Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine

Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Legion on May 14, 2020, 09:12:45 PM

Title: Memory Lane
Post by: Legion on May 14, 2020, 09:12:45 PM
One year ago:

Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Meanwood Villa on May 14, 2020, 09:34:28 PM
Brilliant
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Damo70 on May 15, 2020, 09:28:16 AM
I think Albion went into those two games too over confident. It is hard to change that mindset when things don't work out as well as you expected.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: AV82EC on May 15, 2020, 10:22:41 AM
I think Albion went into those two games too over confident. It is hard to change that mindset when things don't work out as well as you expected.

They thought we were still the team they cruised past 2-0 back in February when in fact we were an improved version of the team they were lucky to draw against in December. That and their Manager did a good Pulis/Mourinho park the bus impression in both legs.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Dave P on May 15, 2020, 01:54:29 PM
I think Albion went into those two games too over confident. It is hard to change that mindset when things don't work out as well as you expected.

They thought we were still the team they cruised past 2-0 back in February when in fact we were an improved version of the team they were lucky to draw against in December. That and their Manager did a good Pulis/Mourinho park the bus impression in both legs.

Their manager being the bluenose PE teacher.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Lastfootstamper on May 15, 2020, 02:10:36 PM
The second leg game brought about, on this very site, my favourite all-time description of an assist for a goal, the "towel-assisted line-out".
12 months. Time flies when you're stuck in the house.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: dave.woodhall on May 15, 2020, 02:12:15 PM
As someone on here also said, they were playing for time with 165 minutes to go.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Damo70 on May 15, 2020, 05:49:38 PM
As someone on here also said, they were playing for time with 165 minutes to go.


I was wary of them as I thought they were a pretty decent team. But on the big occasion at their place I thought they bottled it.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: DB on May 15, 2020, 06:05:22 PM
I got nervous watching that.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: AV82EC on May 15, 2020, 06:05:43 PM
The other thing I’d forgotten about this game was Johnny Kodjias dab as Brunt wandered off the pitch after getting sent off. Very funny.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Dave P on May 15, 2020, 06:09:14 PM
The other thing I’d forgotten about this game was Johnny Kodjias dab as Brunt wandered off the pitch after getting sent off. Very funny.

It was tremendous off-you-popping
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: LeeB on May 15, 2020, 07:04:16 PM
Rather than being over confident, I thought they were shit scared of us.

Which I found odd given the strength of their line up, but you have to consider generations of inferiority complexes in the face of any decent Villa side.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: frankmosswasmyuncle on May 15, 2020, 07:16:02 PM
Probably a poor comparison but I felt the same as the Liverpool semi-final.....we were just going to win it. Never in doubt! :-/
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: exigo on May 15, 2020, 07:30:49 PM
Went to first leg. I was in Sierra Leone for the second, praying that the wifi held up just enough to let me watch a moody stream on my phone. Steadily through the game it settled from one frame a minute, up to a reasonably watchable stream.

Until this moment. Which nearly bloody killed me.
(https://i.ibb.co/YcmSy7J/Screen-Shot-2020-05-15-at-19-30-24.png) (https://ibb.co/YcmSy7J)
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: SoccerHQ on May 15, 2020, 10:56:43 PM
My gut feeling is they'd have won if Gayle had been around for the second leg. His fault of course but always seems to score v us.

We didn't really play that well. Had plenty of possession but created little in normal time and in extra time against 10 men. They had a good spell at start of second half when we were really careless playing out from the back.

Was also good they ran out of penalty takers at the end although Steer still had to save the ones he faced and he did that brilliantly.

Sometimes you have to grind out games in long seasons and that night was certainly one of those. Was even better 24 hours later when Derby did a job on Leeds and that confirmed to me we were going up.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: SoccerHQ on May 15, 2020, 11:00:52 PM
As someone on here also said, they were playing for time with 165 minutes to go.


I was wary of them as I thought they were a pretty decent team. But on the big occasion at their place I thought they bottled it.

I didn't think they did. On the highlights they have plenty of chances early in the second half where we rode our luck. We hardly created anything aside from an Adomah shot near the end. They also ran out of forward players the longer the game went on hence why all their defenders had to take penalties.

Think they got  it more wrong at VP. 1-0 up and had Gayle, Phillips and Rodriguez all around for the counter attack but instead decided to just camp on our 18 yard box and eventually we turned it around which was crucial.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Legion on May 20, 2020, 11:19:57 PM
Coming soon...

Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Legion on May 20, 2020, 11:20:52 PM
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: SoccerHQ on May 20, 2020, 11:32:43 PM
The full match is on YT somewhere.

20 years ago was the Chelsea cup final defeat. Pretty much the end of us as a major top 6 club after a reasonably good 90s.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Legion on May 20, 2020, 11:39:35 PM
Great positive vibes, there.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: sid1964 on May 21, 2020, 06:25:46 AM
i cant believe it has been 20 years since the Chelsea final - what an awful game of football! made worse by losing to that bunch of tossers!
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: ChicagoLion on May 21, 2020, 12:34:41 PM
i cant believe it has been 20 years since the Chelsea final - what an awful game of football! made worse by losing to that bunch of tossers!
It was in some ways worse than Arsenal.
A horrible performance, still no idea why Gregory set the team up that way.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: dave.woodhall on May 21, 2020, 12:37:42 PM
i cant believe it has been 20 years since the Chelsea final - what an awful game of football! made worse by losing to that bunch of tossers!
It was in some ways worse than Arsenal.
A horrible performance, still no idea why Gregory set the team up that way.

He set them up in exactly the same way for the three semi-finals that season. Four games, no goals.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Exeter 77 on May 21, 2020, 12:39:34 PM
i cant believe it has been 20 years since the Chelsea final - what an awful game of football! made worse by losing to that bunch of tossers!
It was in some ways worse than Arsenal.
A horrible performance, still no idea why Gregory set the team up that way.
That was the most deflated I've ever felt after a game and it has had quite a bit of competition down the years. Against Arsenal I didn't really believe we could win but in 2000 seemed to be too afraid of losing to even try to win.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: London Villan on May 21, 2020, 12:54:32 PM
We lacked a proper striker for most of the season once Dion got injured - and he wasn't the same player really after he broke his neck...
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Dave P on May 21, 2020, 01:13:27 PM
After that final in 2000, I remember thinking we should sign Hasselbaink from Leeds and Lampard from West Ham. Chelsea who beat us signed them both.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: DB on May 21, 2020, 01:43:53 PM
We always thought JG was decent at getting us well organised and solid but not much imagination going fwd.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Mister E on May 21, 2020, 01:45:44 PM
i cant believe it has been 20 years since the Chelsea final - what an awful game of football! made worse by losing to that bunch of tossers!
It was in some ways worse than Arsenal.
A horrible performance, still no idea why Gregory set the team up that way.
We had an exciting side; shame about the tactics!
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Legion on May 22, 2020, 03:39:44 PM
Happier days (even though I was a nervous wreck for the vast majority of it)...

Play-off final as it happened (https://video.avfc.co.uk/video/Zml4dHVyZSU3QzBfbnc5YzR5YW4?lang=en)
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Stu on May 22, 2020, 06:21:19 PM
Last week, my Albion mate (son of Coops) posted that this match was the worst night of his life, which made me smile.

At the time, Jane and I were in Kefalonia, hiding from the rain in our room as we couldn't find anywhere showing the match. Hands were shaking hitting the refresh button on here.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: LeeB on May 22, 2020, 08:03:51 PM
After that final in 2000, I remember thinking we should sign Hasselbaink from Leeds and Lampard from West Ham. Chelsea who beat us signed them both.

Not only that, after the Semi Final I came away saying we should sign Gudjohnsen, who also went to bastard Chelsea.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Legion on May 22, 2020, 10:35:56 PM
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: BoVillan esq on May 22, 2020, 11:35:25 PM



Still got it mate, Lions...
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Axl Rose on May 27, 2020, 01:44:37 PM
What a day this time last year.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: SoccerHQ on May 27, 2020, 01:47:53 PM
A rare Wembley final I was very confident of winning. We were just a better team than Derby as the two league games indicated (them doing a great job on Leeds simply sealed promotion in my mind). Was a bit cat and mouse in the first half but we didn't play that well yet were 2-0 up by the hour.

Mind you that last 15 minutes when they scored, we lost Mings to injury and there was about 7 minutes injury time in which they had a few corners was pretty nerve shredding.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Ads on May 27, 2020, 05:28:12 PM
The more I think of it and maybe its just because I'm missing football, but from the start of March to this time last year has to be one of the best periods of being a fan. Just being invincible, a derby win against Sandwell, Wembley and correcting a great wrong.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Meanwood Villa on May 27, 2020, 05:50:02 PM
Undoubtedly golden times March to May last year, the dawning realisation of the momentum that we had and that we were going to make the playoffs. I think it was post Rotherham when we were singing Villa's going up it was the first time I believed it might happen.

And the playoffs themselves were brilliant as well of course, if a tad nerve shredding. All part of the fun though isn't it? Great days.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: AV82EC on May 27, 2020, 06:13:34 PM
That Rotherham performance And 7 wins on the trot was just sparkling and I believed after that We were going up. Players and fans really got into that game.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Meanwood Villa on May 27, 2020, 06:17:46 PM
Probably my favourite game last season, from thinking we'd ballsed it up at half time. And Jack's goal, magical.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Ads on May 27, 2020, 07:22:58 PM
That Rotherham performance And 7 wins on the trot was just sparkling and I believed after that We were going up. Players and fans really got into that game.

That was a fantastic 2nd half display. McGinn ran like nobodies business and you just sensed it was happening. Utterly unstopable.

Wednesday away had been great too. It was just so enjoyable jumping in the car to go and see us and it was also fun reading all the bitter/jealous types.

The period where we properly bullied the 2nd division like we perhaps always should have done.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Pat McMahon on May 27, 2020, 11:09:25 PM
The more I think of it and maybe its just because I'm missing football, but from the start of March to this time last year has to be one of the best periods of being a fan. Just being invincible, a derby win against Sandwell, Wembley and correcting a great wrong.

I agree Ads, and I’m old enough to have seen the great times from the mid 70s to Rotterdam
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Legion on May 29, 2020, 07:30:24 PM
Still makes me nervous... https://video.avfc.co.uk/video/Zml4dHVyZSU3QzBfbnc5YzR5YW4?lang=en
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Damo70 on May 29, 2020, 10:23:13 PM
Still makes me nervous... https://video.avfc.co.uk/video/Zml4dHVyZSU3QzBfbnc5YzR5YW4?lang=en


I am pretty sure that after we scored I spent more time looking at the scoreboard clock than any of the game itself.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: ChicagoLion on May 29, 2020, 11:49:24 PM
We did not play that well did we? the ref got worse as the game went on.
It seemed like every attack they had ended with a chance a save or a great tackle, and every attack we had ended with us losing possession.
Except of course the crucial one, what a turn and pass  by Shaw.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: dave shelley on May 30, 2020, 09:24:32 AM
Still makes me nervous... https://video.avfc.co.uk/video/Zml4dHVyZSU3QzBfbnc5YzR5YW4?lang=en


I am pretty sure that after we scored I spent more time looking at the scoreboard clock than any of the game itself.

I know I definitely saw a lot of that clock after the goal, I was right in line with it, dead centre.  The last ten minutes were absolute torture but oh the sweetness after it ended.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: RamboandBruno on May 31, 2020, 09:15:48 AM
I’ve been going down since early 80s as a little kid, highs and lows in that time, but that run last season was the most enjoyable and exiting time, maybe as I experienced it with my own kids. Saying that I went to Wednesday away without the kids, what a great day.

Funny really, but only started really appreciating how stressful this season has been when it stopped. I love football and I love the villa more, but really haven’t missed it as much as I thought. The anxiety started as soon as I heard about the sheff Utd game😂 once it the day gets nearer though...we go again!!
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Damo70 on May 31, 2020, 05:08:57 PM
Still makes me nervous... https://video.avfc.co.uk/video/Zml4dHVyZSU3QzBfbnc5YzR5YW4?lang=en


I am pretty sure that after we scored I spent more time looking at the scoreboard clock than any of the game itself.

I know I definitely saw a lot of that clock after the goal, I was right in line with it, dead centre.  The last ten minutes were absolute torture but oh the sweetness after it ended.


Every second and every kick once we restarted after the goal was absolute torture! I might have misremembered but I think the scoreboard clock in the stadium counted down from ninety minutes rather than up to ninety minutes.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Behind Bluenose Lines on June 01, 2020, 09:24:25 PM
Looking back, I don't know how I got through that SEVEN minutes of added time at the end. I aged 10 years, at least!

Where on earth did the ref get that 7 minutes from?  A year on, I'm still wondering...
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: SoccerHQ on June 01, 2020, 10:21:37 PM
Looking back, I don't know how I got through that SEVEN minutes of added time at the end. I aged 10 years, at least!

Where on earth did the ref get that 7 minutes from?  A year on, I'm still wondering...

Mings was treated for about three minutes after the goal.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Exeter 77 on June 01, 2020, 10:25:44 PM
Looking back, I don't know how I got through that SEVEN minutes of added time at the end. I aged 10 years, at least!

Where on earth did the ref get that 7 minutes from?  A year on, I'm still wondering...

Mings was treated for about three minutes after the goal.
From watching the game again the other day that worked in our favour because it killed any momentum Derby had built up by scoring.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: robbo1874 on June 07, 2020, 11:37:47 PM
I’ve been going down since early 80s as a little kid, highs and lows in that time, but that run last season was the most enjoyable and exiting time, maybe as I experienced it with my own kids. Saying that I went to Wednesday away without the kids, what a great day.

Funny really, but only started really appreciating how stressful this season has been when it stopped. I love football and I love the villa more, but really haven’t missed it as much as I thought. The anxiety started as soon as I heard about the sheff Utd game😂 once it the day gets nearer though...we go again!!
good post mate. Your 2nd paragraph pretty much sums it up for me. I do think the break might have done us a favour though- chance to re-set get everybody fit again and a clean slate. We were definitely on a downward trajectory but we’ve got at least a few games against teams just fulfilling their obligations. It doesn’t help with the anxiety though! I was hoping they’d just abandon the season. But fk it! Game on 9 games to go. Come on Villa, see us home!
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: ADVILLAFAN on June 08, 2020, 08:17:45 AM
Kind of think it served them right for sacking Darren Moore. He would have tried to beat us playing football. The PE teacher just made them play 10 at the back and try to kick us off the park.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Rory on June 08, 2020, 11:56:21 PM
My girlfriend's family are all West Brom fans. Even though I have never been one for 'bantz', I'd hear from them every time we fell below them in the league or suffered a bad result, never mind when we lost to them. When we lost 8-0 to Chelsea just before Christmas in whatever year it was, they actually went out specifically to buy a pack of After Eight mints, just to give to me and say, "eh?! Wharrebout that? Eh? Coz yow boys, them lost 8-0, hur hur".

After the penalty shoot out, I didn't for one second think of rubbing it in. I just felt the relief wash over me.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: SoccerHQ on June 09, 2020, 12:25:14 AM
I had to double check this but we haven't actually won at the Hawthorns since September 2008.

Loads of draws and of course we were robbed of a win with that handball last season. At least the play off defeat was an overall win with the glory of the penalty shoot out.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Rory on June 09, 2020, 12:35:19 AM
I had to double check this but we haven't actually won at the Hawthorns since September 2008.

Loads of draws and of course we were robbed of a win with that handball last season. At least the play off defeat was an overall win with the glory of the penalty shoot out.

Apart from the PO semi, the last game I remember there was a Hitzlsperger special. Can't even remember if we won or drew. The Hawthorns is just a depressing place all round.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: dcdavecollett on June 09, 2020, 12:53:34 AM
It was Steven Davis with a rare header, wasn't it?
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: BC Villain on June 09, 2020, 12:13:31 PM
The bitterness that still emanates from Sandwell over a year on.. ..
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Drummond on June 09, 2020, 12:19:49 PM
Jed Steer just did for Mason Holgate in that long walk to the goal for the shootout. Absolutely brilliant. Steer's composure was top-class.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: dave.woodhall on June 09, 2020, 12:30:58 PM
The bitterness that still emanates from Sandwell ever since 1878.. ..

Fixed.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Exeter 77 on June 09, 2020, 01:40:17 PM
The bitterness that still emanates from Sandwell ever since 1878.. ..

Fixed.
Which at one point included arrogance. Their plan to take the FA Cup home on the train via Worcester in 1887 went well.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: SoccerHQ on June 09, 2020, 11:31:33 PM
I had to double check this but we haven't actually won at the Hawthorns since September 2008.

Loads of draws and of course we were robbed of a win with that handball last season. At least the play off defeat was an overall win with the glory of the penalty shoot out.

Apart from the PO semi, the last game I remember there was a Hitzlsperger special. Can't even remember if we won or drew. The Hawthorns is just a depressing place all round.

Hitz long ranger was at VP. Last minute.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Rory on June 09, 2020, 11:39:44 PM
I had to double check this but we haven't actually won at the Hawthorns since September 2008.

Loads of draws and of course we were robbed of a win with that handball last season. At least the play off defeat was an overall win with the glory of the penalty shoot out.

Apart from the PO semi, the last game I remember there was a Hitzlsperger special. Can't even remember if we won or drew. The Hawthorns is just a depressing place all round.

Hitz long ranger was at VP. Last minute.

Really? Could've sworn he scored one at the Hawthorns to either win or draw a game. Long time ago, I must be mistaken.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: LeeB on June 10, 2020, 09:09:20 AM
I had to double check this but we haven't actually won at the Hawthorns since September 2008.

Loads of draws and of course we were robbed of a win with that handball last season. At least the play off defeat was an overall win with the glory of the penalty shoot out.

Apart from the PO semi, the last game I remember there was a Hitzlsperger special. Can't even remember if we won or drew. The Hawthorns is just a depressing place all round.

Hitz long ranger was at VP. Last minute.

Really? Could've sworn he scored one at the Hawthorns to either win or draw a game. Long time ago, I must be mistaken.

He scored a late howitzer at Bolton, Are you sure you're not confusing that with the baggies? Both grounds are souless dumps lacking atmosphere so there's a chance.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Rory on June 10, 2020, 09:58:27 AM
I just looked through our results from every season Hitz was with us. I reckon it could be 1-1 from August 2004, for some reason I thought Tommy scored ours, but apparently not.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: SoccerHQ on June 10, 2020, 10:09:56 PM
I just looked through our results from every season Hitz was with us. I reckon it could be 1-1 from August 2004, for some reason I thought Tommy scored ours, but apparently not.

I watched that on holiday. Mellberg scored from a corner and then had another header five minutes later that was cleared off the line but looked to have gone over.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Damo70 on June 11, 2020, 02:46:14 PM
I had to double check this but we haven't actually won at the Hawthorns since September 2008.

Loads of draws and of course we were robbed of a win with that handball last season. At least the play off defeat was an overall win with the glory of the penalty shoot out.

Apart from the PO semi, the last game I remember there was a Hitzlsperger special. Can't even remember if we won or drew. The Hawthorns is just a depressing place all round.


My first trip to the Hawthorns was in the Milk Cup in 1983. We won 2-1 with goals from Mark Walters and Dennis Mortimer. Cyrille Regis scored for Albion. Clive 'The Book'  Thomas sent off Gary Owen for a bad challenge on Paul Birch on the touchline. The away end went barmy when Mortimer scored the winner, which I think was scored quite late on. I always thought the atmosphere at the Hawthorns for an Albion v Villa derby was pretty good.
Title: Re: Memory Lane
Post by: Jon Crofts on June 11, 2020, 05:53:16 PM
I watched the game in a pub in Cheddar, there were a few Villa in there as well, all good fun in the end.
I’d had a proper skin full of ale on top of the nerves and couldn’t help myself as my bladder complained on the walk back to my Airbnb I came across this street sign which took the entire content of my overly inflated bladder. FTA.
(https://i.ibb.co/Hr8zX04/9478-A24-E-3-EE4-4726-9668-F520-E89077-E4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Hr8zX04)
SimplePortal 2.3.6 © 2008-2014, SimplePortal