Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on March 30, 2025, 06:37:52 PM
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Weds 2nd, 7.45pm.
Games come thick and fast now
Also this week in the CL race
Tues
Arsenal v Fulham
Forest v Man U
Weds
Bournemouth v Ipswich
Man City v Leicester
Newcastle v Brentford
Thurs
Chelsea v Spurs
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Big game for us with Forest, Bournemouth and Man City all pretty much guaranteed wins.
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No poll. Amateur.
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Yes there is. Get yourself to Specsavers.
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Very big, and difficult, game. We’ll need to be clinical.
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Yes there is. Get yourself to Specsavers.
Nice you stuck one in after. Busted
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We do quite well there for some odd reason. We need to win these games now vs Brighton, Forest and Newcastle. A massive series of league games upcoming.
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Time to stop messing about.
We haven't conceded a goal in our last three games, winning the last five.
Coming into form at the perfect time, hopefully.
2-0 Villa.
FTF 8)
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2-0
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Six points from the next two and I'll genuinely start to believe that we're about to see the greatest end to a season in our history.
Any fewer than four and I'm going to assume that we're going to screw the whole thing up and everyone's going to be miserable all summer.
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Brighton will hopefully be on a huge downer after yesterday .
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Brighton play openly so I can't see our attack not getting chances. It is how well we keep them out the other end.
With the same starting backline and defensive mid, but Rashford left, Watkins ahead of Asensio centre and Rogers/Bailey right side. Sorry on JJ but Rashford will be on a high anyway.
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A bunch of away wins this week would be nice.
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I think this is our first away game that hasn't been televised since Leicester, in August.
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Rashford left, Watkins ahead of Asensio centre and Rogers/Bailey right side.
Rogers on the right feels like he might as well not be in the team.
He's great, but it's starting to feel a bit like him and Asensio are Gerrard and Lampard for us.
Teams that are going to attack us, give Rogers the ball and let him run at their defence. Teams that are going to sit back, give Asensio the ball and let him.
Don't try and get them both in the side for the sake of it.
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I'm on a plane for the whole game, landing at 9.50, just on time for the result... That'll be weird.
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A bunch of away wins this week would be nice.
Although Arse need to get at least a point.
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Rashford left, Watkins ahead of Asensio centre and Rogers/Bailey right side.
Rogers on the right feels like he might as well not be in the team.
He's great, but it's starting to feel a bit like him and Asensio are Gerrard and Lampard for us.
Teams that are going to attack us, give Rogers the ball and let him run at their defence. Teams that are going to sit back, give Asensio the ball and let him.
Don't try and get them both in the side for the sake of it.
Which is why I mentioned Bailey (depending on why he wasn't in the squad today). Rogers was just thrown there because for some reason, Emery always wants him playing. I suppose Malen was the one name I missed, but he doesn't even seem to be in Unai's plans at the moment.
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Teams that are going to attack us, give Rogers the ball and let him run at their defence. Teams that are going to sit back, give Asensio the ball and let him.
Yes that’s my view as well however I know absolutely nothing about tactics etc.
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Rashford left, Watkins ahead of Asensio centre and Rogers/Bailey right side.
Rogers on the right feels like he might as well not be in the team.
He's great, but it's starting to feel a bit like him and Asensio are Gerrard and Lampard for us.
Teams that are going to attack us, give Rogers the ball and let him run at their defence. Teams that are going to sit back, give Asensio the ball and let him.
Don't try and get them both in the side for the sake of it.
Yeah, I haven't been a fan of him on the right, either, but it will continue. Not helped by Tuchel saying he was better when he moved to that position in the England game.
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Rashford left, Watkins ahead of Asensio centre and Rogers/Bailey right side.
Rogers on the right feels like he might as well not be in the team.
He's great, but it's starting to feel a bit like him and Asensio are Gerrard and Lampard for us.
Teams that are going to attack us, give Rogers the ball and let him run at their defence. Teams that are going to sit back, give Asensio the ball and let him.
Don't try and get them both in the side for the sake of it.
Yeah, I haven't been a fan of him on the right, either, but it will continue. Not helped by Tuchel saying he was better when he moved to that position in the England game.
I think he'd be better coming off the left if he has to play wide but that's not happening as we're well covered on that side.
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Rogers defo best off left or in No 10. They are positions occupied by our big money loanees mind.
Supsect Rashford back on left tomorrow with Ollie up top and Rogers bask to No 10.
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Rogers defo best off left or in No 10. They are positions occupied by our big money loanees mind.
Supsect Rashford back on left tomorrow with Ollie up top and Rogers bask to No 10.
No Asensio?
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Rogers defo best off left or in No 10. They are positions occupied by our big money loanees mind.
Supsect Rashford back on left tomorrow with Ollie up top and Rogers bask to No 10.
Yeah, and I think that's probably right. Asensio on for Rogers for the last half hour to pick up his customary two goals from the bench.
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Rogers defo best off left or in No 10. They are positions occupied by our big money loanees mind.
Supsect Rashford back on left tomorrow with Ollie up top and Rogers bask to No 10.
Yeah, and I think that's probably right. Asensio on for Rogers for the last half hour to pick up his customary two goals from the bench.
I think 'bore everyone to death for an hour then blast them away when they're tired" maybe the template for success in the next two months.
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When your bouncing along like we are it doesn't take much to burst your balloon, and that could be the case on Wednesday. But that feels like an old fashioned point of view, much like yesterday being a battle or tricky.
Plenty of rotation, I think SJM and Ollie will start and while a draw would be ok, Emery will want the bandwagon to keep rolling along.
0-1
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is this one on Amazon?
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is this one on Amazon?
No, I think they've done all their games now.
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They'll be deflated after loss to Forest.
We are bouncing and will see them off 0.3
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Is this game being boradcast anywhere ?
I sense lots of 'small river' begging posts in the match thread . from me included
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is this one on Amazon?
No, I think they've done all their games now.
Only televised PL games this week are the Scouse derby & Chavski Spuds.
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Be kind to the bar staff in the away end at the Amex - my student daughter started work there recently and had a nightmare last weekend with thousands of pissed up Forest arseholes. I’m expecting free beer for me.
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is this one on Amazon?
Only two on TV this week are the Forest / Manure and the Scouse derby. The former is why they had to play on Saturday in the cup.
Edit Forgot Chelsea playing on Thursday.
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The squad is looking very deep now and should allow some changes without impacting to much on us.
Id go with
Martinez
Disasi
Konsa
Mings
Maatsen
Kamara
Tielemans
Rashford
Watkins
Rogers
McGinn
With Bailey and Malen not being on the bench yesterday, not sure what the craic is there. If they were fit, Id be tempted to start one. Id give Asensio a rest and bring him on if needed. Would be good if Onana and Torres can get some game time.
They’ve been playing well recently, but I thought they were poor against Forest, hopefully that continues.
2-0 us, Watkins, Rashford.
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Malen came on as a sub yesterday.
Onana got a few mins too, and looked sharp.
Go for strongest team, we need to win.
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With Bailey and Malen not being on the bench yesterday, not sure what the craic is there. If they were fit, Id be tempted to start one.
Malen was on the bench, and came off the bench to play the last quarter of an hour.
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Not only was Malen on the bench yesterday, he came on as a sub on 73 mins
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I'd clean forgot about Disasi. I'm losing track of which players can play in which competition
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Bailey was the only "name" missing yesterday for no other reasons. . But as Dave mentioned, with our squad, with everyone fit, some people will miss out. Malen or even Asensio could fill in on the right, and Bogarde could fill in lots of positions. When Barkley is fitter, Bogarde would be the next to drop off the list, and maybe Garcia for Disasi.
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Was Bailey on international duty with Jamaica last week?
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Was Bailey on international duty with Jamaica last week?
He was - but I don't think he had to travel any more than Emi did.
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Stuart Attwell is the ref on Wednesday night. Never known him have a decent game, right up there with Michael Oliver, who is on VAR for the Forest game, as shockingly poor referees.
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Our squad is stacked to the gills. We'll be loaning out en masse like Chelsea any day now and not just nippers.
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Stuart Attwell is the ref on Wednesday night. Never known him have a decent game, right up there with Michael Oliver, who is on VAR for the Forest game, as shockingly poor referees.
Atwell is as bad as they get, dreadful ref.
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He's the absolute twat that would quite happily have let an Ipswich player commit mass murder without fear of a second booking at Portman Road. Shittest referee we have had this season.
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Nuneaton's finest.
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Not only was Malen on the bench yesterday, he came on as a sub on 73 mins
And I was there too, I was in Chorley football club at 10am, is my only excuse
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--------- Martinez ----------
Disasi Konsa Torres Digne
---- Kamara - Tielemans ---
Rogers -------------- Ramsey
-- Rashford ---- Watkins ---
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Stuart Attwell is the ref on Wednesday night. Never known him have a decent game, right up there with Michael Oliver, who is on VAR for the Forest game, as shockingly poor referees.
Atwell is as bad as they get, dreadful ref.
I say this every time but he hates us he’s a Cov supporter!
I know the rules changed but I don’t see how it is right for a Warwickshire ref to officiate a Warwickshire club.
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It’s amazing we ever win a game given the number of referees who apparently have agendas against us…
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I can see us winning this game 2-1
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We need a run...and we need it now. Come on Villa. Let's get top five back in play.
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Webster and Rutter added to Brighton injury list. Possibly out for rest of season.
With our defence back, Bouba running midfield and our attacking options, fancy us to win this.
0-2
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Chris Sutton has predicted they will win 2-1 because we are expansive so will give them space. I can easily see the opposite as they are expansive and will give us space AND we have Rashford and Asensio with Mings at the back.
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We need a run...and we need it now. Come on Villa. Let's get top five back in play.
We're already on one, we just need to make sure our form is reflected in the league.
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I reckon we'll lose. Every time the confidence has been up this season we've bollocksed it up the following away game. This is that away game.
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We need a run...and we need it now. Come on Villa. Let's get top five back in play.
We're already on one, we just need to make sure our form is reflected in the league.
I think people are forgetting we've only lost 3 of our last 18 games in all competitions, admittedly a few too many draws but not losing.
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Worlds # 1
Cash Konsa Pau Maatsen (to combat Lampty's pace)
Kamara Tielemans
McGinn Rogers Rashford
Watkins
There cannot be a stronger bench in the league
Olsen
Disasi
Mings
Onana
Digne
Malen
Asensio
Garcia
Ramsay
I can see us winning this and winning well
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Lamptey's injured. He's not even first-choice for them when he isn't injured.
Reckon I'd go the same team as you though.
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We need a run...and we need it now. Come on Villa. Let's get top five back in play.
We're already on one, we just need to make sure our form is reflected in the league.
I think people are forgetting we've only lost 3 of our last 18 games in all competitions, admittedly a few too many draws but not losing.
Which isn't enough. We don't need a run, we need a RUN.
Last five league games: DDWLW (8 from 15)
Needs to be far, far better for fifth.
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Brighton have a lot of players our injured, so definitely looks like a chance for us to win.
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We need a run...and we need it now. Come on Villa. Let's get top five back in play.
We're already on one, we just need to make sure our form is reflected in the league.
I think people are forgetting we've only lost 3 of our last 18 games in all competitions, admittedly a few too many draws but not losing.
Which isn't enough. We don't need a run, we need a RUN.
Last five league games: DDWLW (8 from 15)
Needs to be far, far better for fifth.
I think something that it feels we've gone too long without is a make-you-really-believe, statement win.
Either a proper four or five goal shellacking where everything just clicks. Or a losing 1-0 after 80 minutes and scoring two or three late goals. Basically Brighton or Palace at home last season.
Obvioulsy tomorrow I'll still take a "boring first half, two quick goals at the start of the second, them obviously scoring and us panicking for the last ten minutes but ultimately holding on" as well, but it feels like too many of our wins have been that and not enough of the really fun stuff.
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100% agree with that. Too many tight games, so you end up dropping points. It's reflected by the goal difference too.
We haven't been bad and have obviously had a great season in the cups, but in the league we're about where we should be. In the chasing pack. I do think we're probably top five RIGHT NOW for the first time in about 15 months. Problem is are we too late.
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Win tomorrow and we're not too late. Unai now has an embarrassment of riches to choose from. Over to you, Unai.
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In theory we can gain three points on Forest, Brighton, Newcastle and Citeh as we have to play all of them. As most of them we go above with those three points, anything is doable. And with a fully fit squad, we should be able to do it.
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Can't believe we're still in with a chance after all the dropped points.
Have to win tomorrow. If we don't it's over. We're running out of games now.
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Brighton have a lot of players our injured, so definitely looks like a chance for us to win.
They seem to be one of those teams like Bournemouth who are so well-drilled that the whole squad is strong enough to impose the manager's gameplan and give any team a game.
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Tough game and one we probably need to win. We’ve started to put a sequence of results together, although I still think we’re performing in patches. Hopefully it’ll all come together.
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I think we'll win tonight. It'll be similar to the Preston game. We'll bore out a 0-0 at HT and then step it up 2nd half.
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3points tonight would put is right into the mix - important game which I can't believe isn't on TV anywhere?!
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3points tonight would put is right into the mix - important game which I can't believe isn't on TV anywhere?!
Obviously it's important to us, but I wouldn't have said that a battle between ninth and seventh for who has a better outside chance to finish fifth is that crucial to most people.
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Tonight’s objective is win and be up to 7th. Still in touch with Newcastle, C115y and Chelsea. Nothing else matters.
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Tonight’s objective is win and be up to 7th. Still in touch with Newcastle, C115y and Chelsea. Nothing else matters.
Forever trusting who we are
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Tonight’s objective is win and be up to 7th. Still in touch with Newcastle, C115y and Chelsea. Nothing else matters.
A win tonight and on Saturday and we're only 6 points behind Forest as well. I've been waiting for them to falter, but they've kept getting the results so far.
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There's still a possibility of the cheats actually receiving some kind of penalty, however remote that is.
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Tonight’s objective is win and be up to 7th. Still in touch with Newcastle, C115y and Chelsea. Nothing else matters.
A win tonight and on Saturday and we're only 6 points behind Forest as well. I've been waiting for them to falter, but they've kept getting the results so far.
they were quite lucky last night against an awful ManUre side
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I think Forest are just too far ahead given our run-in, but it would be lovely to batter them on Saturday.
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Our run does give us the opportunity to beat those around us, not only to get the points but stop them from gaining more. Just have to win them...
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Our run does give us the opportunity to beat those around us, not only to get the points but stop them from gaining more. Just have to win them...
We need 6 ipts rom these 2 games to give us a chance of Top5. Lose them both and game over for CL
Win and pressure transfers to Brighton Chelsea Toon Fulham and Bournemouth.
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I feel worryingly optimistic for tonight.
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I feel worryingly optimistic for tonight.
What's going on?
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We need a run...and we need it now. Come on Villa. Let's get top five back in play.
We're already on one, we just need to make sure our form is reflected in the league.
I think people are forgetting we've only lost 3 of our last 18 games in all competitions, admittedly a few too many draws but not losing.
Which isn't enough. We don't need a run, we need a RUN.
Last five league games: DDWLW (8 from 15)
Needs to be far, far better for fifth.
I think something that it feels we've gone too long without is a make-you-really-believe, statement win.
Either a proper four or five goal shellacking where everything just clicks. Or a losing 1-0 after 80 minutes and scoring two or three late goals. Basically Brighton or Palace at home last season.
Obvioulsy tomorrow I'll still take a "boring first half, two quick goals at the start of the second, them obviously scoring and us panicking for the last ten minutes but ultimately holding on" as well, but it feels like too many of our wins have been that and not enough of the really fun stuff.
Funnily enough I said to my son on Monday, that as exciting as this season is turning out, and it really is starting to feel exciting, it doesn’t feel that we’ve hit the heights performance wise as pre xmas last season. My son didn’t agree, then he’s 15 and doesn’t agree with much I say.
Saying all that, Brighton rarely get hammered at home, so doubt this is the game for the statement type win. A professional 2-0 will more than do tonight.
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0-0 HT. 1-2 FT.
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I feel worryingly optimistic for tonight.
I'm bricking it. There's so much hanging on this game. We have to win, a draw is no use to us. That said I've had a feeling for ages we'll need to go to Old Trafford on the last day of the season and win to clinch 5th place..and we will.
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They're a very good side, we're an excellent side, who are just peaking at the right time of the season.
0-2 Villa.
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0-0 HT. 1-2 FT.
That sounds about right. Hopefully we're 2-0 before a late consolation Brighton in the 94th minute.
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0 - 8
A bonanza in a good way for Guess The Goal! 👍
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I feel worryingly optimistic for tonight.
I am very sure we are going to win. I thought they looked dead on their feet on Saturday.
A recuperated Ollie to bag a couple with Rogers and Youri adding one each.
1.4
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Is it on telly anywhere?
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Not in the UK
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A call to arms from Don Unai, now is the moment.
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Not in the UK
Horlicks!!
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But the magic of the Internet means you can watch non UK TV channels on your UK TV.
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We win because we have to win, this is it, a massive attack on the top 5 places.