Aston Villa v Bradford City Pre-Match Thread

[pauliewalnuts]

Anybody feeling sick or jittery prior to this game should remember a few things. We are not favourites to go through, perhaps for good reason - we concede more goals than we score. We cannot and should not expect to reach Wembley. We are the underdogs now. The pressure's off our shoulders and firmly upon theirs. This tie is Bradford's to lose. Only they can fuck it up now. Can they take the pressure? 35,000+ Villans will be roaring us on, no matter what the score. Game on. 

You seem to forget we're Premier League and they're Division 2. We are the favourites. Talk to anyone and they think we'll go through (well, apart from many Villa fans (including me)).

League status counts for nothing, as the previous leg illustrated painfully.

Anyway, Big Ron has just been on the radio dispensing first class advice about penalty shoot outs. If you're a 'keeper, stand still. Save the bad ones. I wonder if Lambert knows this? We could have done with a bit of BFR's guile tonight.

League status can count for nothing, but it usually is enough.

Surprised how many people are so defeatist. It's only 3-1, and for all their "we won the first leg" bravado, we must have hit shots straight at their keeper ten times in the first leg. Nine times out of ten we'd be home and dry by now.

Put together a first half performance like that at Albion, and we will have no problems at all.

We are having a dodgy season, but for all that, this is a fourth division side we are playing. To read some on here, you'd think they were Juventus.

Frankly, if we can't beat them over two legs, we don't deserve to go to Wembley.

[Jon Crofts]

We'll win 4-0 in normal time.

[danlanza]

My local has got extra crates of Dorada beer in for tonight. I just hope its worth the hangover. 4:1 Villa inside normal time, Benteke 2, Gabby 1 and the fourth from Vlaar.

[Jimbo]

Anybody feeling sick or jittery prior to this game should remember a few things. We are not favourites to go through, perhaps for good reason - we concede more goals than we score. We cannot and should not expect to reach Wembley. We are the underdogs now. The pressure's off our shoulders and firmly upon theirs. This tie is Bradford's to lose. Only they can fuck it up now. Can they take the pressure? 35,000+ Villans will be roaring us on, no matter what the score. Game on. 

You seem to forget we're Premier League and they're Division 2. We are the favourites. Talk to anyone and they think we'll go through (well, apart from many Villa fans (including me)).

League status counts for nothing, as the previous leg illustrated painfully.

Anyway, Big Ron has just been on the radio dispensing first class advice about penalty shoot outs. If you're a 'keeper, stand still. Save the bad ones. I wonder if Lambert knows this? We could have done with a bit of BFR's guile tonight.

League status can count for nothing, but it usually is enough.

Surprised how many people are so defeatist. It's only 3-1, and for all their "we won the first leg" bravado, we must have hit shots straight at their keeper ten times in the first leg. Nine times out of ten we'd be home and dry by now.

Put together a first half performance like that at Albion, and we will have no problems at all.

We are having a dodgy season, but for all that, this is a fourth division side we are playing. To read some on here, you'd think they were Juventus.

Frankly, if we can't beat them over two legs, we don't deserve to go to Wembley.

Not so much that they resemble Juventus, but that we at times this season have resembled Aldershot. Resting upon our Premier League laurels is not what will get us through this tie. Psychologically, it's good for our players and fans to believe that, at 3:1 up from the first leg, the pressure is on Bradford to complete the task. This is Bradford's tie to lose. Let's see if they have the mettle to avoid that scenario. 

[PaulWinch again]

I personally think we'll win 6-0.

[Dave Clark Five]

I personally think we'll win 6-0.

So do I.

[The Left Side]

Villa to get through, somehow!

[Billy Walker]

Anybody feeling sick or jittery prior to this game should remember a few things. We are not favourites to go through, perhaps for good reason - we concede more goals than we score. We cannot and should not expect to reach Wembley. We are the underdogs now. The pressure's off our shoulders and firmly upon theirs. This tie is Bradford's to lose. Only they can fuck it up now. Can they take the pressure? 35,000+ Villans will be roaring us on, no matter what the score. Game on. 

You seem to forget we're Premier League and they're Division 2. We are the favourites. Talk to anyone and they think we'll go through (well, apart from many Villa fans (including me)).

Go down the bookies and you'll see Bradford are the favourites to get through - and rightly so, they are two goals in the lead. 

[Boz]

If we score early we'll skate it, but the first goal will be crucial and if we let one in, I shudder to think what our confidence will be like then, unless we equalise quickly.

Still think we can win, but require extra time.

[danlanza]

Lambert has just called this game a season defining game. No shit.

[The Laughing Policeman]

If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don't.
If you'd like to win but think you can't,
It's almost certain you won't.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But sooner or later, the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.

[Boz]

Anybody feeling sick or jittery prior to this game should remember a few things. We are not favourites to go through, perhaps for good reason - we concede more goals than we score. We cannot and should not expect to reach Wembley. We are the underdogs now. The pressure's off our shoulders and firmly upon theirs. This tie is Bradford's to lose. Only they can fuck it up now. Can they take the pressure? 35,000+ Villans will be roaring us on, no matter what the score. Game on. 

You seem to forget we're Premier League and they're Division 2. We are the favourites. Talk to anyone and they think we'll go through (well, apart from many Villa fans (including me)).

Unfortunately, the bookies have Bradford as favourites and they don't often get the odds wrong, but I'm hoping tonight is one of those occassions.

[PaulWinch again]

We must go through Villa, we must go through and win the cup. We then must stay up in the Premier League, all these things are interlinked.

[Mazrim]

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is time...


...for Mazrim's orange dot. When first I called upon it, we marvelled at its power. Now I call upon it again to aid us.
Behold!



Stare into the dot, visualize Villa reaching Wembley. Don't hope for it, don't wish for it. SEE IT! It will happen.
Like the sun rising, it will happen. It is inevitable. But you must concentrate your mind on this eventuality and touch the orange dot.

[danlanza]

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is time...


...for Mazrim's orange dot. When first I called upon it, we marvelled at its power. Now I call upon it again to aid us.
Behold!



Star into the dot, visualize Villa reaching Wembley. Don't hope for it, don't wish for it. SEE IT! It will happen.
Like the sun rising, it will happen. It is inevitable. But you must concentrate your mind on this eventuality and touch the orange dot.

We need the dot and the Admirals pie. PWS, get eating.