Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth Pre-Match Thread

[dave.woodhall]

It doesn't have to be either/or. We're odds-on to finish fourth and favourites for the Conference. That's the sort of level we aspire to, so we have to go into every game believing we can win.

I didn't say that it had to be. I said that I'd take one or the other if offered right now.

And equally, I didn't say you did. I think we need to get rid of our fatalistic attitude. 

[remy]

I think this is an opportunity to start like a raging bull and go 2 or 3 goals ahead within 30mins and then close out the game using every trick in the book. At this stage I’m not bothered about pretty patterns of play I just want the points for the end game. Stick 10 behind the ball come 65mins and disrupt play, subs, shithousery etc. I’m going to remember the 3 points when I look at the table not the midfield kept hoofing it vs Cherries.

[PaulTheVillan]

Couple of early goals and a clean sheet please.

[Villa Lew]

Don't know anything about Bournemouth's manager Antoni Iraola other than he's doing a very good job and seems to have got the best out of Solanke.

As for my preference of winning the Conference or top 4, I don't have one, I'm equally desperate to win both.

[AV82EC]

Must admit I’m tired of the mentality that is has to be either/or rather than as Dave W says both. If we aim to be the club we feel we can be then this type of self doubt needs to stop. I realise it’s a good discussion topic but do fans from other
Clubs in our position have this constant doubt as to their ability. All I know is the evidence that Unai Emery has put before us over the last 18 months. Every time we doubt him and the team they prove us wrong time and time again. Go ahead in a game and we very rarely lose or even draw for that matter. Whenever we have a bad result or two we invariably bounce back with a winning run of 4 or 5 games. I realise the last 30 years has maybe conditioned us to never delivering when it really matters but the evidence is there in front of us and we seem to be ignoring it.

[eamonn]

Get a win. I don’t care how, just win.

Yeah but you always want us to play well too!

[PaulWinch again]

Get a win. I don’t care how, just win.

Yeah but you always want us to play well too!

I’ll park that for today!

[TopDeck113]

As an absolute minimum we need to win three more league matches.  This is arguably the easiest of the home games, but it is on the back of two emotionally and physically draining away games. I'd be happy with a 1-0 or 2-1.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I'll be happy with a 4-0 win, Villa Park rocking, Spurs hanging out the white flag and us being linked to some top quality players who want to play CL football next season. Winning the Conference goes without saying.