Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth Pre-Match Thread

[VillaTim]

I'd have been more gutted going out Thursday than I will be if we lose to Bournemouth.

Totally the opposite for me . Lose tomorrow and it negates all the brilliant work done last weekend and hands the initiative back to Spurs . Tomorrow is huge for us as a club.

[AV84]

I'd have been more gutted going out Thursday than I will be if we lose to Bournemouth.

Totally the opposite for me . Lose tomorrow and it negates all the brilliant work done last weekend and hands the initiative back to Spurs . Tomorrow is huge for us as a club.

Feels like a few times this season we've done something massive and then not quite undone it, but failed to capitalise on it. 3 points tomorrow would be a massive 3 points and continue to put the pressure on Spurs.

[Goldenballs]

Up until the 85th minute I'd convinced myself that tomorrow was more important for all the reasons already mentioned.

Now I don't know.

Champions league and a semi final defeat, or a cup and Europa. I still can't make up my mind (I know these aren't the only 2 possible outcomes)

If FFP wasn't a complete pile of spunk potentially forcing us to sell our better players to the teams we're trying to compete with, then it's the trophy all day long. But as it is, 4th might set us up better for a couple of trophy's in Emery’s next few seasons with us.

[KevinGage]

Their forwards had us chasing shadows down there before Christmas - and that was at a time when we were in good form.

Solanke, Kluivert and Semenyo all looked decent that day and it's no surprise their results have been good from Nov onwards

After the euphoria/ relief from Thurs, it's two goals conceded again by us. Even with a fully fit side this would be tough. I expect us to concede, it's just whether we have enough in the tank to bother them. I'd take any sort of win at all. Performance level matters not a jot at this stage.

[Olneythelonely]

I usually understand both sides of an emotional decision involving Villa. Such as the old “should we stay or go” re: Villa Park.

Two things I’ll always struggle to get my head around, country before club supporters and people wanting CL qualification over winning a trophy.

Doesn’t matter too much though, because we’ll do both.

[gpbarr]

I usually understand both sides of an emotional decision involving Villa. Such as the old “should we stay or go” re: Villa Park.

Two things I’ll always struggle to get my head around, country before club supporters and people wanting CL qualification over winning a trophy.

Doesn’t matter too much though, because we’ll do both.

It boils down to ambition. If we want to be the massive club we all think we are, we simply have to be in the CL - that’s where the money is, the best players are, and the most prestigious trophy is. The truly big clubs - Real Madrid, Bayern, Barcelona, etc would never swap the odd trophy for CL - for them, the latter is where they have to be. We should aspire to the same and, we are within touching distance (finally).

Now is the time. Tomorrow is a HUGE game - in my opinion, our biggest game since the Wembley play off final in terms possible consequences on future income, the type of players we can attract, FFP, Unai wanting to stay etc.

Win and the pressure is well and truly on Tottenham and I think they will crumble.

[Demitri_C]

Wish they made this a Monday game. That would haved help massobely with fatigue  but of course no help from PL

[Olneythelonely]

I usually understand both sides of an emotional decision involving Villa. Such as the old “should we stay or go” re: Villa Park.

Two things I’ll always struggle to get my head around, country before club supporters and people wanting CL qualification over winning a trophy.

Doesn’t matter too much though, because we’ll do both.

It boils down to ambition. If we want to be the massive club we all think we are, we simply have to be in the CL - that’s where the money is, the best players are, and the most prestigious trophy is. The truly big clubs - Real Madrid, Bayern, Barcelona, etc would never swap the odd trophy for CL - for them, the latter is where they have to be. We should aspire to the same and, we are within touching distance (finally).

Now is the time. Tomorrow is a HUGE game - in my opinion, our biggest game since the Wembley play off final in terms possible consequences on future income, the type of players we can attract, FFP, Unai wanting to stay etc.

Win and the pressure is well and truly on Tottenham and I think they will crumble.

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern have probably won 100 trophies between them, since we last won one. Suggesting we are within touching distance of them is massively premature. If Newcastle had have won the FA Cup this or last year, they’d not be telling their grandkids in the future about the time they finished 4th in their Champions League group.

My ambition ends at winning trophies. Once that begins to be taken over by my dream of increasing revenue, I think I’ll give up.

Don’t get me wrong, qualifying for the Champions League will be amazing and it MIGHT bring all the things you suggest, but I’d take any major trophy over it.

[CT Villan]

We need to have this wrapped up by half-time so when the inevitable tiredness hits we are already home and dry.

I also agree on the Luiz comments, he appears to be playing below his normal levels at the mo.

[RamboandBruno]

I usually understand both sides of an emotional decision involving Villa. Such as the old “should we stay or go” re: Villa Park.

Two things I’ll always struggle to get my head around, country before club supporters and people wanting CL qualification over winning a trophy.

Doesn’t matter too much though, because we’ll do both.

It boils down to ambition. If we want to be the massive club we all think we are, we simply have to be in the CL - that’s where the money is, the best players are, and the most prestigious trophy is. The truly big clubs - Real Madrid, Bayern, Barcelona, etc would never swap the odd trophy for CL - for them, the latter is where they have to be. We should aspire to the same and, we are within touching distance (finally).

Now is the time. Tomorrow is a HUGE game - in my opinion, our biggest game since the Wembley play off final in terms possible consequences on future income, the type of players we can attract, FFP, Unai wanting to stay etc.

Win and the pressure is well and truly on Tottenham and I think they will crumble.

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern have probably won 100 trophies between them, since we last won one. Suggesting we are within touching distance of them is massively premature. If Newcastle had have won the FA Cup this or last year, they’d not be telling their grandkids in the future about the time they finished 4th in their Champions League group.

My ambition ends at winning trophies. Once that begins to be taken over by my dream of increasing revenue, I think I’ll give up.

Don’t get me wrong, qualifying for the Champions League will be amazing and it MIGHT bring all the things you suggest, but I’d take any major trophy over it.

With you here.
I get the point about potentially losing some of our very best player if we don’t qualify for the champions league. However, this to be an ambition driven by fear, I’d rather having the hope of winning something.
As an aside, I don’t the whole thing is binary. I dont think at this stage of the season with this manager, striving for one will negate succeeding in the other. 

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

 1996, 1994, 1982, 1977, 1975, 1961 and 1957.

Without looking it up, I bet the majority here know what we won in each of those years.

Not one of us could say precisely where we finished in the league in each of those seasons.

Trophies and glory every time.

[PeterWithesShin]

4th, 11th, 11th, 4th, 2nd, not sure, 15th, is my off the top of my head guesses.

[VillaTim]

I usually understand both sides of an emotional decision involving Villa. Such as the old “should we stay or go” re: Villa Park.

Two things I’ll always struggle to get my head around, country before club supporters and people wanting CL qualification over winning a trophy.

Doesn’t matter too much though, because we’ll do both.

It boils down to ambition. If we want to be the massive club we all think we are, we simply have to be in the CL - that’s where the money is, the best players are, and the most prestigious trophy is. The truly big clubs - Real Madrid, Bayern, Barcelona, etc would never swap the odd trophy for CL - for them, the latter is where they have to be. We should aspire to the same and, we are within touching distance (finally).

Now is the time. Tomorrow is a HUGE game - in my opinion, our biggest game since the Wembley play off final in terms possible consequences on future income, the type of players we can attract, FFP, Unai wanting to stay etc.

Win and the pressure is well and truly on Tottenham and I think they will crumble.

Nail on head .

[Bad English]

No fucking about: three points, make them run around after the ball. Ice baths all round after. FTF!

[Louzie0]

1996, 1994, 1982, 1977, 1975, 1961 and 1957.

Without looking it up, I bet the majority here know what we won in each of those years.

Not one of us could say precisely where we finished in the league in each of those seasons.

Trophies and glory every time.

That’s a really good post! I hold my hands up, I know what we got.

I know we were second in whenever it was (92/93) that the PL began and more importantly, that we was robbed.