Aston Villa v Middlesbrough Semi Final 2nd Leg: Pre-Match Thread

[PeterWithesShin]

It was purely a ticket office issue iirc. I do remember after what felt like hours of no one knowing what was going on Ellis spoke on the tannoy and got pelters. And also the tannoy announcement near the end of the game letting Liverpool fans know if it went to extra time there were no extra trains back to Wales Liverpool so basically leave at FT of find another way home. Bastards made it irrelevant.

[SoccerHQ]

I always though it went to extra time but was corrected in the games you don't mind losing thread, Murphy scored in 90th minute.

Was a great game after the long wait anyway.

[dave.woodhall]

It will be like that LC game against Liverpool.

With a different result hopefully PWS.

That was gone 9, they won't let that happen again, what actually happened, I can't remember, only didn't get home until about 3 in the morning?

IIRC Loads turned up on the night to buy tickets, a LOT more than the club was expecting so it took forever for them to buy tickets before the game as we didn't have the ticket office staff.

According to sources, it was more a case that tickets got delayed in the Christmas post so people turned up for replacements and traffic was particularly heavy that night. Doug went on TV to say the game wasn't going to be put back only to be told by the reporter that an announcement had already been made. The odd thing was that I was standing outside for ages and after 8pm hardly anyone went in. They could easily have kicked off at about 8.15. 

[russon]

Its looking like Elmo is out.

I'd bring Bree in for his pace and height and ensure Hutton swaps as he did depending on where Traore is playing.

I expect Bamford to start for them.

I'd bring Thor in for Jedi, who looked knackered at the end and I would seriously consider Onomah for Hourihane.

Important we get off to a brisk start and with the ground bouncing I think we will have a lot of momentum.

Don't expect Pulis to change it up system wise. He will still.come with two holding players and the reality is, they'll have 3 again in Clayton, Howson and Besic. The pedestrian Downing will likely start again too.

Jack as ever is the key for us.

I fancy us strongly for this. 2-0 and 3-0 overall.

I think we will see an unchanged side bar Thor for Elmo.

Exhausted just reading that! Such a furious brain dump suggests to me you’re well up for it my friend.

[The Edge]

Listening to the post match commentators on sky there's no point us or Boro turning up for the final. Fulham looked very good in attack but they are by no means unbeatable.

[Risso]

According to sources, it was more a case that tickets got delayed in the Christmas post so people turned up for replacements and traffic was particularly heavy that night. Doug went on TV to say the game wasn't going to be put back only to be told by the reporter that an announcement had already been made. The odd thing was that I was standing outside for ages and after 8pm hardly anyone went in. They could easily have kicked off at about 8.15. 

I remember that as was watching it in a pub surrounded by dozens of Scousers in Wigan.  Doug appeared, was asked how long the delay was going to be, said something like "5 minutes", to which the reporter then said "but doesn't the referee need at least 15 minutes notice" to which  Doug nodded and said "yes".  Silly old sod.

[Confusious says]

As I remember that night, it was a cold night & was not organised by the club that well as we had decided that it would not be possible to post the tickets out because of the Xmas post, but a spokes man for the post office came out and said they could have done something had they been asked.
The longer it went on the colder it got, I felt really sorry for the kids in the ground of which I saw quite a few dads leaving early with them

[Meanwood Villa]

I was one of the crowd waiting for tickets. Don't think I got them much before 9. There were kids asleep in front of me, think the Dad took them home at half time. One of those where their last minute winner was a bit of relief as not sure when I'd have got home otherwise.

[Marlon From Bearwood]

Does anyone know whether the Gordon Gowans bar / family fun zone is open before tomorrow’s game?

Gordan Cowans bar? Where does one find such an oasis?

In the academy building 

[wolfman999]

Listening to the post match commentators on sky there's no point us or Boro turning up for the final. Fulham looked very good in attack but they are by no means unbeatable.

I heard that too. If they're such an outstanding team, how come they're in the playoffs with the rest of us trash?

[themossman]

Well quite. Also, they have had some terrible results this season when the pressure’s been on, and against bilge opposition. So I’m not having it that they're suddenly Barcelona because they scraped past a shit Derby side over 2 legs. Fuck ‘em.

[cdbearsfan]

It was a week before xmas which added to the congestion.

Orignially kick off was at 7.45, then put back to 8, then nothing was said for about half an hour and eventually think the kick off was 9.15 or something or ridiculous.

I seem to recall that I had gone for my Christmas lunch at about 12, never bothered going back to the office and was absolutely smashed when I arrived at Villa Park just in time for the scheduled start. By the time it actually kicked off, I had sobered up.

I also remember being sat behind a porn star called Omar, who we all recognised from the ten minute Freeview on mucky channels.

[Gregorys Boy]

Having played well and done the job on Saturday I am confident that we'll go through now.  The longer it goes at 0-0 or even if they got one it would become edgy, but with our home record what it is I think we should have enough.  Will go 1-1 Snodgrass to get ours. 

[Villafirst]

Listening to the post match commentators on sky there's no point us or Boro turning up for the final. Fulham looked very good in attack but they are by no means unbeatable.

Yes, even SHA stuffed them 3-1!

[ADVILLAFAN]

And Danny Murphy scored the winner for them with a freekick, to compound the misery.