FA Cup Semi-Final: Aston Villa vs Liverpool Pre-Match Thread

[paul_e]

This is the start of BBC article -

"The FA Cup final? A no-brainer - Liverpool v Arsenal.

"Their semi-final opponents - Aston Villa and Reading - are last-four fodder for the big boys."

It's time to think again.


Now even though the article suggests that we might win I'm pretty annoyed that we're being belittled. Would it be that big an upset if we beat Liverpool? Arsenal vs Reading yes ok. But we fucking beat Liverpool at Anfield earlier this year. Aston Villa are not a small club.

Given that they have 25 more points than us and a goal difference of 11 compared to our minus 21 it is not really an outrageous claim to suggest that they are clear favourites.

I reckon we have a good chance but from a pundit's point of view the logical outcome is a Liverpool win.

I'd suggest that this table - http://www.footballformguide.net/form/barclays-premier-league - is more important than the league table.  We're not the team we were 2months ago so form is much more indicative of where we are.  On that basis they'd be slight favourites but if their only genuine goalscorer is out and ours in the form striker in the country it balances things up.

Press conferences are on soon (Sherwood at 1 and Rodgers at 2) so we might have a better idea of who is and isn't fit soon which will make a big difference.

[PaulWinch again]

This is the start of BBC article -

"The FA Cup final? A no-brainer - Liverpool v Arsenal.

"Their semi-final opponents - Aston Villa and Reading - are last-four fodder for the big boys."

It's time to think again.


Now even though the article suggests that we might win I'm pretty annoyed that we're being belittled. Would it be that big an upset if we beat Liverpool? Arsenal vs Reading yes ok. But we fucking beat Liverpool at Anfield earlier this year. Aston Villa are not a small club.

Given that they have 25 more points than us and a goal difference of 11 compared to our minus 21 it is not really an outrageous claim to suggest that they are clear favourites.

I reckon we have a good chance but from a pundit's point of view the logical outcome is a Liverpool win.

I'm not saying that they're not favourites, but lumping us in as basically being the same as a team who are mid-table in the Championship is pretty demeaning.

[rob_bridge]

This is the start of BBC article -

"The FA Cup final? A no-brainer - Liverpool v Arsenal.

"Their semi-final opponents - Aston Villa and Reading - are last-four fodder for the big boys."

It's time to think again.


Now even though the article suggests that we might win I'm pretty annoyed that we're being belittled. Would it be that big an upset if we beat Liverpool? Arsenal vs Reading yes ok. But we fucking beat Liverpool at Anfield earlier this year. Aston Villa are not a small club.

Given that they have 25 more points than us and a goal difference of 11 compared to our minus 21 it is not really an outrageous claim to suggest that they are clear favourites.

I reckon we have a good chance but from a pundit's point of view the logical outcome is a Liverpool win.

Yep especially when the pundits include Lawro, Owen, Fowler, Hamman, McMannaman, Phil Thompson,Colin Murray, DJ Spooney, Alan Green - those types of pundits with incredible whit and objectivity.

[UK Redsox]

Bloody tickets haven't arrived despite buying them on the night of the QPR game. Took a morning off work so I could phone ticket office if the the posty came empty handed. Ticket office very good at issuing duplicates and saying that Villa ticket staff will be on hand at Wembley. 
Now really looking forward to Sunday. UTV

SligoTom's ticket didn't arrive either and he ordered it in the first week of sales

[montague]

This is the start of BBC article -

"The FA Cup final? A no-brainer - Liverpool v Arsenal.

"Their semi-final opponents - Aston Villa and Reading - are last-four fodder for the big boys."

It's time to think again.


Now even though the article suggests that we might win I'm pretty annoyed that we're being belittled. Would it be that big an upset if we beat Liverpool? Arsenal vs Reading yes ok. But we fucking beat Liverpool at Anfield earlier this year. Aston Villa are not a small club.

Given that they have 25 more points than us and a goal difference of 11 compared to our minus 21 it is not really an outrageous claim to suggest that they are clear favourites.

I reckon we have a good chance but from a pundit's point of view the logical outcome is a Liverpool win.

Yep especially when the pundits include Lawro, Owen, Fowler, Hamman, McMannaman, Phil Thompson,Colin Murray, DJ Spooney, Alan Green - those types of pundits with incredible whit and objectivity.

I wonder if Sky will have an ex Villa player on the panel or will it be Carragher and Redknapp and Henry giving a balanced view?

[Comrade Blitz]

Will there be any "local" radio coverage? BBC WM ?

[Matt Collins]

Gabby touch and go, Clark out

Not sure about t'others

[Clampy]

Given definatley starts says Timothy.

[rob_bridge]

This is the start of BBC article -

"The FA Cup final? A no-brainer - Liverpool v Arsenal.

"Their semi-final opponents - Aston Villa and Reading - are last-four fodder for the big boys."

It's time to think again.


Now even though the article suggests that we might win I'm pretty annoyed that we're being belittled. Would it be that big an upset if we beat Liverpool? Arsenal vs Reading yes ok. But we fucking beat Liverpool at Anfield earlier this year. Aston Villa are not a small club.

Given that they have 25 more points than us and a goal difference of 11 compared to our minus 21 it is not really an outrageous claim to suggest that they are clear favourites.

I reckon we have a good chance but from a pundit's point of view the logical outcome is a Liverpool win.

Yep especially when the pundits include Lawro, Owen, Fowler, Hamman, McMannaman, Phil Thompson,Colin Murray, DJ Spooney, Alan Green - those types of pundits with incredible whit and objectivity.

I wonder if Sky will have an ex Villa player on the panel or will it be Carragher and Redknapp and Henry giving a balanced view?

On BT so Owen as co-commentator, he makes Phil Neville look like Richie Benaud. Probably Spicey McMannaman in the studio.

[Ron Manager]

I think ir would be fair to say that we have a better chance of beating Liverpool than Reading do of beating Arsenal.

Far better!

[exigo]

Sinclair and Westwood both passed fit.

[PaulWinch again]

Westwood being back is important and Sinclair as well if Gabby is struggling.

[Dr Butler]

Sinclair and Westwood both passed fit.

good news...

[passitsideways]

What about the full backs? I suspect Sherwood might keep Richardson at LB so if Hutton's back, maybe Bacuna is the third midfielder (him or Westwood). Really sucks that Sanchez is missing meaning that we won't have a genuine holding player at the base of either a diamond or a 4-3-3. Between Sinclair, N'Zogbia and Andi we should have just enough attacking support for Benteke but obviously it'd be a big boost if Gabby is available.

[RussellC]

Sinclair and Westwood both passed fit.

good news...

I'd go as far as to say great news. At the risk of sounding sensationalist this could well be a career-defining game for Westwood, which hopefully he'll realise and seize the opportunity.