Victorious Aston Villa (and passports!) 2 - Brighton 1 Post Match Thread

[KevinGage]

The noise when extra time started was phenomenal. The whole ground seemed to be standing up urging the players on. Haven't heard anything like that for years.

Even the beeb match report mentioned a 'raucous' Villa Park in the opening para.

[astonvilla82]

Possible that they would rock up at Villa Park and stuff the Villa, well that doesn't happen under Emery,

[Clampy]

I wonder if it's because they know they're going to be losing a couple of good players in the summer? Other than that, they've been excellent and should be happy really.

[KevinGage]

What is it with teams like Brighton who get into the Premier League and immediately think they're important? This attitude of we're really great and clubs like Villa and Everyon with 140-odd years of top-level history are lower than them.
 

At a guess, I'd say the fans who have been with that club since they were locked out of their old ground and remember other clubs were holding fundraisers for them aren't such petty barstewards. They're living the dream just being where they are.

But some of the floating voter types - the sort of twats who followed Yanited or Arsenal ten years ago - think polluting forums with top bantz is how you do football.

[Brazilian Villain]

I went today knowing we had had a far better season than any of us expected by the end of last October. I would have been happy with that.

Well, we gave it our best shot. Europe would have been nice but in the end the "disastrous" January transfer window did for us.

[Risso]

A huge amount of bitterness on the Brighton forum.

Saw that, a bit odd. The fans in the stadium seemed in good spirits and loads stayed behind after their players had taken their applause, and were joining in with the singing of Sweet Caroline and DLBIA etc. Saw a few had thrown their Europe flags over to the Villa fans as well, which was a nice touch.

[Clampy]

The noise when extra time started was phenomenal. The whole ground seemed to be standing up urging the players on. Haven't heard anything like that for years.

Even the beeb match report mentioned a 'raucous' Villa Park in the opening para.

It really was as good an atmosphere as I've heard for years. Brilliant and stressful at the same time. I think I need the whole of pre-season to recover from it.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

I wonder if it's because they know they're going to be losing a couple of good players in the summer? Other than that, they've been excellent and should be happy really.

Indeed, I’ve got nothing but admiration for Brighton really. Although they didn’t score as much as they should have done under Potter they’ve played good football for a while, it would have been easy for it all to crumble when he left taking all the back room staff with him. RDZ has built on those foundations and made them even better. I’d rather clubs like them shake the league up a bit rather than the media darlings finishing in the top 5/6/7 places each year.

[Paul.S]

A fully deserved win and to end up on 61 points is just a miraculous achievement.
I didn’t think this midfield could mix it physically but they do now and maybe that’s another thing Emery has brought to the club. The most important summer in a long time because with 4/5 decent signings we could just move forward again next season. The foundations are there, we have European football and we have a world class coach with owners who are capable of backing him. This could just be the start of something very special.

[exigo]

A huge amount of bitterness on the Brighton forum.

Saw that, a bit odd. The fans in the stadium seemed in good spirits and loads stayed behind after their players had taken their applause, and were joining in with the singing of Sweet Caroline and DLBIA etc. Saw a few had thrown their Europe flags over to the Villa fans as well, which was a nice touch.

Plenty with us on the train back to London. All decent, and good song banter too. All very respectful and pleased for both teams.

[dicedlam]

I watched the game in a bar in Stockholm so it was only befitting to hear that Olof Mellberg walked out on to the pitch.

AN absolutely great achievement. Well done to everyone at the club who made it happen.

[dave.woodhall]

What is it with teams like Brighton who get into the Premier League and immediately think they're important? This attitude of we're really great and clubs like Villa and Everyon with 140-odd years of top-level history are lower than them.
 

At a guess, I'd say the fans who have been with that club since they were locked out of their old ground and remember other clubs were holding fundraisers for them aren't such petty barstewards. They're living the dream just being where they are.

But some of the floating voter types - the sort of twats who followed Yanited or Arsenal ten years ago - think polluting forums with top bantz is how you do football.

That's more than likely but you look at their crowds then and now and you see that the new fans are the majority. 

[Neil Hawkes]

A brilliant start to the game, a nerve wracking period towards the end of the first half, sorted out the defensive problems for the second half and only had me worried because "it's the Villa way" to loose/draw after a pretty much dominant second half display*, and elated at the final whistle.

* Yet another "curse" this brilliant manager has put to bed. We finally have someone special at the helm & I'm eagerly  awaiting next season.

[Nii Lamptey]

Anytime else's ears ringing this morning, like you've been to a gig?  Never heard noise like that in the Trinity ever.

The last time I heard a noise like that in the Trinity, I was sat in the OLD Trinity Road stand directly level with the penalty spot at the North Stand end of the ground... against Inter Milan in the UEFA Cup when Phil King rattled in a winning penalty.

Not commented on here since the match, as it still hasn't sunk in what the hell has happened over the last 6 months?! How has it even been possible? 6 months ago we were broken. For Unai to come in and do what he has done is nothing short of a miracle. He has jump started every element of the club.

The best bit about yesterday was with about 10-15 mins to go when the nerves started to set in, instead of fans starting to get at the players, there was a loud, throaty roar, and the whole of Villa Park sang their hearts out to drag us through to the final whistle. Even the Trinity Upper was standing towards the end.... Not seen anything like it in years, and long may it continue.

I'm super pessimistic when it comes to anything Villa, but this feels different this time. Get your passports ready - The lion is wide awake!

UTV

[Risso]

I watched the game in a bar in Stockholm so it was only befitting to hear that Olof Mellberg walked out on to the pitch.

AN absolutely great achievement. Well done to everyone at the club who made it happen.

It was Ian Taylor who sorted it all out.