Champions League Contention

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Something of a confession this, but as somebody who definitely wants to win a trophy and doesn't believe it's either/or, I feel quite relieved by the Chelsea result, to the point where it's taken the sting out of all the silly errors of last night. Maybe it's because we are in control of our destiny in the 2nd leg (we know what we must do and it's executed or it is not). It's not like it was out of our control either after Spurs lost to Arsenal, but it just feels very solid now, tangible.

[Dave]

Something of a confession this, but as somebody who definitely wants to win a trophy and doesn't believe it's either/or, I feel quite relieved by the Chelsea result, to the point where it's taken the sting out of all the silly errors of last night. Maybe it's because we are in control of our destiny in the 2nd leg (we know what we must do and it's executed or it is not). It's not like it was out of our control either after Spurs lost to Arsenal, but it just feels very solid now, tangible.

Yup. Get Brighton sorted, write off the rest of the league season and all the eggs go into next Thursday's basket.

Get Emi and Youri back for Greece and coast to a satisfying 0-4 win.

[Percy McCarthy]

Something of a confession this, but as somebody who definitely wants to win a trophy and doesn't believe it's either/or, I feel quite relieved by the Chelsea result, to the point where it's taken the sting out of all the silly errors of last night. Maybe it's because we are in control of our destiny in the 2nd leg (we know what we must do and it's executed or it is not). It's not like it was out of our control either after Spurs lost to Arsenal, but it just feels very solid now, tangible.

I’m the same. This CL thing has been like an itch that you can’t quite reach, what with watching the coefficient fall away and little stumbles like the Spurs and Brentford results.

So close now, and it will be such a relief if and when we make it, not least as it will lead to a much more settled summer regarding our star players I would hope.

[Demitri_C]

Something of a confession this, but as somebody who definitely wants to win a trophy and doesn't believe it's either/or, I feel quite relieved by the Chelsea result, to the point where it's taken the sting out of all the silly errors of last night. Maybe it's because we are in control of our destiny in the 2nd leg (we know what we must do and it's executed or it is not). It's not like it was out of our control either after Spurs lost to Arsenal, but it just feels very solid now, tangible.

This i agree with. I think if doug scored thw pen would have given me more hope. Just cant see us over turning a 2-0 deficit I desperately wanted this trophy 😔

[Smithy]

Something of a confession this, but as somebody who definitely wants to win a trophy and doesn't believe it's either/or, I feel quite relieved by the Chelsea result, to the point where it's taken the sting out of all the silly errors of last night. Maybe it's because we are in control of our destiny in the 2nd leg (we know what we must do and it's executed or it is not). It's not like it was out of our control either after Spurs lost to Arsenal, but it just feels very solid now, tangible.

This i agree with. I think if doug scored thw pen would have given me more hope. Just cant see us over turning a 2-0 deficit I desperately wanted this trophy 😔

We’ve already  come back from 2-0 down against this lot once, we can do it again :-)

[LeeS]

Something of a confession this, but as somebody who definitely wants to win a trophy and doesn't believe it's either/or, I feel quite relieved by the Chelsea result, to the point where it's taken the sting out of all the silly errors of last night. Maybe it's because we are in control of our destiny in the 2nd leg (we know what we must do and it's executed or it is not). It's not like it was out of our control either after Spurs lost to Arsenal, but it just feels very solid now, tangible.

I’m the same. This CL thing has been like an itch that you can’t quite reach, what with watching the coefficient fall away and little stumbles like the Spurs and Brentford results.

So close now, and it will be such a relief if and when we make it, not least as it will lead to a much more settled summer regarding our star players I would hope.

Same for me. I’ve been obsessing about all the combinations of results that might see us lose 4th. The relief when we get over the line will be immense.

I find the fans who don’t seem to be nervous about it quite odd. Anyone following Villa for the last 40 years should have an inbuilt and reflexive aversion to any sort of confidence. It’s the same as supporting the England cricket team.

[Drummond]

Something of a confession this, but as somebody who definitely wants to win a trophy and doesn't believe it's either/or, I feel quite relieved by the Chelsea result, to the point where it's taken the sting out of all the silly errors of last night. Maybe it's because we are in control of our destiny in the 2nd leg (we know what we must do and it's executed or it is not). It's not like it was out of our control either after Spurs lost to Arsenal, but it just feels very solid now, tangible.

This i agree with. I think if doug scored thw pen would have given me more hope. Just cant see us over turning a 2-0 deficit I desperately wanted this trophy 😔

We’ve already  come back from 2-0 down against this lot once, we can do it again :-)

Exactly.

[Percy McCarthy]

Something of a confession this, but as somebody who definitely wants to win a trophy and doesn't believe it's either/or, I feel quite relieved by the Chelsea result, to the point where it's taken the sting out of all the silly errors of last night. Maybe it's because we are in control of our destiny in the 2nd leg (we know what we must do and it's executed or it is not). It's not like it was out of our control either after Spurs lost to Arsenal, but it just feels very solid now, tangible.

I’m the same. This CL thing has been like an itch that you can’t quite reach, what with watching the coefficient fall away and little stumbles like the Spurs and Brentford results.

So close now, and it will be such a relief if and when we make it, not least as it will lead to a much more settled summer regarding our star players I would hope.

Same for me. I’ve been obsessing about all the combinations of results that might see us lose 4th. The relief when we get over the line will be immense.

I find the fans who don’t seem to be nervous about it quite odd. Anyone following Villa for the last 40 years should have an inbuilt and reflexive aversion to any sort of confidence. It’s the same as supporting the England cricket team.

Don’t get me wrong - I found some of the ‘we’ve blown it’ posts after the Spurs and Brentford games laughably hysterical and pessimistic.

Some people were predicting sixth for fuck’s sake!

[Demitri_C]

Something of a confession this, but as somebody who definitely wants to win a trophy and doesn't believe it's either/or, I feel quite relieved by the Chelsea result, to the point where it's taken the sting out of all the silly errors of last night. Maybe it's because we are in control of our destiny in the 2nd leg (we know what we must do and it's executed or it is not). It's not like it was out of our control either after Spurs lost to Arsenal, but it just feels very solid now, tangible.

This i agree with. I think if doug scored thw pen would have given me more hope. Just cant see us over turning a 2-0 deficit I desperately wanted this trophy 😔

We’ve already  come back from 2-0 down against this lot once, we can do it again :-)

I hope so mate. Im so deflated after last night. I never saw that result coming even following greek football.

I said in post match thread - olympiakos have crumbled before. They were crushing  3-0 against fenebache  and then almost drew the game 3-2.

Honestly if we show up and play a fast paced attacking game we could destroy them. But we havebt seen this in european games at all consistently for a whole game or even a half.

Next weeks the time to change that but its gonna be bloody tough. Their fans are incredible as we saw yesterday. Add another 28k  and if our players cant handle it its gonna be another long night.

The key is score early and make them nervous. Its happened before so i dont see why we cabt

[LeeS]

Something of a confession this, but as somebody who definitely wants to win a trophy and doesn't believe it's either/or, I feel quite relieved by the Chelsea result, to the point where it's taken the sting out of all the silly errors of last night. Maybe it's because we are in control of our destiny in the 2nd leg (we know what we must do and it's executed or it is not). It's not like it was out of our control either after Spurs lost to Arsenal, but it just feels very solid now, tangible.

I’m the same. This CL thing has been like an itch that you can’t quite reach, what with watching the coefficient fall away and little stumbles like the Spurs and Brentford results.

So close now, and it will be such a relief if and when we make it, not least as it will lead to a much more settled summer regarding our star players I would hope.

Same for me. I’ve been obsessing about all the combinations of results that might see us lose 4th. The relief when we get over the line will be immense.

I find the fans who don’t seem to be nervous about it quite odd. Anyone following Villa for the last 40 years should have an inbuilt and reflexive aversion to any sort of confidence. It’s the same as supporting the England cricket team.

Don’t get me wrong - I found some of the ‘we’ve blown it’ posts after the Spurs and Brentford games laughably hysterical and pessimistic.

Some people were predicting sixth for fuck’s sake!

On reflection, this is fair comment. But where else can a chap go to air these primal fears in the spur of the moment? My wife has absolutely no interest in football and all my mates support the “big 6”. They think life has ended if they don’t win the Champions League.

[Keeno]

Even a point against Brighton would leave Spurs needing to win 3 of 4 to better our total. Their loss last night and the manner in which they did it, with Postecoglou furious and the body language really poor, makes me think they might struggle to get to the total we're currently on. Not out of the question they could be caught by Newcastle for 5th place tbh.

[Percy McCarthy]

Something of a confession this, but as somebody who definitely wants to win a trophy and doesn't believe it's either/or, I feel quite relieved by the Chelsea result, to the point where it's taken the sting out of all the silly errors of last night. Maybe it's because we are in control of our destiny in the 2nd leg (we know what we must do and it's executed or it is not). It's not like it was out of our control either after Spurs lost to Arsenal, but it just feels very solid now, tangible.

I’m the same. This CL thing has been like an itch that you can’t quite reach, what with watching the coefficient fall away and little stumbles like the Spurs and Brentford results.

So close now, and it will be such a relief if and when we make it, not least as it will lead to a much more settled summer regarding our star players I would hope.

Same for me. I’ve been obsessing about all the combinations of results that might see us lose 4th. The relief when we get over the line will be immense.

I find the fans who don’t seem to be nervous about it quite odd. Anyone following Villa for the last 40 years should have an inbuilt and reflexive aversion to any sort of confidence. It’s the same as supporting the England cricket team.

Don’t get me wrong - I found some of the ‘we’ve blown it’ posts after the Spurs and Brentford games laughably hysterical and pessimistic.

Some people were predicting sixth for fuck’s sake!

On reflection, this is fair comment. But where else can a chap go to air these primal fears in the spur of the moment? My wife has absolutely no interest in football and all my mates support the “big 6”. They think life has ended if they don’t win the Champions League.

Haha, sorry mate, I had no idea if you were one of them! I did save a couple in my phone notes but didn’t take note of who posted them. I thought at the time they might come in handy for the Samaritans.

[Nunkin1965]

Something of a confession this, but as somebody who definitely wants to win a trophy and doesn't believe it's either/or, I feel quite relieved by the Chelsea result, to the point where it's taken the sting out of all the silly errors of last night. Maybe it's because we are in control of our destiny in the 2nd leg (we know what we must do and it's executed or it is not). It's not like it was out of our control either after Spurs lost to Arsenal, but it just feels very solid now, tangible.

This i agree with. I think if doug scored thw pen would have given me more hope. Just cant see us over turning a 2-0 deficit I desperately wanted this trophy 😔

We’ve already  come back from 2-0 down against this lot once, we can do it again :-)

I hope so mate. Im so deflated after last night. I never saw that result coming even following greek football.

I said in post match thread - olympiakos have crumbled before. They were crushing  3-0 against fenebache  and then almost drew the game 3-2.

Honestly if we show up and play a fast paced attacking game we could destroy them. But we havebt seen this in european games at all consistently for a whole game or even a half.

Next weeks the time to change that but its gonna be bloody tough. Their fans are incredible as we saw yesterday. Add another 28k  and if our players cant handle it its gonna be another long night.

The key is score early and make them nervous. Its happened before so i dont see why we cabt

I'm really confident that if we grab the first goal next week we'll make the final.
All is definitely not lost.

[JUAN PABLO]

Need to finish the job at Brighton. 

Yes hopefully they will have their deckchairs out for the beach as its Brighton.  I think we will win . Is a draw a bad result especially if Spurzz  dont win against p lop .

[Luffbralion]

The majority of the season and Emery's tenure has seen the club be a top four performer. Villa have show some of the best team and player performances at Villa Park in Premier League history.
The levels have at times been among the finest in the last 150 years, both at home and away.

What Emery and Villa are doing is joy and I'm so thrilled, and there may be times when things have been difficult and performance struggles, but the bigger picture is that on the cusp of officially saying Champions League football is coming to Villa Park!!

I dont think anyone is going to say unai is doing anad job as we can all see we have had a wonderful season.

But its mainly been the first halfs been good. 2nd has been quite frankly average to poor.

The disappointing thing for me is that this was our best chance of silverware and i cant believe we look like we have blown it

We haven't been poor at all 2nd half of the season.

We've payed 16, won 8, drawn 4 and lost 4. That's 1.75 points per game, which if extrapolated over 38 games would have us on 66.5, so 67. What we have now, which will probably turn out to be enough for 4th.

That points per game has been achieved largely without our defensive midfielder, with significantly more cup games than anybody bar the 3 teams above us, with the 2nd lowest turn around time for games, and on and on and on.

You have a strange definition of "average and poor".

I've been aware of a drop off in home performances. After the amazing 15 consecutive home Premier League victories, culminating in that marvellous week against Man City and Arsenal, our home league record is:    W  4   D 3  L 3  and we have also lost to Chelsea and now Olympiakos in the cups at Villa Park

Meanwhile our away league record is   W 5 D2 L2 (against the two Manchester clubs)

It's our home form that has dropped a bit ,..but our away performances have largely been excellent.

Given we have two more away league fixtures let's look on the bright side!