Lille vs Aston Villa - Conf League QF 2nd leg - pre match chatter

[VillaTim]

I'd rather win this trophy than finish 4th.

Let's do both though!

If 5th isn't champions league I'd rather finish 4th than win this trophy, simply for the fact that champions league qualification will be a game changer for income / FFP whereas winning the conference won't be .

[wince]

I would rather we actually win something for the first time since my plumbs dropped and before they drop off.

[AV84]

This debate seems to pop up every couple of weeks. I'd take a trophy and Europa League next season over no trophy, 4th and CL next year. I do understand the financial benefits of CL, but if it was actually a choice, one or the other, I'd take the trophy.

[Seb_AVFC]

Has anyone else not yet received their ticket voucher? Even though they have completed the travel form?

Got mine on Friday. Have you checked your spam folder?

[Bad English]

In other news, I read that Edon Zhegrova is doubtful for Lille (ankle). Ideally he would be replaced by Adam Ounas. However, Ouna will not be picked because the Lille manager is not happy with his commitment in training.

[VillaTim]

This debate seems to pop up every couple of weeks. I'd take a trophy and Europa League next season over no trophy, 4th and CL next year. I do understand the financial benefits of CL, but if it was actually a choice, one or the other, I'd take the trophy.

Can see the argument from both sides but for me it's 4th and champions league .

[Pat McMahon]

Again Google Translate. FWIW

"Lille – Aston Villa: more than 2,600 English supporters under surveillance

 They are no longer the Aston Villa supporters of the 1980s, some of whom were involved in acts of violence in Belgium or the Netherlands.  English clubs and their fans returned to the European Cup in 1990 – Aston Villa were then involved in the UEFA Cup – five years after their exclusion following the Heysel tragedy, and a major clean-up was done in the country's stands  now almost sanitized, without real ultras or large groups formed.  Current fans of the “Villans” do not have the reputation of being dangerous, rather the type who hang out in bars drinking beers and singing, without picking a quarrel, before going, often quite late, to the stadium.

 In July 2002, they arrived at 600 for a semi-final first leg of the Intertoto Cup (1-1 at Grimonprez-Jooris).  More recently, they went to France for a preparation match in Rennes in the summer of 2023, gathering 1,300 people at Roazhon Park without any particular incidents.  “They agitated the city center with passion but calmly,” observed Ouest-France at the time.

 Vigilance on alcohol levels and ticketless people
 This Thursday, there will be 2,621 (for UEFA the visitor parking, limited to 1,000 in Ligue 1, represents 5% of the commercial capacity of the stadium, here a little more for logistical reasons) for a match which will be played behind closed doors  .  In addition to blood alcohol levels, the Northern prefecture especially fears the arrival of people without tickets, who could number up to 1,000 according to various information.

 It issued a supervisory decree, which above all lays the legal foundations in the event of intervention.  It prohibits them from entering the stadium and its perimeter and also for everyone, classically, to claim their status as an Aston Villa supporter outside the parking area and the reserved area on the square, around Gate I, which will be protected by barriers.  mobile and security forces.  If there is no procession planned, however, it is difficult to imagine that the English supporters would remove any “claret and blue” reference (burgundy and blue, the colors of the club) and refrain from singing along the way...

 Those who travel in an organized manner (two special charter flights in particular have been chartered) will not be escorted, unlike many championship matches;  we will find them in town, in Lille, during the day.  Many will come by Eurostar or by private car and will travel to Pierre-Mauroy on their own.  The prefecture recommends metro line 1.

 On the first leg, 1,300 Lille supporters attended the match (2-1), after setting the mood in the center of Birmingham, without incident.  The return is classified as risk 2/5 by the DNLH, the national division for the fight against hooliganism.  It remains sensitive and potentially at risk in an exacerbated international context.

 Inside the stadium, LOSC has mobilized 800 security agents (a little less than 500 for a standard L1 match, a little more than 800 against Marseille) who will also ensure that opposing supporters who have purchased tickets  general public tickets, excluding parking, (and identified by an address in Great Britain) are held to the ground.  In the surrounding area, the police force is also large, with around 250 people, canine and equestrian brigades in support."

Cheers BE. Interesting they refer to us as Burgundy and blue. When I lived in France my mates referred to our colours as Bordeaux + blue ciel, not Burgundy. The wine regions are fighting over us!

[KevinGage]

If you can go to a place like Lille, agitate the city center with passion but calmly, you have half a chance.

[VillaTim]

If you can go to a place like Lille, agitate the city center with passion but calmly, you have half a chance.

500ml Kronenbourg, 20 Gitanes , sit back and watch the world go by .

[brontebilly]

Diego and Zaniolo were superb yesterday, but have been pretty poor hitherto.

Gives Unai an interesting dilemma with Cash likely to be fully fit and available along with Dougie.

I'd bring Cash and Luiz back in. Konsa is in the main frankly rubbish at RB. Carlos will have to drop out. Rogers has been playing well but I'd go with Tielemans extra experience there and bring Luiz in next to McGinn. Bailey and Zaniolo out wide.

[RamboandBruno]

If you can go to a place like Lille, agitate the city center with passion but calmly, you have half a chance.

As long as we are demanding in our passionate but calm drinking, in our own way.

[Demitri_C]

Diego and Zaniolo were superb yesterday, but have been pretty poor hitherto.

Gives Unai an interesting dilemma with Cash likely to be fully fit and available along with Dougie.

I'd bring Cash and Luiz back in. Konsa is in the main frankly rubbish at RB. Carlos will have to drop out. Rogers has been playing well but I'd go with Tielemans extra experience there and bring Luiz in next to McGinn. Bailey and Zaniolo out wide.

Cash and luiz for sure. Keep diabs on bench as he is still one booking away from a ban.  Mcginn needs to be very careful cant afford him getting a ban for next round of we win.

Save carlos for weekend game and give konsa a rest on the bench

[pauliewalnuts]

If you can go to a place like Lille, agitate the city center with passion but calmly, you have half a chance.

As long as we are demanding in our passionate but calm drinking, in our own way.

Raising our alcohol levels.

[Somniloquism]

Save carlos for weekend game and give konsa a rest on the bench

So who are we playing in the other CB position if you are dropping both Carlos and Konsa?

[Demitri_C]

Save carlos for weekend game and give konsa a rest on the bench

So who are we playing in the other CB position if you are dropping both Carlos and Konsa?

Did you even read what i wrote? I said rest carlos and save him for weekend game and rest konsa for weekend.

Then you have pau and carlos for sunday wiyh cash at rb. Hope that clears up any confusion for you