FA Cup Final - Pre-Match Thread

[nodge]

I said all that to my son the other day and said let's just make sure we enjoy the day.  He said "okay Dad okay, stop going on."  He the went quiet for a bit before he looked up and said "I do think we'll win though"

[olaftab]

I already know we'll win so am very relaxed.

I'm still nervous.

"Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right.

[amfy]

Tickets have arrived, mini bus is sorted.  My only worry now is every Villa fan I've spoken to plus every message on FB and possibly everybody on here thinks we're going to win.  Mainly, not because we're better than Arsenal, it feels like nobody wants to face the alternative, including me. For the past 3 Wembley appearances where we've lost it's been a case of oh well let's enjoy the day/weekend but this time it feels different in that if we do lose it'll be bloody miserable for a good while afterwards.  We're 6-1 to win the game in 90 minutes and yet everyone seems so confident!  Maybe it's because I'm getting older and the realisation hits you that you might not see us in another final.  My son's going to his first FA cup final and he's 11.  I was 35 when I went to mine.  I keep imagining the scenes if we win, I'm trying not to imagine them if we lose but I think either way there will be tears.

I realised the other day that the reason I'm not afraid of thinking we're going to win, is that somehow 'The Sherwood Way' has taken away my fear of losing. I know that we'll turn up, and have a go. It's not turning up that is really disappointing, and I know that we will turn up.

I think that's why everyone just went so zen after Southampton - our worst fears were realised,and we looked around and we were still in one piece, the fans were still singing, the players were applauding us off, we were still Aston Villa, together. Somehow, as we were leaving the ground, there was a sense it was all going to be OK, and 2 hours later it was.

I think that's what he's done, I don't know how long it can last, but right now, the fear has gone - and I think it runs right through the club. I'm going to enjoy the good stuff, & feeling fearless for as long as it lasts, because the bad stuff doesn't feel any less bad when it happens because you dreaded it.

[nordenvillain]

After 57 years of supporting the Villa (I know, why couldn't I have started following them a year earlier), I've seen us win the League Cup 3 times (Missed one Wembley final, shame on me), league at Highbury and the European Cup in Rotterdam, but never the FA Cup. Well, due to a very carefully worded letter and conversation, I have this morning collected 3 x £70 tickets for Block 551 for my 2 sons and me. I have had to pay £100 returnable bonds per ticket dependent on my returning the tickets after use to prove that I haven't sold them on for a profit. Not a bloody chance, I have waited this long, my 2 sons are as excited as me, we've got the train and hotel booked for Saturday night and intend to paint London Claret & Blue following our famous victory. This is our year, it's written in the stars, the water, my water, your water and will be in Sunday morning 31st May's papers. Goodbye Rochdale, Hello London, prepare yourself, you ain't seen nothing like the Mighty Villa !!!

[Chipsticks]

Tickets have arrived, mini bus is sorted.  My only worry now is every Villa fan I've spoken to plus every message on FB and possibly everybody on here thinks we're going to win.  Mainly, not because we're better than Arsenal, it feels like nobody wants to face the alternative, including me. For the past 3 Wembley appearances where we've lost it's been a case of oh well let's enjoy the day/weekend but this time it feels different in that if we do lose it'll be bloody miserable for a good while afterwards.  We're 6-1 to win the game in 90 minutes and yet everyone seems so confident!  Maybe it's because I'm getting older and the realisation hits you that you might not see us in another final.  My son's going to his first FA cup final and he's 11.  I was 35 when I went to mine.  I keep imagining the scenes if we win, I'm trying not to imagine them if we lose but I think either way there will be tears.

I realised the other day that the reason I'm not afraid of thinking we're going to win, is that somehow 'The Sherwood Way' has taken away my fear of losing. I know that we'll turn up, and have a go. It's not turning up that is really disappointing, and I know that we will turn up.

I think that's why everyone just went so zen after Southampton - our worst fears were realised,and we looked around and we were still in one piece, the fans were still singing, the players were applauding us off, we were still Aston Villa, together. Somehow, as we were leaving the ground, there was a sense it was all going to be OK, and 2 hours later it was.

I think that's what he's done, I don't know how long it can last, but right now, the fear has gone - and I think it runs right through the club. I'm going to enjoy the good stuff, & feeling fearless for as long as it lasts, because the bad stuff doesn't feel any less bad when it happens because you dreaded it.

Amfy that was beautiful. I'm delirious right now with stress and lack of sleep but this made me tear up. Perfectly summed up my thoughts after the game.

[peter w]

I see your point nodge and the worst thing is is that I fear even thinking of it going wrong. That's the reason as much as anything I won't pay through the teeth to get to the game. I fear the worst more than I'd love the emotion of lifting the Cup.

[pbavfckuwait]

Win or lose, and of course it will be a win, I just hope after 2000, we actually put on a performance, that day from 3 on wards was just horrible, I would not mind if Chavski had even played well themselves, but they did'nt and there tossers of supporters did not even know how to celebrate it.
I always remember walking up Wembley High Street after the game and they were in a Witherspoons or something, just sat there, I said to a copper outside, "What a bunch of wankers" he was stood next to a lamp post "If we had won today you would be trying to nick me for singing at the top of my voice on top of that lamp post" he smiled and said "I know tossers everyone of them" in a Brummie accent.

[Bad English]

Do any France-based posters know who is broadcasting the game over here? Bein Sports have been doing so but they make no mention of it at all on their website.

[UK Redsox]

I think that's why everyone just went so zen after Southampton - our worst fears were realised,and we looked around and we were still in one piece, the fans were still singing, the players were applauding us off, we were still Aston Villa, together. Somehow, as we were leaving the ground, there was a sense it was all going to be OK, and 2 hours later it was.

There's a book in that... "Zen and the art of watching Aston Villa"

[robbo1874]

Time for a poll: Winners or losers?

[UK Redsox]

Time for a poll: Winners or losers?

Poll added

[144 Hard Boiled Eggs]

Quote from: Gerrin on May 19, 2015, 04:13:34 PM
BBC devoting a whole day's coverage to it!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32801726


The programming will include (all times BST):
BBC Breakfast (06:30-10:00, BBC One)
FA Cup Rewind: Classic Finals (08:30-09:30, BBC Two)
MOTD Kickabout (09:30-10:00, BBC Two)
Saturday Kitchen ( 10:00-11:30, BBC One)
FA Cup 50 Greatest Moments (10:00-12:00, BBC Two)
Fighting Talk (11:00-12:00, Radio 5 live)
Football Focus (12:10-13:00, BBC One)
Gary Lineker on the Road to FA Cup Glory (BBC One, 13:00-14:00)
FA Cup TOTP 2 (14:05-14:30, BBC One)
Pointless FA Cup Special (14:30-15:20, BBC One)
The Road to Wembley (15:25-15:55, BBC One)
MOTD LIVE: FA Cup Final Build Up (15:55-17:15, BBC One)
MOTD LIVE: Arsenal v Aston Villa (17:15-19:50, BBC One)
5 live Sport: FA Cup Final: Arsenal v Aston Villa (12:00-19:30, Radio 5 live)
MOTD: FA Cup Final highlights (22:50-23:25, BBC One)

No "It's a knockout"? Very dissapointing.

[144 Hard Boiled Eggs]

Oops - just remembered Stuart Hall presented it and I spelt disappointing wrong!
Pretty confident - hotel booked for the Charity Shield (I am in London the day before, though, for The Jam exhibition at Somerset House and The Kinks musical so the hotel room will get used anyway!)

[exigo]

Had to wave my ticket off at the post office earlier, as I'm away on holiday for the final. Was genuinely in bits, as I think this is our year. The chance for me to complete the full house of trophies in my lifetime.
At least my DNA will be in the ground, having kissed the ticket good luck. And my oldest school mate has been tasked with cheering us home.

Meanwhile, in a bar 6,189 miles away in Peru, I'm going to be making one hell of a racket.

[ADVILLAFAN]

BBC devoting a whole day's coverage to it!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32801726


The programming will include (all times BST):
BBC Breakfast (06:30-10:00, BBC One)
FA Cup Rewind: Classic Finals (08:30-09:30, BBC Two)
MOTD Kickabout (09:30-10:00, BBC Two)
Saturday Kitchen ( 10:00-11:30, BBC One)
FA Cup 50 Greatest Moments (10:00-12:00, BBC Two)
Fighting Talk (11:00-12:00, Radio 5 live)
Football Focus (12:10-13:00, BBC One)
Gary Lineker on the Road to FA Cup Glory (BBC One, 13:00-14:00)
FA Cup TOTP 2 (14:05-14:30, BBC One)
Pointless FA Cup Special (14:30-15:20, BBC One)
The Road to Wembley (15:25-15:55, BBC One)
MOTD LIVE: FA Cup Final Build Up (15:55-17:15, BBC One)
MOTD LIVE: Arsenal v Aston Villa (17:15-19:50, BBC One)
5 live Sport: FA Cup Final: Arsenal v Aston Villa (12:00-19:30, Radio 5 live)
MOTD: FA Cup Final highlights (22:50-23:25, BBC One)

No special on Stevie G? It's his birthday and the nation will want to know what he's up to.