Not trying to rob them of their obvious qualities, but we where abject in that second half and gifted them the ball in the worst possible areas. I think most accomplished sides in the division would have faired just as well. The fact they didn't put 6 or 7 past us was surprising.
Quote from: Monty on March 04, 2026, 09:40:59 PMDon't really know where to put this. Like, to answer the thread title, obviously not. The top five will be the top five, who could have possibly imagined otherwise.I just don't think I like football anymore. The only thing keeping me following this horrible, hideous, degraded, suppurating zombie of a sport was the thought that, maybe, at some point, the Villa might reward my long stupid patience with some random one-off success that I could enjoy enough to let my stupid interest die in peace.But honestly, all those things that make the sport horrible have coagulated into a great big embolism right in the lungs of even our modest ambitions. Chelsea lose a billion quid? Ah, but it's the right sort of losses! Man Utd have more debt than your average post-Soviet pseudo-democracy? Ah, but we don't count debt! And the compliant, acquiescent media, really just what journalists so often are, giddy mediocrities just overwhelmed with glee to even be near power. Of course we'll intimidate refs on behalf of the chosen clubs by scrutinising every tiny decision that goes against them. Of course we'll ignore every decision in their favour. Of course we'll act as (one assumes) unpaid marketing departments to help them fluff their fucking Brands. Of course, we may tut when the chairman of Man City does something awkward like fund genocide, but Man City play such good football, wow they're just so elite, really we're so lucky we let our country and its culture and its institutions be flogged off to foreign dictators like this, we should be honoured to have the eyes of the Americans on the PremEar League.Football as it is sums up everything to hate about our modern world perhaps most perfectly because it's such a grotesque perversion of the thing it was, the thing that oligarchs bought like they buy everything from us to sell back to us as engagement, luxury, status, CONTENT (also, all football CONTENT CREATORS, with their BANTZ and their utter slavishness to just the idea of the Powerful and their divine right to win everything, can get in the re-education camp where they belong, fascist running dogs). The Villa is my link to my late grandfather and to his grandfather. That kind of thing used to mean something. Now, it's just Legacy Branding.So, fuck football. It's sad, but it's dead. Maybe I'll take up croquet, or woodwork, or fishing. You know, while there are still fish.Same time next week? Me too.
Don't really know where to put this. Like, to answer the thread title, obviously not. The top five will be the top five, who could have possibly imagined otherwise.I just don't think I like football anymore. The only thing keeping me following this horrible, hideous, degraded, suppurating zombie of a sport was the thought that, maybe, at some point, the Villa might reward my long stupid patience with some random one-off success that I could enjoy enough to let my stupid interest die in peace.But honestly, all those things that make the sport horrible have coagulated into a great big embolism right in the lungs of even our modest ambitions. Chelsea lose a billion quid? Ah, but it's the right sort of losses! Man Utd have more debt than your average post-Soviet pseudo-democracy? Ah, but we don't count debt! And the compliant, acquiescent media, really just what journalists so often are, giddy mediocrities just overwhelmed with glee to even be near power. Of course we'll intimidate refs on behalf of the chosen clubs by scrutinising every tiny decision that goes against them. Of course we'll ignore every decision in their favour. Of course we'll act as (one assumes) unpaid marketing departments to help them fluff their fucking Brands. Of course, we may tut when the chairman of Man City does something awkward like fund genocide, but Man City play such good football, wow they're just so elite, really we're so lucky we let our country and its culture and its institutions be flogged off to foreign dictators like this, we should be honoured to have the eyes of the Americans on the PremEar League.Football as it is sums up everything to hate about our modern world perhaps most perfectly because it's such a grotesque perversion of the thing it was, the thing that oligarchs bought like they buy everything from us to sell back to us as engagement, luxury, status, CONTENT (also, all football CONTENT CREATORS, with their BANTZ and their utter slavishness to just the idea of the Powerful and their divine right to win everything, can get in the re-education camp where they belong, fascist running dogs). The Villa is my link to my late grandfather and to his grandfather. That kind of thing used to mean something. Now, it's just Legacy Branding.So, fuck football. It's sad, but it's dead. Maybe I'll take up croquet, or woodwork, or fishing. You know, while there are still fish.
On the very long drive home last night I would have said it would take a miracle for us to finish Top 5 or win the Europa. We were poor and Chelsea's passing was different class (they passed to their own players and we did not). They also shot at every opportunity and we seemed scared too.According to the bookmakers we are still odds-on to finish Top 5 and generally shorter prices than Chelsea. Either bookmakers didn't see the game and are clueless (they did and they are not) or things are not as bad as they seem and they are just more level-headed than most Villa fans. I would love to know why they think we still have a chance.
Quote from: Richard on Today at 08:28:10 AMOnly hope is that the others around us are not convincing either so if we get players back and stop feeling sorry for ourselves its still on. Goal difference concerns me though as can also see a repeat of just missing out as per last season.The thing is, your former point is still very much in play. I didn't think Chelsea where actually that good last night. They took advantage of a very poor side completely out of form who gave them everything. I've not watched the highlights back, but at the time it seemed that every opportunity they had was gifted to them. They earnt very little outside of what we gave them. Liverpool look equally drab and weary. The red filth, for all the smoke being blown up their arse look held together by string at times. Having said all that, it's a pointless conversation if we can't win football matches.
Only hope is that the others around us are not convincing either so if we get players back and stop feeling sorry for ourselves its still on. Goal difference concerns me though as can also see a repeat of just missing out as per last season.
Disagree. I thought Chelsea's one touch passing was very good and their direct, quick driving attacks and overlaps out wide overwhelmed us. They looked a much more accomplished side.
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Topic: Will we qualify for the CL? (Read 279050 times)
