Aston Villa vs Fulham Championship Play-Off Final Pre-Match Thread

[chrisw1]

I've just had a horrible thought. Apologies if already mentioned, but is there a chance that Bruce will move Hutton to the right and play Taylor on the left?

A possibility if Elmo fails his fitness test.

That would be horrible.

That would be like trying to plug a leak in your bath by smashing it with a hammer.

That is a great analogy!

I was gutted we bought Taylor.  My brother reckons he's ok, international experience and was pretty solid at Swansea.  I still think he's shite, but he has managed some big occasions before so here's hoping if he gets a game he can rise to it.

[Legion]

No thank you to Taylor. Would rather have Bree and Hutton if El Mohamady is out. Or Thor instead of Bree.

[PeterWithe]

An Aston Villa fanatic could miss his team's Championship play-off final on Sunday after his dog became overcome with excitement and chewed his tickets.

Andrew Talbot was overjoyed when he managed to get tickets for Villa's match of the season.

But his happiness turned to horror when his pesky cockapoo George got his chops on them after they dropped through his letter box.

George is now in the dog house with Andrew who faces an anxious wait to find out if he can still attend the final with his sons, Charlie, 12, and Louie, 10.   

Villa have thrown the family a lifeline by putting it on its ticket reprint list.

It is hoped the Andrew, of Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, and his sons will have unchewed tickets ready for them to collect before the final.

Mr Talbot, who tweeted about his plight using the hashtag £dogforsale, said: 'I only found out about this when I received an awkward phone call at work from my wife, Nikki,'

'She called me to say something serious had happened! I couldn't shout at the dog because I was at work.

'He's only four months old and he's into chewing like most puppies. Only recently he's discovered a penchant for paper, as you can see by the state of the tickets.

'My colleagues at work have been royally taking the mickey.'

The 45-year-old Trinity Road season ticket holder has also been frantically contacting Wembley and Villa to check that the chewed-up tickets are still valid for Saturday's crunch clash against Fulham.

Fulham are the bookies' favourites to clinch victory and win promotion to the Premier League, but Mr Talbot is confident Steve Bruce's underdogs will have their day.

'I think we'll win because Fulham showed in the big game against Blues they don't really have the experience, and bottled the big occasion,' he said.   

When you read this Andy you are a media whore.

[andyh]

Just seen part of an interview with their manager.
I can safely say, he’s a bit of a fucking knob.

Apparently, we are old and tired and experience means nothing compared to youth.

Maybe we shouldn’t bother going on Saturday?

[PeterWithe]

Let’s go anyway and fuck them, half interested bunch of Tarquins, apart from Terry McCann of course

[Ads]

Jokanovic making some bold statements. Not that we need it, but there's some extra motivation.

[PeterWithe]

Showing a bit of inexperience making comments like that, only one team it’s going to gee up.

FTF

[Lsvilla]

Just seen part of an interview with their manager.
I can safely say, he’s a bit of a fucking knob.

Apparently, we are old and tired and experience means nothing compared to youth.


Maybe we shouldn’t bother going on Saturday?

When Jacks run rings round them for 90 minutes he might regret these comments

[dave.woodhall]

I really don't think players in a Wembley final will be affected by what the opposition manager says.

[PeterWithe]

Disagree, for some of our lads whom this might be their last Villa appearance that might very well be an additional motivation for a great big Fuck You.

[dave.woodhall]

They're professional footballers. Whatever anyone else says or does will have no effect on their performance - if they aren't going to give their all anyway they shouldn't be anywhere near playing.       

[PeterWithe]

Statistics show clearly that the more you pay players the more likely the chance of them being successful, doesn’t stop cup upsets.

If Fulham, or Villa players were on more bonus to win on Saturday I don’t think it would affect the result. It’s very close margins and things like the Fulham managers comments might make a difference.

[dave.woodhall]

I doubt our players will even know he's said anything.

[cumbriavilla]

Just read on the Fulham forum that one of them has bet £350 on us to win. His thinking is if Fulham win he's happy and if we win he's quids in. I hope he enjoys the money.

[PeterWithe]

If we’ve read it, they will have read it.