Bradford City v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[silhillvilla]

Anyone know who the ref is?

Wait till the game kicks off and it will be the bloke in yellow top!

Doubt he will wear yellow as that would clash with Bradford kit. Actually what kit will we where ? Both home & away kind of clash

I mentioned this after the draw was made. I thought wearing last season's away kit would be more sensible.

Really think we should have launched a special 3rd kit for tonight as we did in the 90's under BFR for the QF at Anfield . Yellow Villa/Brazil kit

[fredm]

Phil Parkinson has been on local radio and said that any team, at whatever level, that has conceded the number of goals that we have must be short on confidence and brittle in defence so they have to attack us tonight.

[Clampy]

Phil Parkinson has been on local radio and said that any team, at whatever level, that has conceded the number of goals that we have must be short on confidence and brittle in defence so they have to attack us tonight.

We looked as bit more solid on Saturday with Baker back in there. It'll be a big bonus having him back. Let hope he lasts the whole 90 minutes again though.

[David_Nab]

Phil Parkinson has been on local radio and said that any team, at whatever level, that has conceded the number of goals that we have must be short on confidence and brittle in defence so they have to attack us tonight.

Somewhat agree but I think we have enough to outscore them if thats the case

[PaulWinch again]

I hope they do attack us, because the only way they somehow survived a battering against Arsenal was complete backs to the wall stuff. If they attack us they'll get slaughtered.

[Mazrim]

If they get overly adventurous (and really, their only chance is to win tonight) we can chew them up on the counter.
But I think we'll control it to a large degree. They'll have sporadic spells but we'll have most of the ball. And too bloody right too.

[Le Lapin]

Phil Parkinson has been on local radio and said that any team, at whatever level, that has conceded the number of goals that we have must be short on confidence and brittle in defence so they have to attack us tonight.

Can't dissagree with the guy. We very shaky and lacking confidence, we will have to hit the ground running and not be chasing the game early on. Bradford will really fancy getting something from this, and they would be correct. Worried about this one.

[Brend'Watkins]

The BBC are very sloppy...

' This is Villa's 14th participation in the semi-finals. They have never progressed to the final after failing to win the first leg of a semi-final (D2, L3).'

The next bullet point...

' This is the second time they have faced a fourth-tier club in the League Cup semi-finals: in 1975 they drew 2-2 away to Chester in the first leg and won 3-2 at Villa Park in the second leg.'

What about the Tranmere first leg too?

[PaulWinch again]

In fairness Bradford have lost 2 of their last 3 league games and won only 2 of their last 6. They're hardly going to be brimming with confidence and across 180 minutes we should hammer them.

[manic-road]

I think we will hit them on the break as they try to attack us.

1-4 to the Villa.

[eastie]

The BBC are very sloppy...

' This is Villa's 14th participation in the semi-finals. They have never progressed to the final after failing to win the first leg of a semi-final (D2, L3).'

The next bullet point...

' This is the second time they have faced a fourth-tier club in the League Cup semi-finals: in 1975 they drew 2-2 away to Chester in the first leg and won 3-2 at Villa Park in the second leg.'

What about the Tranmere first leg too?

We got to the final after losing at tranmere , tranmere weren't fourth tier when we played them and were quite a bit bettervthan bradfords level, with internationals like o brien and Aldridge in their ranks.

I don't expect bradford to give us the fright that tranmere did .

[Concrete John]

I throw in 1996 as well.  We drew 2-2 away at Arsenal and then a 0-0 and Villa Patk took us through on away goals.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I think a draw, They are going to be pumped and have nothing to lose, they've knocked out Arsenal and Wigan

[eastie]

By David Anderson | 07/01/13 

Bradford's Carl McHugh aims to take another step tonight on a storybook journey from Swindon Supermarine to Wembley Cup final.

The teenage Irish defender was farmed out to non-league Wiltshire minnows Supermarine two seasons ago when he was at Reading and also had a loan spell at home with Dundalk.

McHugh joined Bradford last summer after being released by the Royals and has starred in the Bantams’ fabulous run to the Capital One Cup semis – seeing off Wigan’s Mauro Boselli and Arsenal’s Gervinho.

McHugh, 19, still cannot believe how far he has come in the last two years as he prepares to go head to head with Christian Benteke at Valley Parade in this evening’s semi-final first leg.

“I had a tough time after joining Reading as a kid, getting injured and then released,” said the Republic of Ireland Under-19 centre-half.

“While I was still at the ­Madejski, they sent me out to Swindon Supermarine on a second-year scholar loan after we got knocked out of the Youth Cup.

“It was certainly something a bit different, that’s for sure, but I played seven games for them and it was a good experience.

“I learned a lot about how to handle myself because it is worlds apart from the professional game.”

McHugh refuses to be daunted by the prospect of marking Benteke, who has banged in nine goals for Villa this term.

“He’s been fantastic in the Premier League and a different proposition to some of the Arsenal strikers, but we’ll just have to try and deal with him the best we can,” said the Donegal-born stopper.

“There’s also Bent, Weimann, ­Agbonlahor, they’ve got loads of top players, so it doesn’t matter who you’re up against – it’s going to be a massive test.”

 

Despite beating Arsenal and winning at Wigan, McHugh feels Villa will be Bradford’s toughest test yet because the tie is a double-header.

He said: “It’s another huge ask for us and, with the tie being over two legs, I think it’s going to be even harder to win than a one-off game.

“Villa are a talented team with some really great players, so we are under no illusions about what we are up against.

“But it’s going to be another fantastic night at Valley Parade.

“The ground will be packed again and the atmosphere will be ­electric.

“That inspired us against Arsenal, and I’m sure it will do again.”

Both teams were in the Premier League when they last met in February 2001 and Bantams boss Phil Parkinson claims the League Two side’s cup run has made the fans believe they can bring back the good times.

Parkinson said: “Bradford is a big club, a sleeping giant and we’re trying to reawaken it. The win against Arsenal reminded everyone that Bradford is up and running, and starting to get going again.

“Another great performance would be brilliant for the city again.

“We’ve worked really hard to get to this stage. It will be tough – and it’s whether we can get to the second leg in two weeks and still be in the tie.”

Shay of hope: Given wants to retain his place for Cup final

 

Shay Given claims Aston Villa’s cup success has kept him at the club and believes he will retain his place if they reach Wembley, writes James Nursey.

Keeper Given was dropped by new Villa boss Paul Lambert two games into his reign last August in favour of American Brad Guzan.

But the former Republic of Ireland No.1 has been handed a lifeline in Villa’s cup ties and his displays in the Capital One Cup and FA Cup have earned rave reviews from Lambert.

Given starred again on Saturday against Ipswich to help Villa into the fourth round where they now face a tricky trip to Millwall.

The 36-year-old is set to keep his place this evening in Villa’s semi-final, first leg tie at League Two Bradford and says it has stopped him from quitting the game.

He said: “Had we been knocked out of the League Cup early and I not played in the FA Cup, it would be difficult to keep going. I might not have been so happy then. Sometimes you sulk about it and have bad days like all people do.

“He has gone with Brad this season and it is has been difficult for me because, when you work hard all week and come matchday you are not playing, it’s soul destroying.

“These games have been good for me, the League Cup and looking forward to the FA Cup, because I knew earlier in the week that I’d be playing.

“It gives me something to work towards and to work hard in training. It’s a big carrot dangling for me to keep pushing Brad to get back into the team.

“We are in the next round of the FA Cup, plus two semi-final legs, so hopefully there are quite a few games coming up and hopefully I’ll play my part.”

And if Villa reach the Capital One Cup Final at Wembley, Given believes he will keep his place.

He added: “I can’t stand here and talk about it all night and say I’m quite happy to sit on the bench because I’m not.

“But the manager has been really good and supportive. There are no complaints on that front.”

[Dr Butler]

I think a draw, They are going to be pumped and have nothing to lose, they've knocked out Arsenal and Wigan

and we have knocked out Man City and Norwich City....