Champions League Contention

[paul_e]

A draw in that game and us getting a win and that could become a significant gap from 5th.

[Footy-Vill]

Spurs and Newcastle still have to come to the fortress.
As do Man Utd who will also play away boxing day.

Our Last 2 Home matches of the season
Chelsea
And final Home: Liverpool

[Baldy]

Newcastle's away record this season is crap. Could knock them out of top four/five contention.

They bank so much on their home support.

 

[Bad English]

And final Home: Liverpool

That will be to decide the title. Us or them.

[Footy-Vill]

Newcastle's away record this season is crap. Could knock them out of top four/five contention.

They bank so much on their home support.

True
In relation to Villa , I have a working hypothesis that the 5-1 humbling by Newcastle in our first encounter of the season had a significant impact on players psychology away from home. It's caused doubt and lost the confidence and belief that we show at home.
We haven't seen players' confidence in their ability to play Emery-style game away from Villa Park as effectively. Performances and results haven't been the same level.

So I conclude the psychological effect as despite having a fantastic preseason and much of adopting Emery's blueprint home and away last season it crumbled in the first game. Perhaps it caused doubt to a degree and players thinking hang on is this going to work?

I wonder too if the prep and pre match study, lectures and video analysis and our players given opponents information is a higher work load and content to study for in away matches?

In some ways, the Brentford game away is more uncertain the performance than the upcoming Arsenal match.
Similarly, with Bournemouth away and Manchester City at home, the more difficult assignment was away!

As I feel at the moment, I'm still concerned in away game performance as much as I am confident at beating anyone at Villa Park!

[Risso]

Very true. The only slight consolation is that other than Arsenal most other teams don't have that great an away record either:

[Baldy]

Very true. The only slight consolation is that other than Arsenal most other teams don't have that great an away record either:

Bit harsh deducting Everton 10 points just for the away games. Poor sods!!!!!

[paul_e]

Very true. The only slight consolation is that other than Arsenal most other teams don't have that great an away record either:

For full context we're 1 poor refereeing decision (not giving a pretty clear penalty) away at Wolves away from being joint 3rd on that table.

[Brazilian Villain]

And final Home: Liverpool

That will be to decide the title. Us or them.

Well, if we can beat Arsenal we then have a very decent run of fixtures till the end of March. Only Yanited twice, plus Spurzzz and the Jaudis at home of the current top 7. Not that games away at Brentford, Everton are easy but it might well turn out that April will be our 'make or break' month, before facing Liverpool (to decide the title).

On a historical note, we have been League runners-up on 10 occasions (only Liverpool and Yanited more times than us) but only finished 3rd twice.

[Bad English]

Every year a team wins the title because they have negotiated their fixtures better than others. I'm not sure we have what it takes this year but we are doing a decent impression. And if you can't dream, what is the point? Come on you Villa boys!

[Bad English]

I do realise this is a Champions League thread by the way. No offence.

[PaulWinch again]

Every year a team wins the title because they have negotiated their fixtures better than others. I'm not sure we have what it takes this year but we are doing a decent impression. And if you can't dream, what is the point? Come on you Villa boys!

Well that’s it, we’re in the race now. It might not continue - but one thing I do know is there are probably 4 sides capable of the level of performance we achieved against Citeh. That puts us in the elite, and it’s on us to sustain a level near that. Let’s dream a bit.

[Smithy]

Every year a team wins the title because they have negotiated their fixtures better than others. I'm not sure we have what it takes this year but we are doing a decent impression. And if you can't dream, what is the point? Come on you Villa boys!

Well that’s it, we’re in the race now. It might not continue - but one thing I do know is there are probably 4 sides capable of the level of performance we achieved against Citeh. That puts us in the elite, and it’s on us to sustain a level near that. Let’s dream a bit.

Whatever happens this weekend we're now genuinely in the Champions League race. But win tomorrow and we're genuinely in the title race. Maybe not for very long, but you can't have the run of fixtures we've had, and beaten who we have, without being considered contenders.

[Clampy]

As boring as it sounds, just one game at a time for me.

[Bad English]

As boring as it sounds, just one game at a time for me.

We are posting on an 'internet forum'; we don't have to worry about what people think if it doesn't happen. Why not let yourself dream a little?