Aston Villa in major Cup finals.

[SoccerHQ]

What is the problem then? Why do we not at least compete in these finals and give the opposition something to worry about?

Three major finals I've watched us play in my lifetime and in the three games we probably didn't even have 5 shots in total in the games.

I think Dave Woodhall has alluded to this on a few occasions, on cup final days we have a lower league mentality of turning up and happy to be there rather than rolling our sleeves up and getting on with winning. Today the first 15-20 minutes totally set the tone for the match.

2000 and today were embarrassing, 2010 less so as at least that was close. You're talking about three totally different squads though over that period. We just don't have that winning mentality on cup final days I'm afraid, I worried at the time that the win over Liverpool seemed our "cup final victory" and so it proved.

I'll finish by totally exonerating our fans, I thought they were brilliant from the first minute up to 3-0 as tbh the team gave them nothing to work with.

[Toronto Villa]

Of the last 5 haven't we won 3? I know it's over a long span of time but that's a decent return isn't it?

[SoccerHQ]

Of the last 5 haven't we won 3? I know it's over a long span of time but that's a decent return isn't it?

I can only comment on the ones I've seen and lived through. I was too young to remember the league cup wins. It seems to have become an issue since the 90s finished anyway as in our last three appearances we've had what about 4 shots on target in total.

[Toronto Villa]

It would be nice not to be the underdog for once. I think I am right in saying that of the last 5 finals stretching back to 82 we have been the underdog every time. The fact that we are says more about us as a club than the eventual performance or result. And the fact we have won three of those games despite it is remarkable if you think about the odds being against us.

[Deano's Mullet]

1996 we were favourites

[SoccerHQ]

It would be nice not to be the underdog for once. I think I am right in saying that of the last 5 finals stretching back to 82 we have been the underdog every time. The fact that we are says more about us as a club than the eventual performance or result. And the fact we have won three of those games despite it is remarkable if you think about the odds being against us.

Yes it would be nice one of these years to say have a Cardiff or something like Portsmouth did in 2008 although seeing our recent in recent years we'd probably fcuk that up aswell.

Might get a few shots on target though.

[newtonsballs]

It would be nice not to be the underdog for once. I think I am right in saying that of the last 5 finals stretching back to 82 we have been the underdog every time. The fact that we are says more about us as a club than the eventual performance or result. And the fact we have won three of those games despite it is remarkable if you think about the odds being against us.

We weren't the underdogs against Leeds, but the rest I agree,

[Jimbo]

We've snugly settled into a losing mentality. More often than not we can't even be bothered to fight against it.

[Stu]

It would be nice not to be the underdog for once. I think I am right in saying that of the last 5 finals stretching back to 82 we have been the underdog every time. The fact that we are says more about us as a club than the eventual performance or result. And the fact we have won three of those games despite it is remarkable if you think about the odds being against us.

All well and good. Today we played like losers and lost. No belief. None.

[Deano's Mullet]

1994 we were a good side on our day but man utd were the best team in the country.

[Toronto Villa]

1996 we were favourites

Were we? Leeds under Wilkinson had a decent side back then. It's possible my mind is playing tricks but I didn't think we were favourites back then. Leeds had won the league only 4 years prior.

[SoccerHQ]

The FA cup will always remain the holy grail and sadly looks like it will always remain unachievable for us.

We should be attempting to win the league cup at least again on occasions as that competition has fewer rounds, isn't taking as seriously by bigger teams so you get more mixed finals in terms of participation from different teams and we'd have even reached it with Lambert in charge if he hadn't totally screwed up the Bradford tie.

I could live with that, I just long to see us win a proper trophy again. It would make all this worthwhile.

[Dave]

1996 we were favourites

Were we? Leeds under Wilkinson had a decent side back then. It's possible my mind is playing tricks but I didn't think we were favourites back then. Leeds had won the league only 4 years prior.

Very much so.

Leeds were a couple of years away from putting together their good turn-of-the-century team and we were expected to dick them.

Edit: this was their team that day:


GK   1   England John Lukic
RWB   2   Republic of Ireland Gary Kelly
CB   5   South Africa Lucas Radebe      Substituted off 65'
CB   6   England David Wetherall
CB   12   England John Pemberton
LWB   11   Wales Gary Speed
CM   4   England Carlton Palmer
CM   22   England Mark Ford      Substituted off 46'
CM   10   Scotland Gary McAllister (c)
CF   27   Scotland Andy Gray
CF   21   Ghana Tony Yeboah

Mark Ford? John Pemberton? Andy Gray, an 18 year old child making his debut and following it with a career in the lower leagues?

We were definitely expected to win.

[Deano's Mullet]

1996 we were favourites

Were we? Leeds under Wilkinson had a decent side back then. It's possible my mind is playing tricks but I didn't think we were favourites back then. Leeds had won the league only 4 years prior.

We were favourites. They were in poor poor form and only had yeboah. Tomas brolin was a laughing stock. We were fourth and in two cups.

[Toronto Villa]

That entire period is a bit of a blur. I'd just moved to the U.S. in 1995. The Internet didn't really exist and getting to watch Villa games was a challenge. I certainly wasn't watching football on TV as I can today. It just wasn't available. So ok 1 final in 5 we were favoured to win and we won 3.