirates. But that you can be sure that goal was celebrated loudly all the way back in Liverpool and Manchester."
Err, what about Brum?
Fucking Big6 centric tossers.
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Thought I'd post this here l. Feel free to move it to another topic.
From The Athletic
ASTON VILLA’S 2023: VILLA PARK FORTIFIED, A RECORD BROKEN AND "SUPER JOHN McGINN"
The year 2023: not bad, eh?
To the naked eye and the data, too, Aston Villa have performed among the elite throughout the past 12 months, with Unai Emery threatening to break the glass ceiling of the ‘Big Six’.
Feathers are in danger of being truly ruffled as Villa have become the model of consistency and excellence. Only three Premier League teams (Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool) have a better record since Emery’s arrival, with 2023 being a year of sustained progress for Villa.
This is a team who have broken records — winning 15 straight league games at Villa Park — and, after being lower-end Premier League nomads, are now eagerly awaiting what 2024 brings.
The Athletic dissects a hope-fulfilling, upwardly improving year at Aston Villa.
The high point:
My word, there are a lot. It depends on your preference. If you want something tangible, last season’s final-day victory over Brighton secured qualification for the Europa Conference League.
December’s win against Arsenal shattered a club record with a 15-match, 10-month winning home run in the league. The victory against Newcastle United at home deserves an honourable mention, too.
For shock and awe, however, the high point was Villa’s performance against Manchester City in December — it was considered their magnum opus since returning to the Premier League and probably for decades.
They outplayed, out-matched and outsmarted the champions of Europe and dominated in a 1-0 victory. City had just two shots — the fewest of any Pep Guardiola side — and conceded 22, the joint-highest of any Guardiola side. Villa Park was thunderous that night; Emery’s Villa had become a serious team to play.
The low point:
Villa got this out of the way early in the year. On January 8, before Villa Park became a fortress (in the league, anyway), Stevenage rocked up and dumped them out of the FA Cup.
Five of the players who started are no longer at the club, with Douglas Luiz the only guaranteed starter who plays now. Villa were awful, deeply sloppy and missed an outstanding opportunity to go far in the competition. The defeat, though surprising, followed recent trends given Villa have not won an FA Cup fixture since 2016. Middlesbrough in the third round is coming up soon.
Elsewhere, the anterior cruciate ligament injuries to Emi Buendia and Tyrone Mings within four days of the other was an awful blow and derailed opening-day preparations for the trip to Newcastle. Both were ruled out for the season before it had even begun.
Most surprising moment:
Again, take your pick. Ollie Watkins becoming the second-best striker in the Premier League? Ezri Konsa a vertical passer and pacey defensive sweeper? Leon Bailey with his new short socks and right foot?
In truth, the answer lies behind what binds them all together, the individual development of those assumed to have reached their level. John McGinn being the prime example, and, as it turned out, he was the player who broke the home record, scoring the only goal against Arsenal.
I tell you what is the least surprising: Emery’s analysis sessions are still very long and very frequent. Up to an hour and 15 minutes, sometimes. Yet they are still working an absolute treat.
Best player:
First, let’s get this out of the way — honourable mentions: Emi Martinez, Konsa, Douglas Luiz and Watkins.
But Aston Villa’s best player in 2023 has been McGinn. He is the catalyst for Villa’s acute rise, playing with the ferocious intensity, attitude and general quality that has characterised the side in the past year.
He drives Villa — literally and figuratively — in difficult moments, setting the tone with his work-rate and crucial goals. McGinn is a captain who leads by example and team-mates are compelled to follow. Those strengths are why Emery, who is usually earnest, occasionally smiles and says “Super John McGinn”.
Best goal:
Jhon Duran’s emphatic half-volley against Crystal Palace was conjured out of very little and, in retrospect, served as a crucial moment in Villa’s winning run at home having been trailing (a rare problem) in the game to that point.
Yet Emery’s Villa are epitomised by collective and sweeping team moves that are a staple of the attacking diet. McGinn’s spinning turn to beat Arsenal started with Martinez in goal and worked through the thirds, but Matty Cash’s finish to put an exclamation mark on a 19-pass move at Burnley contained everything Emery preaches and wants in training.
The stat that sums up 2023:
Aston Villa registered 25 Premier League wins in 2023, with only Manchester City registering more. It is the most top-flight wins Villa have registered in their history. For comparison, in the previous two years, Villa managed 26 wins combined.
Most memorable quote:
When Villa extended their home winning streak to 12 with their 20th win in 2023 after beating Luton own 3-1 in October, Cash came out into the mixed zone and said: “It’s going well, yeah?” Yes, it is, Matty.
The piece we most enjoyed writing:
Any deep dive into the reasons behind Villa’s continued upward trajectory has been a lot of fun, with lots of different nuggets of information contributing to the broader picture. I have also enjoyed investigating what is happening with Kortney Hause, the Villa Park rebuild and the awful scenes before the home European tie against Legia Warsaw.
My favourite piece, however, was the interview with Emery’s assistant and Villa’s director of football, Damian Vidagany. I spoke to him on the afternoon of the match away to Legia in the team hotel and he was one of the most absorbing talkers I have ever interviewed.
A wish for 2024 is…
More wins, more European trips and, come this time next year, the Champions League anthem ringing in my ears…
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Having finally calmed down after Boxing Day result, it really is remarkable we have 39 points at the halfway stage.
For perspective that total beats 5 seasons where the total points achieved was less than 39 through the whole season!
If we get 78 points, i.e. repeat the first half season performance, that will comfortably beat our previous highest PL total of 74 points achieved in 92/93.
We played 42 games in 92/93 as well. We got 70 from 38 in 89/90. Would be tremendous to beat that.
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Thought I'd post this here l. Feel free to move it to another topic.
From The Athletic
ASTON VILLA’S 2023: VILLA PARK FORTIFIED, A RECORD BROKEN AND "SUPER JOHN McGINN"
The year 2023: not bad, eh?
To the naked eye and the data, too, Aston Villa have performed among the elite throughout the past 12 months, with Unai Emery threatening to break the glass ceiling of the ‘Big Six’.
Feathers are in danger of being truly ruffled as Villa have become the model of consistency and excellence. Only three Premier League teams (Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool) have a better record since Emery’s arrival, with 2023 being a year of sustained progress for Villa.
This is a team who have broken records — winning 15 straight league games at Villa Park — and, after being lower-end Premier League nomads, are now eagerly awaiting what 2024 brings.
The Athletic dissects a hope-fulfilling, upwardly improving year at Aston Villa.
The high point:
My word, there are a lot. It depends on your preference. If you want something tangible, last season’s final-day victory over Brighton secured qualification for the Europa Conference League.
December’s win against Arsenal shattered a club record with a 15-match, 10-month winning home run in the league. The victory against Newcastle United at home deserves an honourable mention, too.
For shock and awe, however, the high point was Villa’s performance against Manchester City in December — it was considered their magnum opus since returning to the Premier League and probably for decades.
They outplayed, out-matched and outsmarted the champions of Europe and dominated in a 1-0 victory. City had just two shots — the fewest of any Pep Guardiola side — and conceded 22, the joint-highest of any Guardiola side. Villa Park was thunderous that night; Emery’s Villa had become a serious team to play.
The low point:
Villa got this out of the way early in the year. On January 8, before Villa Park became a fortress (in the league, anyway), Stevenage rocked up and dumped them out of the FA Cup.
Five of the players who started are no longer at the club, with Douglas Luiz the only guaranteed starter who plays now. Villa were awful, deeply sloppy and missed an outstanding opportunity to go far in the competition. The defeat, though surprising, followed recent trends given Villa have not won an FA Cup fixture since 2016. Middlesbrough in the third round is coming up soon.
Elsewhere, the anterior cruciate ligament injuries to Emi Buendia and Tyrone Mings within four days of the other was an awful blow and derailed opening-day preparations for the trip to Newcastle. Both were ruled out for the season before it had even begun.
Most surprising moment:
Again, take your pick. Ollie Watkins becoming the second-best striker in the Premier League? Ezri Konsa a vertical passer and pacey defensive sweeper? Leon Bailey with his new short socks and right foot?
In truth, the answer lies behind what binds them all together, the individual development of those assumed to have reached their level. John McGinn being the prime example, and, as it turned out, he was the player who broke the home record, scoring the only goal against Arsenal.
I tell you what is the least surprising: Emery’s analysis sessions are still very long and very frequent. Up to an hour and 15 minutes, sometimes. Yet they are still working an absolute treat.
Best player:
First, let’s get this out of the way — honourable mentions: Emi Martinez, Konsa, Douglas Luiz and Watkins.
But Aston Villa’s best player in 2023 has been McGinn. He is the catalyst for Villa’s acute rise, playing with the ferocious intensity, attitude and general quality that has characterised the side in the past year.
He drives Villa — literally and figuratively — in difficult moments, setting the tone with his work-rate and crucial goals. McGinn is a captain who leads by example and team-mates are compelled to follow. Those strengths are why Emery, who is usually earnest, occasionally smiles and says “Super John McGinn”.
Best goal:
Jhon Duran’s emphatic half-volley against Crystal Palace was conjured out of very little and, in retrospect, served as a crucial moment in Villa’s winning run at home having been trailing (a rare problem) in the game to that point.
Yet Emery’s Villa are epitomised by collective and sweeping team moves that are a staple of the attacking diet. McGinn’s spinning turn to beat Arsenal started with Martinez in goal and worked through the thirds, but Matty Cash’s finish to put an exclamation mark on a 19-pass move at Burnley contained everything Emery preaches and wants in training.
The stat that sums up 2023:
Aston Villa registered 25 Premier League wins in 2023, with only Manchester City registering more. It is the most top-flight wins Villa have registered in their history. For comparison, in the previous two years, Villa managed 26 wins combined.
Most memorable quote:
When Villa extended their home winning streak to 12 with their 20th win in 2023 after beating Luton own 3-1 in October, Cash came out into the mixed zone and said: “It’s going well, yeah?” Yes, it is, Matty.
The piece we most enjoyed writing:
Any deep dive into the reasons behind Villa’s continued upward trajectory has been a lot of fun, with lots of different nuggets of information contributing to the broader picture. I have also enjoyed investigating what is happening with Kortney Hause, the Villa Park rebuild and the awful scenes before the home European tie against Legia Warsaw.
My favourite piece, however, was the interview with Emery’s assistant and Villa’s director of football, Damian Vidagany. I spoke to him on the afternoon of the match away to Legia in the team hotel and he was one of the most absorbing talkers I have ever interviewed.
A wish for 2024 is…
More wins, more European trips and, come this time next year, the Champions League anthem ringing in my ears…
Thats a tremendous read.
Hearing the Champions League tune at VP will be a special moment when it happens.
Although we didn't turn up at the 2000 Cup Final, singing "Abide with me" with my Dad at Wembley is one of my highs, but hearing that tune on a Champions league night will be incredible.
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25 wins this year having achieved 26 in the two previous years combined. And we still have tomorrow...
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It's a shame the FA Cup game and winter break have come so close together. I feel like a need a 'hit' of Villa in the Premier League.
Liverpool have to play MC soon so one of them has to drop points.
We've done most of our difficult aways. Only MC and Arsenal to go.
A big month for transfers, if we can get one or two strong ones in, then we could genuinely go all the way in the league. It's our time. I am feeling it.
MC I think will get complacent and they aren't as strong as they were last year. Arsenal will bottle it as they always do and Liverpool don't seem like the invincible machine of a couple of years ago.
I really think we can do it. The most important thing is to believe. If the players believe it then we're going to do it.
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I admire the optimism Smirker and you were dead right about our European chances last season when a lot of folks thought it a bridge too far but for me any title talk is still pie in the sky for now. I think we will get ground down by the relentless nature of Liverpool and Citeh. Third is still very much up for grabs though and I'm delighted to see Arsenal wobbling as I've been predicting all season!
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I'm happy where we are even though we've screwed up 5 extra points against Sheff U and ManU. We play, or seem to play better with the spotlight off. A convincing win at Everton will have us re-fancied. It will be a tough game with them fighting for their lives, they do appear to have fight in them too.
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I admire the optimism Smirker and you were dead right about our European chances last season when a lot of folks thought it a bridge too far but for me any title talk is still pie in the sky for now. I think we will get ground down by the relentless nature of Liverpool and Citeh. Third is still very much up for grabs though and I'm delighted to see Arsenal wobbling as I've been predicting all season!
Thanks for the support mate.
One advantage I think we have over those two, is that just being in the race gives us and the players a 'high'. Those two clubs expect it, so they won't have that extra feel-good factor behind them that can motivate them to go a little bit further. Can you imagine what the atmosphere will be like at VP in the run-in should we still be in with a chance? Now think about Anfield and even more so, the Etihad.
I'm so excited for each league game now mate.
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I am positive that Pau Torres and Kamara are back.
Add to this a bit of a rest for some key players and the potential to strengthen even by a player or 2 in January.
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Is elativity a word? I think any Villa fan that isn't feeling positive after the last 20 years is deluded.
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I have been wildly optimistic since Emery was appointed and he beat Man Utd in his first game. Incredible times for the club. I think we can win it!
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I have been wildly optimistic since Emery was appointed and he beat Man Utd in his first game. Incredible times for the club. I think we can win it!
Looking back, the amazing thing about that game is just how Emeryish it was! Obviously there'd be a lot of refinements along the way (especially the offside trap), but the basic blocks of Unai's style of football were in place after, what, a day's training? The guy's absolutely fucking good.
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I have been wildly optimistic since Emery was appointed and he beat Man Utd in his first game. Incredible times for the club. I think we can win it!
Looking back, the amazing thing about that game is just how Emeryish it was! Obviously there'd be a lot of refinements along the way (especially the offside trap), but the basic blocks of Unai's style of football were in place after, what, a day's training? The guy's absolutely a fucking God.
Fixed
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We're mathematically safe
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All the pressure will be on Tottingham now.
With the game they have in hand it's out of our hands anyway. The Lilliwhites aren't great defensively either and their main centre half could be out for a bit.
Maybe we can scratch out a few wins below the radar, in games that don't seem as important.
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Whilst McGinn’s idiocy has significantly impacted the chances of this, if we win next week then we’ll have taken 12 from a possible 15 points across 5 games. Maintain that and we’ll walk into the top 4.
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We're against Spurs. If there is a team you want to be up against in a race for anything then it is Spurs.
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We're against Spurs. If there is a team you want to be up against in a race for anything then it is Spurs.
Or us apparently…sorry positivity thread.
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When we lost Mings and Buendia within days of each other back in August, the idea that we'd be fourth in March seemed laughable. We're two wins away from beating last seasons points tally and we have a good habit of turning around the bad results pretty quickly.
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Watching Rogers tonight vs Arsenal I’m reminded that almost every signing/player under Emery seems to go through a similar performance curve - signs of quality but patchy form for a while as they come to terms with the methods, then a steady rise in performance levels.
Makes me feel positive for any future signings no matter how unknown they are, or how scratchy their early performances are.
The amount that all our players have improved in the last ~18 months is mind blowing.
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Honestly makes you wonder where we would be if buendia mings and kamara were not out for season.
I mean its going to be a exciting summer if unai gets CL. I cant wait to see the levele of signings coming in.
Even if someone comes in for one of our players why would they leave? We are building something brilliant here. The days of manure poaching our players are over. If anything we should be trying to poach theirs of we didnt have FFP
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How good is it to be in the final weeks of the season and still be in reach of two targets? A trophy and top 4.
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Spurs are being Spurs.
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Very, very good. Not only that, but for half the season we were competing for the title!
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While today's result is disappointing, it has been yet another remarkable season from the players, coaches and ownership. Invaluable experiences that will help us in the long run.
Two games to go and still a massive prize to play for.
What a team and what a season!
UTV
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We're nearly there for Champions League Objective let's keep positive thoughts!!
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Unbeaten in five in the league! 8)
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Ramsey back in the goals .
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McGinn ready for the Bhoys
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(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u149/HVLegion/Villa/ORANGEDOT.gif)
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;D :D
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We are the only home team in today's Prem fixtures not to lose
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What’s the thrive photo embedded in there? The team coming off the plane with the European
Cup?
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Good old orange dot.
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Champions League knock-out stages.
What heady days these are!
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Indeed let’s take a moment to appreciate what an achievement this is. We’ve gone from relegation fodder to top8 in champions league in 2.5 years.
These are the days moley, THESE ARE THE DAYS!
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Indeed let’s take a moment to appreciate what an achievement this is. We’ve gone from relegation fodder to top8 in champions league in 2.5 years.
These are the days moley, THESE ARE THE DAYS!
Was saying the same to a mate yesterday - it is easy to forget this when we are not winning every game as some expect.
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Indeed let’s take a moment to appreciate what an achievement this is. We’ve gone from relegation fodder to top8 in champions league in 2.5 years.
These are the days moley, THESE ARE THE DAYS!
Remarkable. I would have been happy at the start with play off but you get top 8 is a superb achievement. Even though we have not been great jn league CL we have been great. Its funny the two games we lost were monaco and brugges. Sure no one would have predicted that at the start.
Anything extra now is a bonus
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Indeed let’s take a moment to appreciate what an achievement this is. We’ve gone from relegation fodder to top8 in champions league in 2.5 years.
These are the days moley, THESE ARE THE DAYS!
Remarkable. I would have been happy at the start with play off but you get top 8 is a superb achievement. Even though we have not been great jn league CL we have been great. Its funny the two games we lost were monaco and brugges. Sure no one would have predicted that at the start.
Anything extra now is a bonus
Na, we're in it to win it. Stranger things have happened and we've got the manager to do it.
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Indeed let’s take a moment to appreciate what an achievement this is. We’ve gone from relegation fodder to top8 in champions league in 2.5 years.
These are the days moley, THESE ARE THE DAYS!
Remarkable. I would have been happy at the start with play off but you get top 8 is a superb achievement. Even though we have not been great jn league CL we have been great. Its funny the two games we lost were monaco and brugges. Sure no one would have predicted that at the start.
Anything extra now is a bonus
Na, we're in it to win it. Stranger things have happened and we've got the manager to do it.
Absolutely but it would be a huge, massive shock if we did the biggest in years. Heres the last winners and i would say inter was probably the last team to win it thats not one of the usual suspects. Then it would be porto which was probably the most impressive in the last 10-20 years
UEFA Champions League winners list
2023-2024: Real Madrid
2022-2023: Manchester City
2021-2022: Real Madrid
2020-2021: Chelsea
2019-2020: Bayern Munich
2018-2019: Liverpool
2017-2018: Real Madrid
2016-2017: Real Madrid
2015-2016: Real Madrid
2014-2015: Barcelona
2013-2014: Real Madrid
2012-2013: Bayern Munich
2011-2012: Chelsea
2010-2011: Barcelona
2009-2010: Inter
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Indeed let’s take a moment to appreciate what an achievement this is. We’ve gone from relegation fodder to top8 in champions league in 2.5 years.
These are the days moley, THESE ARE THE DAYS!
Remarkable. I would have been happy at the start with play off but you get top 8 is a superb achievement. Even though we have not been great jn league CL we have been great. Its funny the two games we lost were monaco and brugges. Sure no one would have predicted that at the start.
Anything extra now is a bonus
Na, we're in it to win it. Stranger things have happened and we've got the manager to do it.
Absolutely but it would be a huge, massive shock if we did the biggest in years. Heres the last winners and i would say inter was probably the last team to win it thats not one of the usual suspects. Then it would be porto which was probably the most impressive in the last 10-20 years
UEFA Champions League winners list
2023-2024: Real Madrid
2022-2023: Manchester City
2021-2022: Real Madrid
2020-2021: Chelsea
2019-2020: Bayern Munich
2018-2019: Liverpool
2017-2018: Real Madrid
2016-2017: Real Madrid
2015-2016: Real Madrid
2014-2015: Barcelona
2013-2014: Real Madrid
2012-2013: Bayern Munich
2011-2012: Chelsea
2010-2011: Barcelona
2009-2010: Inter
Inspired by our efforts in the competition this season, I had a look through the history of the competition (in both it's formats) and was quite surprised to find that only 23 teams have won it. Considering how long it's been going, that's quote an exclusive club.
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That Inter side was Mourinho’s team when they were good, did the treble I think. Not a real under dog.
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Chelsea were shit both times they won it. If our league form continues to be hit and miss, and we were still in this by, say, the quarters, I could imagine us looking to prioritise this more than league games.
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Indeed let’s take a moment to appreciate what an achievement this is. We’ve gone from relegation fodder to top8 in champions league in 2.5 years.
These are the days moley, THESE ARE THE DAYS!
Remarkable. I would have been happy at the start with play off but you get top 8 is a superb achievement. Even though we have not been great jn league CL we have been great. Its funny the two games we lost were monaco and brugges. Sure no one would have predicted that at the start.
Anything extra now is a bonus
Na, we're in it to win it. Stranger things have happened and we've got the manager to do it.
Absolutely but it would be a huge, massive shock if we did the biggest in years. Heres the last winners and i would say inter was probably the last team to win it thats not one of the usual suspects. Then it would be porto which was probably the most impressive in the last 10-20 years
UEFA Champions League winners list
2023-2024: Real Madrid
2022-2023: Manchester City
2021-2022: Real Madrid
2020-2021: Chelsea
2019-2020: Bayern Munich
2018-2019: Liverpool
2017-2018: Real Madrid
2016-2017: Real Madrid
2015-2016: Real Madrid
2014-2015: Barcelona
2013-2014: Real Madrid
2012-2013: Bayern Munich
2011-2012: Chelsea
2010-2011: Barcelona
2009-2010: Inter
The other way to think is that how did the Premier League winners look for 10 years before Leicester won it? …..& doing that over a season, rather than somehow winning 4 games which is our task is a much tougher ask.
Not saying it’s likely that we’ll win the thing, but we can definitely dream at this stage that we could pull off that massive shock.
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Absence we can dream. As long as we are in it you always have a chance.
Would need some results going our way and abitbof luck of the draw. But can't see us beating liverpool if were to play them over two legs. They are a very good experienced side
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Agree about Liverpool - hopefully we can take on Barcelona instead :o
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The other way to think is that how did the Premier League winners look for 10 years before Leicester won it? …..& doing that over a season, rather than somehow winning 4 games which is our task is a much tougher ask.
Not saying it’s likely that we’ll win the thing, but we can definitely dream at this stage that we could pull off that massive shock.
I'd also add that it's less than three years ago that Emery was taking Villarreal to the semi-finals, knocking out Juventus in the last sixteen and Bayern in the quarters.
There aren't any teams that I wouldn't fancy us giving it a good go against.
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We can beat anyone.
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Oh yes there is!
It's exciting times with a winter window of pedigree signings improving our squad and feeling good for the business end of the season!
Up The Villa!
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It occurs to me that one marker of how far we’ve come in the last few years is that status of clubs players are *leaving* to join Villa. This window has included Dortmund, Man Utd, Chelsea, and PSG (prev R.Madrid).
For whatever reason we’re now seen as a viable destination.
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It occurs to me that one marker of how far we’ve come in the last few years is that status of clubs players are *leaving* to join Villa. This window has included Dortmund, Man Utd, Chelsea, and PSG (prev R.Madrid).
For whatever reason we’re now seen as a viable destination.
The reason is Unai Emery.
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It occurs to me that one marker of how far we’ve come in the last few years is that status of clubs players are *leaving* to join Villa. This window has included Dortmund, Man Utd, Chelsea, and PSG (prev R.Madrid).
For whatever reason we’re now seen as a viable destination.
The reason is Unai Emery.
Yes and CL qualification. I think this window we are behaving like the big club we are more than any time I can remember.
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It occurs to me that one marker of how far we’ve come in the last few years is that status of clubs players are *leaving* to join Villa. This window has included Dortmund, Man Utd, Chelsea, and PSG (prev R.Madrid).
For whatever reason we’re now seen as a viable destination.
The reason is Unai Emery.
Yes and CL qualification. I think this window we are behaving like the big club we are more than any time I can remember.
100%. We've even got players like Disasi actively rejecting clubs like Spurs to play for us. That simply would not have happened at almost any point in the last thirty years.
Every signing like Rashford and Asensio also raises our profile. We're becoming a club that competes for the Champions League places every year, and recruit the players to match.
One other positive, I think it's pretty incredible that that the core of the squad still includes so many players brought in by Dean when we were either fighting to get promoted, or fighting not to get relegated. Emi, Tyrone, Ezri, SJM, Cash and Ollie are all still important parts of our squad (to varying degrees, admittedly), even though we are now competing at a completely different level to where we were when they joined us. A nice little reminder of how important Dean was in our resurgence.
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Yes Smithy.
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We now have the strongest, we’ll balanced squad of players to see out the rest of this season that we’ll have witnessed in all of our lifetimes. Twenty full internationals by my reckoning. Obviously football isn’t played on paper but if we can get a little luckier with avoiding injuries, and Rashford and Asensio perform to their potential there is plenty of time to make up ground in the Premier League. I also think Unai seriously believes we can go deeper into the Champions League. And dare I say it, the holy grail of an FA Cup may actually be a realistic possibility after 68 years of waiting. It’s time to believe.
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Given Unai’s comments that we are ready for the end of the season it’s time to resurrect this thread. Are we all feeling positive?
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PSG dominated like that but could only beat us by two goals.
They're going to get the shock of their lives on Tuesday.
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As regards Tuesday - 1:0 up at half time and it's on - the place will be like the fucking Alamo.
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As regards Tuesday - 1:0 up at half time and it's on - the place will be like the fucking Alamo.
I suspect the result at full-time will be one that Hertz.
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PSG dominated like that but could only beat us by two goals.
They're going to get the shock of their lives on Tuesday.
I was right.
After yesterday I thought I'd revive my legendary positivity thread and make one final prediction before the season ends (which isn't really a prediction, because I'm always right).
We're winning our final four league matches and qualifying for the CL.
MU and Tottenham are shit so we have six points there. Fulham at home, we're at home so that's a win too. Bournemouth away, we'll want it more.
Win all four and finish 4th or 5th.
Who's with me? 8)
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I think we'll win all 4. Not going to contort myself into faux respect for what Fulham or Bournemouth can do etc, but its not in our hands, so who knows whether it's going to be enough.
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I think we'll win all 4. Now going to contort myself into faux respect for what Fulham or Bournemouth can do etc, but its not in our hands, so who knows whether it's going to be enough.
I like this.
Chelsea and Forest will slip away. Chelsea have a hard run in (and they're not as good as us anyway) and Forest are losing form a bit (and aren't as good as us anyway).
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In the last two seasons we've had two semi finals and a quarter final. We'll probably start next season as one of the favourites to win the European competition we're in. If FFP doesn't fuck us up too badly then a trophy will come in the next few years.
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Smirker, have you got next week's lottery numbers as well ?
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Smirker, have you got next week's lottery numbers as well ?
I'm not allowed to use my powers for stuff like that.