Championship Play-off Final : Pre-Match Thread

[itbrvilla]

I also think that the secret special guest is Cokie the Clown.

[Duncan Shaw]

EFL play-offs: Is this the year Sunderland break the red and white curse?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48382788

Just read that and the comments section - for some reason a lot of other clubs fans seem to hate us these days - I know there are a few over confident posts on there but still...I always thought we were pretty well liked throughout the football world (apart from the obvious) but that seems to have changed now.  The Neutral support definitely seems to be with Derby.

[maidstonevillain]

If as a neutral you were viewing the game as Lamps v Terry, who would you be supporting.

[LukeJames]

EFL play-offs: Is this the year Sunderland break the red and white curse?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48382788

Just read that and the comments section - for some reason a lot of other clubs fans seem to hate us these days - I know there are a few over confident posts on there but still...I always thought we were pretty well liked throughout the football world (apart from the obvious) but that seems to have changed now.  The Neutral support definitely seems to be with Derby.

We were liked when we were a cuddly push over. Fuck them all.

[maidstonevillain]

It's in the British psyche to support the underdog anyway.

[exigo]

I live and work in London. Everyone I've spoken with recently wants us to go up – a proper club, with tradition, great away trip; loads of reasons given.

[LeeB]

EFL play-offs: Is this the year Sunderland break the red and white curse?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48382788

Just read that and the comments section - for some reason a lot of other clubs fans seem to hate us these days - I know there are a few over confident posts on there but still...I always thought we were pretty well liked throughout the football world (apart from the obvious) but that seems to have changed now.  The Neutral support definitely seems to be with Derby.

Comments sections seem to attract the most objectional ****** at the best of times, but the BBC football ones are worse than most.

Best ignored.

[AsTallAsLions]

EFL play-offs: Is this the year Sunderland break the red and white curse?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48382788

Just read that and the comments section - for some reason a lot of other clubs fans seem to hate us these days - I know there are a few over confident posts on there but still...I always thought we were pretty well liked throughout the football world (apart from the obvious) but that seems to have changed now.  The Neutral support definitely seems to be with Derby.

Comments sections seem to attract the most objectional c***s at the best of times, but the BBC football ones are worse than most.

Best ignored.

There's truth to Duncan's point though, unfortunately. I've been surprised by the change in attitude of football fans over on these shores, where Villa were typically very well-supported and well-liked, harking back to the days when Staunton, McGrath, Townsend, Houghton, Cascarino all played for both Villa and Ireland. There was always huge respect.

That's evidently changed - on my way to the final last year I had my shirt on passing through the airport, and on two separate occasions, randoms shouted "Come on Fulham!" or similar. It was reasonably clear that they weren't actually Fulham fans, just sticking their oars in.

Likewise after watching the first leg of the semi this year I was passing through Dublin and two lads outside a pub shouted 'Fuck Villa' for no apparent reason. Don't think they were Albion fans either.

Not sure what to make of it really, but it is what it is I guess. Hated or adored, never ignored?

[Ad@m]

EFL play-offs: Is this the year Sunderland break the red and white curse?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48382788

Just read that and the comments section - for some reason a lot of other clubs fans seem to hate us these days - I know there are a few over confident posts on there but still...I always thought we were pretty well liked throughout the football world (apart from the obvious) but that seems to have changed now.  The Neutral support definitely seems to be with Derby.

Comments sections seem to attract the most objectional c***s at the best of times, but the BBC football ones are worse than most.

Best ignored.

There's truth to Duncan's point though, unfortunately. I've been surprised by the change in attitude of football fans over on these shores, where Villa were typically very well-supported and well-liked, harking back to the days when Staunton, McGrath, Townsend, Houghton, Cascarino all played for both Villa and Ireland. There was always huge respect.

That's evidently changed - on my way to the final last year I had my shirt on passing through the airport, and on two separate occasions, randoms shouted "Come on Fulham!" or similar. It was reasonably clear that they weren't actually Fulham fans, just sticking their oars in.

Likewise after watching the first leg of the semi this year I was passing through Dublin and two lads outside a pub shouted 'Fuck Villa' for no apparent reason. Don't think they were Albion fans either.

Not sure what to make of it really, but it is what it is I guess. Hated or adored, never ignored?

It's the underdog thing.  When we were in the Prem, finishing just outside the European places, with a popular manager, we were the underdogs trying to break in to the top 4.

Aston Villa in the 2nd tier is just as funny to other fans as it was to us when we sent Newcastle down.  We're one of the big boys getting a bloody nose.  Once we've gone up, I'm sure much of that sort of animosity will vanish.

(Except from Newcastle fans - I don't think they'll ever get over themselves!!!)

[Sexual Ealing]

People have short memories when it comes to other teams (I know I do). I regularly speak to Spurs fans and mention my frustration that we were broadly at the same level as them ten years ago and now look at the distance between the two etc. They look at me like I'm mental.

[Chipsticks]

In lighter news, Drake has changed his Instagram profile picture to the pic of Mallory Edens wearing a villa shirt.

https://www.instagram.com/champagnepapi/?hl=en

... What does this mean?

[VILLA MOLE]

In lighter news, Drake has changed his Instagram profile picture to the pic of Mallory Edens wearing a villa shirt.

https://www.instagram.com/champagnepapi/?hl=en

... What does this mean?

pretty girl

[Nelson Lodge]

Well for the Poll voting to come true the 21st Century Wembley Hoodoo has to be broken some how.
Villa's record at Wembley since and including the year 2000 is truly appalling.
Played 7    Won 2*   Lost 5  Goals For 3** Goals Against 12
* One win was on penalties vs Bolton in the 2000 FA Cup semi.
** One goal was the penalty vs ManU in the 2010 League Cup Final. In 5 of the games Villa failed to score a goal.

Hence my feeling uneasy and not that hopeful for Monday.

So based on the old adage of "Horses for Courses" lump your money on Derby to win!!

You never know it may be one way to break the hoodoo!!

[KRS]

Fuck that...stay positive and support the team to victory! No room for negativity.

[Matt Collins]

The games we lost were all against better teams than us tho (Chelsea x2, man u, arsenal, Fulham)

It's a bit like saying Jurgen klopp has a bad record in finals because he's lost as Liverpool and dortmund manager to bayern, real Madrid, etc

If anything, it shows that the favourites tend to win finals and I reckon thats us