Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Nii Lamptey on May 11, 2026, 01:24:29 PM
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In what could potentially be my last match as a season ticket holder ever, I thought I'd break with tradition, attempt and mess up a pre-match poll/chat thread!
Growing up in Worcs in the 80s, I have an ingrained hatred for the red scouse, so I would love it, LOVE IT, if we beat them and I can sign off by sending them packing!
UTV
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Liverpool will win at a canter, we will be as arsed as we were against Tottenham.
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Szoboszlai will make us know the meaning of sadness.
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We will win this. It’s a big send off game for the final. Stadium will be full. Liverpool aren’t great. Unai won’t really rotate so expect most of the mainstay players to be in the game. So put me down for 2-1 Villa. Ollie to continue his good form and SJM.
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I think our players will have one eye on the final and we'll get humped. Which is why we should have gone all out for the win yesterday instead.
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I'd be delighted with a point
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1-1
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When was the last time we beat them in front of a crowd at VP? Stewie Downing comes to mind, did he score a winner and they then bought him for silly money?
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That Duran equaliser felt like a win.
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When was the last time we beat them in front of a crowd at VP? Stewie Downing comes to mind, did he score a winner and they then bought him for silly money?
Yeah, that was a last home game too. Feel like it didn't have a great deal of meaning but the win moved us up quite a few places to 9th. If we'd drawn or lost, we'd have been 14th!
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Three points, no excuses.
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When was the last time we beat them in front of a crowd at VP? Stewie Downing comes to mind, did he score a winner and they then bought him for silly money?
Yeah, that was a last home game too. Feel like it didn't have a great deal of meaning but the win moved us up quite a few places to 9th. If we'd drawn or lost, we'd have been 14th!
2011. Good grief.
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Draw, 1-1.
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It's a pity a draw doesn't ensure both teams qualify for CL, then the match would end up being the most boring in the history of the Premier league and we would be nice and fresh for Istanbul.
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We’ll lose.
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It's a pity a draw doesn't ensure both teams qualify for CL, then the match would end up being the most boring in the history of the Premier league and we would be nice and fresh for Istanbul.
Whilst it wouldn't secure Champions League for either side, a draw would still be a very positive result for both sides. It would make Liverpool very likely to come 4th and make us very likely to come 5th.
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When was the last time we beat them in front of a crowd at VP? Stewie Downing comes to mind, did he score a winner and they then bought him for silly money?
Yeah, that was a last home game too. Feel like it didn't have a great deal of meaning but the win moved us up quite a few places to 9th. If we'd drawn or lost, we'd have been 14th!
2011. Good grief.
We relegated WHam a week or two earlier with a Gabby winner at Upton Park, from memory.
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Think Robbie Keane scored for them and we came back to win 2-1.
My only ever trip to the Boleyn Ground (Upton Park).
West Ham were the last team to score over 40 points and be relegated from the Prem.
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Think Robbie Keane scored for them and we came back to win 2-1.
My only ever trip to the Boleyn Ground (Upton Park).
West Ham were the last team to score over 40 points and be relegated from the Prem.
They were but not that season
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A weakened team and a 0-2 loss.
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2-1
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If only Elliot could play RM so we could rest SJM.
2-2
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8-2
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I really hope Unai and the team approach this more like the Forest game than other recent games. Winning this and putting top 5 to bed I think would help with the mentality in the final.
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Play Torres, surely he can manage another game 5 days later. Freiburg play on Saturday, admittedly they've nowt to play for in the league but I can't imagine they'll rest all their team.
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Since the beginning of March, away from home in the league, they have lost to Wolves, lost to Brighton, beat Everton and lost to Manchester Utd in that order.
In the same period at home in the league, we’ve lost to Chelsea, beat West Ham and Sunderland and lost to Spurs. Not a lot in the iffy league form of both teams.
If you want to add in the various cup games, they’ve been battered by PSG and Man City away, we’ve battered Bologna and Forest at home.
Im never confident against these at home and in fact I don’t think Ive ever seen us beat them at VP, missing the games when we have. Our form is crap there’s is nothing to be worried about.
We have to go strong, anything else is too risky
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Pau
Digne
Lindelof
Tielemans
McGinn
Watkins
Rogers
Beundia
2-1 (Watkins 2) and hope we can avoid injuries and these boys have enough in the tank for 5 days later.
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I've gone for a Villa win...Whatever, probably doesn't make much sense, however, we are at home, that must be worth a point, providing we don't do something stupid like play a seriously weakened side we may just get it, Liverpool are vulnerable, Unai must keep the players focused on this game in my opinion, everything on this game, the final is a million miles away.
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It doesn’t matter what side Unai puts out as it is all about mentality and attitude which I expect to be sadly lacking! Unai is totally focused on the final so I expect an awful game (but who really cares) and with a 1 -1 outcome and we move on to the real game!
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Play Torres, surely he can manage another game 5 days later. Freiburg play on Saturday, admittedly they've nowt to play for in the league but I can't imagine they'll rest all their team.
Freiburg have to win to guarantee a spot in Europe next Season, albeit Conference League.
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We need our mentality right here - through our own poor attitude/standards in the league of late we haven’t left ourselves the luxury of relaxing in this game. We need a win so that we’re not risking chucking our eggs in one basket, which would add pressure to the Europa League.
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So if you were them, given they are odds-on to lose the final, you’d be going strong in that game, especially as it’s a dead rubber for Leipzig.
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For some players its not attitude its exhaustion, SJM looked tired out against Burnley, for someone like Tyrone it's age, we do not have a great squad.
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I don’t care about this match, and I’ll be highly annoyed if major changes aren’t made. The priority should be the final.
Some of you guys think players are robots. We’re blowing out of our arses, which was clear as day against Burnley.
We’ve been stuck on 50–60 points since February 11th. Since then, we’ve taken 9 points from 30. The league is a bust!
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It would be the most Villa thing possible to keep us all on tenterhooks for the last two months with shocking league form, only to beat Liverpool convincingly and secure Champions League football just when it looks like we won't get another point all season.
I don't think it will happen, but it would be nice. I imagine we'll get an undeserved point, which will take Brighton out of the equation, and then Bournemouth will lose to Man City (because if Man City don't win, the league will be Arsenal's), and we'll crawl across the Champions League line on the 19th, without kicking a ball.
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I worry we'll go strong (as we have to), get shagged out in an exhausting defeat, go to the final and lose in a puffy and underwhelming 0-1. I have an inner terror of this.
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Apart from Spurs, which was the strangest thing Ive ever seen, with a collective /shrig of the shoulders from largely our second string, I dont think there has been anything wrong with the teams attitude.
I think with our absolute full strength side and importantly this manager, we are a top 5 side that could be more (top 3). With injuries and the reliance on average players (Sancho, Bailey, Tammy so far) and players past their best (Mings, Barkley, Luiz), we are what we have seen lately, a side that is struggling to get over the line.
I thought Friday would end up being a bit pre season friendly, but now its important for both teams. Two games for the first choice team to lift themselves with Unais help and the Villa Park crowd on Friday of course.
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Liverpool will be poor but we will hand out more gifts. 1-3 defeat.
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I worry we'll go strong (as we have to), get shagged out in an exhausting defeat, go to the final and lose in a puffy and underwhelming 0-1. I have an inner terror of this.
In the run up to the Wembley and Old Trafford no shows last season, our form was very good from memory. Granted it included wins v likes of Spurs and Fulham that didn't try a leg.... Can get by with adrenaline alone in the final, if we show up.
My main fear is the Lindelof in midfield tactic is something that can work the very odd time in specific circumstances, like v Forest we outnumbered them in midfield but not against a relegated Burnley team with very limited players. If that tactic isn't working Emery has little or no faith in Bogarde or Luiz. No faith in Bailey, Sancho, Tammy, Maatsen and the bench generally it increasingly looks like. Barkley and now Lindelof aside.
Back to...we have McGinn so anything is possible in the next week. If anyone needs a breather before Wednesday it's Rogers but he's probably first name on Emery's team sheet. Tielemans we can do without v Liverpool too but again very unlikely. Cash looked to be running on fumes v Burnley but Bogarde would be roasted there.
Liverpool X1 - Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Lindelof, Luiz, McGinn, Buendia, Barkley, Watkins.
No pace in that team whatsoever. I fear we are going to see one of Bailey or Sancho starting.
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I think it would help to give Rogers a rest.
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Can't see anything but a limp defeat.
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There’s 3 games left, it’s too late to rest Rogers. We need him Friday and Wednesday, and if we do our job in both those games then he can miss the last game.
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I worry we'll go strong (as we have to), get shagged out in an exhausting defeat, go to the final and lose in a puffy and underwhelming 0-1. I have an inner terror of this.
It begs the question how have Notts Forest who have played the same number of games as us, have a smaller squad, tonnes of injuries, managed to turn up and save their season? Meanwhile, Unai has been managing the minutes and we look shagged..
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I worry we'll go strong (as we have to), get shagged out in an exhausting defeat, go to the final and lose in a puffy and underwhelming 0-1. I have an inner terror of this.
It begs the question how have Notts Forest who have played the same number of games as us, have a smaller squad, tonnes of injuries, managed to turn up and save their season? Meanwhile, Unai has been managing the minutes and we look shagged..
Do they have a smaller squad? My impression was that they spent hundreds of millions of pounds building a massive, bloated squad.
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Not interested in this one. Unai will prioritise the finally and rightly so. A trophy is a must now. There is 1 more hurdle to overcome and it's not Liverpool.
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I worry we'll go strong (as we have to), get shagged out in an exhausting defeat, go to the final and lose in a puffy and underwhelming 0-1. I have an inner terror of this.
It begs the question how have Notts Forest who have played the same number of games as us, have a smaller squad, tonnes of injuries, managed to turn up and save their season? Meanwhile, Unai has been managing the minutes and we look shagged..
I dunno, I'm not sure I'd say that Forest (currently 16th and knocked out of Europe by us) have "saved their season", while the club sat in 5th and with a European final next week HASN'T gone about this the right way?
We have looked VERY leggy, slow and almost lethargic at times. But honestly, I don't know if that's playing to instruction, or not. Either way, with three matches to go, we can end the season with nothing, or with Champions League football and a trophy. We're doing SOMETHING right.
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I don’t get the tired argument for many of our players.
The only genuine tired players for me would be Cash & Rogers, the latter falling into the knackered bracket, and Konsa at a push.
Watkins should be tired but the man is a machine and keeps going.
Every one else has been rested regularly or only played partial games, with Ginny and Tielemans still trying to get to peak fitness.
Maybe there is some mental fatigue, but that should be the managers job to sort.
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I don’t get the tired argument for many of our players.
The only genuine tired players for me would be Cash & Rogers, the latter falling into the knackered bracket, and Konsa at a push.
Watkins should be tired but the man is a machine and keeps going.
Every one else has been rested regularly or only played partial games, with Ginny and Tielemans still trying to get to peak fitness.
Maybe there is some mental fatigue, but that should be the managers job to sort.
You're right but if Cash, Konsa and Rogers are all struggling from having played too many minutes and McGinn and Tielemans aren't fully fit after injury that's half the team, add in Torres clearly having his minutes managed and Emi carrying something that has caused him to miss a few at short notice and that's 7 of our best 11 not at theit prime, which makes it tough to see consistently good performances. Add Onana being in and out, Kamara missing and whatever problem Watkins has bene carrying and I think it's fair to say that injuries and fitness problems have smashed the fuck out of our season.
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I completely agree.
But the awful performances against Fulham, Spurs and Burnley cannot be attributed to the whole starting 11 in each of those games being tired.
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I completely agree.
But the awful performances against Fulham, Spurs and Burnley cannot be attributed to the whole starting 11 in each of those games being tired.
No, but they can be attributed to weakening the team to allow some players to be rested and to a general acceptance of us playing at a pretty low tempo in the all of them, both to conserve energy and also, more importantly, to try to avoid injuries.
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If we beat Freiburg, then we achieve - in one game - both of our most important objectives for the season. It's a single game. Win it, and we're done - we have a European trophy and a CL spot.
If we put out a strong side against Liverpool, then we might get closer to locking in a CL place for next season, but it might also get harder to win the cup.
No idea what Emery will do, but I wouldn't blame him at all if he decided to put out a second string line-up for the Liverpool game.
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Anything could happen. But the main focus needs to be on next Wednesday.
Whatever, this group of players and the management team deserve a huge send off on Friday night.
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Chris Kavanagh will be ref. I’d like to change my prediction to a defeat.
*rolls eyes*
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Chris Kavanagh will be ref. I’d like to change my prediction to a defeat.
*rolls eyes*
Every single one of them gives me cause for concern.
I think they are all corrupt , not meaning they are benefiting financially directly, but the whole PGMOL set up stinks.
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They’re not corrupt, more likely there’s a competence issue.
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I completely agree.
But the awful performances against Fulham, Spurs and Burnley cannot be attributed to the whole starting 11 in each of those games being tired.
No, but they can be attributed to weakening the team to allow some players to be rested and to a general acceptance of us playing at a pretty low tempo in the all of them, both to conserve energy and also, more importantly, to try to avoid injuries.
Very true, especially in our case where league success this season has been built on fine lines. What is it, two teams all season we've beaten by more than one goal? I'd just like us to finish as high as we can and above Liverpool with that twat Arsey Slob, before we head off to Istambul. That's what big teams do. I'll trust in Unai whatever he decides to do (providing we win next Wednesday, obviously).
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It would be the most Villa thing possible to keep us all on tenterhooks for the last two months with shocking league form, only to beat Liverpool convincingly and secure Champions League football just when it looks like we won't get another point all season.
I don't think it will happen, but it would be nice. I imagine we'll get an undeserved point, which will take Brighton out of the equation, and then Bournemouth will lose to Man City (because if Man City don't win, the league will be Arsenal's), and we'll crawl across the Champions League line on the 19th, without kicking a ball.
Alternatively, Bournemouth beat City and the title is Arsenal's by the time we pitch up at the Etihad, with Citeh having achieved a Cup double and on the beach...
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They’re not corrupt, more likely there’s a competence issue.
I think their job has become insanely hard and they get the kind of scrutiny that would reduce most people to gibbering wrecks.
Which is not to say they don't make some frankly bizarre decisions, but let's be honest, we fans are incredibly harsh on them. It's part of the fun.
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VAR provides a second layer of unconscious bias than the previous one with just a ref.
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They’re not corrupt, more likely there’s a competence issue.
I think their job has become insanely hard and they get the kind of scrutiny that would reduce most people to gibbering wrecks.
Which is not to say they don't make some frankly bizarre decisions, but let's be honest, we fans are incredibly harsh on them. It's part of the fun.
Maybe but, if it's so difficult, use the resources you have better.
Don't use VAR to cover up errors by the on-filed official to only have to backtrack and issue an apology the next day. Or don't spend a season arguing that you're letting more go for corners and then give a foul in favour of the team that's spent the entire season benefitting from it.
Most of the complaints about refs come down to "in this game the decision was x but in the previous match something very similar happened and it was y", that's in their control to be better with and if the pressure on the on-field ref is in any way the reason for it then the solution should be for VAR to take the emotion and pressure away.
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At this stage of the season they're even more Blues than we are. 2-0 Villa despite Kavanagh's best efforts.
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I really hope Unai and the team approach this more like the Forest game than other recent games. Winning this and putting top 5 to bed I think would help with the mentality in the final.
This is absolutely how it SHOULD work ...
... not sure it will, though!
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After Spurs I'm wary of how we will approach this, I'm all out for the win and we'll bounce across to Turkey but I don't think the Manager is that way inclined so instead of being a jamboree it will be tense and nervous.
However, we come up with some surprising results now and again and I have a feeling about Friday.
1-0
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If Onana fit i would play him for sharpness against P.LOp
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If Onana fit i would play him for sharpness against P.LOp
If he’d been out for a few weeks I’d agree. But if we only get one game at a time from him, I’d prefer it was in Istanbul.
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5-1 Gray(2), Deehan (2) Little. Kennedy for them.
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All in the first half. Charlie Young was Mrs.TOAP's cousin
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Just can't see us putting out a full strength side for this one and worry Liverpool will stroll to victory.
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Apparently, Mo Salah will be coming off the bench during the game tomorrow.
Whether he'll make any difference depends on which Villa turns up!
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Slot has already announced his substitutions? That is some 4D chess.
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Win the game - get it done.
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Win the game - get it done.
Cant see it.
Then again, I couldn't foresee a Yorkie double for the Holte's Last Stand and Redscouse weren't much worse back then.
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Apparently, Mo Salah will be coming off the bench during the game tomorrow.
Whether he'll make any difference depends on which Villa turns up!
I wonder if they'll start bleating that we have to show our respect and give him a guard of honour as comes on, to commemorate his last ever away game in the PL, la.
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At least Arne will appreciate the pyro/"fireworks" in honour of his star striker.
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Nailed on draw tomorrow. It takes Brighton out the equation for us and Plop. Then Bournemouth would have to beat Citeh on Tuesday which they won't. Really not bothered if we finish 4th or 5th.
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Not sure why Liverpool would settle for a draw against a half-arsed Villa.
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Not sure why Liverpool would settle for a draw against a half-arsed Villa.
According to their supporters they are as half arsed as us currently.
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They have no specific reason to be half-arsed, though, we have a massive final on Wednesday.
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I think he rests Martinez, Digne Konsa, Pau, SJM, Tielemans and Ollie. He should rest Rogers, but won't.
I hope players coming in "give him something to think about" for Wednesday.(Lindleof being the exception as hell be great anyway)
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Aston Villa remain without Amadou Onana for Friday night’s Premier League encounter against Liverpool at Villa Park (ko 8pm).
The midfielder was forced off due to injury in the first leg of the club’s UEFA Europa League semi-final against Nottingham Forest.
Onana subsequently missed the clash against Tottenham Hotspur, second leg against The Reds and last weekend’s trip to Burnley.
The Belgium international joins Alysson and long-term absentee Boubacar Kamara on the sidelines.
Manager Unai Emery provided an injury update at Thursday’s pre-match media conference.
“We have the same players out,” he said.
“Amadou Onana is not available for tomorrow, Alysson as well is not, Kamara as well is not.
“But other players should be ready to play tomorrow.”
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I think he rests Martinez, Digne Konsa, Pau, SJM, Tielemans and Ollie. He should rest Rogers, but won't.
I hope players coming in "give him something to think about" for Wednesday.(Lindleof being the exception as hell be great anyway)
Lindelof is probably the one to rest unless Onana will be fit for the Final. He looked v tired against Burnley!
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Gosh I am shocked that Onana is out.
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From his presser, it sounds like Unai is well up for tomorrow, none of this rest all the players nonsense. A repeat of the Forest semi final game wouldn't go amiss. At least play the strongest XI for the first 60-70 minutes, 4-0 up, then you can make a change or three.
Liverpool can wait for a week on Sunday to confirm their CL spot with wave Salah goodbye, comfortable home win against Brentford.
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What on earth will Slot think the fireworks are for this time?
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What on earth will Slot think the fireworks are for this time?
His sacking though I hope he stays there forever.
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Wouldn’t it be wonderful to win tomorrow, get to 62 points and be uncatchable by Bournemouth.
That would make tomorrow night very special, and a great send off for Wednesday.
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Yeah, I don't want another PL team getting into the land of milk and honey even if they're one of the cuddly B teams. So, beat Liverpool and Citeh ffs.
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I think going strong with a better chance of winning, sealing the CL deal and being more relaxed and on a high for the final, outweighs the possible negatives of fatigue and God forbid injuries.
I think recent weeks and months have clearly shown us, if we don’t play our strongest team in the second half of the season, we struggle against most, even a not very functional Liverpool.
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After the Spurs game, it's clear Emery plays the odds. If so, this will be a similar approach to then. I can't bring myself to agree with it, but I can see the appeal: there's a good chance Brighton and/or Bournemouth drop points; there's a great chance that we win a European trophy, which also leads to Champions League; there's a slim-to-decent chance, but a chance nonetheless, that we get whatever points we need on the last day.
I'd struggle to argue too much with it.
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Apologies if this doesn’t belong in this thread. I’m heading over to the match from Ireland for the first time in 20 years. I was just looking for some advice. What’s a good time to head out to the ground? What’s the pre match like around the ground? Will it be easy to get a drink etc? TIA
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I think he rests Martinez, Digne Konsa, Pau, SJM, Tielemans and Ollie. He should rest Rogers, but won't.
I hope players coming in "give him something to think about" for Wednesday.(Lindleof being the exception as hell be great anyway)
Lindelof is probably the one to rest unless Onana will be fit for the Final. He looked v tired against Burnley!
Yes, good point !!
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Apologies if this doesn’t belong in this thread. I’m heading over to the match from Ireland for the first time in 20 years. I was just looking for some advice. What’s a good time to head out to the ground? What’s the pre match like around the ground? Will it be easy to get a drink etc? TIA
If you want to drink by the ground, the choices are a bit limited, but the Witton Arms is one shout, think you pay a couple of quid in, its home fans only. The Warehouse is the newish venue on site, basically a big warehouse with lots of screens, ex players interviewed live, some music. Does get busy but pretty easy to get served, its free in, but they scan your match ticket on the way in. I go with my teenager whose not bothered about pubs yet, so we get there 45/30 mins before k/o, sometimes have one in the warehouse. People will start mulling around from probably 6ish tomorrow
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Apologies if this doesn’t belong in this thread. I’m heading over to the match from Ireland for the first time in 20 years. I was just looking for some advice. What’s a good time to head out to the ground? What’s the pre match like around the ground? Will it be easy to get a drink etc? TIA
If you want to drink by the ground, the choices are a bit limited, but the Witton Arms is one shout, think you pay a couple of quid in, its home fans only. The Warehouse is the newish venue on site, basically a big warehouse with lots of screens, ex players interviewed live, some music. Does get busy but pretty easy to get served, its free in, but they scan your match ticket on the way in. I go with my teenager whose not bothered about pubs yet, so we get there 45/30 mins before k/o, sometimes have one in the warehouse. People will start mulling around from probably 6ish tomorrow
And bring ten quid to the McGregor statue.
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Yes, you're Irish, it is your duty.
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Apologies if this doesn’t belong in this thread. I’m heading over to the match from Ireland for the first time in 20 years.
Welcome to H&V. Whereabouts in Ireland?
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Wicklow originally but currently living in Dublin. Thanks for the replies, folks. Looking forward to it😁
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Can see Unai rotating a bit but hoping for a good performance. Hope the fact we could still do with a win in the league and Liverpool’s recent struggles mean we won’t get a repeat of Spurs. I can’t see Brighton or Bournemouth overtaking us but still wary of us putting it all on Istanbul.
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I think he rests Martinez, Digne Konsa, Pau, SJM, Tielemans and Ollie. He should rest Rogers, but won't.
I hope players coming in "give him something to think about" for Wednesday.(Lindleof being the exception as hell be great anyway)
Lindelof is probably the one to rest unless Onana will be fit for the Final. He looked v tired against Burnley!
Yes, good point !!
Or it could be the opposite and he needs minutes in his legs. Friday to Wednesday should be absolutely fine for any footballer.
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Rest no-one, play the best team.
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We'll qualify for the Champions League tonight, which will be nice.
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After the poor showings against Tottenham and Burnley, we are in a position where we don't have the luxury of not playing our best players tonight.
Go as strong as possible and get the job done tonight. Need the players relaxed as possible on Wednesday without the added pressure of champions league not yet being secured.
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FIGHT and WIN
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Apologies if this doesn’t belong in this thread. I’m heading over to the match from Ireland for the first time in 20 years. I was just looking for some advice. What’s a good time to head out to the ground? What’s the pre match like around the ground? Will it be easy to get a drink etc? TIA
If you're coming from M6/Star City side it's an easy walk to The Villa Tavern where we go for beers before games, from there it's 15 mins to the ground
If you want to drink by the ground, the choices are a bit limited, but the Witton Arms is one shout, think you pay a couple of quid in, its home fans only. The Warehouse is the newish venue on site, basically a big warehouse with lots of screens, ex players interviewed live, some music. Does get busy but pretty easy to get served, its free in, but they scan your match ticket on the way in. I go with my teenager whose not bothered about pubs yet, so we get there 45/30 mins before k/o, sometimes have one in the warehouse. People will start mulling around from probably 6ish tomorrow
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Apologies if this doesn’t belong in this thread. I’m heading over to the match from Ireland for the first time in 20 years. I was just looking for some advice. What’s a good time to head out to the ground? What’s the pre match like around the ground? Will it be easy to get a drink etc? TIA
If you're coming from M6/Star City side it's an easy walk to The Villa Tavern where we go for beers before games, from there it's 15 mins to the ground
If you want to drink by the ground, the choices are a bit limited, but the Witton Arms is one shout, think you pay a couple of quid in, its home fans only. The Warehouse is the newish venue on site, basically a big warehouse with lots of screens, ex players interviewed live, some music. Does get busy but pretty easy to get served, its free in, but they scan your match ticket on the way in. I go with my teenager whose not bothered about pubs yet, so we get there 45/30 mins before k/o, sometimes have one in the warehouse. People will start mulling around from probably 6ish tomorrow
The Aston Tavern is a good shout, and 5 minutes walk....fiver to get in but includes food and you can use the stamp on your hand to go in afterwards too.
The Warehouse is good too because you're already on site and can pop to the shop etc
I hope you have a bloody fantastic evening! UTV!
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We'll qualify for the Champions League tonight, which will be nice.
I bloody hope so.
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It would be great to win tonight so we go to the final already qualified for the champions league but Liverpool will be full strength and I’m pretty sure we won’t so it could be a difficult night, maybe sneak a draw but that’s about it, really hope I’m wrong
UTV
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Okay, so by my calculations, the lowest we can finish is now 7th, which inherited the Conference League playoff place.
So do any of you football boffins know if this will be the first time in our history we have competed in europe for four consecutive seasons?
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FIGHT and WIN
Trump?
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FIGHT and WIN
Trump?
win biggly !
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Okay, so by my calculations, the lowest we can finish is now 7th, which inherited the Conference League playoff place.
So do any of you football boffins know if this will be the first time in our history we have competed in europe for four consecutive seasons?
It will be the first time in our history to qualify for four consecutive seasons, Unai is a genius.
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Closest previously was three seasons on the trot twice: 81/82 to 83/84 where we were in EC, EC, UC and 2008/2009 to 2010/11 with UC, and Europa twice. We also did it with Intertoto 2000/01 to 2002/03 but I don't think that should count.
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Yes, the less said about the Intertoto the better.
So more history made! Hats off to all involved.
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Closest previously was three seasons on the trot twice: 81/82 to 83/84 where we were in EC, EC, UC and 2008/2009 to 2010/11 with UC, and Europa twice. We also did it with Intertoto 2000/01 to 2002/03 but I don't think that should count.
errr we won a trophy didnt we ? :D
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I didn’t like the resting against Spurs - but in fairness there were going to be 3 games in the space of a week. This is different as there are 2 games in 10 days, so there’s an argument resting might leave us rusty. I hope Unai sees it like that, because I think us winning tonight is important for a number of reasons.
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The atmosphere should be incredible tonight and hopefully a wonderful send off to Istanbul.
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The atmosphere should be incredible tonight and hopefully a wonderful send off to Istanbul.
All for Slot, of course.
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The atmosphere should be incredible tonight and hopefully a wonderful send off to Istanbul.
All for Slot, of course.
Don't forget Salah too!
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Closest previously was three seasons on the trot twice: 81/82 to 83/84 where we were in EC, EC, UC and 2008/2009 to 2010/11 with UC, and Europa twice. We also did it with Intertoto 2000/01 to 2002/03 but I don't think that should count.
errr we won a trophy didnt we ? :D
Well shared a trophy. But we also qualified for it one year because we didn't get as many bookings and red cards as other teams.
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Bizot
Garcia
Mings
Konsa
Maatsen
Sancho
Dougie
Bogarde
Barkley
Bailey
Tammy
That’ll do me.
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Closest previously was three seasons on the trot twice: 81/82 to 83/84 where we were in EC, EC, UC and 2008/2009 to 2010/11 with UC, and Europa twice. We also did it with Intertoto 2000/01 to 2002/03 but I don't think that should count.
errr we won a trophy didnt we ? :D
Well shared a trophy. But we also qualified for it one year because we didn't get as many bookings and red cards as other teams.
Not sure this is quite correct. England gained an extra place by Fair Play rankings, and we were the recipient as the next highest team that hadn't already qualified. It wasn't due to our own bookings/red cards record per se.
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A three-nil defeat.
That’ll do me.
I want us to win tonight, Percy. I think it would be the best way to prepare the lads for Wednesday night.
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A three-nil defeat.
That’ll do me.
I want us to win tonight, Percy. I think it would be the best way to prepare the lads for Wednesday night.
Definitely. Throwing the game would be mental.
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A three-nil defeat.
That’ll do me.
I want us to win tonight, Percy. I think it would be the best way to prepare the lads for Wednesday night.
Take no notice of me, I change my mind about this every five minutes.
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A three-nil defeat.
That’ll do me.
I want us to win tonight, Percy. I think it would be the best way to prepare the lads for Wednesday night.
Definitely. Throwing the game would be mental.
It worked v Spurs/Forest.
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Surely the evidence suggests that an abject 2-0 surrender would be the best way to prepare?
Edit: curse you, Percy.
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I would be astounded if we got anything from this
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We NEED to win tonight otherwise CL qualification through the League position is out of our hands.
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It isn't, we would qualify regardless if we beat Man City.
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Surely the evidence suggests that an abject 2-0 surrender would be the best way to prepare?
Edit: curse you, Percy.
No!!!
An abject 2-1 surrender please.
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We NEED to win tonight otherwise CL qualification through the League position is out of our hands.
Yeah it’s not, but would require beating Citeh (potentially) - which would seem unlikely should it be required.
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It isn't, we would qualify regardless if we beat Man City.
Mega lolz
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Surely the evidence suggests that an abject 2-0 surrender would be the best way to prepare?
Edit: curse you, Percy.
No!!!
An abject 2-1 surrender please.
I forgot that we scored!
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A three-nil defeat.
That’ll do me.
I want us to win tonight, Percy. I think it would be the best way to prepare the lads for Wednesday night.
Definitely. Throwing the game would be mental.
It worked v Spurs/Forest.
Yeah it did, but we probably expected to beat Burnley. I’m not sure external pressures still being present will help us. Also we have had a longer break between games.
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It isn't, we would qualify regardless if we beat Man City.
Deary me, how could I reject that gimme.
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Last time we won a European trophy we won 3-0 at home 5 days before the final. Same again please.
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Last time we won a European trophy we won 3-0 at home 5 days before the final. Same again please.
That's an omen if ever there was one! 1 each from Ollie, Little Emi & Tammy/Morgan.
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The last time we qualified we needed the Stockport cheats to beat our nearest rivals and they obliged
Fail to win tonight and it will be the same.
As much as I detest them, if they need to beat us to fuck over Arsenal and thier fans for the title I would send the under XI's to play the final game
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"Stockport"
AAAAAAAAGH
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Would be lovely to sign off at home with a win tonight. A draw would probably be enough given it would mean Bournemouth would then have to beat Manchester City.
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It feels rather like the season has ended. I have no idea what tonight brings.
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Feel a bit more confident after seeing both lineups. Maybe we can get something.
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Last time we won a European trophy we won 3-0 at home 5 days before the final. Same again please.
Swansea?
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Last time we won a European trophy we won 3-0 at home 5 days before the final. Same again please.
Swansea?
Yep.
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After the Spurs game, it's clear Emery plays the odds. If so, this will be a similar approach to then. I can't bring myself to agree with it, but I can see the appeal: there's a good chance Brighton and/or Bournemouth drop points; there's a great chance that we win a European trophy, which also leads to Champions League; there's a slim-to-decent chance, but a chance nonetheless, that we get whatever points we need on the last day.
I'd struggle to argue too much with it.
Absolutely bang on the money again. I really ought to play the stock market, I'd have even less.