Pre-match thread. Aston Villa vs Arsenal. 21st July, kick off at 8.15pm.

[Drummond]

Watch it, don't watch it, turn the volume down, don't turn the volume down. Close your eyes, maybe open one eye. Then the other. Have some tissues handy, don't be sure about why or which eye will be weeping. Try to enjoy it, probably not though.

2-0, 0-2, 2-1, 1-1, 0-4

[AsTallAsLions]

Hopefully Watford lose 3 or 4 nil and Dave Boulton on PA announces the result as we're coming off from the warm up. That will be all you need for the team talk.

DS has said they'll be watching the game

[Fred Crump]

Apologies for the infantile bollocks I’ve just posted on the politics thread , I’m just trying to distract myself from the sick feeling I get every time I think about tonight. And to make it worse , my well brought up Brummie kid brother who lives in London has gone rogue / native and is a Gooner

[john e]

An extremely nervy 1-0 win. Arsenal introduce a number of usual first teamers midway in the 2nd half onwards and we defend a la Custer's Last Stand. I shall chance my health and watch every single moment.

No way on Gods earth could we hold out on a 1 nil win unless that goal is scored 30 seconds from time

we were 2-1 up against 10 men last time and we still fucked it up

i really think we need all the stars aligned and a good dose of fairy dust to get anything from this game

[john e]

Hi John, it’s Kylie here. I will be coming over to yours in my hot pants tonight. You need to let me know though whether I get your full attention or that you will be watching the Villa match instead!!
Love
Kylie

Think I’m going to be disappointed on both counts but I’ll let you know later

[Skerra]

We were virtually robbed by the officials when we played them away. Let’s hope the Gods even it up for us tonight.

[SoccerHQ]

Hopefully Watford lose 3 or 4 nil and Dave Boulton on PA announces the result as we're coming off from the warm up. That will be all you need for the team talk.

DS has said they'll be watching the game

Surprised by that. Not exactly great preparation watching the first half if Watford say go into a shock lead so they're then spending warm up wondering if Watford have held on and not really concentrating on the game ahead.

Brilliant strategy if Man. City are 3 up within 20 minutes though.

[Duncan Shaw]

Hopefully Watford lose 3 or 4 nil and Dave Boulton on PA announces the result as we're coming off from the warm up. That will be all you need for the team talk.

DS has said they'll be watching the game

Surprised by that. Not exactly great preparation watching the first half if Watford say go into a shock lead so they're then spending warm up wondering if Watford have held on and not really concentrating on the game ahead.

Brilliant strategy if Man. City are 3 up within 20 minutes though.

I'm staggered they'd be watching it!!

[CT Villan]

Deano should ban all phones and cut off outside contact, then tell the players City are winning 5-0 - unless of course it's more !

[AsTallAsLions]

Surprised by that. Not exactly great preparation watching the first half if Watford say go into a shock lead so they're then spending warm up wondering if Watford have held on and not really concentrating on the game ahead.

Brilliant strategy if Man. City are 3 up within 20 minutes though.

I'm staggered they'd be watching it!!

His exact words as follows, quoted by the Meaning Evil...

"The players will know the result. We'll probably have the game on. It's part and parcel of where we are at. We need to know what their result is, but it doesn't change our approach. We have to try and win to even catch Watford."

Inspirational as ever.

[Clampy]

I don't see a problem with it to be honest. They're going to know the result anyway and besides, the bit I read was that Smith said the game was going to be on in the background. They are hardly going to be sitting back relaxing watching it. A fuss over nothing.

[Steve67]

It shows that they give a shit.  For that, I would rather than praise them than not.

[dave.woodhall]

Surprised by that. Not exactly great preparation watching the first half if Watford say go into a shock lead so they're then spending warm up wondering if Watford have held on and not really concentrating on the game ahead.

Brilliant strategy if Man. City are 3 up within 20 minutes though.

I'm staggered they'd be watching it!!

His exact words as follows, quoted by the Meaning Evil...

"The players will know the result. We'll probably have the game on. It's part and parcel of where we are at. We need to know what their result is, but it doesn't change our approach. We have to try and win to even catch Watford."

Inspirational as ever.

So what he's saying isn't that they'll be watching the game.

[AsTallAsLions]

You're so right: they might in fact be listening to it.

But in this age of incredible new technology, I think the chances are he means they'll be watching.

[Big Ming]

An extremely nervy 1-0 win. Arsenal introduce a number of usual first teamers midway in the 2nd half onwards and we defend a la Custer's Last Stand. I shall chance my health and watch every single moment.

You do know what happened to Custer, right?