FA Cup Final - Pre-Match Thread

[Matt Collins]

Watching The United arsenal game is giving us some hints

I don't think we have to play defensively. United are pushing on and denying cazorla and Ozil time on the ball. Midfield runners exploiting the fact that only coquelin wants to defend and young getting one on one v bellerin who gets little cover from Ramsey. Get crosses in to the back post where their full backs aren't great at defending

Giroud is slow so you can press up as long as there's pressure on the ball and you track midfield runners. Not the high line we saw at Emirates and st Mary's but no need to camp on the edge of our box. I don't think Tim will do that anyway

There's definitely a way for villa to beat arsenal. Even more ways to lose but we knew that

[silhillvilla]

Fitness wise , arsenal look really top drawer . They've gone up a gear since the 70th minute

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Interesting to listen to Wenger's comments after the defeat to Swansea on Monday.
He seemed very put out that they had played defensively and on the break...and sin of sins...won the game! As if to play in such a tactical way, rather than play naively and get beaten, is a massive no-no!

Twat!

I just hope Tim gets his tactics right enough to f**k up any fancy-pants plans they may have!!!

Come on you Lions!

[tomd2103]

Watching The United arsenal game is giving us some hints

I don't think we have to play defensively. United are pushing on and denying cazorla and Ozil time on the ball. Midfield runners exploiting the fact that only coquelin wants to defend and young getting one on one v bellerin who gets little cover from Ramsey. Get crosses in to the back post where their full backs aren't great at defending

Giroud is slow so you can press up as long as there's pressure on the ball and you track midfield runners. Not the high line we saw at Emirates and st Mary's but no need to camp on the edge of our box. I don't think Tim will do that anyway

There's definitely a way for villa to beat arsenal. Even more ways to lose but we knew that

I think their semi final against Reading also gave some clues.  Reading had mobile midfielders who really got about Arsenal and pace out wide which caused them problems on the break.  Unfortunately Reading didn't quite have the quality in the final third  to make it count.

[spartacuss]

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.

May have been mentioned... re: yesterday's gubbing, but the week before the '57 FA Cup win, we were tonked by the mighty Luton Town 3 - 1. At home too!

[PeterWithesShin]

For those without tickets and looking for somewhere to watch the game, looks like the Ads may be opening if anyone is interested.

Here is their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Thenewadventurers.co.uk

[silhillvilla]

For those without tickets and looking for somewhere to watch the game, looks like the Ads may be opening if anyone is interested.

Here is their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Thenewadventurers.co.uk

Good on them . I would imagine the Holte and Aston Tav will surely open too ??
Villa Tav is open anyway so anyone mooching around there can pop in and socialise with the locals and watch on the 40" plasma .

[Matt Collins]

Watching The United arsenal game is giving us some hints

I don't think we have to play defensively. United are pushing on and denying cazorla and Ozil time on the ball. Midfield runners exploiting the fact that only coquelin wants to defend and young getting one on one v bellerin who gets little cover from Ramsey. Get crosses in to the back post where their full backs aren't great at defending

Giroud is slow so you can press up as long as there's pressure on the ball and you track midfield runners. Not the high line we saw at Emirates and st Mary's but no need to camp on the edge of our box. I don't think Tim will do that anyway

There's definitely a way for villa to beat arsenal. Even more ways to lose but we knew that

I think their semi final against Reading also gave some clues.  Reading had mobile midfielders who really got about Arsenal and pace out wide which caused them problems on the break.  Unfortunately Reading didn't quite have the quality in the final third  to make it count.

Yeah there's a lot to be said for a 433 with plenty of pace wide, though that would mean no grealish

Delph v Ramsey will be crucial

[silhillvilla]

For me the key will be stifling Arsenals midfield - corzola, Ramsay, Sanchez , Ozil, woolcott . They are all very good players who given time and space will destroy you. How do you counter that ? You deny them the ball and any space or time . Easier said than done for sure. I think the plan has to be get at them keep the ball , when it's lost hunt down in packs , beyond midfield we need a defensive line that flexes with the play, we need intuitive defending not a a rigid approach. Get all that in place and we can use our own counter play to upset, intimidate and ultimately defeat them. We have the players to win, it's all about deployment and tactics.

[KRS]

Arsenal aren't comfortable when you're pressing and closing down...give them space and they'll stroke the ball around leaving you chasing shadows all day long. The way I see it is very much a "get into 'em, fuck 'em up" approach and cause them more problems for them to worry about when we go forward. If Wenger has to change his tactics to deal with our game then that will be a sign that things are going well.

[Walmley_Villa]

Something Liverpool found out in the semi just as Arsenal will, the fans and players want to win it more than they do.

[Dazvillain]

After mega frustration of watching Saturdays game on tv, excitement rejuvenated today after picking up final tickets from post office this afternoon,
Block 534 upper tier, row 2, get in
UTV

[Havencheese]

As mentioned, Saturday was probably the loss we had to have. I'm not necessarily looking at the result against Burnley but more how we go about it. I want to see good, enterprising and confident football without being too brash or cocky and a lot more solidity if dealing with a lead.

Secondly, is it just me or am I noticing Arsenal fuckers commenting on Villa as some kind of ploy to put us off? I read a Ray Parlour comment about Benteke not staying next season from a few days ago, the Tony Adams fronted bid. It's probably just paranoia, but it's actually riled me up, I've been soft on them for years (cos in the 90's they weren't Man yoo) but it's making me want us to royally fuck up their top 4 fans sense of entitlement.

[villan from luton]

As mentioned, Saturday was probably the loss we had to have. I'm not necessarily looking at the result against Burnley but more how we go about it. I want to see good, enterprising and confident football without being too brash or cocky and a lot more solidity if dealing with a lead.

Secondly, is it just me or am I noticing Arsenal fuckers commenting on Villa as some kind of ploy to put us off? I read a Ray Parlour comment about Benteke not staying next season from a few days ago, the Tony Adams fronted bid. It's probably just paranoia, but it's actually riled me up, I've been soft on them for years (cos in the 90's they weren't Man yoo) but it's making me want us to royally fuck up their top 4 fans sense of entitlement.

It is you mate lol, just chill out. I have just been sent out parking notices that they have a victory parade planned though :-(

[Havencheese]

There's a sense of hubris you normally get from the old sky 4, didn't they have a bus prepared one year that was exposed? All clubs require some forward planning anyway. Have to admit, I do prefer having the plucky underdog status (as opposed to rank outsider or firm favourite) in the lead up.