Aston Villa vs Preston North End Pre-Match Thread

[Meanwood Villa]

My mind has just raced back to the first game of the 1973-74 season and arriving back from a week's family holiday in Weymouth and arriving back in Birmingham around 3.30pm and my mum and dad dropping me off outside VP - so I could maintain my attendance record !  (as a 16 year old - nothing was more important.)

I remember we played them away around January of that season.

Have we played Preston since then - I'm struggling to think of a game between us ?

http://www.11v11.com/matches/aston-villa-v-preston-north-end-04-december-2002-14543/

I was at that match, the goals got progressively better, topped off by a Hitz screamer.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

My mind has just raced back to the first game of the 1973-74 season and arriving back from a week's family holiday in Weymouth and arriving back in Birmingham around 3.30pm and my mum and dad dropping me off outside VP - so I could maintain my attendance record !  (as a 16 year old - nothing was more important.)

I was at that one, first home game of the season. We won 2-0, Trevor Hockey scoring on his debut and a rare goal from Charlie Aitken. The was also a bomb scare before kick off. Nobody left the ground.

[montague]

My mind has just raced back to the first game of the 1973-74 season and arriving back from a week's family holiday in Weymouth and arriving back in Birmingham around 3.30pm and my mum and dad dropping me off outside VP - so I could maintain my attendance record !  (as a 16 year old - nothing was more important.)

I was at that one, first home game of the season. We won 2-0, Trevor Hockey scoring on his debut and a rare goal from Charlie Aitken. The was also a bomb scare before kick off. Nobody left the ground.

Bobby Charltons first game as a Manager

[dave.woodhall]

My mind has just raced back to the first game of the 1973-74 season and arriving back from a week's family holiday in Weymouth and arriving back in Birmingham around 3.30pm and my mum and dad dropping me off outside VP - so I could maintain my attendance record !  (as a 16 year old - nothing was more important.)

I was at that one, first home game of the season. We won 2-0, Trevor Hockey scoring on his debut and a rare goal from Charlie Aitken. The was also a bomb scare before kick off. Nobody left the ground.

Bobby Charltons first game as a Manager

One of the few Saturday games my dad took me to. I remember being downstairs in the Trinity when everyone stood up and applauded as Bobby Charlton entered the directors' box.

[QuintonVilla]

0-0

[Axl Rose]

My mind has just raced back to the first game of the 1973-74 season and arriving back from a week's family holiday in Weymouth and arriving back in Birmingham around 3.30pm and my mum and dad dropping me off outside VP - so I could maintain my attendance record !  (as a 16 year old - nothing was more important.)

I remember we played them away around January of that season.

Have we played Preston since then - I'm struggling to think of a game between us ?

http://www.11v11.com/matches/aston-villa-v-preston-north-end-04-december-2002-14543/

I was at that match, the goals got progressively better, topped off by a Hitz screamer.

Me too. There were some very good goals in that game.

https://youtu.be/2Sb0BU531Zw

[castlefields_villan]

My mind has just raced back to the first game of the 1973-74 season and arriving back from a week's family holiday in Weymouth and arriving back in Birmingham around 3.30pm and my mum and dad dropping me off outside VP - so I could maintain my attendance record !  (as a 16 year old - nothing was more important.)

I was at that one, first home game of the season. We won 2-0, Trevor Hockey scoring on his debut and a rare goal from Charlie Aitken. The was also a bomb scare before kick off. Nobody left the ground.

Bobby Charltons first game as a Manager

One of the few Saturday games my dad took me to. I remember being downstairs in the Trinity when everyone stood up and applauded as Bobby Charlton entered the directors' box.

Thanks all - I can't remember a thing about the game in 2002 and yet I remember the first games of the season against Preston in 1972 and 1973 like it was yesterday - but who could forget Willie Anderson's late headed winner at Deepdale ?

[Brend'Watkins]

Preston are better than Wolves. Don't know how we will score so I fear our first home defeat this season.

[VancouverLion]

Zero shots on target last game, two misfiring strikers one of whom is a complete waste of space and a non existent midfield.

3-0 Villa.

it's the Villa way.

[villadelph]

Would it be crazy to omit our striking options and go with what Conte did over the weekend?

Have Grealish tow the line and stay central, with Green playing off him? I think it would allow us to have some strength (for as much as we have) with Jedinak, Tshibola and Gary in the middle, with maybe Bacuna involved. We need more skill up front. Ross and Gabby just look awful.

I really hope Callum doesn't put us to the sword.

[UK Redsox]

My mind has just raced back to the first game of the 1973-74 season and arriving back from a week's family holiday in Weymouth and arriving back in Birmingham around 3.30pm and my mum and dad dropping me off outside VP - so I could maintain my attendance record !  (as a 16 year old - nothing was more important.)

I remember we played them away around January of that season.

Have we played Preston since then - I'm struggling to think of a game between us ?

http://www.11v11.com/matches/aston-villa-v-preston-north-end-04-december-2002-14543/

I was at that match, the goals got progressively better, topped off by a Hitz screamer.

Der Hammer's goal celebrations were great. Arms waving all over the place and a look of shock on his face.

[Skerra]

I see nearly 50% are still predicting a win for us. When I was in my playing days, I seem to recall you actually had to score at least one goal to win a game. Mind you age plays tricks on you!!!! Or, maybe, we've signed 4 stonking players that I haven't heard about yet.

[SoccerHQ]

Had a chuckle at the opening few posts on this thread...my first thought on this game was that it would be 0-0, we don't exactly suggest we're going to create many chances with what we're likely to put out on Saturday.

PNE were really good against us in October and that game kick started their season as they've had plenty of good results since, they are legitimate contenders for top 6.

Pretty sure Pearson is suspended which is good news for us as he ran the midfield up there.

[Havencheese]

8-8

[Nelly]

https://youtu.be/2Sb0BU531Zw

Great stuff, thank you!

I found it a bit jarring to see the team we had out that day, compared to what we have now. Barry, Angel, Vassell, Hitzelsperger, De La Cruz, Dublin, and Sir Graham on the touchline. I'd give my arms for some of that now.