Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: olaftab on April 13, 2026, 05:28:41 PM
-
What: Europa League Quarter Final second leg.
When: Thursday 16 April Kick Off 20:00 BST 21:00 CET
Where: Villa Park B6.
Should be straight forward. Play some of our back up players, secure a sit back save energy draw. Job done.
-
No need to chase the game, let them over commit to their press and then rip them apart with our ability to move the ball quickly between the lines. Looks like a half decent crowd will be in attendance so looking forward to this one. Maybe a couple of changes to give those in need a rest.
-
I predicted 3-1 for the first leg in the pre match thread.
So, I’m going 2-1 home win. I think they may score first.
-
You can see why these cnuts aren't keen on elections. They're shit at them.
Edit: I've either posted on the wrong thread or the media has got it in for me.
-
You can see why these cnuts aren't keen on elections. They're shit at them.
Edit: I've either posted on the wrong thread or the media has got it in for me.
Bologna don’t like elections ?
C unts. We better batter them now.
-
We’re not through yet and they get the first goal, things could get nervy. Saying that we score early we could batter them.
I wouldn’t rest anybody at this point, but if we’re in no danger I’d get Dougie on for Tielemans as early in the second half as possible.
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Maatsen
Onana
Tielemans
McGinn
Watkins
Rogers
Beundia
2-1 (Watkins, Rogers)
-
You can see why these cnuts aren't keen on elections. They're shit at them.
Edit: I've either posted on the wrong thread or the media has got it in for me.
Bologna don’t like elections ?
C unts. We better batter them now.
Quick bit of research and I find Mussolini was born only 50 miles from Bologna. Bang to rights. Smash them.
-
I'd go;
Martinez
Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne
Onana, Luiz
McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers
Abraham
-
You can see why these cnuts aren't keen on elections. They're shit at them.
Edit: I've either posted on the wrong thread or the media has got it in for me.
Bologna don’t like elections ?
C unts. We better batter them now.
Quick bit of research and I find Mussolini was born only 50 miles from Bologna. Bang to rights. Smash them.
Bologna is traditionally a left-wing city.
-
You can see why these cnuts aren't keen on elections. They're shit at them.
Edit: I've either posted on the wrong thread or the media has got it in for me.
Bologna don’t like elections ?
C unts. We better batter them now.
Quick bit of research and I find Mussolini was born only 50 miles from Bologna. Bang to rights. Smash them.
Bologna is traditionally a left-wing city.
Wasn't there a right wing terrorist atrocity there in the late 70's?
-
You can see why these cnuts aren't keen on elections. They're shit at them.
Edit: I've either posted on the wrong thread or the media has got it in for me.
Bologna don’t like elections ?
C unts. We better batter them now.
Quick bit of research and I find Mussolini was born only 50 miles from Bologna. Bang to rights. Smash them.
Bologna is traditionally a left-wing city.
Wasn't there a right wing terrorist atrocity there in the late 70's?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bologna_massacre
-
Bologna railway station was bombed in 1980.
-
2-0.
-
Thanks, that was what I was thinking of
-
2.0. Goal either side of HT puts it to bed. Onwards.
-
1-1 (4-2)
-
I'd go;
Martinez
Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne
Onana, Luiz
McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers
Abraham
Very difficult team to pick. Third game in a week, likes of McGinn and Tielemans only back from serious injuries. I'm not sure Cash is fully fit either. Buendia will definitely start after his impact in the first leg. Id give Ollie the start again too. I think Mings might come back in but Torres is key to getting us playing.
I'd go
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Onana, Luiz, McGinn, Buendia, Rogers, Watkins.
-
Rowe will get sent off, we'll stroll it.
-
Abraham and Buendia should start, bring Rogers and Watkins back in for Sunderland. Maatsen for Digne too. Is Sancho near to returning?
2 1 to us anyway.
-
Anyone done the Bologna coming to Spaghetti Junction joke yet?
-
MODS, Martyn is trying to get around his ban from the "Jokes" thread by posting them here instead!
-
This won't be straightforward. It never is.
Nervy 0-1
-
You can see why these cnuts aren't keen on elections. They're shit at them.
Edit: I've either posted on the wrong thread or the media has got it in for me.
Bologna don’t like elections ?
C unts. We better batter them now.
Quick bit of research and I find Mussolini was born only 50 miles from Bologna. Bang to rights. Smash them.
Their stadium was built as a fascist showpiece. Mussolini opened it riding a horse. The alcove under the tower in the stadium has a statue of Mussolini until it was pulled down in 1943.
Complex place. Was a fascist hotbed in 1923 but very anti fascist by World War 2.
-
3-1
-
MODS, Martyn is trying to get around his ban from the "Jokes" thread by posting them here instead!
Ban this sick stunt.
-
MODS, Martyn is trying to get around his ban from the "Jokes" thread by posting them here instead!
Ban this sick stunt.
I reported him to the Mods, but I haven't heard a sausage from them.
-
I can see us winning 2-1.
-
Stop Rowe and we win this. Unai will have a plan.
1-0 to the Villa.
-
I'd prefer Forest to beat Porto as from what I saw Porto played for very slick, tasty football going forwards and looked the kind of side capable of blowing someone away in the home leg.
-
Yes but Porto would be exciting.
We've played Forest roughly half a million times.
-
They couldn't blow Forest away. And we're loads better than Forest.
-
They couldn't blow Forest away. And we're loads better than Forest.
Apart from at their gaff
-
Despite the fact that we are 3-1 up I can guarantee there will be plenty of impatient calls for us to be "quicker" and "play it forward" from the stands (at Villa Park).
Control and not using unnecessary effort is where Emery comes from and it will be the same on Thursday and I will be happy to relax and watch the game played out with us maintaining our advantage throughout. It will be more fractious on Sunday where we need to win the game from the off.
An early goal for them will set off the nervous ninnies, which is all of us of course, and I think they'll score, but so will we.
1-1
-
Cash got booked in the first leg-Do they tally up and will he miss the first leg of the semi if he picks another up? I'd have a tiny bit of an eye on Sunday and probably bench Rogers, Watkins and Mcginn- A plan B if required.
-
They couldn't blow Forest away. And we're loads better than Forest.
We couldn't blow Forest away either
-
Wouldn't surprise me to see Konsa at RB, alongside Linderlof and Torres, with Maatsen on the left side.
I agree that Rogers should maybe sit out most of the game, with Buendia coming in.
I can't see Tammy starting, but he should get more minutes than he has been getting later on in the game.
It would be great to give Alysson more minutes, but is he fit yet?
-
Wouldn't surprise me to see Konsa at RB, alongside Linderlof and Torres, with Maatsen on the left side.
I agree that Rogers should maybe sit out most of the game, with Buendia coming in.
I can't see Tammy starting, but he should get more minutes than he has been getting later on in the game.
It would be great to give Alysson more minutes, but is he fit yet?
I'm surprised we haven't utilised the 'Konsa at right back' option more given the quality of Lindelof.
-
Wouldn't surprise me to see Konsa at RB, alongside Linderlof and Torres, with Maatsen on the left side.
I agree that Rogers should maybe sit out most of the game, with Buendia coming in.
I can't see Tammy starting, but he should get more minutes than he has been getting later on in the game.
It would be great to give Alysson more minutes, but is he fit yet?
I'm surprised we haven't utilised the 'Konsa at right back' option more given the quality of Lindelof.
I think it's to do with the lack of a decent attacking outlet on the right. Konsa there in 23/24 was with the good version of Bailey ahead of him and I think a big part of Bailey's good season was having Konsa behind him, so there was little to no defensive responsibility. We had a defensive defender and an attacking attacker. With Cash and McGinn we have two who do a bit of both. McGinn tucks in with Cash providing the width, but with McGinn in the side you can't make Konsa do what Cash does.
I guess the counter-argument might have been that when McGinn was out, that was the time to stick Konsa there and just tell Bailey or Sancho to run at their full-back and not bother coming back because Konsa isn't coming forward.
-
Wouldn't surprise me to see Konsa at RB, alongside Linderlof and Torres, with Maatsen on the left side.
I agree that Rogers should maybe sit out most of the game, with Buendia coming in.
I can't see Tammy starting, but he should get more minutes than he has been getting later on in the game.
It would be great to give Alysson more minutes, but is he fit yet?
I'm surprised we haven't utilised the 'Konsa at right back' option more given the quality of Lindelof.
Really? Matty Cash isn't far off our player of the season. Thought we could have tried it at Old Trafford alright, Bogarde struggled and Konsa was diabolical.
-
Cash got booked in the first leg-Do they tally up and will he miss the first leg of the semi if he picks another up? I'd have a tiny bit of an eye on Sunday and probably bench Rogers, Watkins and Mcginn- A plan B if required.
Townley reporting:
Morgan Rogers, John McGinn, Matty Cash, Lucas Digne and Victor Lindelof would miss a potential Europa League semi-final first leg if they receive a booking on Thursday night.
I'd look at something like:
Bizot
Bogarde
Lindelof
Pau
Maatsen
Douglas Luiz
Onana
Tielemans
Buendia
Bailey
Abraham
Sancho in for Bailey if he's fit enough.
-
Rest Rogers, McGinn, Cash and have Maatsen over Digne for width.
Emi, Dougie and Bogarde for the others
-
Rest Rogers, McGinn, Cash and have Maatsen over Digne for width.
Emi, Dougie and Bogarde for the others
Would not even consider Bogarde at RB against Rowe - if he makes a change it has to be Konsa who can just muscle him about. A couple of "robust" challenges and Rowe will shrivel.
If Sancho fit - play him instead of SJM
If Konsa is to stop Rowe then we need some forward pace on the left so play Maatsen.
I am not sure Allyson is even in the Euro squad never mind being fit
-
Bogarde is fine defensively, he is just where Villa attacks go to die.
Sancho rubbing his hair with both arms and appears to be in full training. Would have him start wide, Dougie into the middle, Youri into 10 for control, Emi to be a pest. Absolutely no Bailey.
-
Wouldn't surprise me to see Konsa at RB, alongside Linderlof and Torres, with Maatsen on the left side.
I agree that Rogers should maybe sit out most of the game, with Buendia coming in.
I can't see Tammy starting, but he should get more minutes than he has been getting later on in the game.
It would be great to give Alysson more minutes, but is he fit yet?
I'm surprised we haven't utilised the 'Konsa at right back' option more given the quality of Lindelof.
Really? Matty Cash isn't far off our player of the season. Thought we could have tried it at Old Trafford alright, Bogarde struggled and Konsa was diabolical.
No I agree, just when he's been unavailable or to give him a breather.
-
Bogarde is fine defensively, he is just where Villa attacks go to die.
Sancho rubbing his hair with both arms and appears to be in full training. Would have him start wide, Dougie into the middle, Youri into 10 for control, Emi to be a pest. Absolutely no Bailey.
Konsa at RB has same issue but physically might be better able for Rowe.
I've a funny feeling Bailey might start. If he can't be trusted at home in a tie we are two goals to the good then he's done.
-
Think that's a good shout. Need to keep him match sharp should he need to step in.
I don't like it, but now's the time to do it. Really important run in, need to make sure everyone's ready to play their part, irrespective of what the fans think.
-
Rogers, Cash and McGinn being fresh for Sunderland too would be excellent.
-
Tickets looked to have sold pretty well compared with Lille.
-
Bogarde is fine defensively, he is just where Villa attacks go to die.
Sancho rubbing his hair with both arms and appears to be in full training. Would have him start wide, Dougie into the middle, Youri into 10 for control, Emi to be a pest. Absolutely no Bailey.
Konsa at RB has same issue but physically might be better able for Rowe.
I've a funny feeling Bailey might start. If he can't be trusted at home in a tie we are two goals to the good then he's done.
He's done. We know this already!
-
Most right minded Villa fans know that Rowe is going to score after about 20 mins and have us crapping ourselves until the 78th.
-
Nah, we'll roll these again. Slow and dour first half, pick them off for 4-1 in the second. Good fight, good night.
-
Jonathan Rowe must be delighted that in a niche corner of the internet he's now been built up to be the second coming of Garrincha.
-
Wouldn't surprise me to see Konsa at RB, alongside Linderlof and Torres, with Maatsen on the left side.
I agree that Rogers should maybe sit out most of the game, with Buendia coming in.
I can't see Tammy starting, but he should get more minutes than he has been getting later on in the game.
It would be great to give Alysson more minutes, but is he fit yet?
I'm surprised we haven't utilised the 'Konsa at right back' option more given the quality of Lindelof.
I was very surprised that we did not do this on Sunday at Forest, especially when Cash was on an early card and then Forest brought on Wood.
-
Jonathan Rowe must be delighted that in a niche corner of the internet he's now been built up to be the second coming of Garrincha.
And, if we did sign him you just know he’d turn into peak Lansbury at best.
-
Bizot
Bogarde
Lindelof
Pau
Maatsen
Douglas Luiz
Onana
Tielemans
Buendia
Bailey
Abraham
Sancho in for Bailey if he's fit enough.
Exactly this team for Thursday. Rogers needs a rest anyway and we also need to protect yellow card situation.
-
Sancho over Bailey.
-
What about Barkley?
-
What about Barkley?
Still not really worth being kicked out the competition for fielding an ineligible player.
-
What about Barkley?
He is not in the Euro Squad is he ?
-
Jonathan Rowe must be delighted that in a niche corner of the internet he's now been built up to be the second coming of Garrincha.
As I said the other day talking to Bologna fans they said he occasionally thrills but mostly disappoints.
-
What about Barkley?
Why didn't Barry take the pen?
-
Sancho, Mings and Martinez all trained today.
-
It's said every week in football, A two goal lead is a dangerous lead. Bologna are no mugs and know they have to score goals.
We can not afford to make too many changes. Complacency is our biggest threat but Unai will not let that happen and will make changes as soon as he considers tie won to protect booked players.
-
Bizot
Bogarde
Lindelof
Pau
Maatsen
Douglas Luiz
Onana
Tielemans
Buendia
Bailey
Abraham
Sancho in for Bailey if he's fit enough.
Exactly this team for Thursday. Rogers needs a rest anyway and we also need to protect yellow card situation.
Unai apparently disagrees with you both. In the presser he’s said he’s choosing the best players because they can’t miss a game we don’t qualify for.
-
Pfft, what the hell does that bozo know anyway.
-
Pfft, what the hell does that bozo know anyway.
Tbf, could be mind games. He’ll probably leave all 4 at home and play a 12-year old in goal.
-
Yeah, that’s what I’d expect at this stage. Going out by playing a weaker side would be mental. Players should be able to avoid daft yellow cards for an hour. Finish the tie, then rest players. If nothing else, this is the last thing we can actually win (and are favourites to do so). Added to that, get it right and we only have a months worth of league games to really bothered about (in the context of of CL insurance if we fail to win Europa).
-
Most right minded Villa fans know that Rowe is going to score after about 20 mins and have us crapping ourselves until the 78th.
I have us losing narrowly 2moz but still sneaking through.
-
Bizot
Bogarde
Lindelof
Pau
Maatsen
Douglas Luiz
Onana
Tielemans
Buendia
Bailey
Abraham
Sancho in for Bailey if he's fit enough.
Exactly this team for Thursday. Rogers needs a rest anyway and we also need to protect yellow card situation.
Unai apparently disagrees with you both. In the presser he’s said he’s choosing the best players because they can’t miss a game we don’t qualify for.
Yea saw that, and it also doesn’t feel like the Unai way to make wholesale changes for such a big game with so much at stake. Beundia might come in, Sancho might come in, but I just don’t see Cash, McGinn or Rogers being rested even with the risk of missing a semi final first leg.
-
Jonathan Rowe must be delighted that in a niche corner of the internet he's now been built up to be the second coming of Garrincha.
heh #gnasher
-
It's said every week in football, A two goal lead is a dangerous lead. Bologna are no mugs and know they have to score goals.
We can not afford to make too many changes. Complacency is our biggest threat but Unai will not let that happen and will make changes as soon as he considers tie won to protect booked players.
But absent the Roma return fixture, it's not a side that has lots of goals in it (and even then, not without conceding a bunch either).
-
A two goal lead results in victory something like 92% of the time in football, and would be even higher if we hadn't played ManU so often.
-
A two goal lead results in victory something like 92% of the time in football, and would be even higher if we hadn't played ManU so often.
Correct, the ‘two goal lead is dangerous’ talk is utter codswallop.
-
A two goal lead results in victory something like 92% of the time in football, and would be even higher if we hadn't played ManU so often.
Correct, the ‘two goal lead is dangerous’ talk is utter codswallop.
*utter codswallop 92% of the time.
-
81% of all statistics are bollocks.
Whilst scouring the BBC and SSN Web sites this morning for match updates I think our game must of been abandoned as not a dickie bird about us, being on the verge of a major semi final etc or Forest to be fair.
Both sites did however run pieces on potential Red filth centre half choices for the weekend in the absence of Slabhead....which was nice.
And we wonder why we cannot catch the scum 6 up
-
A 2 goal lead is fine until the opposition scores.
-
1st goal is crucial for the vibes, if potentially not the result. I hope we get one early doors.
-
81% of all statistics are bollocks.
Whilst scouring the BBC and SSN Web sites this morning for match updates I think our game must of been abandoned as not a dickie bird about us, being on the verge of a major semi final etc or Forest to be fair.
Both sites did however run pieces on potential Red filth centre half choices for the weekend in the absence of Slabhead....which was nice.
And we wonder why we cannot catch the scum 6 up
Last year, in Ireland the Europa League was shown live on TV because Man Utd were in it.
This year instead, they are showing 'How to plant your potatoes the right way up.' Probably because Man Ure is in it.
We never get fair coverage. Some Irish probably think Aston Villa is a property in Spain.
I am Irish, so no pelters please.
-
81% of all statistics are bollocks.
Whilst scouring the BBC and SSN Web sites this morning for match updates I think our game must of been abandoned as not a dickie bird about us, being on the verge of a major semi final etc or Forest to be fair.
Both sites did however run pieces on potential Red filth centre half choices for the weekend in the absence of Slabhead....which was nice.
And we wonder why we cannot catch the scum 6 up
Last year, in Ireland the Europa League was shown live on TV because Man Utd were in it.
This year instead, they are showing 'How to plant your potatoes the right way up.' Probably because Man Ure is in it.
We never get fair coverage. Some Irish probably think Aston Villa is a property in Spain.
I am Irish, so no pelters please.
Im Irish descent, both parents from
Dublin and the wifes family from Mayo. I thought we were still popular amongst a certain demographic because of our 90s Irish brigade
-
A 2 goal lead is fine until the opposition scores.
I’ve always thought the same about 0-0, 0-1, 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 2-1 and 2-2…too.
-
81% of all statistics are bollocks.
Whilst scouring the BBC and SSN Web sites this morning for match updates I think our game must of been abandoned as not a dickie bird about us, being on the verge of a major semi final etc or Forest to be fair.
Both sites did however run pieces on potential Red filth centre half choices for the weekend in the absence of Slabhead....which was nice.
And we wonder why we cannot catch the scum 6 up
Last year, in Ireland the Europa League was shown live on TV because Man Utd were in it.
This year instead, they are showing 'How to plant your potatoes the right way up.' Probably because Man Ure is in it.
We never get fair coverage. Some Irish probably think Aston Villa is a property in Spain.
I am Irish, so no pelters please.
Im Irish descent, both parents from
Dublin and the wifes family from Mayo. I thought we were still popular amongst a certain demographic because of our 90s Irish brigade
Alas RamboandBruno, not popular enough to get a spot on Thursday night TV.
-
I expect that if there were as much interest in Ireland in watching Villa in the Europa League as there is in watching Man Utd in the Europa League then someone would be showing it.
-
I expect that if there were as much interest in Ireland in watching Villa in the Europa League as there is in watching Man Utd in the Europa League then someone would be showing it.
Europa League was on Virgin Media TV last year but not this year. RTE only show Champions League. They are the main Republic of Ireland TV channels. I now live abroad but guess villa followers in Ireland have other means of seeing the match.
-
I blame myself and Ger from moving away from the island, demand has been affected.
-
I've hyped myself up so much about finally finally finally getting to see Villa win a trophy after 30 years of following us that if we were to balls it up tonight, it might go down as my third worst moment as a Villa fan ever after Bradford and 03/03/03.
-
A 2 goal lead is fine until the opposition scores.
I’ve always thought the same about 0-0, 0-1, 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 2-1 and 2-2…too.
You just can’t get this sort of insight from any where else.
-
Think it'll be a high scoring game. They score plenty of goals away from home and they won't be pissing about, Rowe will be desperate to impress on English turf.
First goal will be massive. Can easily see us both getting a few.
-
My point being that the 2 biggest nationwide digital football platforms (BBC Football & SSN) had not a single line about ours or Forests game tonight but both did choose to run a piece on who will replace Slabhead on Saturday.
Without the same coverage to the same audiences how are we (or any other team that dares show ambition) able to bridge the gap?
-
They’re not going to sit back as they need to score at least 2 and 3 to go ahead in the tie. It should make for a good game. I think 4-1 us will be about right.
-
I expect that if there were as much interest in Ireland in watching Villa in the Europa League as there is in watching Man Utd in the Europa League then someone would be showing it.
Europa League was on Virgin Media TV last year but not this year. RTE only show Champions League. They are the main Republic of Ireland TV channels. I now live abroad but guess villa followers in Ireland have other means of seeing the match.
It shows as on TNT Sports. Same as is in the UK.
https://entertainment.ie/tv/sports/
-
So tonight, they're not gonna party like it's nineteen-zero-nine. Villa to go through in normal time.
-
A 2 goal lead is fine until the opposition scores.
I’ve always thought the same about 0-0, 0-1, 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 2-1 and 2-2…too.
You just can’t get this sort of insight from any where else.
Great double act!
-
I flew in yesterday from Knock. There was a few Villa shirts on the plane. Nowhere near Utd but we have a fair number of fans on the Emerald Isle. One of the pubs in my town is owned by a Villa fan. He always wears the shirt when there is a game on.
-
There's a lot of Bologna fans in Town (call the Small Heath Villa Hate Line - Option1 for make new friends), and I heard that they have sold the full 3k allocation, anyone know if this is true? It's usually around 1k, Should make for a decent atmosphere if there is more.
-
Seem to remember they were a pretty fun bunch last time they came over too.
-
They were alright over there to be fair. No moodines, Italian plod not particularly present. Good lads.
-
In krakow and found a bar showing it so im.happy enough .
-
1 in 67 apparently for a first leg loss by a home team of 2 goals has come back to win.
-
If anyone is genuinely worried about us getting knocked out, you can get 20-1 on that outcome. It’s 45-1 that we score and still get knocked out. My tenner has been deployed accordingly
-
Apparently we are 1/1000 to make it into the next round. Massive opportunity for an against bet for the high rollers. .
-
Seem to remember they were a pretty fun bunch last time they came over too.
Not sure if it's congratulations or commiserations on reaching the 50,000 post mark but I am sure it has been worth it.
-
Seem to remember they were a pretty fun bunch last time they came over too.
Not sure if it's congratulations or commiserations on reaching the 50,000 post mark but I am sure it has been worth it.
It’s a milestone and celebration of great sadness.
-
In typical Villa fashion, they'll score to make it harder work than it should be but we'll go through.
-
Seem to remember they were a pretty fun bunch last time they came over too.
Not sure if it's congratulations or commiserations on reaching the 50,000 post mark but I am sure it has been worth it.
Thanks - not a moment wasted, I'm sure.
-
1/66 on Bet365. Bologna 20/1.
-
We’re looking much more like ourselves with 2 of our midfield musketeers back. Presume Unai will go strong but without taking any unnecessary risks.
A comfortable night 2-0 Villa.
-
Anyone else unable to add their ticket to Apple wallet?
-
Anyone else unable to add their ticket to Apple wallet?
Me. I never have been for the Europa games. I just use it straight from the Villa app.
-
I'm going for a stress free 1-1. No injuries, no bookings, job done and on to the semis.
-
All you guys going for a easy stress free night
have you ever even seen a Villa match before
-
Proper full strength team.