The Plot to Escape Relegation Thread 2015.

[Toronto Villa]

I said this about Stoke after the defeat that between Pulis and Hughes they have created a club where there is pretty good depth. With some teams after the first 11-15 squad players it thins out pretty quick. With Stoke they are not great 1-11, but the drop off isn't significant if they get a few injuries or suspensions. They play to a system they are confident with and even with a few players missing the replacements seem to slot in relatively seamlessly.

With Newcastle you sometimes feel that outside the first team, and if the confidence goes they can fold pretty quickly. When they are confident they can be a match for anyone so I certainly think we have a good chance of getting a result if we go at them early and get the first goal.

[MoetVillan]

Get the first goal?  Not something we have covered ourselves with glory in this season

[Musicmaan]

We simply have to show we are more desperate to win than a Newcastle side that are now playing to see out the season. Realistically on form they are not going to break into a Europa League spot so are essentially rooted to mid table. If we cannot show more passion than them given our circumstances we deserve what we end up with. Based on that alone we should be winning this game.

we said this about Stoke though, they were supposed to be playing for nothing and with loads of injuries,
I'm not hopefull

Truth is, all of these sides that otherwise have nothing to play for (managers and players alike) would love to see Villa get relegated. That alone is kind of a big deal to them and enough to motivate them against us.

[dave.woodhall]

We simply have to show we are more desperate to win than a Newcastle side that are now playing to see out the season. Realistically on form they are not going to break into a Europa League spot so are essentially rooted to mid table. If we cannot show more passion than them given our circumstances we deserve what we end up with. Based on that alone we should be winning this game.

we said this about Stoke though, they were supposed to be playing for nothing and with loads of injuries,
I'm not hopefull

Truth is, all of these sides that otherwise have nothing to play for (managers and players alike) would love to see Villa get relegated. That alone is kind of a big deal to them and enough to motivate them against us.

Why?

[Toronto Villa]

We simply have to show we are more desperate to win than a Newcastle side that are now playing to see out the season. Realistically on form they are not going to break into a Europa League spot so are essentially rooted to mid table. If we cannot show more passion than them given our circumstances we deserve what we end up with. Based on that alone we should be winning this game.

we said this about Stoke though, they were supposed to be playing for nothing and with loads of injuries,
I'm not hopefull

Truth is, all of these sides that otherwise have nothing to play for (managers and players alike) would love to see Villa get relegated. That alone is kind of a big deal to them and enough to motivate them against us.

these are professional footballers not fans. I would bet they don't give a damn who goes down as long as it isn't them.

[Musicmaan]

We simply have to show we are more desperate to win than a Newcastle side that are now playing to see out the season. Realistically on form they are not going to break into a Europa League spot so are essentially rooted to mid table. If we cannot show more passion than them given our circumstances we deserve what we end up with. Based on that alone we should be winning this game.

we said this about Stoke though, they were supposed to be playing for nothing and with loads of injuries,
I'm not hopefull

Truth is, all of these sides that otherwise have nothing to play for (managers and players alike) would love to see Villa get relegated. That alone is kind of a big deal to them and enough to motivate them against us.

Why?

Just is, isn't it? One of only a few ever present PL teams, one of the biggest names in the history of English football. Who wouldn't love to see them go down, rather than a newly promoted side?

[Musicmaan]

We simply have to show we are more desperate to win than a Newcastle side that are now playing to see out the season. Realistically on form they are not going to break into a Europa League spot so are essentially rooted to mid table. If we cannot show more passion than them given our circumstances we deserve what we end up with. Based on that alone we should be winning this game.

we said this about Stoke though, they were supposed to be playing for nothing and with loads of injuries,
I'm not hopefull

Truth is, all of these sides that otherwise have nothing to play for (managers and players alike) would love to see Villa get relegated. That alone is kind of a big deal to them and enough to motivate them against us.

these are professional footballers not fans. I would bet they don't give a damn who goes down as long as it isn't them.

A good chunk of the players, yes, but the players, particularly the British  crop are well aware of what it would mean to see a name like Villa go down. It's the same reason why so called 'giant killing' in the cups is a big deal isn't it?

[silhillvilla]

& how many British players are likely to start for AntnDec FC tomorrow ?

[PeterWithesShin]

There's a big difference between a bunch players playing a club a few divisions higher in a cup competition and if they win it will be a high point of their career, and the players and manager of Swansea loving seeing the Villa relegated.

[dave.woodhall]

We simply have to show we are more desperate to win than a Newcastle side that are now playing to see out the season. Realistically on form they are not going to break into a Europa League spot so are essentially rooted to mid table. If we cannot show more passion than them given our circumstances we deserve what we end up with. Based on that alone we should be winning this game.

we said this about Stoke though, they were supposed to be playing for nothing and with loads of injuries,
I'm not hopefull

Truth is, all of these sides that otherwise have nothing to play for (managers and players alike) would love to see Villa get relegated. That alone is kind of a big deal to them and enough to motivate them against us.

Why?

Just is, isn't it? One of only a few ever present PL teams, one of the biggest names in the history of English football. Who wouldn't love to see them go down, rather than a newly promoted side?

I don't think anyone really cares, to be honest.

[Musicmaan]

& how many British players are likely to start for AntnDec FC tomorrow ?

Do we stay up if we win tomorrow? 😊

Hey, it was a minor observation in response to the theory that teams having nothing to play for somehow goes in our favour.

[Musicmaan]

There's a big difference between a bunch players playing a club a few divisions higher in a cup competition and if they win it will be a high point of their career, and the players and manager of Swansea loving seeing the Villa relegated.

You don't think it would give Mark Hughes (for example) any personal or professional pride to comfortably keep Stoke in the division and watch someone like Villa go down?

As I said above, it was basically a suggestion to counter the theory that teams having nothing to play for helps our cause, which it doesn't.

[PeterWithesShin]

I doubt it. Finishing say, 9th, with Stoke probably will give him pride. It won't matter to him where Villa are in the league.

[silhillvilla]

I think it boils down to individual players rather than teams at this stage of the season for mid-table going nowhere sides .
Players playing for a move, a new deal, international recognition , more game time / fringe player , etc etc .
Ultimately antndec FC will have 50,000 there scrutinising them so we can expect no favours anyway we just need to rely on them being shitter than us.

[Musicmaan]

I doubt it. Finishing say, 9th, with Stoke probably will give him pride. It won't matter to him where Villa are in the league.

That's a fair point. I'll get me coat...