Aston Villa under-10's vs Arsenal -FA Cup Final Post-Match Thread

[Jimbo]

The support is the one thing we can't fault about this club. Given the shit we've had to endure for years on end, it's magnificent.

[Chipsticks]

Sorry, can we get over the myth we had great support yesterday. It wasn't great. It matched the team. The support yesterday was poor. Only rarely did the crowd get going.

Could hear our support clearly on the TV and at 3-0 down there was a rousing 'Holte Enders In The Sky', all things considered I reckon our support did a far better job yesterday than any of the players.

Well for a start we turned up.

[curiousorange]

Most of the public transportation got people there on time for a three o'clock kick off. My coach pulled in at twenty to two, for a half five kick off. Gates didn't open until half three, and there are three real options - drink, buy stuff at Curry's or Lidl, or visit Brent Library.

I don't understand your point. There was plenty to do. I arrived just before 1pm, had a mooch around the Outlet, met some friends for lunch at Hand Made Burger, tracked down Leeg / Mr Shin and then went inside about 45 mins before KO.

I'm not trying to be facetious, as I'm not much of a drinker myself. There are outlets and restaurants, granted, but I don't think they would be the preferred destination of most of the fans on Cup Final day.

[frank]

Sorry, can we get over the myth we had great support yesterday. It wasn't great. It matched the team. The support yesterday was poor. Only rarely did the crowd get going.

The second goal was the killer, not only the timing and the fact that it gave them a 2-goal lead but also the sheer quality. Until then our support had been excellent, certainly where we were, near the corner flag, and all the way round behind the goal

[pauliewalnuts]

You know when you wake up and there's that split second between opening your eyes and being fully aware?

This morning I woke and thought "ace, cup final day today" followed by "oh no, that was yesterday" followed by remembering what happened, and thinking "oh, shit"

Shortly after, the Mrs comes back into the room and says "are you going to get up now?" To which I replied "no, I'm going to stay in bed all day, maybe cry a bit".

I could see she thought I was being serious, too, bless.

Anyway, look on the bright side. The season is over now. They can't ruin any weekends for a couple of months.

[curiousorange]

I'm just going to follow the cricket, maybe go to Homebase. Proper Alan Partridge denial type day.

[cdbearsfan]

They can't ruin any weekends for a couple of months.

They'll find a way.

[Jimbo]

Before going to sleep last night, I watched The Omen to bring a bit of levity to what had been a spine-chillingly horrific, gut-wrenching, torturous and thoroughly evil day. Aston Villa really should come with an X-rating.

[onje_villa]

He wouldn't have deserved it and hindsight is a wonderful thing but you wonder if Gabby starting would have been a good move yesterday, if anything he has been a player for the big occasion and I just cannot get into my head why on Earth CNZ has been playing these past few weeks ahead of Gil, Sinclair and even Gabby. None of our "big" players turned up. Vlaar was nowhere, Benteke didn't win a header all game having been bigged up pre-match, did he have a touch? Some credit can go to our journeymen Richardson and Hutton who at least put their bodies on the line somewhat.

[richard moore]

I'm just going to follow the cricket, maybe go to Homebase. Proper Alan Partridge denial type day.

You know the Villa have really ruined your life when you end up at Homebase. I went the whole 49 yards last weekend and did the tip followed by Homebase. I'm still debating which was the more exciting.

[pauliewalnuts]

They can't ruin any weekends for a couple of months.

They'll find a way.

Yes, that's true. It'll be when we start showing our lack of ambition in the transfer market, I'm guessing.

Or when we get taken over by a Tony Adams consortium

*sigh*

[barrysleftfoot]

 For me.

  Given...at fault for 2nd and 3rd, not big enough, not decisive enough, good shot stopper, not going to leave, we are stuck with him for another 12 months.

  Hutton....ok, nothing special, didn't have a bad game, but limited.

  Richardson....after the awful game against QPR has been pretty solid, our MOM yday, but needs replacing.Should have done better for the 1st goal, but was he fouled?

  Vlaar.....i thought he was ok yday, and tbh , as long as he is not too greedy, i would keep him.We need an experienced CH, and with Senderos even more injury prone than Vlaar, we would need another one to come in if we dispensed with both.

  Okores...again, makes a few basic mistakes, but his speed and his strength are great assets.I think he needs an experienced CH alongside him to guide him, and i think he will be very good.Their 3rd goal came from him chasing Walcott back, and not letting him run offside, it led to the corner, which led to the goal.

 Delph....poor yday, but by far our best midfielder at the club.The midfield lost the battle yday, they lacked urgency, but more importantly cohesion and ability, too often they failed to support , and hold onto the ball.

 Westwood......too slow, too weak, too ineffective.Hes a very average player, and against the likes of Arse his limitations are going to be exposed.For me our reliance on players like Westwood have underlined our reasons for struggling.Get rid, lets have a look at GG or Sanchez with a good pre-season behind him.

  Cleverley...an inbetween player for me.Doesn't score enough, doesn't create enough, not really quick, not really that good on the ball, not really strong enough.Imo not worth £50k+ per week, would rather go for an up and coming.

  Jack.......19, will be a really good footballer, needs to add goals to his game, too much pressure on him.

  N'Zog/Gabby.........complete and utter waste of time and money.These 2 need to get rid of, and a player like Mane, i know we are not going to get him, who will get you 10ish goals from this position.

  CB.........no service at all yday, can't do it on his own, we need to try and keep him, but might need to sell him to move forward.

  The most depressing thing about yday was the gulf between us and Arse.I remember the 1996 Lge Cup S/F when we beat them, we were probably equal rivals, now they are way ahead of us.Not sure how we get back there, or if ever we do, but we need to be a lot closer than we are atm.

[john e]

the gap between us and top 4/5 teams is massive, that's why over a course of a season we finished 4 from bottom and they finished in the top 4

but in one of cup matches it can be different-

if Arsenal and Villa are both on form, Arsenal win
if Arsenal are below par and we play well, Villa win
if Arsenal turn up and we don't, you get yesterdays result

[Jon Crofts]

I realise these OPTA Stats haven't been around that long, but is there any cup final in the entire world where a team, any team in history has registered 0 (zero) shots on target before?

[cdbearsfan]

Hutton "didn't have a bad game"? He stood and watched while Arsenal got the ball for their second goal, and generally performed with the same level of expertise I'd expect from a camel attempting to play the piano.