Aston Villa 2-0 Albion FA Cup Qtr Final post match thread

[DeKuip]

Hopefully any backlash also gets directed at the FA and TV people.

Only two sets of fans had any real travelling to do in the quarter-finals - Reading and Arsenal - yet they got the kick-offs that caused most inconvenience.
The game with the biggest rivalry, least travelling, and most potential for trouble was allocated for the slot that allowed the biggest opportunity for a pre-match booze up.

in fairness to the kick of time

if we had a 12.30 KO the atmosphere wouldn't have been as good, so I'm not to bothered about that

Totally agree, and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole day - of all the standard TV kick-off times the early Saturday evening one is always the best for me/us, thinking back to the Man City and Chelsea home games in recent years. I was delighted when we got that slot.
However, I was pointing out that the FA could easily have worked with the TV people and minimised any potential for trouble and been fairer to those travelling greater distances (Reading and Arsenal).

[Risso]

I'm praying for a return to the dark old days of 1957 and actually winning the fucking thing again.

[peter w]

Every time I see Lawro on the telly in one of his shirts, I'm instantly taken back to the dark days on the 1980s

Too much acid, Chico?

nah. He was on the rock and roll. Couldn't pay his bills.

[Stu]

Was on the train back to Stourbridge at around half nine Saturday night and there was 'banter' between fans that was generally good natured. I think it was after Rowley that the Villa contingent started singing that yam yam song to the tune of dambusters, to which the Albion fans at the other end of the carriage quite rightly pointed out - "Where's this train going, lads?"

Handshakes as the stripeys got off at Cradley. There were quite a few people on the train that were intimidated by it though and looked like they were expecting it to kick off.

[Villa in Denmark]

Bang on, never stood in the torrential rain at Plough Lane only to see Alan Cork prod home in the 119th minute, 

I was wearing a really heavy Crombie that day. It took on board about five gallons of rainwater. It was never the same after that.

Snap.

I'd said at half time, "we'll probably lose in the last minute of extra time to an own goal."

Due to the similarities in size and lack of hair between Alan Cork and Chris Price, plus the two of them tussling for the ball led to me getting several seconds of abuse before we realised it was Cork who'd scored.

[aj2k77]

This is the best post match thread in about 5 years

[joe_c]

It's striking me that there's now two FA Cups. There's the lovely, magic-of-the FA Cup, where plumbers and plasterers can dream of playing at Old Trafford and little children run on the pitch to meet their idols, then there's the real FA Cup when you've only got big clubs left and it becomes a proper tournament watched by proper fans.

I think you're right. I'm trying to find an article I glimpsed from after the fourth round weekend where the writer was desperate for Liverpool/Arsenal/Man U final to restore the competition's credibility. Think it was from a proper paper too, not just some numpty with a blog.

[supertom]

It's striking me that there's now two FA Cups. There's the lovely, magic-of-the FA Cup, where plumbers and plasterers can dream of playing at Old Trafford and little children run on the pitch to meet their idols, then there's the real FA Cup when you've only got big clubs left and it becomes a proper tournament watched by proper fans.

I think you're right. I'm trying to find an article I glimpsed from after the fourth round weekend where the writer was desperate for Liverpool/Arsenal/Man U final to restore the competition's credibility. Think it was from a proper paper too, not just some numpty with a blog.

If you find it I hope you use it as bog roll. Utterly ridiculous. This cup is never better these days than when one of the Sky 6 doesn't get their hands on the trophy. Bradford have been a breath of fresh air this year and knocking out Chelsea will be remembered for decades.

[HertsVilla]

It's striking me that there's now two FA Cups. There's the lovely, magic-of-the FA Cup, where plumbers and plasterers can dream of playing at Old Trafford and little children run on the pitch to meet their idols, then there's the real FA Cup when you've only got big clubs left and it becomes a proper tournament watched by proper fans.

I think you're right. I'm trying to find an article I glimpsed from after the fourth round weekend where the writer was desperate for Liverpool/Arsenal/Man U final to restore the competition's credibility. Think it was from a proper paper too, not just some numpty with a blog.

You're quite right. It was an article in The Telegraph available here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/fa-cup/11369141/FA-Cup-needs-a-Manchester-United-v-Liverpool-final.html

[richard moore]

What's this sudden mania to call everything smalltime?

We are supposed to take our example from the true giants of the game, Chelsea and such. When we score the manager should just turn to the bench and nod knowingly, it was all part of the plan. The fans should whip their phones out to capture the moment ready for youtube followed by the applause. Going wild and losing control, balloons, flags, banners.... it's the Quarter final ffs! Not the world cup final, all so small time.

Do you know what is ''small time''. Playing weakened teams to rest players for the battle for 4th. Diving against Preston North End when you are already winning. Threatening fans with bans if they don't buy a ticket for another game. Booing your manager because he didn't spend £100m in the summer and you've just been beaten.

It's the FA cup, some would say still the best and most famous cup competition in the world and there's only going to be 4 bloody teams left in it and we are one of them. We've gone from cheering a shot like the second coming of Christ to believing we can beat a team or two (Albion anyway). So forgive those who turn up and make it a throwback to the 70's and 80's, the only similarity I saw to that era on Saturday evening was a raucous, partisan crowd getting behind the team and celebrating like it meant something. Sorry it didn't make good TV but it was for us and not to suitably entertain  M Lawrenson from wankersville.

*applause*

Great great post. I was only saying to a Chav (Chelsea fan) yesterday how that would never happen at 'The Bridge' as the Japanese tourists would be too busy trying to decide whether they needed the flash setting on or off on their ipads to get a photo of a racist (player or fan). And that's before you even consider the need for 'red eye reduction' or not. Saturday made me very proud to have people out there realise what we can be and what we could be again if we could just get things right. I found myself reflecting on how people like Sherwood, Sinclair and Cleverley must be appreciating how they have rocked up at a proper football club. I was reminded a 100 times on Saturday why I love the Villa so much. And I think others saw it too - my brother in law who is a Derby fan was asking me yesterday if I could get him tickets for the semi and he normally hates us!

[AlexAlexCropley]

I hope we don't give up our home fans in the lower north for cup games.Which probably leaves the lower Witton Lane for away fans, maybe with a buffer zone by the Holte.

[freethinker]

A couple of quotes from the BBC:

BBC 7th Nov 2014 after Warrington beat Exeter
There's no pitch invasion like an FA Cup pitch invasion. #getcarriedaway

BBC 7th March 2015
FA Cup pitch invasion: Villa Park scenes throwback to 'dark ages'.

[pauliewalnuts]

I wonder if, given the sheer disgust at the pitch invasion from the BBC, they'll begin beeping out "Some people are on the pitch" before "they think it's all over, it is now!" the next time the last 1966 goal gets shown.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I hope we don't give up our home fans in the lower north for cup games.Which probably leaves the lower Witton Lane for away fans, maybe with a buffer zone by the Holte.

I can't see the club being allowed to do anything but give the North Stand to away supporters for cup games in the future. Apparently against police advise, we "insisted" on splitting them between the North Stand and Witton Lane. I'd imagine the FA apart from fining us will want to know what measures we have for future games. I can't see a few more stewards being the acceptable answer.

[London Villan]

Can we not away fans upper and and lower in the witton lane? They would have about two thirds of it. Might be a problem for the boxes on the lower tier I guess.