Championship Memories

[Mellin]

Three. Fucking. Years.

Was thinking about this today. How it's crazy where we are now and how three full seasons in the Championship already feels like a lifetime ago. I was one of the "we need to be relegated for a refresh" lot, but after one season was desperate to get back. We did not belong.

I was at Pride Park for a 0-0 with a half fit Kozak up front. Might've been under Bruce. Nothing happened and we had zero quality. Vividly remember watching that and thinking we might not see the Prem for another 10 years, maybe more, nevermind the upper reaches of it. We were so, so bad. You could see we weren't going up that season and were at serious risk of staying down for some time.

Alan Hutton at home to that lot. Unbelievable moment. Was so chuffed for him. Clearly meant so much. Equally, Hourihane at home to the Baggies, which I watched in Cafe Benidorm with supporters from both sides, and, obviously, Jed Steer away. Primordial Emi Martinez.

Remember watching Liverpool in the Champions League final in London, having lost to Fulham, me and a close friend not sharing a word. Fearing the worst, but not knowing how bad our situation really was. The taxman waiting on the steps of Villa Park.

But, finally, full circle, back to Derby. I was sat on my own for that final. Missed both goals, as I'd had some dodgy food the night before, so had to go celebrate in the toilet twice over. The tension of the last 10 minutes, but knowing deep down we were going home. Then at full time, a random old boy hugging me half to death, cheeks stained with tears and worn by years of sacrifice at the alter of claret and blue. Have a perfect still of his face in mind, but never seen before or since. Back to the Green Man and singing "We've got McGinn" in the beer garden for an hour solid until voices were hoarse and we could no longer. Then the last train back from Euston, rammed full of Villa even past midnight.

Some nice memories really. I'm glad it happened. I think we needed the clean slate, plus it gave a couple of savvy investors the opportunity to snaffle a bargain. But I'm also glad it's over, and wish never to return. So let's do that winning the UCL and qualifying for the Champions league thing. Then I can have a quiet word with my old self, stood in a cold and quiet Pride Park, and just let him know not to worry, everything's coming up Millhouse.

[PeterWithesShin]

It was shit. Every second. Getting pumped at home by the likes of Barnsley, QPR and Albion. Nearly going out of business. It may have ended well but it was still shit.

[Legion]

We were lucky to get out of it. Losing to Fulham was a blessing in disguise.

[edgysatsuma89]

I remember being in the car, right in front of the Villa coach leaving Carrow Road, and seeing the most miserable looking potato headed man in the world at the front. I was tempted to flip him the v's like an absolute ledge, but to be fair to him I don't think he could have looked anymore depressed. We were fucking shit that day, like many under him.

[Pete3206]

Aaron Tshibola. Remember him?

[aj2k77]

Being fucked by Sheffield Utd and Billy Sharp for most of the game then stealing the last 8 minutes. Cabbage gate and Glenn Whelan taking a penalty. Continually conceding later and later goals under Di Matteo until he got sacked. It was all shite. I didn't enjoy any of it really.

[Rory]

Being fucked by Sheffield Utd and Billy Sharp for most of the game then stealing the last 8 minutes. Cabbage gate and Glenn Whelan taking a penalty. Continually conceding later and later goals under Di Matteo until he got sacked. It was all shite. I didn't enjoy any of it really.

My 30th birthday. Glad I stayed until the end!

[villabear]

Aaron Tshibola. Remember him?

Mr Burns shudder

[ADVILLAFAN]

Once we got rid of that eejit Di Matteo it wasn't too bad.

After half a decade of grimly surviving in the Prem, it was nice to go into the games expecting to win again and also playing some sides I'd never seen before.

Remember one season where Uncle Albert Adomah had scored more goals than Blues by about Christmas.

Making new enemies, like those weirdos Bristol City.

[Taylor]

Honestly, I did enjoy some parts. Remember that last minute screamer by Snodgrass against SU?

[ADVILLAFAN]

Honestly, I did enjoy some parts. Remember that last screamer by Snodgrass against SU?

Yeah, we were pretty poor that day, then Snoddy snatched it at the death.

[Axl Rose]

Not a great deal of good memories until Smith came in, to he honest.

Things I hated:

Playing Brentford and them looking like they were playing football we could only dream of ever playing.

As AD touched on above, having to put up with tinpot clubs and touchy, wanky, weirdo fanbases. The likes of Bristol City, Burton, Blues and Wolves

Crappy streams

Crappy managers like Bruce and having to listen to some fans saying he did a good job.

Having Micah Richards

[Yeltzer]

Gollini, Elphick, Hutton, Baker, Cissokoh, Bacuna, Gardner, Westwood, Ayew, McCormack, Gestede

Our first XI for our first championship game away at Sheff Wed.

Shudder

[Demitri_C]

That hutton goal vs blosers was the obvious highlight next to the play offs.

That game away to sheff wed when we scored two late was also a crazy game.

There was also one game which sticks out that game against rotherham. We scored a unbelievable team goal in that game.

Glad we are out of it and hope we nevee gi back but there was some fun times in the league. Got to say thw games were more entertaining down there

[N'ZMAV]

Aaron Tshibola. Remember him?

yes, I'll raise you with André Moreira