FA Cup Final - Pre-Match Thread

[Jockey Randall]

Sorry john2710 but I was at Emirates and ok I have only seen the highlights of the match yesterday but they are nothing alike. Yesterday we just messed up simple situations, at Emirates we sat back and Arsenal ripped us apart. Arsenal will destroy us for either going toe to toe or sitting back however we have to disrupt them  and if we use all of our assets  to maximum and we stand a chance.

I'm not saying Arsenal and Southampton play a similar style generally but rather than us sitting back didn't Arsenal's first 3 goals come when our back line was high up near the halfway line and caught on the turn a la yesterday?

[Billy Walker]

Agreed, it turned out to be a bit of a dry run of how not to set up against the Arse. If seasons are learned it could be a bit of a blessing.

This is the thing.  Arsenal got us in exactly the same way at the Emirates, they sat back, surrendered possession and then got us on the break.  I genuinely think yesterday's result has done us a huge favour.

[Billy Walker]

Sorry john2710 but I was at Emirates and ok I have only seen the highlights of the match yesterday but they are nothing alike. Yesterday we just messed up simple situations, at Emirates we sat back and Arsenal ripped us apart. Arsenal will destroy us for either going toe to toe or sitting back however we have to disrupt them  and if we use all of our assets  to maximum and we stand a chance.

Did we sit back at the Emirates?  I remember us having loads of possession and trying to get forward, whilst they sat back, nicked the ball and countered?   Swansea, the other night, sat back against Arsenal.

[Villafirst]

I watched Arsenal play Swansea on Monday and they ran out of ideas and got caught out by a counter attack. The same Arsenal were poor against Reading in the Semi and were only through to the final with a clanger by the keeper. They're beatable just like Liverpool in the Semi. Benteke will give Mertesacker nightmares. I'd play Gabby as he usually scares them with his pace.

[john2710]

In 1978 Ipswich lost their final away match of the season 6-1 to us, 2 weeks later they beat Arsenal 1-0 in the final.

We can do it, but we'll have to be a lot smarter than we were yesterday.

[silhillvilla]

In 1978 Ipswich lost their final away match of the season 6-1 to us, 2 weeks later they beat Arsenal 1-0 in the final.

We can do it, but we'll have to be a lot smarter than we were yesterday.

I was there , North upper, watching the goals reign in. Pretty sure Dave Geddis played for them that day

[RossLeach]

Agreed, it turned out to be a bit of a dry run of how not to set up against the Arse. If seasons are learned it could be a bit of a blessing.

This is the thing.  Arsenal got us in exactly the same way at the Emirates, they sat back, surrendered possession and then got us on the break.  I genuinely think yesterday's result has done us a huge favour.

I hope it has the opposite effect to our 4-2 win at Spurs just before the 2000 Cup Final that I think convinced JG that Dublin and Carbone should start together.
Joachim for Dublin and Stone for (a sadly not fit) Tayls was the right line up to start with in 2000.

[ez]

Someone on twitter called Michael ‏@footballticketg claiming to have tickets for sale. Looks suspicious. Approach with caution.

[class-of-82]

we all know arsenal concede goals, so let's just go for it no bullshit tactical plan and end up getting done 0-1 in a boring match.
Let's make sure the watching millions from every far flung corner of this world will never forget the name Aston villa and those famous Claret and blue shirts marauding forward at every opportunity and there magnificent support.

Holte end the 12th Man

Oh you bet it will be

[martin o`who??]

In 1978 Ipswich lost their final away match of the season 6-1 to us, 2 weeks later they beat Arsenal 1-0 in the final.

We can do it, but we'll have to be a lot smarter than we were yesterday.

two years on the bounce we played the cup finalists the week before the final and battered them Arsenal was the other, because they wouldn't put a tackle in all afternoon, which is why I was shitting it that our league place would go right down to the Burnley game, just six days before the Final.

[SoccerHQ]

Someone in the post match thread mentioned yesterday reminded him of Hull at VP at the end of last season and how poor they were, well Hull gave Arsenal a decent game in the cup final didn't they despite a poor end to last season?

What we can't do is play a high line, we were battered at the Emirates doing that and were again yesteday. Park them on the 18 yard box so Arsenal can't get behind us and take our chances on the counter attack imo.

Arsenal's last 3 games at Wembley have been Wigan, Hull and Reading and they've been taken to extra time on each occasions so as long as no suicidal tactics we'll give them a game.

[nodge]

Let's just go 4-0 up and then sit back for the last 10 minutes and I'll be able to relax.  Anyway, as the song goes, whatever will be will be.

[andyh]

If anyone is interested...1957 cup final retro shirts for £24.
Free delivery as well, with a code I got, enter CAMPOVE at the checkout.
It might work.
http://www.camporetro.com/Shop-By-Team/Premier-League/Aston-Villa/3451_Aston-Villa-1957-FA-Cup-Final-Shirt.html

[SoccerHQ]

January 1st 2011- SHA 0-3 Arsenal

February whatever 2011- SHA 2-1 Arsenal

Just in case anyone is worried about the 8-0 aggregate score to Arsenal this season.

[martin o`who??]

Agreed, it turned out to be a bit of a dry run of how not to set up against the Arse. If seasons are learned it could be a bit of a blessing.

This is the thing.  Arsenal got us in exactly the same way at the Emirates, they sat back, surrendered possession and then got us on the break.  I genuinely think yesterday's result has done us a huge favour.

I know it's blasphemy on here - and rightly so, there's a debate about how how we play this tactically with a high line getting crucified every time we've tried it against them, well, take a look at how the Noses beat them in the Carling, pack the area, and let them have 80% of the play, and hit them on the counter which we are more than capable of doing. Sod the spectacle bit, I'll take a scrappy win any day.