Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: olaftab on March 07, 2026, 04:58:07 PM
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What: Europa League Round of 16 First Leg match
Where: Decathlon Arena - Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
When: Thursday 12 March Kick off 17:45 GMT, 18:45 CET
Lille were not too bright in the League phase qualifying in 18th place however they had an impressive win against Red Star Belgrade in the Play Off second leg. This will be tough but expect us to come back with a draw.
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Important we don't lose, 1-1.
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Listing Villa as first option when we are away? WHAT MADNESS IS THIS???
Anyway, we will lose and Giroud will score at least one.
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2-1 to the Villa.
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A draw would be lovely. Surely we can manage not to concede too many against a side who's main attacking threat is nearly 40?
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Them 2-1 Us
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A draw would be lovely. Surely we can manage not to concede too many against a side who's main attacking threat is nearly 40?
FFS! 😡😡😡
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Has Giroud ever not scored when’s he played against us.
Nearly always an optimistic but struggling to see us beat us anyone at the moment, would take a draw all day long.
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Maatsen
Onana
Luiz
Sancho
Abraham
Barkley
Rogers
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You just know Watkins will start, as will Buendia with Sancho ahead of Bailey. If he plays Mings, then we may as well give up as a great servant he may be, but we move the ball too slow with him in.
Too late for Emery to change his system so same old. I bet Abraham wonders why he came back.
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We really need to improve here. We have been pathetic the last few games.
I do fear for us here if we play like we have been
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Another reason to start Sancho is that he can't play at the weekend anyway.
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Back to winning ways and the stimulus to our run of good results in the league.
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2-2
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4-0.
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I’ve no idea but I really hope Unai has worked out we need to change it up.
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Another reason to start Sancho is that he can't play at the weekend anyway.
Good point. Sancho definitely will start
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2/3-0 to Lille.
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2-2
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Another reason to start Sancho is that he can't play at the weekend anyway.
Good point. Sancho definitely will start
Meaning it should be high octane take no prisoners from our flying winger.
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1-1. Is there an outside chance of McGinn being back, at least on the bench? That would be such a boost....!
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3-0 to Lille.
I'm afraid we've gone.
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A draw and some changes in personal, meaning it'll be the same old faces against Man Utd.
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Has Giroud ever not scored when’s he played against us.
Nearly always an optimistic but struggling to see us beat us anyone at the moment, would take a draw all day long.
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Maatsen
Onana
Luiz
Sancho
Abraham
Barkley
Rogers
Isn't Cash injured?
Lindelof deserves a go, if Cash is out then Konsa will have to move to RB. Would try Bogarde in a midfield three. Tammy up front. Rogers on one side. One of Bailey or Buendia on the other.
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Has Giroud ever not scored when’s he played against us.
Yes, in his first two games against us. Unfortunately he has scored in each of our eight meetings since, and his ten goals against Villa is more than against any other club.
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/olivier-giroud/bilanzdetails/spieler/82442/gegner/405
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I'd have scored against that Villa team. Means nothing. Fuck him and his shit old quiff.
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At least Unai has a week to plan for this one, makes me feel more confident.
Hopefully McGinn will be available soon.
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With our current form I'd take the tie still being alive in the return leg.
2-1 to Lille. Hopefully McGinn back in contention for the second game.
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Our Lille better than they were two years ago? We rode our luck against them away last time.
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I just hope we use this rest period well. Where are the lads btw? Normally they'd jet off to Dubai or somewhere like that for some warm weather training, but...
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Dublin not Dubai.
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1-1
Lille play Lorient today so hoping they pick up a few injuries.
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Back to winning ways and the stimulus to our run of good results in the league.
Now that would be nice!
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1-1
Lille play Lorient today so hoping they pick up a few injuries.
I said that against Everton
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I don't think injuries and suspensions for opposition players have worked out too well for us in the last few games.
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Yeah and the extra couple of days rest we've had over opponents recently has amounted to bugger-all advantage.
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I really hope we show up with some new ideas and some fresh intent.
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I'll just for a bit of intent.
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I will be in the air at time of game on way back from Egypt so will not know score till landing. The last time that happened was Tottenham at home when we lost 4-0 :-[
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Has Giroud ever not scored when’s he played against us.
Nearly always an optimistic but struggling to see us beat us anyone at the moment, would take a draw all day long.
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Maatsen
Onana
Luiz
Sancho
Abraham
Barkley
Rogers
Barkley's not in the Europa League squad.
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Has Giroud ever not scored when’s he played against us.
Nearly always an optimistic but struggling to see us beat us anyone at the moment, would take a draw all day long.
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Maatsen
Onana
Luiz
Sancho
Abraham
Barkley
Rogers
Barkley's not in the Europa League squad.
Is Elliot ?
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Yup
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I'd absolutely take a point here and on Sunday. Springboard towards the start of a good run with Mcginn and Youri returning hopefully.
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I'd absolutely take a point here and on Sunday. Springboard towards the start of a good run with Mcginn and Youri returning hopefully.
It's a knockout round, so we won't get a point. An away draw to set up the return at Fortress Villa Park........?
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Had the Lorient game on in the background last night, they where pretty poor by in large. If we play half as well as we can do we'll get something. Their home record is pretty patchy this season as well, though they'll obviously be more up for it against us.
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Probably a good game to have next up given the circumstances. Rotation will help, seeing some different faces and if we draw no-one would be too upset. As SGT said, losing can become a habit so we need to snap out of this run, a storming win would be ideal before we get stitched up by the ref/media/ourselves at Newton Heath but if we are to start a recovery, small steps may be the way.
We need to be careful about pinning too much on the returning players and certainly don't need to rush them back. Yes it will be great to have them involved again but we need to improve everywhere if we are to finish the season strongly.
1-1
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I'd absolutely take a point here and on Sunday. Springboard towards the start of a good run with Mcginn and Youri returning hopefully.
It's a knockout round, so we won't get a point. An away draw to set up the return at Fortress Villa Park........?
Yep, oversight, meant a draw next two games!
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They surprisingly lost at home to Belgrade in the last round and had to turn it around away in the second leg.
As shite as we are maybe we should be winning this one.
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It’s their chance to progress as well as ours so I’d imagine they will be massively up for this.
We can’t take anything for granted, but by the same token we can’t show them too much respect as we tend to do in these shit or bust games.
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Has Giroud ever not scored when’s he played against us.
Nearly always an optimistic but struggling to see us beat us anyone at the moment, would take a draw all day long.
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Maatsen
Onana
Luiz
Sancho
Abraham
Barkley
Rogers
Barkley's not in the Europa League squad.
Ah ok. Maybe Bogarde in as an extra midfielder, but will probably Emi B
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Have we replaced Kamara due to injury?
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Yes. Kamara, Malen and Guessand were the three we replaced with Luiz, Bailey and Tammy.
Barkley came in as cover for Mings injury in group stages but as soon as he became fit, Mings reverted back into the original squad.
We still have Elliott who might or might not be available depending on player, manager and loan details.
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Elliot should definitely be getting some minutes for this one. Same with sancho as neither will play vs utd
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Elliot should definitely be getting some minutes for this one. Same with sancho as neither will play vs utd
To be honest I think any consideration that Elliot can emerge from PL cold storage to having an impact in a knock out EL tie is bonkers.
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Did they lock us in after the game last time ? Hoping to get late train to Paris after the match
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Did they lock us in after the game last time ? Hoping to get late train to Paris after the match
Yes, held back for an hour.
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Thank you. Probably makes it too tight to get last train
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Yeah I looked at it but it’s really too tight unless you’re in the home end.
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Incidentally, Onana playing against his former club.
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Yeah I looked at it but it’s really too tight unless you’re in the home end.
I was looking at going a on mates trip to Tenerife. Could fly from Brussles I guess thats much nearer
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the hold back may have been due to the tense nature of the penalties knocking them out, still a fair few waiting for us and a couple of bottles got launched. was hoping it may not be as bad this time, as its only the first leg, altghough i'm sure martinez will find a way to annoy them somehow!
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Elliot should definitely be getting some minutes for this one. Same with sancho as neither will play vs utd
To be honest I think any consideration that Elliot can emerge from PL cold storage to having an impact in a knock out EL tie is bonkers.
If the onana luiz partnership was working i would agree. But its been a failure thus far. More on onana tha dougie though. Elliot could add something different. Well thats the hope .
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Incidentally, Onana playing against his former club.
Think Digne is too.
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Chance for Emery to change the set up and line up.
No excuses for keeping the recent set up.
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3 players have scored more than 1 goal for us this season in the competition, 2 aren't at the club now and the other is injured.
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Just arrived.
It’s wet.
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The Spurs game should be a warning to us. We have been nearly as bad as them these last few weeks. Lille will batter us.
Unless Unai wakes up and changes something.
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We have been poor, but to compare us to Spurs is borderline ban worthy Lee….
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Just arrived.
It’s wet.
It’s twinned with Leeds for a reason
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Torrential today !
Also guttingly, I’m having worst gout attack I’ve ever had. Cant walk. Coming home 🥲
If anyone needs a ticket you can have mine
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Torrential today !
Also guttingly, I’m having worst gout attack I’ve ever had. Cant walk. Coming home 🥲
If anyone needs a ticket you can have mine
Oh no. Sorry to hear that.
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Well it’s finally stopped raining in Lille.
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Torrential today !
Also guttingly, I’m having worst gout attack I’ve ever had. Cant walk. Coming home 🥲
If anyone needs a ticket you can have mine
As a fellow gout sufferer you have my sympathies, sorry you’ve had to return home, the gout timing couldn’t have been worse.
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Torrential today !
Also guttingly, I’m having worst gout attack I’ve ever had. Cant walk. Coming home 🥲
Hi fella - sorry to hear about that - hope you get home safe and sound - sincere regards - Clive and Cameron (Villa `cross the Mersey - VCTM) and VCTM jnr
If anyone needs a ticket you can have mine
Oh no. Sorry to hear that.
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Hi fella - sorry to hear about that - hope you get home safe and sound - sincere regards - Clive and Cameron (Villa `cross the Mersey - VCTM) and VCTM jnr
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Gout is a bastard. Thankfully in Europe you can buy really strong tablets over the counter...try them
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Gout is a bastard.
It really is. I get it twice a year like clockwork, once in late October and once in late Feb / early March. Just finished getting over my Spring bout, and it's literally the worst.
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I used to get it, haven't had it for a few years now, big toe and ankle, bastard thing.
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Gout is a bastard. Thankfully in Europe you can buy really strong tablets over the counter...try them
Thanks all. I considered a chemist on way to station but just coming into London. Medication usually staves it off. This one’s a bastard though!!!
Steroids ordered off doc so hopefully not too much more pain for long.
UTV
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Gout is a bastard.
It really is. I get it twice a year like clockwork, once in late October and once in late Feb / early March. Just finished getting over my Spring bout, and it's literally the worst.
Yes it’s strange. I get it once or twice a year. No real reason why. This is a top 3 though.
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There are definitely seasonal things that bring it on - whether it's a temperature, or a daylight, or an atmospheric pressure thing or something else but there's something external happening that causes your body to react in a certain way.
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Three months of rain stopping maybe !!
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Gout's one of those illnesses people have no sympathy for because they think it's self-induced. Until they get it.
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Very true Dave. Myself included. A friend gets it and I used to think “ how bad can that be you can’t go out”.
Answer is very very bad !!
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I would not wish it on anyone…excruciating
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Anti Inflammatory ablets
Never travel without them
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I’ve never had it but my eldest son has had it flare up a few times although neither of his brothers have, there seems no obvious reason why.
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I would not wish it on anyone…excruciating
As a fellow sufferer, same here. I've had it really bad twice. Once right after Covid started when my whole leg was inflamed and I was sent to the hospital to confirm it wasn't a blood clot from Covid, and once a couple of years ago when I just couldn't walk or even get my shoe/slipper on. Just had a minor case a few weeks ago which was just some soreness for a few days.
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Anti Inflammatory ablets
Never travel without them
Neither do I. Prescription ones. They haven’t even touched the sides !
So the Eurostar got in 10 mins late. Meaning I missed my New Street train.
Ticket bought for the next one, which was obviously delayed around Cov. That meant as we pulled into New street, the 1416 to Shenstone pulled away on next platform.
This isn’t a good day. Having a go on the lottery on the way home.
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No Matty Cash is a big blow.
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Diet is the main contributor to gout. Avoid foods high in purines and drink plenty of water.
It is horrible.
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Talk of gout has made me think of piles . I sure it was on here , a poster said they had bad piles . Does that mean you can have good piles !
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This is Unai's passion, what he does best, going for a 2-0 win and the start of good form and our new run going into a crucial season defining battle with Man U.
lets do it lads.
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Torrential today !
Also guttingly, I’m having worst gout attack I’ve ever had. Cant walk. Coming home 🥲
If anyone needs a ticket you can have mine
I might be able to offer a positive note to this one, so this is what stopped me playing football, of course, back then and even now young blokes where never tested for Uric acid levels in their blood, you could never imagine somebody at the age of 19 having Gout, Gout was something red wind swilling old Colonels used to get after years of hitting the bottle, that and gin, of course we know better now, its not about alcohol whatsoever, although staying away from anything purine will help, sardines are a killer as is tomatoes.
In my case back then they just put it down to a recurring Mortons Neuroma spreading across the foot or feet, this is what worked for me.
Have a chat with your GP, ask him about Allopurinol, he should start you on 300mg, its an old drug that works, say drug, that's not strictly true, its a powdered enzyme because that's what your body is missing and that is all gout is, you where born or developed the lack of enzymes in yoru blood to break down the Uric acid, which you have probably noticed in your pee, see what your GP offers or thinks I know a lot these days they try to healthy diet your way out of it but you have to remember that's for the rest of your life and no alcohol, tough call that.
Can be dealt with, but one thing is for sure, really painful as you know.
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Torrential today !
Also guttingly, I’m having worst gout attack I’ve ever had. Cant walk. Coming home 🥲
If anyone needs a ticket you can have mine
I might be able to offer a positive note to this one, so this is what stopped me playing football, of course, back then and even now young blokes where never tested for Uric acid levels in their blood, you could never imagine somebody at the age of 19 having Gout, Gout was something red wind swilling old Colonels used to get after years of hitting the bottle, that and gin, of course we know better now, its not about alcohol whatsoever, although staying away from anything purine will help, sardines are a killer as is tomatoes.
In my case back then they just put it down to a recurring Mortons Neuroma spreading across the foot or feet, this is what worked for me.
Have a chat with your GP, ask him about Allopurinol, he should start you on 300mg, its an old drug that works, say drug, that's not strictly true, its a powdered enzyme because that's what your body is missing and that is all gout is, you where born or developed the lack of enzymes in yoru blood to break down the Uric acid, which you have probably noticed in your pee, see what your GP offers or thinks I know a lot these days they try to healthy diet your way out of it but you have to remember that's for the rest of your life and no alcohol, tough call that.
Can be dealt with, but one thing is for sure, really painful as you know.
Suffered from gout many years ago and have been on Allopurinol ever since. Alcohol does not bring on any episodes for me.
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Torrential today !
Also guttingly, I’m having worst gout attack I’ve ever had. Cant walk. Coming home 🥲
If anyone needs a ticket you can have mine
I might be able to offer a positive note to this one, so this is what stopped me playing football, of course, back then and even now young blokes where never tested for Uric acid levels in their blood, you could never imagine somebody at the age of 19 having Gout, Gout was something red wind swilling old Colonels used to get after years of hitting the bottle, that and gin, of course we know better now, its not about alcohol whatsoever, although staying away from anything purine will help, sardines are a killer as is tomatoes.
In my case back then they just put it down to a recurring Mortons Neuroma spreading across the foot or feet, this is what worked for me.
Have a chat with your GP, ask him about Allopurinol, he should start you on 300mg, its an old drug that works, say drug, that's not strictly true, its a powdered enzyme because that's what your body is missing and that is all gout is, you where born or developed the lack of enzymes in yoru blood to break down the Uric acid, which you have probably noticed in your pee, see what your GP offers or thinks I know a lot these days they try to healthy diet your way out of it but you have to remember that's for the rest of your life and no alcohol, tough call that.
Can be dealt with, but one thing is for sure, really painful as you know.
Suffered from gout many years ago and have been on Allopurinol ever since. Alcohol does not bring on any episodes for me.
It won't if your on Allopurinol, that's the point, what I was saying is a lot of GP's go down the route of diet now which will mean little or no alcohol
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Diet is the main contributor to gout. Avoid foods high in purines and drink plenty of water.
It is horrible.
H&Vers eat plenty of greens.
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I'll vote for them but I won't eat them.
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Diet is the main contributor to gout. Avoid foods high in purines and drink plenty of water.
It is horrible.
H&Vers eat plenty of greens.
I've never had it, nor have I known anyone that suffered from it. Really surprised it's so prevalent on here, it's no wonder Blues fans think we're all landed gentry living on our country estates.
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Just rewatched the highlights and penalty shootout from last time we played them.
Bloody hell, I forgot how intense it was and how close they were to knocking us out.
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The thing that worries me is all the arse-ing around we do at the back. The events in this week's CL games have brought that into sharp focus.
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What foods are high in purines? Never heard of such a thing.
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What foods are high in purines? Never heard of such a thing.
All the nice stuff
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What foods are high in purines? Never heard of such a thing.
All the nice stuff
Yeah, liver, kidneys, hearts and sweetbreads are all high in purines.
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Torrential today !
Also guttingly, I’m having worst gout attack I’ve ever had. Cant walk. Coming home 🥲
If anyone needs a ticket you can have mine
I might be able to offer a positive note to this one, so this is what stopped me playing football, of course, back then and even now young blokes where never tested for Uric acid levels in their blood, you could never imagine somebody at the age of 19 having Gout, Gout was something red wind swilling old Colonels used to get after years of hitting the bottle, that and gin, of course we know better now, its not about alcohol whatsoever, although staying away from anything purine will help, sardines are a killer as is tomatoes.
In my case back then they just put it down to a recurring Mortons Neuroma spreading across the foot or feet, this is what worked for me.
Have a chat with your GP, ask him about Allopurinol, he should start you on 300mg, its an old drug that works, say drug, that's not strictly true, its a powdered enzyme because that's what your body is missing and that is all gout is, you where born or developed the lack of enzymes in yoru blood to break down the Uric acid, which you have probably noticed in your pee, see what your GP offers or thinks I know a lot these days they try to healthy diet your way out of it but you have to remember that's for the rest of your life and no alcohol, tough call that.
Can be dealt with, but one thing is for sure, really painful as you know.
Suffered from gout many years ago and have been on Allopurinol ever since. Alcohol does not bring on any episodes for me.
It won't if your on Allopurinol, that's the point, what I was saying is a lot of GP's go down the route of diet now which will mean little or no alcohol
Yes I’m on Allopurinol. Started January on 100mg, went to 200mg last month and after today’s call she suggested the 300mg. She’s given me prednisone steroids today as a bad attack 5 years was cleared up with that.
Hasn’t made much difference since I took the first lot about 5 pm, but it’s a 3-5 day course.
Yes it’s not alcohol related for me , as I drink socially most weekends without issue. My worst attack was in lockdown one and i hadn’t had a drink in months.
Usually indemotacin sorts it if you catch it early , but this one has been a really bad one.
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What foods are high in purines? Never heard of such a thing.
All the nice stuff
Yeah, liver, kidneys, hearts and sweetbreads are all high in purines.
Mushrooms too. And Americans say to beat gout, cut out stout
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In the old days, gout was portrayed a being Lord Snooty in his gentleman's club in a leather armchair with a heavily bandaged foot. Caused by too much rich food and port
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We really need to stop the rot here. It should have happened before, but the Chelsea game really should be the slap in the face to collectively wake us up.
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Torrential today !
Also guttingly, I’m having worst gout attack I’ve ever had. Cant walk. Coming home 🥲
If anyone needs a ticket you can have mine
Ah man thats horrible. Get well soon fella
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We really need to stop the rot here. It should have happened before, but the Chelsea game really should be the slap in the face to collectively wake us up.
I don't think some of our fellow-posters suffering from gout was a reaction to the Chelsea defeat although admittedly I entered a choco-coma to self-soothe once Jao Pedro completed his hat-trick.
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Cash out but McGinn, Garcia, Elliot all back in the squad. Going to have to try Konsa at RB again even though I'm not a fan of that setup at all. Also gets Lindelof back into the team which is good. Not sure which of Bailey, Sancho or Buendia deserves the last spot. Would put an extra man, Bogarde, into midfield. McGinn on around 70mins.
Martinez, Konsa, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen, Bogarde, Onana, Luiz, Rogers, Tammy, TBC
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Sancho starts for me. More reliable then Bailey and has been more defensively sound of late. Also can't start on Sunday, so let Leon percolate on how best to take a man on for the second time this year.
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Yeah, Sancho all day long over Bailey.
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Cash out but McGinn, Garcia, Elliot all back in the squad. Going to have to try Konsa at RB again even though I'm not a fan of that setup at all. Also gets Lindelof back into the team which is good. Not sure which of Bailey, Sancho or Buendia deserves the last spot. Would put an extra man, Bogarde, into midfield. McGinn on around 70mins.
Martinez, Konsa, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen, Bogarde, Onana, Luiz, Rogers, Tammy, TBC
I agree with this and probably go Sancho as the least worst option out wide.
Beundia and McGinn from the bench.
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Cash out but McGinn, Garcia, Elliot all back in the squad. Going to have to try Konsa at RB again even though I'm not a fan of that setup at all. Also gets Lindelof back into the team which is good. Not sure which of Bailey, Sancho or Buendia deserves the last spot. Would put an extra man, Bogarde, into midfield. McGinn on around 70mins.
Martinez, Konsa, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen, Bogarde, Onana, Luiz, Rogers, Tammy, TBC
I agree with this and probably go Sancho as the least worst option out wide.
Beundia and McGinn from the bench.
I'd say that if Garcia is at RB then use all of Onana / DL / Bogarde and give him licence to push forward. If it's Konsa, use that extra solidity and only go with two of those midfielders and put Buendia in.
If it's not working then switch to the other way.
Think I'd go Konsa / Lindelof / Pau / Maatsen though.
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Don't think there's any chance of Garcia starting. Late sub at best.
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It won't if your on Allopurinol, that's the point, what I was saying is a lot of GP's go down the route of diet now which will mean little or no alcohol
I finally succumbed to Allopurinol after years of suffering and trying to blitz it with Indometacine. Since I went on the Allopurinol 3 years' ago, I've had no attacks.
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It won't if your on Allopurinol, that's the point, what I was saying is a lot of GP's go down the route of diet now which will mean little or no alcohol
I finally succumbed to Allopurinol after years of suffering and trying to blitz it with Indometacine. Since I went on the Allopurinol 3 years' ago, I've had no attacks.
In Spain you can get allopurinol over the counter 500mg one of those certainly does the trick
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Lindelof needs to start tonight. He's looked rock solid since arriving.
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What foods are high in purines? Never heard of such a thing.
All the nice stuff
Yeah, liver, kidneys, hearts and sweetbreads are all high in purines.
Mushrooms too. And Americans say to beat gout, cut out stout
And Marmite/Bovril
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What foods are high in purines? Never heard of such a thing.
All the nice stuff
Yeah, liver, kidneys, hearts and sweetbreads are all high in purines.
Mushrooms too. And Americans say to beat gout, cut out stout
And Marmite/Bovril
Asparagus Cauliflower Chicken Pawns, some beers.
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What foods are high in purines? Never heard of such a thing.
All the nice stuff
Yeah, liver, kidneys, hearts and sweetbreads are all high in purines.
Mushrooms too. And Americans say to beat gout, cut out stout
And Marmite/Bovril
Asparagus Cauliflower Chicken Pawns, some beers.
Bishop's Finger?
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If spurs can win the competition while being relegation fodder it can't be that difficult. 0-2.
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If spurs can win the competition while being relegation fodder it can't be that difficult. 0-2.
And in the short-term, even with our current injuries we're probably about as strong a side as knocked them out two years ago. They've lost seven or eight of their better players from that squad.