Aston Villa v Liverpool (FAC3) Friday 8th January 7:45pm KO - Pre Match Thread

[eamonn]

https://whatthesport.co.uk/football/aston-villa-things-to-know-about-the-youngsters-set-to-face-liverpool/

For what appears to be a cynical click bait site, that's actually a pretty darn good write-up on a load of players that the majority of Villa fans wouldn't have even heard of.

Yes, very useful, cheers. Are our youth teams under-performing in their respective competitions then based on so many of them being highly touted ?

[Big Ming]

******BREAKING NEWS *******
Aston Villa's cup game against Liverpool has been postponed after several Villa players test positive for Calpol.

Post of the month awarded.

[TelfordVilla]

Having watched, admittedly not much, on you tube, they appear to play as a bunch of talented individuals with very little movement off the ball and not much teamwork.

[Allan C]

it is what it is

I’m glad we’re playing the game even if it is with youngsters

I hope you say similar once the match is finished.

I’d take a 5-0 loss now such is my expectation.

To compete against Liverpool we need our best side on top form and them off form.  It doesn’t matter what side they put out they will be far too good for our under 23s. This could be really ugly for Villa fans.

I dont give a fuck. The integrity this club has shown to be playing this fixture tonight makes me proud to be a villa fan. No crying, throwing our toys out of the pram just honest and goodness integrity

My thoughts exactly
I’ve supported Villa since 1959 and I’m still not sure what made me choose  them. I was born in Kent and my family were more rugby orientated than football so no connection there.
Maybe it was the  colours or the very name; someone said the name just rolls over your tongue like honey
Or maybe even at that young age I was aware of the history, tradition and honour of the club
And that is exactly why we are correct to play tonight - we are a “proper” football club and we honour the traditions of the game.
The result is irrelevant but just think what it must be like for our lads tonight
Putting on the famous Villa shirt as a first team player, at Villa Park in the FA Cup against the reigning champions
What wouldn’t we all have given to be able to do that
So never has the cry of “c’mon you Villa boys” been more appropriate

Yes all of the above plus I’m really looking forward to watching the youngsters play. We may well lose but I won’t lose any sleep over it to be honest.

[TelfordVilla]

I think the plan is to produce players rather than a decent team.

[dave.woodhall]

How can this possibly be 'ugly' for Villa fans? We're expecting the team to get twatted; keeping it to single figures will be one of those moral victories the other lot keep getting. Anybody who moans at the result is an idiot and any player affected by anything short of life-threatening injury shouldn't be in the game.

[LukeJames]

Just looking at the pre-match photos the official site have put up, I don't recognise any of those lads.

[Nii Lamptey]

IMO it is an absolute disgrace we are playing this game. Total devaluation of the FA cup.

Modern times. TV money for the game and allows us to focus on the league and the financial rewards a top finish brings.
That said, I fully agree with you but realistically, there's little opportunity for either team to reschedule the game and to think earlier this week I honestly thought this was finally our year.

When we finally do win the FA Cup again.. and we will, it's going to be one hell of a party. Maybe now is not the best time for that party.

EXACTLY! Let's win it when we can all be there to appreciate it. *Would still like to take em close tonight mind.   

[chrisf]

How can this possibly be 'ugly' for Villa fans? We're expecting the team to get twatted; keeping it to single figures will be one of those moral victories the other lot keep getting. Anybody who moans at the result is an idiot and any player affected by anything short of life-threatening injury shouldn't be in the game.

I reckon if we lose by less than six we effectively win.

[Dave]

How can this possibly be 'ugly' for Villa fans? We're expecting the team to get twatted; keeping it to single figures will be one of those moral victories the other lot keep getting. Anybody who moans at the result is an idiot and any player affected by anything short of life-threatening injury shouldn't be in the game.

There will still absolutely be a post or three in the post-match thread bemoaning the quality of the academy and how "maybe these players aren't as highly-rated as we think they are".

[tomd2103]

Hope Liverpool show the respect and humility we were all instructed to show them in the League Cup last season when they had a team of kids out. 

[olaftab]

******BREAKING NEWS *******
Aston Villa's cup game against Liverpool has been postponed after several Villa players test positive for Calpol.

I hope not as I have delivered two boxes of Fredos to the Villa changing room.

[villa `cross the mersey]

IMO it is an absolute disgrace we are playing this game. Total devaluation of the FA cup.

That horse bolted long ago.

I'm not that arsed in all honesty, it's a mad old situation and unfortunately the timing of it is shite, but it's not anybody's fault and I think we look better if we stand up and get on with it, which it seems we are.

 

Yep. I can't recall ever being this relaxed before a game. We will likely lose heavily so fuck it. I hope our young kids do themselves proud. And frankly it's like their kids vs us last time where a few of them are now featuring in the first team or successfully on loan. That's ultimately what we want out of tonight. A win would be a massive cherry on the icing on the cake.

Nobody is going to laugh at us if we get thumped, we'll get all the sympathy and pats on the back for getting the tie on, and anyway we battered them at real football a few weeks back.

If we beat them though, or push them close, they're going to look like twats. If they go heavy on a bunch of kids only playing because of a pandemic, they're also going to look like twats.

It's robbed them of their sanctimony, which will hurt them more than any other club. It's almost worth it.

If they lose they will likely put out a new song and light lots of candles.

Yawn ...........I knew Canada was behind the times but didn't realise it was stuck in the 1980's

[Monty]

I'm unclear on the details in all of the situations, but could youth teams have been fielded in those Premier League games involving Fulham etc that got called off for Covid? If yes, why did they go ahead? Is this a tacit acknowledgement from the authorities that, fuck it, who cares about the Cup?

[gpbarr]

This is going to be horrible if they put any first teamers out.

But even if we get thrashed, it’s not a total loss in that it will be good to give the young guns a shot at top opposition. I remember a very youthful England rugby team getting trounced in Australia 76-0 in 1998 and yet 5 years later some of those young players helped England lift the Rugby World Cup. Not ideal and not what we wanted but it is what it is and we have to make the best of it.