Will we qualify for Wembley?

[Jockey Randall]

It makes Lamberts decision to go all out attack last night even more baffling... Swansea played it bang on tonight.

We can still do it and if we do it will be a classic, I just can't see it with our midfield.

I actually still think the manager got it right. The only slightly good thing about our team at the minute is the players going forward. If we sat back we'd just be waiting for the inevitable as we all know one thing we can't do is defend. On another night we could have got an early goal and the game would have been different, plus I can't imagine the majority of fans being happy at us sat back against a team so inferior, especially when they were happy for us to go at them. Swansea did got it right but they were playing a superior side away from home and that was probably the only realistic tactic available to them, unless the wanted to do what we did there and risked getting ripped to shreds.

[OCD]

Losing 3-1 in the first leg of the semi final seems to be the norm for us. I had Tranmere on my mind as soon as we drew Bradford.

We'll dominate possession - even when they had the ball they kept giving it us back. It will be an intimidating atmosphere. The question will be how long they can hang on for. If we score fairly early on, I think we could piss all over them. Their best chance is to be well organised and try to hit us on the counter. We have to be a damn sight better at defending set pieces.

Tonight's result was a great result. If we can turn it around, we would have a real chance of winning the competition. Maybe it can give us a lift for the league games too.

[Darlo Dave]

Maybe I'm delirious from this winter flu I've got, but having watched the highlights back again tonight, I think we can do it. Surely Bradford can't be that lucky again at the back? Surely Matt Duke can't make as many saves? Surely we can't waste as many chances? Surely we can defend better from set pieces?

[hawkeye]

67.8% predicted a Villa win in the first leg now over 50% predict we will get to Wembley.

I wont be taking any betting tips from this lot.

[hawkeye]

Maybe I'm delirious from this winter flu I've got, but having watched the highlights back again tonight, Loony I think we can do it. Surely Bradford can't be that lucky again at the back They werent they didnt need to be Surely Matt Duke can't make as many saves? if players hit the ball at him he might Surely we can't waste as many chances oh yes we can Surely we can defend better from set pieces recent history suggests otherwise?

get down them there bookies

[Risso]

Surely we can defend better from set pieces?

THat point especially is highly doubtful.

[Lee]

I don't think that we have it in that side to turn this around. We are always good for a goal for the opposition (see last night) and this will be our downfall.

I'm not a gloom mongerer, but I think that all they have to do is kill the game. Forth tier or not, it's not hard to play against us these days

[Darlo Dave]

Maybe I'm delirious from this winter flu I've got, but having watched the highlights back again tonight, Loony I think we can do it. Surely Bradford can't be that lucky again at the back They werent they didnt need to be Surely Matt Duke can't make as many saves? if players hit the ball at him he might Surely we can't waste as many chances oh yes we can Surely we can defend better from set pieces recent history suggests otherwise?

get down them there bookies

As I say, I blame my highly medicated state of flu addled mind, for my wave of unfounded optimism. I think I just needed to say it out loud, so I can convince myself. 

[DeKuip]

I read today that Bradford's team cost £7,500. Why don't we just buy their entire team off them in the next two weeks.
Buying up the competition is how the Manchester clubs win their trophies.

[littlevillain]

Think we will absolutely batter em. I would go with this:
                                                                                        Guzan
                                                                           Lowton                Lijai
                                                                                    Clarke Baker
                                                                 Allbrighton Ireland  Holman  Nzog
                                                                                  Benteke Weimann

   Really think we need to use width and speed with two fast wingers against these. Not a massive fan of either Nzog and Allbrighton but against a team like this we need to hit them fast and hard and I think it would work well.
             

                                                                               
                                                                   
                                                                                 
                                                                                   

[Steve R]

I've also just watched the highlights again. It really is quite stunning the way we created chances yet contrived to only register with one of them, whereas Bradford scored following three unremarkable crosses. We certainly defended badly, but that isn't the whole story. Whoever mentioned the phrase 'perfect storm' had it right. We weren't unlucky as such but just about everything that could go wrong did.

It is perfectly possible for us to play no better in the second leg and be out of sight by half time.

I think Bent summed up last night's game. Faced with a gaping goal from no distance at all not only did he mistime the jump and head the ball way over, he also managed to land awkwardly on the goalie and got injured.

By the way, the presenter on Look North was wearing a claret and amber tie tonight and couldn't resist some sarcastic comment or other at the end of the programme.

In two weeks time I have no doubt that the entire population of Bradford will have been at the ground last night, with half as many again travelling down the M1.

[KevinGage]

5-2 to Villa.

Go fuck yourselves Messrs Parry, Savage et al.

We'll concede (that's a given).  Maybe even go 1-0 down. 

But barring injuries between now and the 22nd we have enough firepower to see off a fourth division side.   If we can't do that over two legs, PL should do the decent thing and fall on his sword.

Some of the worst Villa teams I've ever seen would be capable of beating a fourth division side over two games. 

[Doorbell]

We'll beat Bradford, Swansea will see off Chelsea.  With the two teams best suited to play each other in the final having another cracking game which we will win.

[usav]

One thing is for sure, we need to have Viila Park full and rocking to have any chance.

While this team is not fit to clean the boots of the 94 team, the atmosphere that day against Tranmere is something t  most of us on here will never forget and I'm sure played a big part in the result.    I see Collymore on twitter last night called for an 'Atletico Madrid' type atmosphere - that would work as well.

[eamonn]

Was the atmosphere for Blackburn '10 not memorable at all? Looked and sounded good on the telly.
 No one is mentioning that and with the demise of terracing, Tranmere '94 seems an apposite comparison in scoreline only.