The Dilemma

[Tom_Mc9?]

I'd take the cup win. There, I've said it.

[Louzie0]

I want both.
And why not?

Thanks to Barry Norman and the band for this inspirational post.

[saunders_heroes]

I want both.
And why not?

Thanks to Barry Norman and the band for this inspirational post.

Indeed.

[Billy Walker]

Relegation just isn't acceptable or desired under any circumstances for Villa, in my opinion.  I've experienced relegation once and I never want to experience it again!  It's a permanent stain in the record book and it hurts.

[Louzie0]

I want both.
And why not?

Thanks to Barry Norman and the band for this inspirational post.

Indeed.

Another Bazza moment to remember.

[Richard E]

Just think how great it will be on 30th May when those claret and blue ribbons are on the Cup and we can put this thread to bed forever.

[SoccerHQ]

Don't see why we have to follow Wigan and SHA and have to get relegated and win something.

It's not impossible to win something and be relatively stable in the league, Swansea did it two seasons ago so no I wouldn't as getting relegated is still a massive failure and that would be the reality once June and July pass on and the hypothetical cup win fades.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

Just think how great it will be on 30th May when those claret and blue ribbons are on the Cup and we can put this thread to bed forever.

And having finished comfortably in mid table.

[Brazilian Villain]

My Dad has followed the Villa since 1959 when he first moved to Brum from Ireland. He's 77 now and seeing us lift the FA Cup would mean he would die a happy man. At the rate we're going I'm 45 and could  probably say the same. Put it this way being at Wembley to watch us beat Man U 3-1 remains one of my favourite Villa memories and stays in the mind far longer than the despair of relegation. And that was just the League Cup that I've seen us lift 4 times.

[Dave P]

Might resurrect this thread as both options are still viable. My thoughts haven't changed in that I'd take a cup win at all costs.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

My thoughts haven't changed either - let's do both.

From a practical point of view, the dilemma would occur if we needed to beat Burnley in the last game to stay up.  If Sherwood rested our best players and we didn't get the result we needed, the atmosphere that week would be poisonous - and we'd probably get our battered at Wembley.

Also, we're by no means favourites to beat Arsenal, even if we play well; so we need to get Premier League safety in the bag.  If we got relegated AND lost the Final, that could destroy us for years.

[silhillvilla]

League survival all the way.

[aj2k77]

FA Cup is more important to me than my wife right now.

[supertom]

I don't think we'd actually implode if we went down. Financially we're sound and we've got players who could do well at that level. Benteke would obviously go, whilst Vlaar wouldn't stay. I don't think we'd have the problems Wigan have. I'd see us more akin to West Ham or Newcastle. We'd be up in 1-2 years, particularly as I think Sherwood has a lot of promise.

I would really love the FA cup. This year could be the first and only time in my life-time so honestly, by a whisker I'd take the cup.

That said it would be gutting to be in the championship when we can see at the moment the seeds of something good with Sherwood. So having to wait a year (at least) to come back up would be very tough, and indeed you then have to replace the core of quality players we'll inevitably lose going down.

It's a very tough decision for me. Looking at things I don't see us ever winning the league any time soon. So our trophy success, if I as a fan ever get to experience more, will come in cups. Would I trade a year or two of championship football for an FA Cup? I probably would.

BUT... We're gonna stay up and win the cup so it's all academic.

[Lucky Eddie]

Just a hunch that those voting for the cup win are the ones that actually go to the majority of games.