Aston Villa v Leicester City (FA Cup) - Sun 15 Feb 2015 Pre-Match Thread

[Rudy Can't Fail]

James Nursey checks in

Scott Marshall had never done a press conference before and looked uncomfortable.

He took training this morning with Andy Marshall, Gordon Cowans and Stuart Taylor.

Scott Marshall has been in touch with Paul Lambert, who he worked with at Norwich, and still calls him his boss.

He insisted the players were behind Lambert right to the end and were disappointed over his exit.

Didn't he say something along the lines of he's "still very loyal to Lambert" which sounded very strange to me, like he wants out too?

[Smoke]

Said they've done nothing different.

Sack him, immediately. pathetic.

[Des Little]

If it ain't broke...

[villa `cross the mersey]

First game of the season for me and VCTM jnr - we are looking forward to a great atmoshere and a glut of goals - are we crazy?

Where are the roadworks on the M6 around Villa Park?

[CJ]

I get on the M6 from the M5 VCTM and they finished the roadworks a while back - junction 7-6 has been pretty free-flowing (famous last words!). I usually check live traffic flow on Frixo

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

VCTM - from what I understand, you can get off the M6 at Spaghetti but you can't get ON there.
But, I've been driving up the Lichfield Road towards the city centre then taking a right at Waterlinks Boulevard Island to Park Circus which takes you on the Expressway and get on the M6 there. Will probably take you a fee minutes longer than usual.

Bring some luck with you mate!
UTV

[CJ]

Think it depends where you park - I park at King Edwards school and have been getting back to the M6 at Spaghetti no problem via Park Circus & the Expressway but think the access via Lichfield Rd may be closed

[PeterWithesShin]

First game of the season for me and VCTM jnr - we are looking forward to a great atmoshere and a glut of goals - are we crazy?

Where are the roadworks on the M6 around Villa Park?

http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=53449.msg2775551;topicseen#new

[CJ]

Don't understand that - I've been driving past J7 down to J6, and going on the Expressway to Park Circus all season with no problems

[Villa in Denmark]

We'll smash 'em 1-0

[peter w]

I just can't shake the feeling that because of everything that has been going on I can't give a shit about this game. We have bigger fish to fry and I want just to get on and sort out the league form. This to me is a bloody distraction. And it's the 5th Round of the FA Cup. And we're at home .

[pauliewalnuts]

I just can't shake the feeling that because of everything that has been going on I can't give a shit about this game. We have bigger fish to fry and I want just to get on and sort out the league form. This to me is a bloody distraction. And it's the 5th Round of the FA Cup. And we're at home .

I think it could actually be quite cathartic.

We've moaned about Lambert for ages, and now he's gone. It isn't a league game, so we won't be getting further into the shit.

If we win it, we're still in the cup in the later stages. If we lose it, it doesn't really matter because we've got much bigger fish to fry, other things to worry about. Win win. Even if we lose it, we're not going to get our arses handed to us, because we're playing another really shit team, not Arsenal or someone who could embarrass us.

The fact it isn't a league game might also help the players relax a little, if we do well, we might build some confidence.

I think it could be a good thing for us, and god knows, we could do with a good thing.

[pauliewalnuts]

Obviously, having said all that, Alan Curbishley will be presented to us on the pitch before the match, we'll lose 9-0, Delph, Benteke, Okore, Clark and Gil will all pick up broken legs, and we'll field an ineligible player and therefore pick up a points deduction which will render us relegated within a couple of weeks.

[peter w]

I don't know. I think a defeat is very much on and I do worry how that will affect a new manager and how long he will realistically need to turn things around for a side so clearly devoid of any confidence. Of course we could win it and that too is clearly a possibility considering who we are playing. But I think the negatives outweigh the positives and I'd rather we didn't have this game to play but I would rather we get a new manager in working with the players for as long as is possible. But then again I'm a born worrier when it comes to Villa.

[Toronto Villa]

Apparently Scott Marshall will talk to Lambert before the game. What on earth would be the point of that unless he is looking to maintain our outstanding goal scoring record this season.