Aston Villa vs. Stoke City: Pre-Match Thread

[dave.woodhall]

Why terminate his contract in January rather than just let Stoke pay his wages for the remaining six months? The net result is the same, with the difference that he can't play against us.

Only thing I can think of is that Stoke refused to pay for his wages if they took him on loan.

Or refused to have him on loan at all.

[Toronto Villa]

Honestly, so what? A fully fit John Carew 2-3 years ago was a menace on his day. That John Carew is long gone, and what's left is the broken down version that might still show up once in a while, but in reality he just can't do it anymore because his body won't let him. He's been banged up since he got to Stoke just like he was in his last few days with us. He might not even get on tomorrow.

If I sound complacent it's not meant to be. But we shouldn't make more of this than it really is. He might come on in the 2nd half, get his well deserved ovation, do a few things that make us nervous, and then that will be it. I think Carew will end up in some sunny spot in Europe when the season ends to see out his career with one last good pay day.

[Greg N'Ash]

yep. if we're getting worried about john carew V.2.0.11 playing against us then we might as well jack it in

[Dazvillain]

Come on villa party in the sunshine, lets have a few goals

[WikiVilla]

Sunny elsewhere and very warm but thundery downpours in parts of central, southern and eastern Britain later.

Bring a mack perhaps

[cdbearsfan]

This will be dull. We always score, we always concede. Villa 13 Stoke 11.

[PaulWinch again]

Please win today Villa.

[olaftab]

Having a bit of a pre match  do at the Holte Hotel before the match with some Villains from London and Germany  today. Should be a great day and I can not see anything other than a straight forward win for The Villa.

[olaftab]

Please win today Villa.

Very nicely asked Paul. Let's hope they are listening!

[PaulWinch again]

I'm going for the polite approach, and since I will be on the east coast of England with access to very little technology I'll be relying on phone and radio to keep me in the loop!

[villa `cross the mersey]

Sunny elsewhere and very warm but thundery downpours in parts of central, southern and eastern Britain later.

Bring a mack perhaps

Can`t Mac make his own way down there?

[WikiVilla]

I took a temperature reading in the back yard at 1015am it was already 21c

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I took a temperature reading in the back yard at 1015am it was already 21c

Go back out and check the pollen count for me.

[cheltenhamlion]

Its fucking lovely out today. Sun gigs on and will be at the pub in about half an hour or so.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Its fucking lovely out today. Sun gigs on and will be at the pub in about half an hour or so.

Beware.

Storms and torrential rain forecast from 4pm onwards.