Olympiacos v Villa Pre-match Thread

[PeterWithe]

Were you eating Cheese before bed last night?

[Dogtanian]

Were you eating Cheese before bed last night?

I did actually have a cheese baguette. 

[RamboandBruno]

Given there has been no mention of Tielemans at all my uneducated guess is he’s out and possibly for the last few games.

If that is the case and Rogers and Zaniolo are out too, I wonder if Moreno might play ahead of Digne as an almost last option. I always thought this was a stupid idea that would never happen, but it worked well for the last 20-30 against Arsenal.

If all those injured are still out (other than Emi which i can’t contemplate)

Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Digne
Luiz
McGinn
Moreno
Watkins
Diaby
Bailey

[London Villan]

The ref wasn't to blame for the performance last week. We looked slow and leggy, Olympiacos moved the ball quicker and were much more direct (in the first half in particular). Dragging it back to 2-2 was an achievement - but give away penalties and then miss them, then that is down to us.

On paper tonight is of course do-able - but it's a massive ask and with how we defend we'll need at least 3 goals...

A lot will depend on if Pau and Teilemans play (assuming Emi starts) - without them I don't think we stand a chance.

[curiousorange]

He wasn't to blame but he didn't help.

[paul_e]

The ref wasn't to blame for the performance last week. We looked slow and leggy, Olympiacos moved the ball quicker and were much more direct (in the first half in particular). Dragging it back to 2-2 was an achievement - but give away penalties and then miss them, then that is down to us.

On paper tonight is of course do-able - but it's a massive ask and with how we defend we'll need at least 3 goals...

A lot will depend on if Pau and Teilemans play (assuming Emi starts) - without them I don't think we stand a chance.

It can be more than 1 thing. They took their chances, got the best of ref ddecisions and got a bit of good fortune. We had everything that could go against us do so. a win to us would've been just as fair a reflection of the game as the result we got, in my opinion.

[Footy-Vill]

Olympiakos fan here. Some comments make me wonder if we saw a different game. No one can disagree that Villa is the better team by far and for us to win the 1st leg happened because of luck, villa's injuries, villas overconfidence, tiredness and a very friendly ref towards us. But there is a huge difference between a friendly ref who gave the  few disputed incidents in our favor than the AL Capone that many of you present  him. He is not the Tunisian ref who allowed Maradona score with his hand. Sure he could.have allowed the goal instead of giving a foul but it's not like he invented something non existing. We all saw the attacker pulling the defenders shirt and then the ball hitting his head while he was down for an easy goal for Bailey. He could have given Baileys penalty sure. But also in this case the defender kicks the ball first before their feet entangled. About the penalty we were given, extended arm is always considered penalty and doesn't matter if he wasn't looking or if he had no intention. If all those cases were in favor of Villa instead, then it would have been us complaining about a hostile ref. Anyway we are expecting a tough game against a better team that won't make the same mistake to underestimate us this time. It's 50/50

Hi GK thanks for contributing a greek perspective.
What is your knowledge about
Interpol Probing Greek Football Teams for Alleged Match-Fixing?

Interpol, Eurojust and the Betting Fraud Detection Company Sportradar are investigating 18 Greek football teams for suspected participation in an illegal betting ring, a website revealed last year.

Also what are your views of Marinakis?

[Footy-Vill]

 Villa beware – the wild world of Olympiakos and Forest owner Marinakis

https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/aston-villa-beware-wild-world-olympiakos-forest-owner-evangelos-marinakis-3035008

Is an interesting read from last week

[Bad English]

FV works in the diplomatic corps I believe.

[Dogtanian]

Villa beware – the wild world of Olympiakos and Forest owner Marinakis

https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/aston-villa-beware-wild-world-olympiakos-forest-owner-evangelos-marinakis-3035008

Is an interesting read from last week

Is it bad? I prefer the Cat Stevens original.

[Monty]

FV works in the diplomatic corps I believe.

A very Palmerstonian line of questioning - let's send a gunboat. Cives romani sumus!

[LeeB]

Qualified from the Alan Hardaker school of international diplomacy.

[gkap7]

Olympiakos fan here. Some comments make me wonder if we saw a different game. No one can disagree that Villa is the better team by far and for us to win the 1st leg happened because of luck, villa's injuries, villas overconfidence, tiredness and a very friendly ref towards us. But there is a huge difference between a friendly ref who gave the  few disputed incidents in our favor than the AL Capone that many of you present  him. He is not the Tunisian ref who allowed Maradona score with his hand. Sure he could.have allowed the goal instead of giving a foul but it's not like he invented something non existing. We all saw the attacker pulling the defenders shirt and then the ball hitting his head while he was down for an easy goal for Bailey. He could have given Baileys penalty sure. But also in this case the defender kicks the ball first before their feet entangled. About the penalty we were given, extended arm is always considered penalty and doesn't matter if he wasn't looking or if he had no intention. If all those cases were in favor of Villa instead, then it would have been us complaining about a hostile ref. Anyway we are expecting a tough game against a better team that won't make the same mistake to underestimate us this time. It's 50/50

Hi GK thanks for contributing a greek perspective.
What is your knowledge about
Interpol Probing Greek Football Teams for Alleged Match-Fixing?

Interpol, Eurojust and the Betting Fraud Detection Company Sportradar are investigating 18 Greek football teams for suspected participation in an illegal betting ring, a website revealed last year.

Also what are your views of Marinakis?

Our 2nd and 3rd division (something like your championship and league1) are absolutely corrupted. Most of the teams if not all since they are lacking funds, they set up games and they bet accordingly mostly to Asian bookmakers. My opinion for Marinakis is very bad but not many share my point of view. If you want your team to be n1 no matter how, then he is the best owner for your club. But if you dont like shady methods like i dont, then its difficult to admire him.

[JUAN PABLO]

Be typical of Villa to go 2 0 in front ( 4 4 agg)  at half time    and then fuck it up in the second half and heads drop    1-2    ( 5 4 )  , maybe give a silly pen away or get hit in te 48th minute .

anyway Im still beliving.

[Monty]

Olympiakos fan here. Some comments make me wonder if we saw a different game. No one can disagree that Villa is the better team by far and for us to win the 1st leg happened because of luck, villa's injuries, villas overconfidence, tiredness and a very friendly ref towards us. But there is a huge difference between a friendly ref who gave the  few disputed incidents in our favor than the AL Capone that many of you present  him. He is not the Tunisian ref who allowed Maradona score with his hand. Sure he could.have allowed the goal instead of giving a foul but it's not like he invented something non existing. We all saw the attacker pulling the defenders shirt and then the ball hitting his head while he was down for an easy goal for Bailey. He could have given Baileys penalty sure. But also in this case the defender kicks the ball first before their feet entangled. About the penalty we were given, extended arm is always considered penalty and doesn't matter if he wasn't looking or if he had no intention. If all those cases were in favor of Villa instead, then it would have been us complaining about a hostile ref. Anyway we are expecting a tough game against a better team that won't make the same mistake to underestimate us this time. It's 50/50

Hi GK thanks for contributing a greek perspective.
What is your knowledge about
Interpol Probing Greek Football Teams for Alleged Match-Fixing?

Interpol, Eurojust and the Betting Fraud Detection Company Sportradar are investigating 18 Greek football teams for suspected participation in an illegal betting ring, a website revealed last year.

Also what are your views of Marinakis?

Our 2nd and 3rd division (something like your championship and league1) are absolutely corrupted. Most of the teams if not all since they are lacking funds, they set up games and they bet accordingly mostly to Asian bookmakers. My opinion for Marinakis is very bad but not many share my point of view. If you want your team to be n1 no matter how, then he is the best owner for your club. But if you dont like shady methods like i dont, then its difficult to admire him.

Now that's some honesty, fair play to you mate.

(Γενναίος εκ μέρους σου, Google is telling me to say...!)