The play offs.

[paul_e]

Virgin currently have 1 train an hour listed.

There's a few more on the Moor St-Marylebone route though.

[SoccerHQ]

Final also worries me...Brentford or Fulham on a wide pitch like Wembley concerns as all season we've not been great at teams which press us in midfield and can move the ball around us quickly.

The pitch dimensions are identical to Villa Park, as is required by UEFA for a Category 4 stadium. 115yds x 75yds (I always think football pitches should be measured in yards).

Final also worries me...Brentford or Fulham on a wide pitch like Wembley concerns as all season we've not been great at teams which press us in midfield and can move the ball around us quickly.

The pitch dimensions are identical to Villa Park, as is required by UEFA for a Category 4 stadium. 115yds x 75yds (I always think football pitches should be measured in yards).

And having checked:

Riverside:          115 x 75
Craven Cottage: 110 x 75
Griffin Park:        110 x 73
Pride Park:         115 x 75
The New Den:    116 x 75

So I guess the argument would be that Fulham and Brentford are better on smaller pitches with less space. Which should play to our advantage should they be lucky enough to play us in the final.

Not sure, Brentford were good at opening us up at VP in September, just couldn't finish their one-on-ones.

I think the problem would be if we were to concede the first goal and so had to chase the game and then someone like Sessegnon would have a lot more space to play with.

Of course it can also benefit us with likes of Jack and Kodjia.

Let's get there first anyway.

[Matt Collins]

The pattern of results when we score or concede first is ridiculous. I think that the first goal against boro will be so crucial

[Archieavfc]

This might not be popular but I am going to say it. I really dont mind if we go up or not. Yes a club like ours should be in the Prem and yes we will lose some players if we dont go up but I have enjoyed winning games this season. I only get to 1 or 2 games a year but its been a long time since we have been able to look forward to games, expecting to win and score a few goals.

Next year even if we go up and spend a lot of money we are still crossing off features as losses before we even get going.

Dont know if that makes but i dont feel any stress about the playoffs.

[AsTallAsLions]

This might not be popular but I am going to say it. I really dont mind if we go up or not. Yes a club like ours should be in the Prem and yes we will lose some players if we dont go up but I have enjoyed winning games this season. I only get to 1 or 2 games a year but its been a long time since we have been able to look forward to games, expecting to win and score a few goals.

Next year even if we go up and spend a lot of money we are still crossing off features as losses before we even get going.

Dont know if that makes but i dont feel any stress about the playoffs.

Admire your view but I want us back at the top. I love the club regardless, but what's amazed me is how quickly we've been forgotten by the big PL clubs and their supporters. I don't need the validation but it's a bit like seeing your kid being bullied. Sick of hearing how shit we are from people who aren't even aware of '82. Unfortunately that means nothing to people now, so it's time we proved ourselves a force again. I'm realistic to know that we're not about to pull a Leicester, but even the thought of them & Newcastle being considered much bigger clubs than us grates massively with me.

So, in short, I do mind.

[Clampy]

This might not be popular but I am going to say it. I really dont mind if we go up or not. Yes a club like ours should be in the Prem and yes we will lose some players if we dont go up but I have enjoyed winning games this season. I only get to 1 or 2 games a year but its been a long time since we have been able to look forward to games, expecting to win and score a few goals.

Next year even if we go up and spend a lot of money we are still crossing off features as losses before we even get going.

Dont know if that makes but i dont feel any stress about the playoffs.

I know what you mean. I've not hated the Championship as much as I thought I would and I've enjoyed going down to the games. I don't want to stay in this league for too long though, we need to get back up.

[olaftab]

Agreed there is nothing like turning up at Villa Park, expecting to win, and winning. Most of all seeing away fans staying quiet all through the match.

[shirley_villan]

Anyone got an idea of away allocations for likely opponents in the semis?

[IFWaters]

I think it would be most enjoyable to watch Villa play some swash-buckling attacking football in whatever league we are in. I would like us to get promoted in order to keep Jack as he is critical to that. Then add some more attacking quality and hang on to players like Grabban. If we got promoted and then were involved in another battle to survive I wouldnt mind as much as it wouldnt feel like the end of the world now. If we got promoted and ended up one of the also rans just by playing safety first percentage football that wouldnt be so exciting.

In my years watching Villa I respect defensive gods like McGrath but its players like Daley, Atkinson, Merson, Yorke and Young that I identify as having the DNA of a Villa player.

[Pete3206]

Anyone got an idea of away allocations for likely opponents in the semis?

I would give the opposing fans as few tickets as we can get away with.

It's likely to be the same as a league fixture, so just under 3,000.

[Ads]

You get a cup allocation.

I'd assume we'd get 4500 at Boro, 1650 at Brentford or 2000 at Millwall.

I can't see any of them bringing more than 2800 to Villa Park on a week night.

[QuintonVilla]

You only have to offer a maximum of 2000 away tickets in the play offs, although it is down to the club to make the decision whether to give more.

[Des Little]

I’d be amazed if we got any more than 2k at Boro. Why would they give us any more if they don’t have to?

[SoccerHQ]

This might not be popular but I am going to say it. I really dont mind if we go up or not. Yes a club like ours should be in the Prem and yes we will lose some players if we dont go up but I have enjoyed winning games this season. I only get to 1 or 2 games a year but its been a long time since we have been able to look forward to games, expecting to win and score a few goals.

Next year even if we go up and spend a lot of money we are still crossing off features as losses before we even get going.

Dont know if that makes but i dont feel any stress about the playoffs.

We were winning plenty of games in the premier league 8 years ago, it's not impossible to get back to that level seeing what Burnley have done.

[Mossie Hennebry]

Let's say we get to the final, would tickets be  available on general release?