Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Dave on April 28, 2025, 09:20:31 AM
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Saturday, May 3rd
12.30pm
Need to win, otherwise it stops being "five teams fighting for third - fifth", it becomes "can Villa hold onto seventh place ahead of Fulham, Brighton and Bournemouth?"
3-1 us
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Need to win.
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0-2
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It's hard to imagine the atmosphere feeling like anything other than a wake after Saturday, and that's before you consider it's Fulham at lunchtime.
1-1, late equaliser for them.
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No idea on the team. Feels like half the team from Saturday should be dropped to "send a message", but it's also broadly the same group of players who had been generally brilliant for two months until last Tuesday evening.
I'd stick Disasi in for Konsa, and give Malen, Onana and Bailey starts. No idea beyond that.
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Meh, don't care. Still sulking. Football is shit. Might stay in and watch the snooker.
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-------- Martinez --------
Cash Konsa Mings Digne
--- Kamara - Tielemans --
Rogers - McGinn - Ramsey
------- Watkins ---------
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Load of bollocks, they're all tossers. Nice toxic atmosphere for my nephew's second game if things start going wrong. Please win Villa.
I'm all over the shop with the stages of grief.
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Meh, don't care. Still sulking. Football is shit. Might stay in and watch the snooker.
Watch the telly and think about your holidays.
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We just need to win. Our home record is good, so we will. Then we push on.
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No time to be feeling sorry for ourselves.
A week to prepare.
If anything, this is a Torres game, but I'd still play Mings.
Got to start strong and with some tempo.
If the players want to show how much they want to repay the fans, then this is a great opportunity.
UTV.
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-------- Martinez --------
Cash Konsa Mings Digne
--- Kamara - Tielemans --
Rogers - McGinn - Ramsey
------- Watkins ---------
This is the team I'd pick.
I hope Malen gets more minutes on Saturday.
Early goal, comfortable win.
Let's not let one in with their first shot, again.
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It's too soon.
I'll be back later this week when hopefully I can make a considered prediction rather than howling in rage as I have been since Saturday.
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-------- Martinez --------
Cash Konsa Mings Digne
--- Kamara - Tielemans --
Rogers - McGinn - Ramsey
------- Watkins ---------
This is the team I'd pick.
I hope Malen gets more minutes on Saturday.
Early goal, comfortable win.
Let's not let one in with their first shot, again.
Garcia for cash
Rest rogers
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please no more Rogers on right , give him a rest , he can always come on for 25 mins . Get Malen on the right and Maatsen LB.
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A high tempo win, which will piss the fans off more as it proves that when we play like that we can steamroll anyone.
3-0. Mings in for Torres, Rogers in the Number 10 and Bailey plays (well) on the right.
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Martinez
Garcia Konsa Mings Maatsen
Kamara Onana
Malen Tielemans Ramsey
Watkins
McGinn, Bailey, Asensio, Barkley and Digne as subs later on.
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That a good line up - I might also be tempted to swap Kamara for Rogers and give him a chance in the middle and possibly Bailey for Malen given his new found ability to go outside the left back to the by line.
But happy just to see fresh players!
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No time to be feeling sorry for ourselves.
A week to prepare.
If anything, this is a Torres game, but I'd still play Mings.
Torres was shrugged-off the ball with embarrassing ease for Jiménez's goal at the Cottage in the corresponding fix.
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Martinez
Garcia Konsa Mings Maatsen
Kamara Onana
Malen Tielemans Ramsey
Watkins
McGinn, Bailey, Asensio, Barkley and Digne as subs later on.
This would have been a team to start at Wembley too - maybe with McGinn for Ramsey.
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please no more Rogers on right , give him a rest , he can always come on for 25 mins . Get Malen on the right and Maatsen LB.
100% agree.
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It's a game a week now we are out the cups so plenty of rest anyway . No Need to rest Rogers .
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I doubt I will go. They gave up on us Saturday.
We might win, who cares we ain’t getting 6th.
It doesn’t matter what they do, it won’t be enough to take away the anger from Saturday.
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I doubt I will go. They gave up on us Saturday.
We might win, who cares we ain’t getting 6th.
It doesn’t matter what they do, it won’t be enough to take away the anger from Saturday.
Does anger make you irrational?
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Need to start giving proper chances to some of the players who've been overlooked or side lined in last few months.
The ones Unai really trusts let him down badly so I'm expecting 4-5 changes as it will be a very flat atmosphere so in that scenario we need players with something to prove rather than just going through the motions and wanting the season to end.
Drummond's team is pretty much bang on for me other than I'd give Tielemans a rest for this as he's had a crazy amount of minutes this year and Fulham will be pressing him intently themselves.
Anyway there's no excuse not to put it out as we have a full week at Bodymoor to prepare for this so probably first prem fixture for over two months in which we've had full five days to prepare.
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I doubt I will go. They gave up on us Saturday.
We might win, who cares we ain’t getting 6th.
It doesn’t matter what they do, it won’t be enough to take away the anger from Saturday.
DLBIA KTF UTV!
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I doubt I will go. They gave up on us Saturday.
We might win, who cares we ain’t getting 6th.
It doesn’t matter what they do, it won’t be enough to take away the anger from Saturday.
Does anger make you irrational?
I could ask my shrink but I just beat him up.
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Quite grateful of the week rest myself here. April has been pretty intense as a fan never mind a player.
Not watched much of Fulham outside of against us and bizarrely Palace.
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Mings
Maatsen
JJ
Tielemans
Kamara
Rogers
Malen
Ollie
Pace and power for me.
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No Pau and no Disasi please.
Just win.
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It's a game a week now we are out the cups so plenty of rest anyway . No Need to rest Rogers .
Not sure I follow that logic. We could rest him for the next match in the hope we get more from him in the final three. He's still knackered.
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I will go on Saturday and we will win.
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Rogers needs a rest. He's not reading the game as well as he usually does - holding the ball too long, taking on "just one more" (and one too many) man - and losing possession too often. We have players who can step into his position so I think both he and the team would benefit.
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Martinez (although if Olsen was a better class of keeper i would actually drop him to bring him back to earth.)
Garcia
Konsa
Mings (Limited ball player and i love Torres but he boiled my piss on Sat) Have to combat the treat from Jimenez
Maatsen
Onana (thought Kamara was crap on Sat)
Tielemans
Ramsay
McGinn
Bailey (only one who had any credit on Sat)
Malen (Watkins acting like a spoilt brat because Rashford was picked over him) and was crap on sat
A few of them need a kick up the arse
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We need to win and get some help from others slipping up. This last weekend was horrific on multiple levels.
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Mings (Limited ball player
A bit harsh Hookeysmith. He may not be quites as good as Torres, but he's not bad for an English centre back - in fact I would say well above average
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Mings (Limited ball player
A bit harsh Hookeysmith. He may not be quites as good as Torres, but he's not bad for an English centre back - in fact I would say well above average
Each to their own - If Mings plays a killer direct pass forward then it is the exception rather than the rule - but he is a great last ditch, body on the line, man in the trenches (think that is enough cliches) defender which i feel we need.
Palace was not the game for Torres and i cannot for the life of me see how SUE thought it was?
Fulham are direct and get the balls into the box - we need Mings and we will need him against Spurs with Wanky Solanki who also is decent in the air.
Bournemouth and Redfilth i would use Torres
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It's a game a week now we are out the cups so plenty of rest anyway . No Need to rest Rogers .
Not sure I follow that logic. We could rest him for the next match in the hope we get more from him in the final three. He's still knackered.
Logic?
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There’s no reason why we shouldn’t go at the next 4 games full throttle.
Struggling to get up for this after Saturday’s capitulation but I’m sure the players will be at it. Win and it’s going to be European football again next season, 3 more wins after that and who knows?
We cannot allow this season the end on a low.
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There’s no reason why we shouldn’t go at the next 4 games full throttle.
Struggling to get up for this after Saturday’s capitulation but I’m sure the players will be at it. Win and it’s going to be European football again next season, 3 more wins after that and who knows?
We cannot allow this season the end on a low.
I think we will carry on with rope a dope though.
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I'm confident we can overtake Chelsea, they have a tough run in, plus the European matches, but Forest not so, we're almost certainly gonna have to win all 4 matches to have any chance.
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There’s no reason why we shouldn’t go at the next 4 games full throttle.
Struggling to get up for this after Saturday’s capitulation but I’m sure the players will be at it. Win and it’s going to be European football again next season, 3 more wins after that and who knows?
We cannot allow this season the end on a low.
I think we will carry on with rope a dope though.
We’ve got some fresh players that should come in. Maatsen, Mings, Garcia, Ramsey and Onana should all start. There’s absolutely no reason we can’t go at them from the off.
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There’s no reason why we shouldn’t go at the next 4 games full throttle.
Struggling to get up for this after Saturday’s capitulation but I’m sure the players will be at it. Win and it’s going to be European football again next season, 3 more wins after that and who knows?
We cannot allow this season the end on a low.
I think we will carry on with rope a dope though.
We’ve got some fresh players that should come in. Maatsen, Mings, Garcia, Ramsey and Onana should all start. There’s absolutely no reason we can’t go at them from the off.
The manager.
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There’s no reason why we shouldn’t go at the next 4 games full throttle.
Struggling to get up for this after Saturday’s capitulation but I’m sure the players will be at it. Win and it’s going to be European football again next season, 3 more wins after that and who knows?
We cannot allow this season the end on a low.
I think we will carry on with rope a dope though.
We’ve got some fresh players that should come in. Maatsen, Mings, Garcia, Ramsey and Onana should all start. There’s absolutely no reason we can’t go at them from the off.
The manager.
Luckily he’s a world class coach so I’ll back his judgement.
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There’s no reason why we shouldn’t go at the next 4 games full throttle.
Struggling to get up for this after Saturday’s capitulation but I’m sure the players will be at it. Win and it’s going to be European football again next season, 3 more wins after that and who knows?
We cannot allow this season the end on a low.
I think we will carry on with rope a dope though.
We’ve got some fresh players that should come in. Maatsen, Mings, Garcia, Ramsey and Onana should all start. There’s absolutely no reason we can’t go at them from the off.
The manager.
Luckily he’s a world class coach so I’ll back his judgement.
Yes, and he decides if we can “ go at them from the off “
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Our problem is hardly not being attacking enough - if anything we're too attacking! We have too many players on the pitch who don't want to keep the ball but drive riskily at the defence leaving big gaps behind. The slow pace happens when we're looking for a way through and we have too many options stuck at the far end of the pitch, and not enough in the middle of the pitch.
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We should be angrily despatching these so naturally, a boring 1-1.
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It's a game a week now we are out the cups so plenty of rest anyway . No Need to rest Rogers .
Not sure I follow that logic. We could rest him for the next match in the hope we get more from him in the final three. He's still knackered.
I see how you've fucked up there. You put logic in a sentence replying to Cooper's.
Amateur mistake there Paulie.
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Really?
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There’s no reason why we shouldn’t go at the next 4 games full throttle.
Struggling to get up for this after Saturday’s capitulation but I’m sure the players will be at it. Win and it’s going to be European football again next season, 3 more wins after that and who knows?
We cannot allow this season the end on a low.
I think we will carry on with rope a dope though.
We’ve got some fresh players that should come in. Maatsen, Mings, Garcia, Ramsey and Onana should all start. There’s absolutely no reason we can’t go at them from the off.
The manager.
Luckily he’s a world class coach so I’ll back his judgement.
Yes, and he decides if we can “ go at them from the off “
Really? Well you live and learn.
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There’s no reason why we shouldn’t go at the next 4 games full throttle.
Struggling to get up for this after Saturday’s capitulation but I’m sure the players will be at it. Win and it’s going to be European football again next season, 3 more wins after that and who knows?
We cannot allow this season the end on a low.
I think we will carry on with rope a dope though.
We’ve got some fresh players that should come in. Maatsen, Mings, Garcia, Ramsey and Onana should all start. There’s absolutely no reason we can’t go at them from the off.
The manager.
Luckily he’s a world class coach so I’ll back his judgement.
Yes, and he decides if we can “ go at them from the off “
Really? Well you live and learn.
Not having a go mate, just answering your posts, I also want to see us play more front foot football like we did against Newcastle.
Just pointing out that Emery seems to get stuck on the opposite to “ having a go at them”
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There’s no reason why we shouldn’t go at the next 4 games full throttle.
Struggling to get up for this after Saturday’s capitulation but I’m sure the players will be at it. Win and it’s going to be European football again next season, 3 more wins after that and who knows?
We cannot allow this season the end on a low.
I think we will carry on with rope a dope though.
We’ve got some fresh players that should come in. Maatsen, Mings, Garcia, Ramsey and Onana should all start. There’s absolutely no reason we can’t go at them from the off.
The manager.
Luckily he’s a world class coach so I’ll back his judgement.
Yes, and he decides if we can “ go at them from the off “
Really? Well you live and learn.
Not having a go mate, just answering your posts, I also want to see us play more front foot football like we did against Newcastle.
Just pointing out that Emery seems to get stuck on the opposite to “ having a go at them”
Fair enough, apologies.
UTV
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Martinez
Garcia, Disasi, Mings, Maatsen
Barkley, Onana
Malen, McGinn Ramsey
Watkins
An eye to next season. We played really well v Forest for about 60mins when Emery made a load of changes. Shouldnt be afraid of doing so again.
A number of regulars stewing/resting on the bench.
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Disasi and Mings, no thanks.
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Martinez
Garcia, Disasi, Mings, Maatsen
Barkley, Onana
Malen, McGinn Ramsey
Watkins
An eye to next season. We played really well v Forest for about 60mins when Emery made a load of changes. Shouldnt be afraid of doing so again.
A number of regulars stewing/resting on the bench.
Is that so you can give everyone 1 or 2 out of 10 in your ratings?
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Has Disasi ever done anything wrong for us playing at centre-half?
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Martinez
Garcia, Disasi, Mings, Maatsen
Barkley, Onana
Malen, McGinn Ramsey
Watkins
An eye to next season. We played really well v Forest for about 60mins when Emery made a load of changes. Shouldnt be afraid of doing so again.
A number of regulars stewing/resting on the bench.
Is that so you can give everyone 1 or 2 out of 10 in your ratings?
Id have included Konsa to make sure of that.
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We will win and win well. Our confidence has been really shaken as fans. But I think the players will be very focused and get us back on track. 4 very winnable games left to get the job done.
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Has Disasi ever done anything wrong for us playing at centre-half?
Not sure he's got many chances. He was roasted at Palace but nearly everyone was absymal that night. Stick him in next to Mings and see what he's like in his best position.
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I see no reason why we should be gambling on untried partnerships at this stage of the season with Champions League qualification still up for grabs.
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Big game for both clubs. Mustn’t underestimate Fulham in this - a win would put them in a very good position for the last 3 games of the season. Guess some of their fans might feel a tiny bit hopeful/optimistic if they were to win (LondonFranky?)
Absolute must win for us. Could genuinely see us dropping down to 8th if we were to lose, although in honesty I think it’s a game that if we have ambitions on playing Champions League football we really need to win, and win relatively comfortably.
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It's a game a week now we are out the cups so plenty of rest anyway . No Need to rest Rogers .
Not sure I follow that logic. We could rest him for the next match in the hope we get more from him in the final three. He's still knackered.
No, that makes no sense , he's a young athlete a week rest is more than enough at this stage
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Make a prediction of the score later in the week, seems to be an atmosphere of utter shock that's overwhelmed the club at the moment, including fans, i'll wait to see if there are any injuries, simply we have to win this, lose this and that is closure on the season, so for me, from here on in this is the start of next season, what we do now is for next season and this is the first game, here we go, its going to be much tougher overall, Fulham are a decent side.
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I think we will win comfortably and leave everyone scratching their heads why it didn't happen v Palace .
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Has Disasi ever done anything wrong for us playing at centre-half?
No, he has been fine there.
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Sorry about the palace result from this Fulham fan, if it’s any consolation they did exactly the same to us!! As to Saturday which is the 50 year anniversary of our only cup final appearance, I’ve no real idea, we’ve been consistently inconsistent, but we’ve had a good season but it could have been so much better!! inability to keep clean sheets inability to see out games, I think if we had a fit and motivated Mitrovic which I know is a bit of a oxymoron, we could have been where Forest are, we could finish the season with our best ever top flight finish, and the possibility of European football even if it is the conference league, hopefully follow your lead conference league and champions league the following season!!
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Sorry about the palace result from this Fulham fan, if it’s any consolation they did exactly the same to us!! As to Saturday which is the 50 year anniversary of our only cup final appearance, I’ve no real idea, we’ve been consistently inconsistent, but we’ve had a good season but it could have been so much better!! inability to keep clean sheets inability to see out games, I think if we had a fit and motivated Mitrovic which I know is a bit of a oxymoron, we could have been where Forest are, we could finish the season with our best ever top flight finish, and the possibility of European football even if it is the conference league, hopefully follow your lead conference league and champions league the following season!!
Hi Franky, good to hear from you!
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Has Disasi ever done anything wrong for us playing at centre-half?
Nope and I would look.to sign him to play there if the deal is right in the summer. Just wouldn't be using him at RB again.
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Yeah, me too. Was bewildered that some people seem to have really taken against him based on him playing out of position. Was wondering if I'd forgotten something.
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Yeah, me too. Was bewildered that some people seem to have really taken against him based on him playing out of position. Was wondering if I'd forgotten something.
He played well against Forest from memory. He’s not a bad CB.
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Hey Franky, what's the verdict on Smith-Rowe? Also, could Mitrovic come back now he's made his extra wonga? If you want Ollie Watkins, there's plenty on here who wouldn't mind sending him your way if the price is right.
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Hey Franky, what's the verdict on Smith-Rowe? Also, could Mitrovic come back now he's made his extra wonga? If you want Ollie Watkins, there's plenty on here who wouldn't mind sending him your way if the price is right.
theres no way Mitrovic would come back I’m pretty sure, ESR been a bit disappointing but he’s still scored half a dozen goals, I suppose it been hard for him after 2 years on fringes at arsenal
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Has Disasi ever done anything wrong for us playing at centre-half?
Nope and I would look.to sign him to play there if the deal is right in the summer. Just wouldn't be using him at RB again.
Vaguely recall when he joined someone looked at some Chelsea forums, and that was their opinion of him, too.
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Disasi is fine at centre-half. I just think him and Mings would not be a good balance.
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Franky, since you lot coughed up the lead against Chelsea, everything's gone to pot. How will you be apologising to the entire Villa fanbase?
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They've probably still got credit in the bank after getting rid of Tony Xia and Steven Gerrard, tbf.
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Fair
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Not sure where else to post this
According to BBC tickets sold for the Semis, Forest 36000, Palace 35500 Us 34000 Man City 27000
Seeing that Palace sell out at 25000 there are either a lot of Day trippers or opportunity to increase revenue
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Seeing that Palace sell out at 25000 there are either a lot of Day trippers or opportunity to increase revenue
Or 10,000 Blose fans.
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Hi Franky
It depends which Fulham turns up. Not sure how the hangover from the Palace debacle will impact the team. There is always a chance that we will pick the wrong team and tactics. Could be an open game.
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Disasi hasn't done anything wrong but I'm hoping to see someone come in who's good enough to dislodge Konsa from the team. Pau Torres is always going to be a first choice under Emery, so I'd like us to find a Milenkovic-type who can be physically commanding and make up for Pau's weaknesses.
That Ordonez at Club Brugge looked good and 21 years old. And we've been linked with Koulierakis who is another 21 year old.
Then whenever Konsa played, it would be in a partnership with Mings.
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It's not about what Fulham side turn up in the least. Anymore than it is Bournemouth or the absolute drek that occupies 16th and 14th currently.
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Franky, since you lot coughed up the lead against Chelsea, everything's gone to pot. How will you be apologising to the entire Villa fanbase?
that game sums out entire season, didn’t play particularly well, still 1-0 going into the last ten minutes and still managed to lose
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Franky, since you lot coughed up the lead against Chelsea, everything's gone to pot. How will you be apologising to the entire Villa fanbase?
that game sums out entire season, didn’t play particularly well, still 1-0 going into the last ten minutes and still managed to lose
sounds a bit familiar
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Villa win, push for 5th back on, blood pressure once again high.
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It's not about what Fulham side turn up in the least. Anymore than it is Bournemouth or the absolute drek that occupies 16th and 14th currently.
Rationality.
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Franky, since you lot coughed up the lead against Chelsea, everything's gone to pot. How will you be apologising to the entire Villa fanbase?
that game sums out entire season, didn’t play particularly well, still 1-0 going into the last ten minutes and still managed to lose
Silva often gives the air of someone pissed-off a lot of the time. Do you think he has designs on a "big" job?
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Franky, since you lot coughed up the lead against Chelsea, everything's gone to pot. How will you be apologising to the entire Villa fanbase?
that game sums out entire season, didn’t play particularly well, still 1-0 going into the last ten minutes and still managed to lose
Silva often gives the air of someone pissed-off a lot of the time. Do you think he has designs on a "big" job. It wouldn’t surprise me if a bigger club than us came in for Silva, there’s been a bit of paper talk about the Spurs job, I’ll be surprised if he goes to a top club in England and definitely not Spurs!! Maybe a top team in Europe
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Franky, since you lot coughed up the lead against Chelsea, everything's gone to pot. How will you be apologising to the entire Villa fanbase?
that game sums out entire season, didn’t play particularly well, still 1-0 going into the last ten minutes and still managed to lose
Silva often gives the air of someone pissed-off a lot of the time. Do you think he has designs on a "big" job?
Ouch !
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Just hope I can get up for this before Saturday as I'm having great difficulty at the moment: can't imagine why!!!
Hi Londonfranky BTW.
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Franky, since you lot coughed up the lead against Chelsea, everything's gone to pot. How will you be apologising to the entire Villa fanbase?
that game sums out entire season, didn’t play particularly well, still 1-0 going into the last ten minutes and still managed to lose
Silva often gives the air of someone pissed-off a lot of the time. Do you think he has designs on a "big" job. It wouldn’t surprise me if a bigger club than us came in for Silva, there’s been a bit of paper talk about the Spurs job, I’ll be surprised if he goes to a top club in England and definitely not Spurs!! Maybe a top team in Europe
You said 'top club' mate so that rules Spurs out anyway.
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Just hope I can get up for this before Saturday as I'm having great difficulty at the moment: can't imagine why!!!
Hi Londonfranky BTW.
Think most people will have shaken off last Saturday by the time the weekend comes, especially as we still have something massive to play for.
I've got a feeling the players will respond as well and will put in a good performance.
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Just hope I can get up for this before Saturday as I'm having great difficulty at the moment: can't imagine why!!!
Exactly where I am. The crap kick off time doesn't help the mood either.
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I'm slightly less vexed and despite claiming that I wouldn't go to either of the last 2 home games, a drink in town before and after will see me in attendance on Saturday.
Two awful results, the steam train of our strong finish firmly off the rails and along come a club like Fulham to compound the depression. Europa League next season.
1-3
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It's not about what Fulham side turn up in the least. Anymore than it is Bournemouth or the absolute drek that occupies 16th and 14th currently.
You are probably right, it is more about who Emery picks, the messages he sends them out with and if the players are fully bought in.
After Citeh and Palace who knows.
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Fulhams away form since the start of Feb is a mixed bag
Newcastle - W
Wolves -W
Brighton -L
Arsenal -L
Bournemouth -L
Southampton -W (albeit with a last minute winner)
Our home in the league in the same is not a mixed bag.
Liverpool -D
Chelsea -W
Forest -W
Newcastle-W
With cup wins over Brugges, Cardiff and PSG in the same period.
The players still have a goal to strive for and hopefully this is drummed into them. Fulham are a good side and will know if the beat us they are only 3 pints behind us, but I think we’ll have too much for them. I dont mind the 12.30 k/o personally.
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Mings
Maatsen
Kamara
Onana
Tielemans
Watkins
Rogers
Ramsey
Get Malen, McGinn and Asensio on early enough to make a difference if needed.
3-1 (Watkins, Rogers, Ramsey)
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Fulham are a good side. We’re going to have to be our good selves to win this.
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It's not about what Fulham side turn up in the least. Anymore than it is Bournemouth or the absolute drek that occupies 16th and 14th currently.
You are probably right, it is more about who Emery picks, the messages he sends them out with and if the players are fully bought in.
After Citeh and Palace who knows.
Who knows indeed? Ask Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, PSG, Bayern, Juventus, Newcastle, Brentford, Brighton, Forest etc (teams we have either taken points off or beaten). Its easy to forget what a very good side we are on our day.
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It's not about what Fulham side turn up in the least. Anymore than it is Bournemouth or the absolute drek that occupies 16th and 14th currently.
You are probably right, it is more about who Emery picks, the messages he sends them out with and if the players are fully bought in.
After Citeh and Palace who knows.
Who knows indeed? Ask Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, PSG, Bayern, Juventus, Newcastle, Brentford, Brighton, Forest etc (teams we have either taken points off or beaten). Its easy to forget what a very good side we are on our day.
Yes we are, at home.
Hopefully the last 2 performances have not damaged us too much.
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4.2
Ollie Morgan Maatsen and Jacob
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When you've had a bad game you just want the next one to come along quick to hopefully make up for some of the disappointment of the previous game. If we beat Fulham it wouldn't erase last Saturday but it would leave us in a.healthy league position with three games left. It's on our own patch so I think we will win. Nervy 3-2 with a Watkins brace.
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WBA kicking off at 12:30 as well. Therefore, I'll have to use a different way back to the M5
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We win.
3-0 Villa.
FTF 8)
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Was trying to think how we responded after the Oldham 0-3 disaster. Feels like that game again we need a bounce from.
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That post has just made it properly dawn on me we lost 3-0 to Crystal fucking Palace in an FA Cup semi-final.
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That post has just made it properly dawn on me we lost 3-0 to Crystal fucking Palace in an FA Cup semi-final.
This one will take a while.
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We really need three points so I'm going for a 2-1.
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I think we'll win, but I'd be more confident if it were a 5.30pm kick-off rather than 12.30pm.
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Game will be more open and we're at home.
I'm going to be super optimistic and say we bounce back hard.
3-0 with Watkins getting a brace to shut everyone up.
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Game will be more open and we're at home.
I'm going to be super optimistic and say we bounce back hard.
3-0 with Watkins getting a brace to shut everyone up.
That would be ideal!
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Traore to score, hush the Holte and flex his pectorals and obliques to devastating effect.
Hope not though, it's only my third and final VP visit of the season and it's my brother's first Villa Park game in 16 years.
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Unai has won all 6 games he's had v Fulham.
Ollie has scored in his 3 v them.
We've won 6 of the last, the Gerrard game being the loss so that was nice.
So with all those it's obvious we'll lose 0-2.
Actually we'll twat them by 3 or 4.
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2-1 Villa win
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They owe a big performance after the last shit show. Must win.
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We need our leader back, the man who galvanises the team.
Not the time for pretty stuff, we need players who are prepared to dirty their shorts.
Step forward Mr Mings.
2-0 to the Villa.
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If Mings doesn't start tomorrow he's either not fully fit or something is going on .
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If Mings doesn't start tomorrow he's either not fully fit or something is going on .
Of course. Can't possibly be any other reason.
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4 games to make this a very positive season. Back on the front foot and 3-1 will do nicely thank you.
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Not sure what to feel for this
If we win and win well (Forest GD only down to 7 with 4 games to go) then i will of course be happy.
But
Another part of me will be quite angry that they could turn it on when they feel like it and collectively turn to cabbages on the biggest stage of the season last week.
I get the feeling that Forest will crumple like a cheap suit so we have to take advantage
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Nobody gets angry when the Villa win.
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3-1 Villa, Watkins to go past Gabby’s goals record with a brace
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Nobody gets angry when the Villa win.
Agreed or at least no one should.
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Last week was gut wrenching and so, so avoidable
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F365
A home game with Fulham suddenly feels of quite outsized importance to Aston Villa’s whole season. The heroic failure against PSG in the Champions League and dismal failure against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup means hope of joining Newcastle in the ‘ended our trophy drought’ comfy seats has now gone, while anything less than victory over Fulham will leave Villa facing a near impossible task to claw their way back into the Champions League positions this season.
Even with an extra one.
It all leaves a few harsh questions about whether the season, about whether Emery, has been a success. About whether that spectacularly fun but undeniably expensive January loan splurge was actually worth it if none remain at Villa Park beyond May and PSR chickens start coming home to roost next year.
Defeat to Fulham would even raise the prospect of Villa finishing below the Cottagers and maybe even Brighton. It’s not Tottenham bad. It’s not Man United bad. But for a team and manager that have done so very much right in trying to re-establish Villa among the Premier League’s leading clubs a trophyless season with a mid-table finish would feel distinctly squibbish.
Villa have been on quite a journey this year, and it still feels like there’s one significant turn left yet. It just isn’t yet clear in which direction.
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F365
A home game with Fulham suddenly feels of quite outsized importance to Aston Villa’s whole season. The heroic failure against PSG in the Champions League and dismal failure against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup means hope of joining Newcastle in the ‘ended our trophy drought’ comfy seats has now gone, while anything less than victory over Fulham will leave Villa facing a near impossible task to claw their way back into the Champions League positions this season.
Even with an extra one.
It all leaves a few harsh questions about whether the season, about whether Emery, has been a success. About whether that spectacularly fun but undeniably expensive January loan splurge was actually worth it if none remain at Villa Park beyond May and PSR chickens start coming home to roost next year.
Defeat to Fulham would even raise the prospect of Villa finishing below the Cottagers and maybe even Brighton. It’s not Tottenham bad. It’s not Man United bad. But for a team and manager that have done so very much right in trying to re-establish Villa among the Premier League’s leading clubs a trophyless season with a mid-table finish would feel distinctly squibbish.
Villa have been on quite a journey this year, and it still feels like there’s one significant turn left yet. It just isn’t yet clear in which direction.
No mention of the time Emery developed hayfever when he was doing his driving test, the excellent busker singing Cage's 4'33 outside the new club shop, the new club shop, Paul Faulkner's diabetic cousin or Olsen's refurbished Atari. If it was Spurs that's all they'd talk about. Typical London filth.
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I really hope it's, Ramsey, Rogers, Malen, behind Ollie.
3-1 Us.
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F365
A home game with Fulham suddenly feels of quite outsized importance to Aston Villa’s whole season. The heroic failure against PSG in the Champions League and dismal failure against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup means hope of joining Newcastle in the ‘ended our trophy drought’ comfy seats has now gone, while anything less than victory over Fulham will leave Villa facing a near impossible task to claw their way back into the Champions League positions this season.
Even with an extra one.
It all leaves a few harsh questions about whether the season, about whether Emery, has been a success. About whether that spectacularly fun but undeniably expensive January loan splurge was actually worth it if none remain at Villa Park beyond May and PSR chickens start coming home to roost next year.
Defeat to Fulham would even raise the prospect of Villa finishing below the Cottagers and maybe even Brighton. It’s not Tottenham bad. It’s not Man United bad. But for a team and manager that have done so very much right in trying to re-establish Villa among the Premier League’s leading clubs a trophyless season with a mid-table finish would feel distinctly squibbish.
Villa have been on quite a journey this year, and it still feels like there’s one significant turn left yet. It just isn’t yet clear in which direction.
Absolute and utter rubbish
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F365
A home game with Fulham suddenly feels of quite outsized importance to Aston Villa’s whole season. The heroic failure against PSG in the Champions League and dismal failure against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup means hope of joining Newcastle in the ‘ended our trophy drought’ comfy seats has now gone, while anything less than victory over Fulham will leave Villa facing a near impossible task to claw their way back into the Champions League positions this season.
Even with an extra one.
It all leaves a few harsh questions about whether the season, about whether Emery, has been a success. About whether that spectacularly fun but undeniably expensive January loan splurge was actually worth it if none remain at Villa Park beyond May and PSR chickens start coming home to roost next year.
Defeat to Fulham would even raise the prospect of Villa finishing below the Cottagers and maybe even Brighton. It’s not Tottenham bad. It’s not Man United bad. But for a team and manager that have done so very much right in trying to re-establish Villa among the Premier League’s leading clubs a trophyless season with a mid-table finish would feel distinctly squibbish.
Villa have been on quite a journey this year, and it still feels like there’s one significant turn left yet. It just isn’t yet clear in which direction.
I'm not sure there's much you can argue with in that . Win tomorrow is the way to answer it .
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If Mings doesn't start tomorrow he's either not fully fit or something is going on .
How about this, Emery doesn't like braided hair types?
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I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I'm glad we've had the week to get last Saturday out of our system though. Us to win amd Ollie to go past Gabby's record.
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If Mings doesn't start tomorrow he's either not fully fit or something is going on .
How about this, Emery doesn't like braided hair types?
No Kamara then or Onana. or Bailey
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This is such a must win game!
Are we reserving the orange dot for relegation battles only because the next 4 games are arguably the most important 4 games of our existence. Champions league this season sees us kick on with minimal churn. Europa league and I think the churn could be significant and whilst I trust Unai and Monchi to get us back into the champions league eventually I'd rather do it again next season and build a squad of young future superstars like PSG are currently trying to do.
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If Mings doesn't start tomorrow he's either not fully fit or something is going on .
How about this, Emery doesn't like braided hair types?
No Kamara then or Onana. or Bailey
Only counts in defence
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This is such a must win game!
Are we reserving the orange dot for relegation battles only because the next 4 games are arguably the most important 4 games of our existence. Champions league this season sees us kick on with minimal churn. Europa league and I think the churn could be significant and whilst I trust Unai and Monchi to get us back into the champions league eventually I'd rather do it again next season and build a squad of young future superstars like PSG are currently trying to do.
"the next 4 games are arguably the most important 4 games of our existence" - are you happy with your hyperbole?!
Just asking...
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For a match of such magnitude, I'm struggling to be arsed if I'm honest. Still feels like the season ended last week.
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For a match of such magnitude, I'm struggling to be arsed if I'm honest. Still feels like the season ended last week.
Let’s hope the players don’t feel like this.
Massive game which we need to be up for.
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Sort of get that, but this is really important.
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For a match of such magnitude, I'm struggling to be arsed if I'm honest. Still feels like the season ended last week.
Did last weekend actually happen , feels like a very bad surreal parallel
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For a match of such magnitude, I'm struggling to be arsed if I'm honest. Still feels like the season ended last week.
Did last weekend actually happen , feels like a very bad surreal parallel
Christ, was it only last weekend, it feels it was weeks ago?
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For a match of such magnitude, I'm struggling to be arsed if I'm honest. Still feels like the season ended last week.
I am the same, to throw away the chance of winning the FA Cup in such a way will hurt long past the next 4 games.
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This is such a must win game!
Are we reserving the orange dot for relegation battles only because the next 4 games are arguably the most important 4 games of our existence. Champions league this season sees us kick on with minimal churn. Europa league and I think the churn could be significant and whilst I trust Unai and Monchi to get us back into the champions league eventually I'd rather do it again next season and build a squad of young future superstars like PSG are currently trying to do.
"the next 4 games are arguably the most important 4 games of our existence" - are you happy with your hyperbole?!
Just asking...
This is such a must win game!
Are we reserving the orange dot for relegation battles only because the next 4 games are arguably the most important 4 games of our existence. Champions league this season sees us kick on with minimal churn. Europa league and I think the churn could be significant and whilst I trust Unai and Monchi to get us back into the champions league eventually I'd rather do it again next season and build a squad of young future superstars like PSG are currently trying to do.
"the next 4 games are arguably the most important 4 games of our existence" - are you happy with your hyperbole?!
Just asking...
OK smart arse name 4 consecutive matches that have had the same amount on the line. If we miss out on Europe it's a massive step back. If we get europa league it's not the end of the world but ffp will be harder, revenue will go down. A slightly lower caliber of players will be available.
If we get top 5 we have a real chance to break the traditional top 6 and be taken seriously.
The next 4 games could see this squad become stronger or implode and have to start again.
But obviously I don't know what I'm talking about as I've only been a fan since the 80's so what would I know.
This could be the dawning of a new dominant era or another false dawn followed by a regression as players like rogers want to leave to play in the champions league.
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I think the problem is 4 games, most people get a game that can change the world like the play off final, the relegation ending at West Ham or even the game that gave us CL football.
But 4 games after we just blew a potentially historic FA Cup final in 1 game.
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The way I look at it - last week was a gut punch. But longer-term if we qualify for the Champions League again it helps sustain our position, keep and obtain high quality players and ultimately make it more likely we’ll have opportunities to win cups. That’s why it’s important.
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There's been numerous times where a 4 game run has been massively important, be it related to winning titles, staying up or being relegated. The last 4 of 2019/20 were way more important than these 4. We go down that season then who knows how it pans out after that, it could all have gone to shit and we wouldn't even be thinking about CL football now.
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Regardless of what happens over these 4 games , Emery needs a bit of a rethink in some key areas if we want to win trophies . The palace game should be the catalyst for change .
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This is such a must win game!
Are we reserving the orange dot for relegation battles only because the next 4 games are arguably the most important 4 games of our existence. Champions league this season sees us kick on with minimal churn. Europa league and I think the churn could be significant and whilst I trust Unai and Monchi to get us back into the champions league eventually I'd rather do it again next season and build a squad of young future superstars like PSG are currently trying to do.
"the next 4 games are arguably the most important 4 games of our existence" - are you happy with your hyperbole?!
Just asking...
This is such a must win game!
Are we reserving the orange dot for relegation battles only because the next 4 games are arguably the most important 4 games of our existence. Champions league this season sees us kick on with minimal churn. Europa league and I think the churn could be significant and whilst I trust Unai and Monchi to get us back into the champions league eventually I'd rather do it again next season and build a squad of young future superstars like PSG are currently trying to do.
"the next 4 games are arguably the most important 4 games of our existence" - are you happy with your hyperbole?!
Just asking...
OK smart arse name 4 consecutive matches that have had the same amount on the line. If we miss out on Europe it's a massive step back. If we get europa league it's not the end of the world but ffp will be harder, revenue will go down. A slightly lower caliber of players will be available.
If we get top 5 we have a real chance to break the traditional top 6 and be taken seriously.
The next 4 games could see this squad become stronger or implode and have to start again.
But obviously I don't know what I'm talking about as I've only been a fan since the 80's so what would I know.
This could be the dawning of a new dominant era or another false dawn followed by a regression as players like rogers want to leave to play in the champions league.
The most important four games of our existence? If you want four consecutive, then as PWS said there's the relegation run-in, or you could have any four in the run to the play-offs, or the four games leading up to qualification last season, or maybe Forest (H) Stoke (A) Middlesbrough (H) Arsenal (A).
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Why does it matter?
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Why doesn't it matter?
Debating things tends to be the point of forums.
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Why doesn't it matter?
Debating things tends to be the point of forums.
Exactly thank you! Hence my questioning of this obtuse tangent!
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IT'S ANOTHER ONE!
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IT'S ANOTHER ONE!
Matty Targett incoming
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Managed to go five years without getting to a game (Fulham at Wembley was my last before this season) due to kids being born / distance / commitments etc, took my six year old to his first in October (in no small part to helpful patrons here helping with references) and tomorrow will be his seventh and our last of the season.
Bournemouth is his only non-win, so hopefully his first loss has to wait a while yet. Pretty sure he's signed up for life now.
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Good work Dave, hope he sees another win tomorrow.
My "kid" brother hasn't been to Villa Park since Jan '09 (2-1 win over WBA), he was ten. Tomorrow is his first Villa Park game since then (he was at the 0-1 Fulham Wembley final too. And has also seen us lose at QPR 0-1 in the Championship. He's been a bit of a Jonah to be honest). His support of Villa during the 2010s as with every Villa fan - but especially teens, was severely tested so I'm hoping we win and win well tomorrow. He has to make sure he doesn't miss his 8.30 flight from Dublin first...
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This is my first game at Villa Park for a very long time too. I fear the omens aren’t aligning well!
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Managed to go five years without getting to a game (Fulham at Wembley was my last before this season) due to kids being born / distance / commitments etc, took my six year old to his first in October (in no small part to helpful patrons here helping with references) and tomorrow will be his seventh and our last of the season.
Bournemouth is his only non-win, so hopefully his first loss has to wait a while yet. Pretty sure he's signed up for life now.
Ace! Signed up just at the right time too - I keep telling my kids how luckily they are to be villa fans with this team and manager!
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This is my first game at Villa Park for a very long time too. I fear the omens aren’t aligning well!
Spoken with the trepidation of a true Villa fans! I hope you enjoy it.
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Cheers - I hope we all do!
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I just want you to know that if we lose, I'm going to blame each and every one of you.
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Managed to go five years without getting to a game (Fulham at Wembley was my last before this season) due to kids being born / distance / commitments etc, took my six year old to his first in October (in no small part to helpful patrons here helping with references) and tomorrow will be his seventh and our last of the season.
Bournemouth is his only non-win, so hopefully his first loss has to wait a while yet. Pretty sure he's signed up for life now.
Ace! Signed up just at the right time too - I keep telling my kids how luckily they are to be villa fans with this team and manager!
Yeah, after the Southampton match we had a very long conversation along the lines of "look at these poor bastards, it's not long ago that they were us - would you still want to come and support if we were as bad as that, like they are doing?"
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This won't be easy. I hope he plays Mjngs and Onana. If he picks Torres we'll lose. Just go for it like we did against Newcastle. None of this walk football tippy happy stuff!
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Great thing about today and every game going forward is that there's no excuses.
If we loose and play great football I'll live with it, but another performance like the last two and there'll be hell to pay
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Not sure about “hell to pay”. We’ll be disgruntled, post about our disgruntlement and then move on, won’t we?
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I think we can all agree that a poor performance today should see another manager rage sacked after a Fulham game, followed by the board and owners rage sacking themselves. We need to stop accepting such abject failure.
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Didn't Felix "Penfold" Magath rock-up to VP with his ragbag Fulham team and beat us one blustery April afternoon? I think it was a new nadir at the time.
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We lost 2-1 at home to them in 2014. Villa legend Grant Holt scored ours, future Villa legend Kieran Richardson scored one of theirs. Our only home league defeat to them since our shit early 70s days.
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Grant Holt is one that surprises me every time I'm reminded he played for us even 10 years on. I'm not sure it ever actually happened.
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I just want you to know that if we lose, I'm going to blame each and every one of you.
Add me to the list. Me and my kids almost always go in the North Stand and have seen many wins, including Bayern & PSG.
Exceptions - Everton LC, Stevenage, Palace LC, QPR 2-2 in the championship. Notts County LC - we won 5-3 AET but left at 3-3 as the kids were 3 & 4 years old. We were in the WLS for the 3-0 v the Jaudis though and the Trinity for the 3–1 v Fulham last season.
We’re in the Trinity today.
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Must win, otherwise ECL has disappeared for next season.
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I think with Rashford out it will give Ollie a boost, I'm backing him to get the record today and going for a Villa win.
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I just want you to know that if we lose, I'm going to blame each and every one of you.
This. Why are we messing with so much that has worked so well all season.
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Anyone able to say if they’ve finished the resurfacing of Tame Bridge car park and if it is fully open please?
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After working through the various stages of grief over the last week, I'll be there in the Lower Holte later, if nothing else, to enjoy the last of this beautiful weather.
Ollie to score to break that record in a 3-1 win to cheer everyone up.
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Last season at this stage we were in a comfortable position for CL qualification. Spurs the only challengers were failing badly as chasers under pressure often do. Today we find ourselves in the position of pressure, not only because we need to win every game but also where we were about two weeks ago. Every game from now or more importantly every win will increase that pressure and a loss/draw today will terminate our hopes and turn what could have been this season in to competing for crumbs of second/third rate European competitions.
Come on Villa boys, this is an important a game as any this season.
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Anyone able to say if they’ve finished the resurfacing of Tame Bridge car park and if it is fully open please?
The part nearest the station was completed last Sunday, not sure about the section over the road.
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Rogers needs to play left. McGinn right and Asensio left. Or it won’t work going forward.