Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on April 12, 2025, 05:11:45 PM
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Tuesday 15th 8pm.
I've just gone for who progresses rather than adding loads of other options.
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We should go with Watkins up top and Rashford on the left.
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I've gone Villa. Fuck it.
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FTF
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We should go with Watkins up top and Rashford on the left.
Watkins not starting today probably means he is on Tuesday. And maybe that boost helped him today as well.
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Funeral these fuckers.
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Watkins and Rashford to start - Rogers through the middle - if not working by second half then JJ to replace Rashford.
I bet Unai is kicking himself that he didn't put Malen in the Euro team selection.
I've had a few vodkas, so of the above is bollocks I don't really care #smiley face#
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Villa 2.1 PSG
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Villa 2.1 PSG
I think we'll go through too, but doubt we'll score that many.
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We need to score 3, we're not winning a penalty shootout.
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We'll go 1-0 down early on and score two late goals to win 2-1 on the night and go out in gloriously heart-breaking style. Basically Atletico Madrid in 1998.
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Play the best team and show less respect .
------- Martinez ---------
Cash Konsa Mings Digne
---- Kamara - Tielemans-
Rogers ------------ Ramsey
-- Rashford ---- Watkins
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Play the best team and show less respect .
------- Martinez ---------
Cash Konsa Mings Digne
---- Kamara - Tielemans-
Rogers ------------ Ramsey
-- Rashford ---- Watkins
Is swap McGinn for Ramsay but otherwise agree!
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Funeral these fuckers.
The Notre-Dame already burnt down once.
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This tie isn't over .
COYVB's
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3-1, and then win on pens, god knows whos taking the pens mind you..
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Only need one to score with Emi saving five.
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The Rotunda is ON.
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We don't lose at Villa Park. But that fucking third goal...
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We just need to get at them and then let’s see. I think they’ll almost certainly score, so we have to score plenty,
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The Rotunda is ON.
Ha. Very Good.
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Ex-Bloser, Christophe Dugarry, sticks the boot in:
"If PSG didn't go all the way, it would be a huge disappointment,” he said to RMC Sport.
“The players, the management, the fans, everyone believes in it, and rightly so.
“Paris put in another great performance, even if I have one caveat: I found this Aston Villa team quite catastrophic.
“This can also be explained by PSG's pressing and technical quality. But I understand better why Aston Villa is seventh in the Premier League.”
"This team was extremely disappointing,” he added.
“Asensio wasn't playing in Paris, Rashford wasn't playing for Manchester United... Teams like Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund don't belong at this level.
“There's such a big gap between Paris and Aston Villa. Bravo to PSG, who were far superior in every area.
Aston Villa don't have players strong enough to bring the balls out, and they didn't know how to fight for the second balls. This team didn't show much."
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"Teams like Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund don't belong at this level."
Absolutely bell-end.
2-2.
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"Teams like Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund don't belong at this level."
Absolutely bell-end.
2-2.
Teams that have won the European Cup he means?
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Their best ever player. Sad ******.
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Ex-Bloser, Christophe Dugarry, sticks the boot in:
"If PSG didn't go all the way, it would be a huge disappointment,” he said to RMC Sport.
“The players, the management, the fans, everyone believes in it, and rightly so.
“Paris put in another great performance, even if I have one caveat: I found this Aston Villa team quite catastrophic.
“This can also be explained by PSG's pressing and technical quality. But I understand better why Aston Villa is seventh in the Premier League.”
"This team was extremely disappointing,” he added.
“Asensio wasn't playing in Paris, Rashford wasn't playing for Manchester United... Teams like Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund don't belong at this level.
“There's such a big gap between Paris and Aston Villa. Bravo to PSG, who were far superior in every area.
Aston Villa don't have players strong enough to bring the balls out, and they didn't know how to fight for the second balls. This team didn't show much."
Thank you caller, a bronx hat is on its way in the post.
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lol - Dortmund as last year’s finalist too. Good old shock jock Talksport style nonsense.
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Dortmund have won it once and been beaten finalists twice, we’ve won it and never failed to get at least to the quarter finals, but neither of us ‘belong’ there, whatever that even means. Tool.
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We finished above them in the qualifying group, we would easily win the French title so as Tim said, why show them so much respect.
We have played and beat better teams in the last 2 years (Man City, Arsenal, Bayern Munich etc).
Get stuck in from the first minute, high tempo, strong bench, vociferous crowd.
They won't like it up 'em.
Villa win. AET.
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A front 3 of rashford, watkins, rogers, with youri pulling the strings in front of kamara and onana would be my choice.
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A front 3 of rashford, watkins, rogers, with youri pulling the strings in front of kamara and onana would be my choice.
I like your thinking.
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I don't think they play this weekend, nicely rested then.
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I don't think they play this weekend, nicely rested then.
No game for PSG this weekend as they persuaded the French FA to postpone it so they would be rested for the game against us
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Dortmund have won it once and been beaten finalists twice, we’ve won it and never failed to get at least to the quarter finals, but neither of us ‘belong’ there, whatever that even means. Tool.
Talking of not belonging places, 8 goals in 55 caps for a forward.
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Dortmund have won it once and been beaten finalists twice, we’ve won it and never failed to get at least to the quarter finals, but neither of us ‘belong’ there, whatever that even means. Tool.
Talking of not belonging places, 8 goals in 55 caps for a forward.
Found his level in Small Heath.
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Small Heathens call Dugarry "Le God". I know it's a low bar but 6 goals in 31 games over 2 seasons. Wow.
Anyway, we have to play the game at a higher intensity than we did on Weds. Anything is possible.
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So it's come down to this game, one that everyone but Villa fans think we will lose. One that only the most optimistic Villa fan would imagine that we would be competing in when that 3rd Fulham goal went in.
But it's why we're here, why we're there every week, and why the Manager agreed to come to the club.
One of the many highlights this season has been the atmosphere before KO in the CL games and we get to experience it again and if anything it will be more charged with emotion than what has come before. Because we are still in the tie, still have a chance and we can still progress.
3-1 and fittingly in this fabulous journey, it will come down to a tense and terrifying penalty shoot out. I'm not even going to attempt to predict the outcome of that but I can predict that we will all be on our feet at the end paying tribute to the players and the Manager.
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I've genuinely no idea how this will go. It could be a humbling defeat, a creditable draw, a frustrating 2-1 win, or our greatest night in 40+ years. If we go through, start building the Unai statue Thursday morning, but I think a draw is the most likely outcome.
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Wednesday morning.
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Wednesday morning.
They'll need a day to recover from their hangovers. :)
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I hope PSG have read the "2 goal lead being the most perilous score to maintain" memo
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I don't think they play this weekend, nicely rested then.
Or rusty . Sometimes these ploys backfire
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I'm proud of this team whatever happens, but to think where we've come from, and where we're going, this is the sort of game to get used to.
Tight for half an hour to an hour, then just let the shackles off.
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Play the best team and show less respect .
------- Martinez ---------
Cash Konsa Mings Digne
---- Kamara - Tielemans-
Rogers ------------ Ramsey
-- Rashford ---- Watkins
Is swap McGinn for Ramsay but otherwise agree!
Agree, McGinn for Ramsey, but otherwise that team
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It's a good call. McGinn deserves to start this and lead the team out .
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Please not Cash, Konsa at RB and Desassi CB.
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Cash is fine and he will enhance our ability to attack down the right.
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We need a last season Man City level of performance...we know we are good enough
We really need some blood and thunder and get into them from the start
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We need a last season Man City level of performance...we know we are good enough
We really need some blood and thunder and get into them from the start
We need at least one, and ideally two, early goals. One would bring the tie back to in-the-balance, two would seriously rock them mentally.
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No idea why but havnt been able to shake this feeling
We get an early goal, they then get a man sent off for hauling watkins down when clear on goal. Hour to play with 10 men
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I think the build up to the first game hurt us.
PSG were (rightly) touted as the best team in the competition and probably in Europe, and this affected our approach.
We gave them far too much respect and we tried to sit back and soak up their pressure for far too much of the game.
We have to change that.
We are so much better as a team when we play on the front foot and take the game to the opposition.
We know what we have to do. We have now played them so there is no fear of the unknown.
I feel we must get one in the first half, try and go in a goal up at the break and then see what happens.
You just never know.
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I came back from Paris thinking we had no chance, but after the weekend's performance, and seeing a distinct determination in Emery's interviews, I'm starting to change my mind.
Away end was LOUD on Saturday - Hopefully a precursor to an electric atmosphere at Villa Park tomorrow night (*hoping it's not half full of tourists).
Watkins HAS to start, with Rogers down the middle and Rashford on the left. I'd also definitely have Cash at RB - Watched the game back and didn't think he did that badly... We have to score 2 goals, so we'll need his attacking intent down the wing.
We can do this. UTV.
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I feel a Tranmere brewing.
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It almost goes without saying that we need to still be in the game at 70 minutes - so it wouldn't surprise me if Unai goes quite cautious to start with.
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It almost goes without saying that we need to still be in the game at 70 minutes - so it wouldn't surprise me if Unai goes quite cautious to start with.
He might well do that. The obvious first thought is get an early goal, but losing an early goal would kill it stone dead.
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In the purest sense it wouldn’t. It would just mean we’d need 3 goals to take it to extra time rather than win it outright (assuming they only score 1 of course). I think it’s worth the risk to push for an early goal, because I think the only chance we have is if they get unsettled.
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In the purest sense it wouldn’t. It would just mean we’d need 3 goals to take it to extra time rather than win it outright (assuming they only score 1 of course). I think it’s worth the risk to push for an early goal, because I think the only chance we have is if they get unsettled.
Yeah I think I'd do the same. Unai will, of course, have a plan!
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Sitting back cautious won't work, we need to push and defend well in equal measure.
Looks like heavy rain in Aston tomorrow night which will give the game a different feel too.
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Unai will have a plan that is for sure. Might try to take control of the game first half with us playing the ball between us in our half and try some counters and a boring 0-0 after first half, then put pressure on them and score three after 70 minutes; we have often done games like that. Might also go villa of earlier this season with front six of Kamara, Tielemans, Ramsey, Rogers, McGinn and Watkins. The forgotten Bailey to come on last minutes to make the third in 95th with his left foot swing from the corner og the pen area box? (and they dont have a sniff at our goal whole game due to superb defending).
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I would consider Bailey if fit,
EMI
Konsa Disasi Torres Digne
Kamara Tielemans
Bailey sJM Rogers Rashford
Watkins
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I would consider Bailey if fit,
EMI
Konsa Disasi Torres Digne
Kamara Tielemans
Bailey sJM Rogers Rashford
Watkins
Bailey? Against that Mendes? Jesus no, yes he's been better of late than earlier in the season but we cannot afford to have him stupidly coughing up the ball to this lot.
With the game in the balance late on against tired legs, then that's different and where he might pay off.
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I think if he wasn't even fit enough for the bench against Southampton he's very unlikely to be chucked in from the start against PSG.
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I would consider Bailey if fit,
EMI
Konsa Disasi Torres Digne
Kamara Tielemans
Bailey sJM Rogers Rashford
Watkins
Bailey? Against that Mendes? Jesus no, yes he's been better of late than earlier in the season but we cannot afford to have him stupidly coughing up the ball to this lot.
With the game in the balance late on against tired legs, then that's different and where he might pay off.
My thoughts were that most teams double up on Bailey and they did against Rashford, it would be difficult to double up on both and we have to create 1 on 1s, I feel a lot more secure with Konsa behind him. But it is high risk.
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We don't need to start by taking risks though. The game is still very much in the balance and we are a good team. One goal and it's a different game. Plenty of time.
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We don't need to start by taking risks though. The game is still very much in the balance and we are a good team. One goal and it's a different game. Plenty of time.
It will be the 'George Graham at Anfield 1989' approach from Emery, 100%.
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I would consider Bailey if fit,
EMI
Konsa Disasi Torres Digne
Kamara Tielemans
Bailey sJM Rogers Rashford
Watkins
Bailey? Against that Mendes? Jesus no, yes he's been better of late than earlier in the season but we cannot afford to have him stupidly coughing up the ball to this lot.
With the game in the balance late on against tired legs, then that's different and where he might pay off.
My thoughts were that most teams double up on Bailey and they did against Rashford, it would be difficult to double up on both and we have to create 1 on 1s, I feel a lot more secure with Konsa behind him. But it is high risk.
I'd start Bailey if it means we can play with 12 men too.
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I'd start Bailey if it means we can play with 12 men too.
I bet the officials wouldn't even notice the spawny Vilers had 12 on the pitch, just like they missed that Sheff Utd. goal.
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Fuck that late goal in Paris. At 2-1 it would be so much better. I suppose it makes us go after it from the start but I just worry about their counter. It won’t be dull that’s for sure.
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I lay awake last night thinking just how big a game this is and honestly think we can achieve anything.
Win this tie and i could see us lifting the bloody thing again.
I bet the players are buzzing for it.
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I got married on Friday, so whatever the result it's been a pretty lucky few days for me. I honestly feel like this Villa team can turn it around though. 2-0 to us goals from Asencio and Mings.
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Congratulations
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Congrats Ashton.
I think we can turn it around but it’s going to be effing tense. Also weather not looking great, cold, breezy and raining!
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I got married on Friday, so whatever the result it's been a pretty lucky few days for me. I honestly feel like this Villa team can turn it around though. 2-0 to us goals from Asencio and Mings.
Congratulations. It would certainly be an exceptional week if Mings scores; you would make a lot on that as a bet. Given his height and strength, his goal-scoring threat is incredibly negligible.
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Cold wet and shitty weather could go in our favour. Or not.
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I got married on Friday, so whatever the result it's been a pretty lucky few days for me. I honestly feel like this Villa team can turn it around though. 2-0 to us goals from Asencio and Mings.
Congratulations. It would certainly be an exceptional week if Mings scores; you would make a lot on that as a bet. Given his height and strength, his goal-scoring threat is incredibly negligible.
I dreamt he scored the first goal, a header from a corner
I’m gona put money on it
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He tends to go with Pau Torres in the European games so Mings might not even get on.
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Coming down from Edinburgh with my daughter for her first ever game*. The icing on the cake for her would be to see Tyrone score. It’s written in the stars I tells ya.
*her excitement is infectious, so much so that I’m already pacing up and down with a nervous lump in my throat. There will be tears tomorrow. Preferably the ones of the joy variety will win out.
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Blimey. Imagine the atmosphere that will be there tomorrow and that being your first game!
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I know someone who's first game was the 94 inter match, if tomorrow matches that then it'll be a fucking amazing experience for her.
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I know right. I can’t remember my first game but it sure as hell wasn’t as exciting as this (to the average fan, rather than a first timer when Scunthorpe in the Milk Cup would be ace). The batten passed on another generation, starting with her great grandad who died from TB on a tram in 1934 on the way to Villa Park, as my dad almost proudly used to tell me!
I have, of course, given her the “it won’t always be like this” talk… About the occasion, rather than deaths by TB…
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Prefer Wednesday nights in B6 , Tuesday nights have always spooked me since 1981
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My first game was us losing 4-1 at home to the Leeds side that went onto win the championship in '91/92 so just a bit different!
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My first game was us losing 4-1 at home to the Leeds side that went onto win the championship in '91/92 so just a bit different!
Mine was away at old Trafford in Feb 82, we scored first through David Geddis then got hammered 4-1. I was 8 and had no idea Ron Saunders had just resigned. I also used to get car sick and vomed several times on the way up. Its all a blur really.
Anyway, cmon the lads. We have no chance really, but maybe we do!!
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I got married on Friday, so whatever the result it's been a pretty lucky few days for me. I honestly feel like this Villa team can turn it around though. 2-0 to us goals from Asencio and Mings.
Congratulations 🎉🥂🙌🌟
With you all the way!
Villa win 5 - 0
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I think we're gonna do them. I honestly think we're gonna do them.
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I'm hoping for the best but expecting the worst. It will take a performance beyond anything we've seen but will be a night to remember if we can do it. The opening to the final is there if we can.
Whatever happens, I'm staying behind to give the team the applause they deserve..
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Gage Against The Machine! Finally, we have a follow-up to Paranoid Ormondroyd.
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We have been fully written off by the wider footballing world, so let’s hope we show what we’re capable of.
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We are facing a brilliant team that's for sure but in the early stages of this competition they were less than impressive. Let's not talk ourselves out of this. With Villa Park rocking and with the talent in our squad we have a chance. Unai Emery is a fantastic coach and he's got form for pulling off results against the odds. If we fail we must go down fighting and they must leave Villa Park shaken to the core. Bring on the spirit of Agincourt!!!
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We are facing a brilliant team that's for sure but in the early stages of this competition they were less than impressive. Let's not talk ourselves out of this. With Villa Park rocking and with the talent in our squad we have a chance. Unai Emery is a fantastic coach and he's got form for pulling off results against the odds. If we fail we must go down fighting and they must leave Villa Park shaken to the core. Bring on the spirit of Agincourt!!!
This!
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They weren’t great early in the comp but as far as I can see Kvaratskhelia has made a huge difference since coming in. Not only is he a brilliant player he also seems to have released them as a team.
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We are facing a brilliant team that's for sure but in the early stages of this competition they were less than impressive. Let's not talk ourselves out of this. With Villa Park rocking and with the talent in our squad we have a chance. Unai Emery is a fantastic coach and he's got form for pulling off results against the odds. If we fail we must go down fighting and they must leave Villa Park shaken to the core. Bring on the spirit of Agincourt!!!
This.
No better man to have next to you in the trenches than McGinn. Unai has to find a place for him in the starting eleven. Pretty football alone will not beat this lot.
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BBC football page is vomit inducing today , talking of a PSG v "the gunners" semi final . Tossers .
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It’s a growing possibility according to Phil McNulty. Not sure how that’s even factually true.
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They weren’t great early in the comp but as far as I can see Kvaratskhelia has made a huge difference since coming in. Not only is he a brilliant player he also seems to have released them as a team.
They fixed their issues quite a few weeks before he came in - moving Dembele from the wing to the middle and not basing everything around a proper striker seems to be the thing that's done it.
Kvaratskhelia coming in obviously hasn't hurt though.
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They weren’t great early in the comp but as far as I can see Kvaratskhelia has made a huge difference since coming in. Not only is he a brilliant player he also seems to have released them as a team.
They fixed their issues quite a few weeks before he came in - moving Dembele from the wing to the middle and not basing everything around a proper striker seems to be the thing that's done it.
Kvaratskhelia coming in obviously hasn't hurt though.
Were they playing with a central striker before moving Dembele? Ramos hasn’t really played that much and Kolo Muani, before going on loan, was in and out as well wasn’t he, or was he just not really performing or scoring so I hadn’t noticed him?
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They weren’t great early in the comp but as far as I can see Kvaratskhelia has made a huge difference since coming in. Not only is he a brilliant player he also seems to have released them as a team.
They fixed their issues quite a few weeks before he came in - moving Dembele from the wing to the middle and not basing everything around a proper striker seems to be the thing that's done it.
Kvaratskhelia coming in obviously hasn't hurt though.
Were they playing with a central striker before moving Dembele? Ramos hasn’t really played that much and Kolo Muani, before going on loan, was in and out as well wasn’t he, or was he just not really performing or scoring so I hadn’t noticed him?
In and out is about right. First half of the season they tried bits with Kolo Muani, they tried bits with Ramos, Asensio got some time in the attack, Kang-In got some time. Doue had only joined in the summer so they hadn't quite worked out how to use him either.
Then mid-December the Demebele / Doue / Barcola thing just clicked and they've done that ever since.
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No fear for this one at all or nerves. I think we wont have enough to beat PSG but they will hopefully arrive with the mindset of the tie being done. Need to open them up and create some space and think with a rocking VP on full volume we should at least get a good game.
If we go out? Think back 9 years and ask yourselves if we would have made the QF of the Champions League?
Passions will run high on the match thread I am sure but to everyone, get behind the team tonight as win or lose they have done us proud.
Now FTPMFs and UTV!
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Midfield is the key, we have to get a grip early and I would put a stop to the slow shit coming out of defence.
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BBC football page is vomit inducing today , talking of a PSG v "the gunners" semi final . Tossers .
I don’t know what the odds are on both Villa and Real winning through but I certainly think it’s far from a formality that Arsenal are already in the semi. Real have previous history at turning round ties at home.
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It's also fair to say that Asresal and PSG look well-placed to make it through their ties.
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Midfield is the key, we have to get a grip early and I would put a stop to the slow shit coming out of defence.
Spot on. We also need to get in the refs ear from the off. PSG will probably deploy every delaying tactic under the sun!!
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That graphic the other day showing PSG as having by far the highest wage-bill - this, despite them jettisoning their Galacticos for younger and cheaper lads. So they're still chucking cash at players that may not have been as proven as their forebears?
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That graphic the other day showing PSG as having by far the highest wage-bill - this, despite them jettisoning their Galacticos for younger and cheaper lads. So they're still chucking cash at players that may not have been as proven as their forebears?
Isn't any information about their wage bill going to be from season 23/24, so not only will it still have £30m per year going to Mbappe, they've also got rid of Skriniar, Asensio, Navas, Sanches, Ugarte and about a dozen more pretty high earners all of whom have been shipped out either last summer or in January.
Not saying it'll be small now or anything, but any numbers out there at the moment are still going to be shaped by what they were rather than what they're trying to be now.
Edit - for example a quick Google suggests that they were paying Asensio around seven times as much as they are paying Doue.
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Felt like it was our stronger midfielders that gave them the most trouble last week; Ramsey, Rogers and McGinn.
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BBC football page is vomit inducing today , talking of a PSG v "the gunners" semi final . Tossers .
I don’t know what the odds are on both Villa and Real winning through but I certainly think it’s far from a formality that Arsenal are already in the semi. Real have previous history at turning round ties at home.
Real get an early goal i can see "the Gunners" choking like they do so often
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Keeping the ball when we have possession and not gifting it up because of nerves is key for me
In the first leg we struggled to put 3 passes together because of their pressing we have to find the confidence from somewhere to keep the ball longer and take the game to them
it’s asking a lot I know but PSG will be good when they have the ball we have to be the same if we are to give ourselves a chance tonight
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To qualify oddschecker have us at 9/1 and PSG 1/14. I had given up on the tie, when they got their 3rd, but since then I have now changed my mind and I am now a believer!
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All I want is for us to wake up tomorrow without regret. That whatever the outcome and we obviously hope it’s in our favour, that we know we have it everything to get the right result. And if we fall short it won’t have been for the lack of a plan, the lack skill, or effort or desire.
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Keeping the ball when we have possession and not gifting it up because of nerves is key for me
In the first leg we struggled to put 3 passes together because of their pressing we have to find the confidence from somewhere to keep the ball longer and take the game to them
it’s asking a lot I know but PSG will be good when they have the ball we have to be the same if we are to give ourselves a chance tonight
This. I think PSG will be feeling pressure too and hopefully we can take advantage of this. They've never won it before and I still think the PSG that struggled to qualify for the knock out stages could make an appearance.
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On 3 occasions PSG have gone into a CL knockout 2nd leg, leading by 2 goals or more, and been knocked out. The CL for them is like The Masters for Rory McIlroy, enormous pressure and expectation, which is difficult to carry. Score early and see what happens. They are clearly the favourites, but we can do this if we believe in ourselves.
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On 3 occasions PSG have gone into a CL knockout 2nd leg, leading by 2 goals or more, and been knocked out. The CL for them is like The Masters for Rory McIlroy, enormous pressure and expectation, which is difficult to carry.
Which would probably give us more hope if Rory hadn't just won The Masters.
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Its very difficult to envisage PSG not scoring in a game, they don't just have goals in them they've got super goals in them, optimistic outcomes, 2-1 Villa, we go out but do so with pride intact, if we can take them to penalties that's the way I would bet on a Villa win, I somehow don't think they will want to face down Emi and I think he would relish a penalty shoot out.
Obviously I hope I'm totally wrong and Villa trounce them but to imagine Villa scoring 3 goals and keeping them out, that will take some doing.
Here we go, good luck to all the lads and it goes without saying on this rare occasion the 12th man will have to be making themselves known for the full 90 in way we have rarely seen before, its as important as the players themselves, make it seriously uncomfortable for PSG.
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On 3 occasions PSG have gone into a CL knockout 2nd leg, leading by 2 goals or more, and been knocked out. The CL for them is like The Masters for Rory McIlroy, enormous pressure and expectation, which is difficult to carry. Score early and see what happens. They are clearly the favourites, but we can do this if we believe in ourselves.
Hang on, didn't Mcilroy win The Masters the day before yesterday
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Apparently their average age is 23, which is young for a team at this level - ours is just under 27 according to google. I've read a few times that the atmosphere won't bother them (because they play in bog games all the time) but I'm not so sure about that. The vibes that I expect to be coming from VP later is going to be something to behold.
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Apparently their average age is 23, which is young for a team at this level - ours is just under 27 according to google. I've read a few times that the atmosphere won't bother them (because they play in bog games all the time) but I'm not so sure about that. The vibes that I expect to be coming from VP later is going to be something to behold.
Lets hope they flush it all away tonight
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Apparently their average age is 23, which is young for a team at this level - ours is just under 27 according to google. I've read a few times that the atmosphere won't bother them (because they play in bog games all the time) but I'm not so sure about that. The vibes that I expect to be coming from VP later is going to be something to behold.
Lets hope they flush it all away tonight
Need Emi to bring his big game experience as a WC winner
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They handled the atmosphere at Anfield and that's been too much for a few teams.
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Its very difficult to envisage PSG not scoring in a game, they don't just have goals in them they've got super goals in them, optimistic outcomes, 2-1 Villa, we go out but do so with pride intact, if we can take them to penalties that's the way I would bet on a Villa win, I somehow don't think they will want to face down Emi and I think he would relish a penalty shoot out.
Obviously I hope I'm totally wrong and Villa trounce them but to imagine Villa scoring 3 goals and keeping them out, that will take some doing.
Here we go, good luck to all the lads and it goes without saying on this rare occasion the 12th man will have to be making themselves known for the full 90 in way we have rarely seen before, its as important as the players themselves, make it seriously uncomfortable for PSG.
If it goes to penalties Emi won't have to do a thing. He'll already be in there due to the World Cup final. In all honesty, I'd worry about our own pens against Donnarumma, but Martinez would hold up his side of the bargain.
One things for certain, I'd snatch your hand off right now for them. Think we have a chance too.
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They handled the atmosphere at Anfield and that's been too much for a few teams.
They were behind, didn't concede and there was no weight of expectation. They concede early to little old Villa and 11 beds will simultaneously be shat.
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They handled the atmosphere at Anfield and that's been too much for a few teams.
They were behind, didn't concede and there was no weight of expectation. They concede early to little old Villa and 11 beds will simultaneously be shat.
Exactly. Liverpool, as amazing as people keep saying Anfield is, was a different challenge. They were underdogs despite how well they played in the home leg and Liverpool could and should've scored in the first 10 or so minutes.
I'm not sure I've seen this lot properly under pressure yet, and as good a side as they can be, ALL players can crumble under specific circumstances.
We will need a perfect performance and them to have wobble, but it's certainly possible.
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Imagine we kick towards the Holte first half and go 1-0 up in the first ten minutes.
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They handled the atmosphere at Anfield and that's been too much for a few teams.
I don't think the atmosphere will bother them but it will definitely super charge our own players if we can get the old place rocking. We can definitely be the 12th man on an occasion like this.
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The fans need to be intimidating when they have the ball and supportive, loud and encouraging when we have it (that includes all 4 stands!).
The players need to be on it from minute 1.
COYL! UTV!
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Is there any chance some misersble bastard could post in this thread, saying they're convinced it'll be worse than last week and we're getting humped?* All this optimism is giving me the willies.
*I guess they just did.
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Quite a few of the PSG lot around Victoria square, hanging around smoking Weed.
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Quite a few of the PSG lot around Victoria square, hanging around smoking Weed.
are they just trying to blend in
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Today is exactly the same feeling as Tranmere in 1994. That worked out quite well in the end, I can’t see this going to pens but I’d certainly take that right now.
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Today is exactly the same feeling as Tranmere in 1994. That worked out quite well in the end, I can’t see this going to pens but I’d certainly take that right now.
Only in terms of the score line for me. We were fully expected to beat Tranmere over two legs, we just fucked up mightily in the first leg. This just seems like a team that are a step ahead of us right now.....not that we can't pull it off, but the expectations overall are different for me.
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If we score early, we'll make them angry. I'd let them score a couple of goals, so they take their eye of the ball, then pounce.
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Today is exactly the same feeling as Tranmere in 1994. That worked out quite well in the end, I can’t see this going to pens but I’d certainly take that right now.
Only in terms of the score line for me. We were fully expected to beat Tranmere over two legs, we just fucked mightily in the first leg. This just seems like a team that are a step ahead of us right now.....not that we can't pull it off, but the expectations overall are different for me.
Yes, the gulf in class is demonstrably different. I’m referring more to my feelings of apprehension/excitement/ longing and what have you.
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This just feels like a free hit. If we go down, I hope we go down all guns blazing.
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What I've learned from the first leg: when we have a good chance, we score. They seem better at twatting it in from miles away than close range.
So, I think we should do lots of good chances. If they look like they're about to shoot from distance, get all the defenders to move out of the way so that they get tempted to dribble it into the area instead.
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Is there any chance some misersble bastard could post in this thread, saying they're convinced it'll be worse than last week and we're getting humped?* All this optimism is giving me the willies.
I still think that on balance of probabilities we'll go out.
That enough?
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On 3 occasions PSG have gone into a CL knockout 2nd leg, leading by 2 goals or more, and been knocked out. The CL for them is like The Masters for Rory McIlroy, enormous pressure and expectation, which is difficult to carry. Score early and see what happens. They are clearly the favourites, but we can do this if we believe in ourselves.
Hang on, didn't Mcilroy win The Masters the day before yesterday
Don't know if golf is not your thing Tim/BV, but McIlroy has spent years going for the Slam at Augusta, and had some horror shows. Even Sunday he spent all day trying to lose it again, finishing on a worse score than what he started on. Pressure and expectation can do strange things to us all. It would appear most expect us to go out tonight, along with Real and Bayern..it ain't over till the fat lady sings..
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Today is exactly the same feeling as Tranmere in 1994. That worked out quite well in the end, I can’t see this going to pens but I’d certainly take that right now.
That was my 2nd ever game going to VP. Was stood on the holte end as a kid. Carnage
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Golf, now!
F-V, can you come back and bring this thread to order, please!
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Is there any chance some misersble bastard could post in this thread, saying they're convinced it'll be worse than last week and we're getting humped?* All this optimism is giving me the willies.
I still think that on balance of probabilities we'll go out.
That enough?
It's start, Dave. Thank you.
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Golf, now!
F-V, can you come back and bring this thread to order, please!
What next, F1 analogies?
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Today is exactly the same feeling as Tranmere in 1994. That worked out quite well in the end, I can’t see this going to pens but I’d certainly take that right now.
It's more Atletico Madrid 1998 for me. Second best for most of the tie, but had a great spell in the 2nd half where we scored twice and were right back in it.
I can still see that fingertip save from their keeper to deny Lee Hendrie the goal that would have put us ahead on aggregate.
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If we score early, we'll make them angry. I'd let them score a couple of goals, so they take their eye of the ball, then pounce.
This is the Scotland in you. You're thinking Brazil in 1982. David Narey. Had Zico Eder and Scrates put Brazil up on the hour mark then Stevie Archibald would have netterd a 12 minute hat-trick at the death
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Too soon.
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Is there any chance some misersble bastard could post in this thread, saying they're convinced it'll be worse than last week and we're getting humped?* All this optimism is giving me the willies.
I still think that on balance of probabilities we'll go out.
That enough?
It's start, Dave. Thank you.
We're not beating the best team in the competition by 2 goals.
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I don't think k we are going through.
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Don't know if golf is not your thing Tim/BV, but McIlroy has spent years going for the Slam at Augusta, and had some horror shows. Even Sunday he spent all day trying to lose it again, finishing on a worse score than what he started on.
Being from southern Ireland, I wasn't ware of this McIlroy fella until you mentioned him.
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Don't know if golf is not your thing Tim/BV, but McIlroy has spent years going for the Slam at Augusta, and had some horror shows. Even Sunday he spent all day trying to lose it again, finishing on a worse score than what he started on.
Being from southern Ireland, I wasn't ware of this McIlroy fella until you mentioned him.
He played for Ireland at the Olympics despite saying he'd play for Britain before it's reintroduction.
The traitor ;)
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Quite a few of the PSG lot around Victoria square, hanging around smoking Weed.
are they just trying to blend in
Lol
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He played for Ireland at the Olympics despite saying he'd play for Britain before it's reintroduction.
The traitor ;)
Judging by some of the media coverage at the weekend, you're still trying to claim him. ;)
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We're not beating the best team in the competition by 2 goals.
Exactly. It will be at least by 4.
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We're not beating the best team in the competition by 2 goals.
Exactly. It will be at least by 4.
I'm trying to help SE out with the footballing gods bollocks!
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https://x.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1911917390213832854
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This just feels like a free hit. If we go down, I hope we go down all guns blazing.
I kind of agree. I feel like losing last year in the SFs we didn't really give a good account of ourselves. There were reasons for that but it was disappointing still. To skip forward a year and be in a Champions League QF is unbelievable. I believe we can get a result tonight if everyone is at 100% for every second of the game, but if we lose playing that way, I can't really complain.
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I'm not anxious about the game tonight, as I don't expect us to go through. That might change if we're 2 or 3 up with 10 minutes to go, but I'll be a lot more nervous ahead of the semi-final against Palace.
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I'm not anxious about the game tonight, as I don't expect us to go through. That might change if we're 2 or 3 up with 10 minutes to go, but I'll be a lot more nervous ahead of the semi-final against Palace.
Yup, spot on.
We either do something unexpected and spectacular, or we've done better than pretty much everyone expected at the start of the season and we've given our first season back a right good go.
Nothing to be nervous about.
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I'm not anxious about the game tonight, as I don't expect us to go through. That might change if we're 2 or 3 up with 10 minutes to go, but I'll be a lot more nervous ahead of the semi-final against Palace.
Yep that’s where I am. If we get through it’d be an astonishing surprise, so I’m quite relaxed.
What this run has reinforced to me, regardless of the outcome tonight, is we need to back at this stage. So I’m really nervous about the league games.
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We are a game away from a European cup semi final, maybe against a team we quite often beat. Even if we qualified again through the league (I think we might well do so), getting this close to winning this cup is rare as fuck for any team outside Real Madrid. So, let’s give it everything we’ve got. No fear, no being content with getting this far, unless we lose the game.
The squad and coaching team are here on merit.
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Main thing for me is don't take a twatting, and ideally keep the unbeaten home run going. Anything more than that is a bonus.
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We're not beating the best team in the competition by 2 goals.
Exactly. It will be at least by 4.
I'm trying to help SE out with the footballing gods bollocks!
And it's very much appreciated. Hope is a terrible thing, we must extinguish it wherever we find it.
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Indeed, it's the hope that kills you.
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Main thing for me is don't take a twatting, and ideally keep the unbeaten home run going. Anything more than that is a bonus.
Yup, that's about where I am too.
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What time is the team announced?
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Think Champions League is still an hour before kick-off.
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What time is the team announced?
Usually about an hour before
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https://x.com/thecasualultra/status/1912188492433535093
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Thanks chaps
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Will be a later kick off, their team bus is delayed
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gol9QRGXgAAHkJN?format=jpg&name=small)
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H and H scarf count is getting ridiculous outside Villa Park. Fully grown men as well🤦🏾
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https://x.com/thecasualultra/status/1912188492433535093
Zlatan seemed to enjoy it.
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They only played the wrong fucking music.
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(https://i.ibb.co/KpcGpH4z/av.jpg)
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They only played the wrong fucking music.
And now posting in the wrong thread. Bloody hell hell in a handcart.