Aston Villa vs Chelsea Pre-Match Thread

[Jimbo]

The game could be won by half time, unfortunately. Then Benitez can rest players.

[PeterWithesShin]

Only 1500 tickets left.

Villa v Chelsea is now heading for a huge, bumper crowd - with only 1,500 tickets available for the Blues clash.

Seats have been snapped up in great numbers over the past few days with the 'Sold Out' signs set to go up at Villa Park in advance of kick-off.

Ticket Office chiefs were predicting 41,000 earlier in the week but that has now increased.

It should be quite some occasion, with Villa looking to retain their Premier League status and Chelsea aiming for Champions League qualification.

The final home game has also been enhanced with the news that Stan Petrov will lead the walk of appreciation on the final whistle.

It should be emotional and, clearly, fans want to be there to watch a great game of football and pay tribute to a great professional and great man.

Do not delay if you want a ticket for this big game because you could end up disappointed.

Snap up your tickets - on general sale - now by contacting 0800 612 0970, buying online or popping into either Villa Village or New Street.

Paul Lambert's men will be eager to end the home campaign in style with a win over the Blues.

Their determination is two-fold - to move further away from the dreaded dropzone and also to avenge the hammering suffered at the hands of Rafa Benitez's team during the festive period.

Lambert's Lions felt the full force of the former champions that day and they will be out for blood in the return fixture.

There is always a party atmosphere on the final fortress encounter and this should be no exception, especially if Villa can pick up a valuable three points.

The atmosphere in the 6-1 win over Sunderland was wondrous, with fans screaming their approval.

Lambert will be hoping for more of the same from this extremely difficult clash as Frank Lampard, Fernando Torres and Petr Cech come to town.

Ticket prices are £25 to £45 [adults], £22 to £45 [concessions], £19 to £40 [U16s], £15 to £40 [U8s] and £35 to £40 [adult/junior combo ticket].

The match takes place on Saturday May 11 with kick-off at 12.45pm.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The game could be won by half time, unfortunately. Then Benitez can rest players.

I was thinking along the same lines then recalled our Barcelona game when they took of Cryuff thinking job done.
Those that play second half will pretty much know they're not going to play in the final, so won't give a shit.

Oh and Jimbo, can you continuously slag off Gabby again in the Match thread. It works a treat.

[TonyD]

Only 1500 tickets left.

Villa v Chelsea is now heading for a huge, bumper crowd - with only 1,500 tickets available for the Blues clash.

Seats have been snapped up in great numbers over the past few days with the 'Sold Out' signs set to go up at Villa Park in advance of kick-off.

Ticket Office chiefs were predicting 41,000 earlier in the week but that has now increased.

It should be quite some occasion, with Villa looking to retain their Premier League status and Chelsea aiming for Champions League qualification.

The final home game has also been enhanced with the news that Stan Petrov will lead the walk of appreciation on the final whistle.

It should be emotional and, clearly, fans want to be there to watch a great game of football and pay tribute to a great professional and great man.

Do not delay if you want a ticket for this big game because you could end up disappointed.

Snap up your tickets - on general sale - now by contacting 0800 612 0970, buying online or popping into either Villa Village or New Street.

Paul Lambert's men will be eager to end the home campaign in style with a win over the Blues.

Their determination is two-fold - to move further away from the dreaded dropzone and also to avenge the hammering suffered at the hands of Rafa Benitez's team during the festive period.

Lambert's Lions felt the full force of the former champions that day and they will be out for blood in the return fixture.

There is always a party atmosphere on the final fortress encounter and this should be no exception, especially if Villa can pick up a valuable three points.

The atmosphere in the 6-1 win over Sunderland was wondrous, with fans screaming their approval.

Lambert will be hoping for more of the same from this extremely difficult clash as Frank Lampard, Fernando Torres and Petr Cech come to town.

Ticket prices are £25 to £45 [adults], £22 to £45 [concessions], £19 to £40 [U16s], £15 to £40 [U8s] and £35 to £40 [adult/junior combo ticket].

The match takes place on Saturday May 11 with kick-off at 12.45pm.

Only about 200 left on the site.  Not sure where they get 1,500 from.

[curiousorange]

Only 1500 tickets left.

Villa v Chelsea is now heading for a huge, bumper crowd - with only 1,500 tickets available for the Blues clash.

Seats have been snapped up in great numbers over the past few days with the 'Sold Out' signs set to go up at Villa Park in advance of kick-off.

Ticket Office chiefs were predicting 41,000 earlier in the week but that has now increased.

It should be quite some occasion, with Villa looking to retain their Premier League status and Chelsea aiming for Champions League qualification.

The final home game has also been enhanced with the news that Stan Petrov will lead the walk of appreciation on the final whistle.

It should be emotional and, clearly, fans want to be there to watch a great game of football and pay tribute to a great professional and great man.

Do not delay if you want a ticket for this big game because you could end up disappointed.

Snap up your tickets - on general sale - now by contacting 0800 612 0970, buying online or popping into either Villa Village or New Street.

Paul Lambert's men will be eager to end the home campaign in style with a win over the Blues.

Their determination is two-fold - to move further away from the dreaded dropzone and also to avenge the hammering suffered at the hands of Rafa Benitez's team during the festive period.

Lambert's Lions felt the full force of the former champions that day and they will be out for blood in the return fixture.

There is always a party atmosphere on the final fortress encounter and this should be no exception, especially if Villa can pick up a valuable three points.

The atmosphere in the 6-1 win over Sunderland was wondrous, with fans screaming their approval.

Lambert will be hoping for more of the same from this extremely difficult clash as Frank Lampard, Fernando Torres and Petr Cech come to town.

Ticket prices are £25 to £45 [adults], £22 to £45 [concessions], £19 to £40 [U16s], £15 to £40 [U8s] and £35 to £40 [adult/junior combo ticket].

The match takes place on Saturday May 11 with kick-off at 12.45pm.

Only about 200 left on the site.  Not sure where they get 1,500 from.

Probably posted it before 1300 people rang up for a ticket.

[Salsa Party Animal]

2-0 to Benteke I am happy to keep a clean sheet please.

[Matt Collins]

On reflection I think we'll lose this, even if Chelsea are tired. They looked very good to me yesterday.

I do think we'll be in nervous mood on Tuesday, but I really do struggle to see Wigan winning at the Emirates. Surely. Surely!!

[Big Dick Edwards]

If we can give them significantly more of a game than we did last time we met, and get a draw, I'll be satisfied with the confirmation of the progress we've made since that disastrous and humiliating day last December.

[SoccerHQ]

I think this will be a better game for lowton and Bennett. They don't play with wingers crossing the ball and anyone forward player out wide usually look to cut in. That should suit our style of play and won't see Lowton and esoecially bennett isolated. They look to get overlapping full-backs - as do we - but our front 3 threat should negate that by counter-attacking as soon as they lose the ball.

If they score early and get on top then we may struggle to get back into it as we'll need to chase it. But they need the 3 points (as of course do we) so if its 0-0 (yeah right) they will have to push on more so creating more space and opportunities for us. They're last game is at home against Everton whilst Arsenal and Tottenham have two relatively 'easier' games to overtake Chelsea.

They will come at us with a full strength team and are likely to take the points. But, knowing how they play, if we can avoid conceding early (or at all would be nice) this could be set up nicely for us.

Agree Peter.  If they play Hazard and Oscar they won't have the type of pace out wide that seems to trouble our full-backs (even though Hazard and Oscar are top players). 

Moses will play, he ripped us apart at Stamford Bridge, hopefully Mata is rested as he is a real class act.

Surprised people are dreading this game, it's not like we're one point below Wigan or anything. Would imagine there will be a carnival atmosphere on Saturday and I reckon the players will have a right good go at putting December 23rd right as the pressue has been lifted by Wigan fcuking up on Tuesday.

[olaftab]

Little bit concerned that rafa didn't play Ba and Lampard at all last night not even bringing them on as subs. That means both will play on Saturday specially as Ba is EL tied.

[SoccerHQ]

Yes both will start as will Moses and Terry I suspect. Maybe Benayoun aswell but Chelsea fans hate him by association to Rafa so that would be a negative one.

Ruud Gullit's love child Nathan Ake might have a chance of a first start aswell.

[PaulWinch again]

Little bit concerned that rafa didn't play Ba and Lampard at all last night not even bringing them on as subs. That means both will play on Saturday specially as Ba is EL tied.

We'll beat them whoever they put out.

[damon loves JT]

Benitez has got them to a third placed finish and a European final, and they hate him. They are such cocks.

[pauliewalnuts]

Benitez has got them to a third placed finish and a European final, and they hate him. They are such cocks.

They truly are wankers.

They can't bring themselves to speak the truth - ie that their megalomaniac chairman sacked the saintly RDM, and he's the one who deserves the stick - so they take it out on Benitez.

I don't particularly like him, but considering he's been parachuted into that fucking snakepit on a going-nowhere contract, to deal with players who clearly think they run things themselves, he's done a really excellent job, and kept his dignity while doing it.

[silhillvilla]

I'm hoping we give them a game we are much better now than the 0-8
Look who played a part in that game -

Lichaj Clark KEA Ireland Herd Albrighton Bowery Holman

None of them good enough at this level and all no Longer in favour