Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on June 14, 2019, 11:08:43 PM
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Our U21 team will be taking part this season. click me (https://www.efl.com/news/2019/june/liverpool-and-manchester-united-u21s-confirmed-for-201920-efl-trophy/)
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Fucking boo. Hate under-21 teams in senior competitions. I won't be attending any games in this. Hope it continues to attract pathetic crowds until it is changed back.
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If it gives our U21s some much needed game time and experience then it can't be a bad thing. There are other Premier League teams that have been invited to enter U21 teams so it makes absolute sense not to hinder their progress.
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Oh, I'm not singling Villa out for criticism. I don't think any under-21 teams should be in it. It's a slippery slope to having shitty fucking reserve teams in the league like in Spain.
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Yeah the league and the main cup competitions would be a step too far but I can see the benefits here for League One, League Two and Premier League U21 players in terms of either testing and improving themselves, and possibly attracting the attention of bigger or smaller clubs to progress their careers.
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Scenes if it is Villa v Wolves in the final. Imagine getting to Wembley in this and being the only premier league team to win it. If we can be arsed, some proper new grounds to visit here.
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So let me get this straight, we are entering the Auto Windscreens?
I wonder what supporters of League One and Two clubs think of this farce.
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They're almost universally opposed. Attendances for those games have been so bad that in many cases they've just stopped publishing them.
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I totally agree shouldn't enter, however will go any new grounds.
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If you disagree with it, don't attend. You're only encouraging it. They publish any vaguely decent attendances they get (eg Sunderland vs Newcastle under-21s last season).
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It's a no from me....the fans voted with their feet last season & I hope that continues!
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I' don't agree with MK Dons but would still go in the league or cup. Do agree I am wrong but I am like a labour MP sending their kid to private school, I am totally selfish when it comes to Villa.
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If it can give our youngsters experience of what's it like to play against men instead of youngsters I'm all for there development it will do them good.
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Get them experience by sending them on loan. Worked for Grealish and Steer. And, err... El Ghazi.
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I'll be honest, it doesn't overly bother me either way.
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I think my response could be summed up with.....meh.
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Don't agree with letting the clubs in, but from the Premier League only Burnley, Bournemouth, Palace, Sheffield United and Watford are not entering teams, so it does make sense for us to be in it.
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It would be interesting to see how many went to the final should the young uns get there though.
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Rubbish having Prem teams in this, supposed to be for lower league teams.
That being said, it would be funny if we ended up winning it as many times as Blues.
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There would be something quite amusing about our youth team winning the second biggest trophy sha have ever won.
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Is this regional ?
If so, how far south/west could Villa play?
It would be great if Villa were grouped with ‘Nam and/or FGR
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Two regions, North and South. Or at least is has been in recent seasons.
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Link below. Looks like one out of us, Wolves and Leicester would be in Southern section to balance up the 8/8.
https://www.premierleague.com/news/60510
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Norwich will be in the South. Villa, Wolves and Leicester will be in the North.
I reckon, anyway.
Norwich is further North than us but has better transport links with the South-East than it does with the North or even The Midlands.
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Norwich is further North than us and Wolverhampton. Think it's about level with Leicester.
Edit: They were in the Southern section last time they were in Div 3 for a season.
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They were also in with all the Cockerneys (and Ipswich) last time the Academy League was competed in a regional basis.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011-12_Premier_Academy_League
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Having written them out, I think you’re right cd.
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I'll be honest, it doesn't overly bother me either way.
It doesn't bother most fans of PL clubs, because it's an insignificant trophy we couldn't give a toss about. For a lot of clubs, however, it was their opportunity for an exciting cup run, and their shot at silverware once a year.
Turning it in to a training exercise for a bunch of PL prospects is BS, it's what the youth cups and loan deals are for. Lower league clubs should be able to have their own tournaments without it being subverted for the benefit of the rich clubs.
Having said that, the furthest a youth team has ever got is the semi final, so perhaps it's a fuss about nothing.
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I can see it being useful experience for the young players, and be great if we got a trophy in the cabinet.
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I'll be honest, it doesn't overly bother me either way.
It doesn't bother most fans of PL clubs, because it's an insignificant trophy we couldn't give a toss about. For a lot of clubs, however, it was their opportunity for an exciting cup run, and their shot at silverware once a year.
Turning it in to a training exercise for a bunch of PL prospects is BS, it's what the youth cups and loan deals are for. Lower league clubs should be able to have their own tournaments without it being subverted for the benefit of the rich clubs.
Having said that, the furthest a youth team has ever got is the semi final, so perhaps it's a fuss about nothing.
Even then, the semifinals are a big deal for teams that rarely get a chance in the spotlight. And one of the Premier League kids' teams is bound to get to the final sooner or later, denying one of the lesser lights their day in the sun.
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Is this regional ?
If so, how far south/west could Villa play?
It would be great if Villa were grouped with ‘Nam and/or FGR
'Nam ??? Christ, they allowing foreign teams in now ?
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Is this the competition Walsall made the final in under Dean Smith?
Pretty sure they took massive number of fans to Wembley.
It would be a shame that fans of smaller clubs miss out on a big day out at the expense of glory hunting fans Liverpool, Man Utd Chesea etc whose fans are used to big days out
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Would anyone go to the final if we got there?
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Would anyone go to the final if we got there?
Probably not but would admit I intend doing any new ground- only 8 yet to do
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Is this the competition Walsall made the final in under Dean Smith?
Pretty sure they took massive number of fans to Wembley.
It would be a shame that fans of smaller clubs miss out on a big day out at the expense of glory hunting fans Liverpool, Man Utd Chesea etc whose fans are used to big days out
Has an U21 club made the final yet?
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Not yet. Chelsea made the semis in 2018. It's bound to happen one of these years.
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I would go, if Villa made it to the final, and hopefully win it, just as I have gone to Youth Cup finals. I get the argument against Villa U-21s being in the competition, but I think if we got to the final we would take a big support as well.
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At about a tenner a ticket we would probably sell out. Still a fucking stupid idea letting the reserve teams of bigger clubs in to start with though.
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On the surface I didn’t think it was a good idea for u21 sides to be in this however the one benefit I do see is for those players who play, not all can go out on loan but exposure in this against professional, adult players might bring a few to the attention of L1/L2 clubs & scouts when it comes to being released at end of season etc
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It is a competition for the lower leagues. It is ridiculous to allow big clubs to whip their reserves into it for a bit of exposure.
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We’ll be slotted in on Friday,
https://www.efl.com/news/2019/july/efl-trophy-round-one-group-stage-draw/
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Boooo.
Even more of a slap in the face for the proper entrants that only the Premier League kids are actually drawn out.
As predicted by me (smug mode) Villa have been placed in the North with Wolves and Leicester Babbies. Norwich are in the Sarf.
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It looks like they’ve drawn it to minimise travelling, so far. In which case Us and the dingles could be D/E, and Leics in H.
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That's probably because they regionalise it as much as possible, so makes sense not to have a draw as they're trying to group clubs together to save on travel.
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Yeah I don't mind that. Just don't televise the draw at all if you're going to regionalise it. It makes it seem like all the Football League clubs are just nonentities giddy with excitement at the prospect of playing against players who might one day play ten minutes for Chelsea's first team in the League Cup or the Premier League Asia Trophy.
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I suppose it could be to show there's no shenanigans going on with where the PL clubs are placed.
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I think they know the Premier League crowds will be crap regardless, but have regionalised the other games to create derbies so they can say "look! Crowds are up, people do like the format". While conveniently failing to publish the gates at the pathetically-attended Premier League under-21 games.
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Anyway, not sure if I mentioned in it, but I don't like the format...
I think this is going to be my main whinge for 2019-20, replacing the disgraceful claret sleeves of last season.
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We might get the Cov group?
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No. They're in the South, we are in the North.
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Salford, Bury and Tranmere group for our boys.
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Meh, meh and meh.
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Salford, Bury and Tranmere group for our boys.
Well it's 3 grounds I've never been to but the Burton group would've been nice!
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Do any of these games get shown on TV ?
Villa Kids v Salford sounds a likely choice
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Is it home and away in the group stage? Would these be at Villa Park?
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Is it home and away in the group stage? Would these be at Villa Park?
Play each team once, U21 teams are always the away side.
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All our games are away.
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Bury and Salford games both within 30 minutes of home, so look forward to seeing our up and coming players (Hopefully !). Tranmere nearly as difficult to get to as coming from Brum !
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Should be interesting.
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Stupid bollocks allowing the kids from higher ranked teams in and I wouldn't attend if you paid me to.
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Can't really afford 3 cup finals this season, so I'll give this one a miss.
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Do these games count on your away history?
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Bury and Salford games both within 30 minutes of home, so look forward to seeing our up and coming players (Hopefully !). Tranmere nearly as difficult to get to as coming from Brum !
Same for me re Bury & Salford. I can understand fans not wanting to travel far for these games but it’s different if the distance is minimal. Be nice if enough north west based fans go to provide a decent support.
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Bury in the poo, and been docked 12 points to start next season.
Would be nice to take a good crowd up there to put some money in the bank for them.
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No it wouldn't. Long term, any big crowds that attend the under-23 matches will be used as justification for the horrendous idea of putting B teams in the Football League. Which would be disastrous for teams like Bury.
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No it wouldn't. Long term, any big crowds that attend the under-23 matches will be used as justification for the horrendous idea of putting B teams in the Football League. Which would be disastrous for teams like Bury.
I can't see that happening, ever.
I don't agree with the U23's in this cup and I know a big following from us won't happen, by reading posts on here, I just thought it could be a decent thing.
I wonder how many would go to Wembley, though, if by some chance we got there (Personally I hope none of the prem teams do) who hadn't been bothered to go to other games? I would rather have given my money to the likes of Bury
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Three easy to reach grounds I can take my little boy to, see o will definitely attend at least one of them.
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By the looks of it only 2 now- mk done of the north and we’re not scousers
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Following continued and comprehensive discussions with the ownership at Bury and other interested parties throughout Monday, the EFL Board is not satisfied it has received the necessary evidence in regard to the outstanding information it requires that demonstrates how the Club will be funded moving forwards.
As a result of not meeting Monday’s 5pm deadline, which had been extended on two previous occasions, the EFL Board feels it has been placed in an unenviable position and, regrettably, has opted to take the reluctant decision to suspend Saturday’s opening day fixture with MK Dons under the provision of EFL Regulation 28.2.
In addition, the EFL Board, if not in possession of the necessary evidence by 12pm on Friday 2 August 2019, will make a determination as to whether to suspend Bury’s away fixture at Accrington Stanley on Saturday 10 August 2019.
As has been the case throughout this entire process, the EFL will continue to offer its full assistance to the ownership at Bury, but remains clear that while the League is here to support the Club through some extremely complex and complicated issues, the outstanding matters can only be resolved with the cooperation from the Club itself.
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Salford away 3rd September and Tranmere away 8th October.
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Might go along to them.
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Do these games count on your away history?
Almost certainly not.
I went to Burton last season in the LC and that didn't count (for league game history). Hence, with 11 aways last season, I'm forced to wait until they drop down to 9+. Burton would have put me in the next bracket (12+).
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Anyone else going tonight
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I am. There are 2 of us working I Stockport so better than sitting in a hotel
£10 On the door. Parking a bit tricky and not many pubs close to ground.
Don't forget to say hi
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Got to walk down to th turnstiles right at the end
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It’s 0-0 at half time.
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Salford 2 Villa 0 a penalty and Adam Rooney goal 80 and 82 minutes.
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Great battling performance tonight. Over 100 villa there in attendance on a wet Manchester evening.
Good goalkeeping from Searle in the first half kept us in the same with several saves.
Second half we were the better team until they scored late on. Tait and Blair particularly good.
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Incredible support on a wet Tuesday night if leafy,sub urban Manchester
I accompanied Witton Warrior to the game and met other guys from Peterborough,Billinge,Prescott,Redditch,Macclesfield and Armagh. - all for an under 23 fixture
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Very entertaining game last night, our boys were good to watch and unfortunate to lose. Penalty came at a time we looked more likely the team to win and looked a bit harsh from the far end. Second was down to the conditions but our keeper had been very impressive all night, particularly in front of the Villa fans first half.
Great experience for the youngsters, pity we’re only in a three team group now (especially for Bury!).
I don’t buy the argument that U21s shouldn’t play in this cup. Its fantastic for their development and as most of those that do will probably end up playing Div 3, 4 or lower it has to be of benefit to the lower league clubs too. It’s not only about the Wembley final and a Piss up for fans who possibly haven’t bothered going to a game all season.
Glad we made the effort to travel up, it was a pleasure to be two of the 125.
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£10 for a tidy little stadium deep in the heart of a residential area.
Not much in the way of pubs close by so we parked at a pub and took a £3 Uber in and back - mainly due to awful rain.
Tight little shack for reasonably priced refreshments and portacabins for toilets. Was surpised to see so many Villa there and assuming they were locals was impressed that some of them have drove up on the day and were planning the next away game - that is dedication.
Agree with others - 1st half the Keeper Searle was very good whilst we huffed and puffed and at times played some nice football we rarely troubled their goal.
2nd half we came out blazing and created some decent chances. Its clear that the first team philosophy is filtering down to the youths - good and bad
The short goal kicks and chancing it trying to keep possession around your own box is driving me mad - Thanks Pep - its ok to do it with world class keepers and defenders but when lesser players do it, it frightens us to death.
Stand outs for me
Keeper, both Centre Halves and the kid out side with dreadlocks - with the pouring rain and my piss poor eyesight I could not make out his name on the shirt.
One thing that was very clear - I know it was our under 23's but most of them looked younger than that and then the age and physicality of the Salford team when ours stood next to them was so obvious. Young Archer, who never really got a look in last night, was dwarfed on corners by both their CF and keeper.
Still playing at this level will make men out of them
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Was 'the kid outside with dreadlocks, Tyreek Wright?
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I don’t know cause couldn’t get programme or team sheet. But note for the diary 8th Oct tranmere away
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I don’t know cause couldn’t get programme or team sheet. But note for the diary 8th Oct tranmere away
That was my issue - no program, no squad numbers on web site
And piss poor eye sight
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Oh and one other thing from the game
An interesting tactic for defending corners - we leave 3 players up front on half way line. It seemed to work well as they had to leave players back to cover which left the 18 yard box uncluttered with 21 players in it as it usually is
I really hope this filters through to the first team in some games
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Oh and one other thing from the game
An interesting tactic for defending corners - we leave 3 players up front on half way line. It seemed to work well as they had to leave players back to cover which left the 18 yard box uncluttered with 21 players in it as it usually is
I really hope this filters through to the first team in some games
I've been suggesting this for years! Makes so much sense.
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This really boils my piss with the first team
Leave three pacey players up top and the opposition need to leave the same number or more back
On top of that the ridiculous passing across the face of your own box has got to stop - it's placing too much pressure on the keeper and back line
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We go again on Tuesday at Prenton Park - only £5 in.
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For anyone interested it appears this game can be found online as there's a stream on Facebook, I assume it's via Tranmere TV.
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So, we're out then
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So, we're out then
I'm gutted.
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Hopes & Dreams shattered
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Hopes & Dreams shattered
Smith out!
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#prayforus
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Just the three trophies this season, then. Pathetic.
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Another great battling performance tonight at Prenton Park against a strong Tranmere team. We took the lead early on but were generally outplayed.
A very bad injury to Jack Clark didn't help injured going for a 50/50 ball with their keeper.
Very proud though of our youngsters.
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It was a better result than the first team got last time we played at Tranmere.
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Link to Cam's goal: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3117898504904353&id=129445223749711
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He had rotten service all night
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How many Villa were there?
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They reckoned 70-80 on the commentary.
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If that