UEFA Europa Conference League - Alkmaar, Legia and Zrinjski

[wittonwarrior]

Some Small Heathens are obsessed and terrified as to whether we will qualify . They have a Villa thread on there under the cleverly disguised title of Brighton in Europe.

They’ve always been obsessed. I’ve got one at work who could name our squad, tell me about any injuries we’ve got and what we’ll need player wise if we qualify. I’m sure they’ll be showing our game on Sunday on a giant screen in Small Heath. They’ll get a better turnout than the few hundred that turn up to watch them from the 2 stands that are open on a match day.

What I've always said want to win a Villa quiz, pull together a Bluenose team

[Paul.S]

Some Small Heathens are obsessed and terrified as to whether we will qualify . They have a Villa thread on there under the cleverly disguised title of Brighton in Europe.

They’ve always been obsessed. I’ve got one at work who could name our squad, tell me about any injuries we’ve got and what we’ll need player wise if we qualify. I’m sure they’ll be showing our game on Sunday on a giant screen in Small Heath. They’ll get a better turnout than the few hundred that turn up to watch them from the 2 stands that are open on a match day.

What I've always said want to win a Villa quiz, pull together a Bluenose team

It sounds odd but that’s 100% true.

[eamonn]

It’s good Brighton qualified already and have an extra match to fit in.
I think we’ll go down to 10 men but win with a dinked penalty.

I'd rather bring Dwight out of retirement to have a go than let Ollie take it.

[Monty]

It’s good Brighton qualified already and have an extra match to fit in.
I think we’ll go down to 10 men but win with a dinked penalty.

I'd rather bring Dwight out of retirement to have a go than let Ollie take it.

I always thought penalties should be treated like other dead ball situations, so why the striker rather than (say) Doug or McGinn should take it was a bit beyond me.

[Meanwood Villa]

Hopefully but 97-98 was actually a better season than the one that followed in my view. More wins, UEFA Cup qualification and more points I think. We may have finished a place higher but w actually did better in that 7th placed season.

Agreed. The wheels came off so badly in 98/99 that it soured the earlier part of the season.

[LeeB]

Hopefully but 97-98 was actually a better season than the one that followed in my view. More wins, UEFA Cup qualification and more points I think. We may have finished a place higher but w actually did better in that 7th placed season.

Agreed. The wheels came off so badly in 98/99 that it soured the earlier part of the season.

Plus, 97-98 was like this season where we pulled off a bit of a miracle from a hopeless situation, that's always more fun than the other way around.

[Deano's Mullet]

A bit like this season even if we don't qualify.

[eamonn]

Hopefully but 97-98 was actually a better season than the one that followed in my view. More wins, UEFA Cup qualification and more points I think. We may have finished a place higher but w actually did better in that 7th placed season.

Agreed. The wheels came off so badly in 98/99 that it soured the earlier part of the season.

Yeah but at least we had a Steve Stone to show for it...

[Drummond]

It’s good Brighton qualified already and have an extra match to fit in.
I think we’ll go down to 10 men but win with a dinked penalty.

I'd rather bring Dwight out of retirement to have a go than let Ollie take it.

I always thought penalties should be treated like other dead ball situations, so why the striker rather than (say) Doug or McGinn should take it was a bit beyond me.

I agree. Strikers are usually great at hitting a moving ball, whereas any position on the pitch should be capable of hitting a stationary one, and the dead-ball specialists should be the best at that.

[Brazilian Villain]

It’s good Brighton qualified already and have an extra match to fit in.
I think we’ll go down to 10 men but win with a dinked penalty.

I'd rather bring Dwight out of retirement to have a go than let Ollie take it.

I always thought penalties should be treated like other dead ball situations, so why the striker rather than (say) Doug or McGinn should take it was a bit beyond me.

I agree. Strikers are usually great at hitting a moving ball, whereas any position on the pitch should be capable of hitting a stationary one, and the dead-ball specialists should be the best at that.

Any professional footballer should be able to score a penalty from 12 yards so it's mainly down to mentality, the technique can be enhanced by practice. It shouldn't necessarily default to the striker.

[Bobby Boy]

It’s good Brighton qualified already and have an extra match to fit in.
I think we’ll go down to 10 men but win with a dinked penalty.

I'd rather bring Dwight out of retirement to have a go than let Ollie take it.

I always thought penalties should be treated like other dead ball situations, so why the striker rather than (say) Doug or McGinn should take it was a bit beyond me.

I agree. Strikers are usually great at hitting a moving ball, whereas any position on the pitch should be capable of hitting a stationary one, and the dead-ball specialists should be the best at that.

Any professional footballer should be able to take an unsaveable penalty but you see so many poorly taken penalties that it's evidently about calmness under pressure and mental strength more than anything else.

Ollie has missed more than he has scored during his career so by definition he is not good under pressure.

If we get a  critical pen against Brighton I would be shocked (and terrified) if Ollie stepped up to take it.

[Drummond]

Coutinho has the best record in our squad for penalties, just a shame he doesn't play!

If we had a penalty shootout, I think my 5 would be...

Coutinho
Buendia
Luiz
McGinn
Digne

[Smithy]

It’s good Brighton qualified already and have an extra match to fit in.
I think we’ll go down to 10 men but win with a dinked penalty.

I'd rather bring Dwight out of retirement to have a go than let Ollie take it.

I always thought penalties should be treated like other dead ball situations, so why the striker rather than (say) Doug or McGinn should take it was a bit beyond me.

I agree. Strikers are usually great at hitting a moving ball, whereas any position on the pitch should be capable of hitting a stationary one, and the dead-ball specialists should be the best at that.

Any professional footballer should be able to take an unsaveable penalty but you see so many poorly taken penalties that it's evidently about calmness under pressure and mental strength more than anything else.

Ollie has missed more than he has scored during his career so by definition he is not good under pressure.

If we get a  critical pen against Brighton I would be shocked (and terrified) if Ollie stepped up to take it.

Penalties get saved. It happens. If a big goalie guesses the right way then there is only a tiny part of the goal they can't get to in time.

But missing the target is a cardinal sin. I'd rather he fired it down the middle and have it bounce off a keeper who didn't move, than miss the target altogether.  No more pens for Ollie please.

[Drummond]

It’s good Brighton qualified already and have an extra match to fit in.
I think we’ll go down to 10 men but win with a dinked penalty.

I'd rather bring Dwight out of retirement to have a go than let Ollie take it.

I always thought penalties should be treated like other dead ball situations, so why the striker rather than (say) Doug or McGinn should take it was a bit beyond me.

I agree. Strikers are usually great at hitting a moving ball, whereas any position on the pitch should be capable of hitting a stationary one, and the dead-ball specialists should be the best at that.

Any professional footballer should be able to take an unsaveable penalty but you see so many poorly taken penalties that it's evidently about calmness under pressure and mental strength more than anything else.

Ollie has missed more than he has scored during his career so by definition he is not good under pressure.

If we get a  critical pen against Brighton I would be shocked (and terrified) if Ollie stepped up to take it.

Penalties get saved. It happens. If a big goalie guesses the right way then there is only a tiny part of the goal they can't get to in time.

But missing the target is a cardinal sin. I'd rather he fired it down the middle and have it bounce off a keeper who didn't move, than miss the target altogether.  No more pens for Ollie please.

Agree completely. I don't know why they don't just practise top corner every time, it's the bit the keeper can't get.

[clash city rocker]

Sure I read somewhere that only 70% of penalties go in.