PSG vs Aston Villa - CL QF 1st leg - pre match thread

[BC54 VFC]

Isn't it a bit early for this thread?

Bit early? The game is next Wednesday.

It’s this Wednesday. Next Wednesday is a week Wednesday.

Err, no it's not!!

[Dave]

They didn't exactly dominate during the league phase. Look at their 4 home results.
18/09: Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Girona
22/10: Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 PSV Eindhoven
06/11: Paris Saint-Germain 1-2 Atlético de Madrid
22/01: Paris Saint-Germain 4-2 Manchester City

Two ways of looking at this - they're a completely different team since the group stages. They completely changed their system in December and went from being bang average to being really good. Think "Morgan Rogers on the wing for Middlesbrough", you just tweak the same stuff a bit and a couple of position changes and you've got "Morgan Rogers, one of the best attacking players in England". Nothing's really changed, but it's a completely different thing.

So looking at them being rubbish against PSV is about as relevant as us being rubbish against Monaco in January. Broadly the same ingredients, not the same dish.

On the other hand - just because they've won a load of matches since then doesn't mean they're anything to be really scared of either. Just like they're not the same team when they were rubbish in the Autumn, their recent results suggest they're probably not the same team that was smashing teams six weeks ago either.

Something I've not really seen mentioned much in the run-up to this, PSG are desperate to win this and people (after Liverpool) have started to say that they've now got the setup to win it. And this is the stage that they screw it up.

A comical quarter-final defeat to a team that everyone is expecting them to beat is exactly the chapter that comes next in that PSG story. It's like Emery's PSG smashing Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg just to concede three last minute goals and lose 6-5 on aggregate. They're the ones with history and weight of expectation punching them in the face. We just have to turn up and massage its shoulders between rounds.

[Nev]

As we walked down the steps from the UH after the Bruges game, amidst all the cheers and excited chatter I whispered to my mate "we're going to get absolutely battered aren't we?" What was traditional, downbeat black humour wasn't entirely what I believed but of course we could be well beaten across the two legs, indeed one would say it's likely. But then this is football and it doesn't always follow the script.

We are in excellent form with a full squad so now is the time to progress against the odds. Home second is key, stay in the tie over there. Easier said than done, but it will be done.

1-0

[algy]

I’ve had a little read on A PSG forum and there are a few themes emerging -


They are concerned about our firepower up front.
They reckon Unai wants revenge.
They think next Weds will be a draw, but that their manager will get them through over 2 legs.
They really don’t like Emi Martinez.

The mind games so far: Villa 2 or 3 - PSG 0.

And positive comments re visiting VP!

That’s all well and good, Louzie, but do they think the game is on this Mercredi or next Mercredi?

[Dave P]

I’ve had a little read on A PSG forum and there are a few themes emerging -


They are concerned about our firepower up front.
They reckon Unai wants revenge.
They think next Weds will be a draw, but that their manager will get them through over 2 legs.
They really don’t like Emi Martinez.

The mind games so far: Villa 2 or 3 - PSG 0.

And positive comments re visiting VP!

For a team and set of supporters that I imagined to be so far up their own arse, they were actually kind of balanced and fair and respectful.

[Olneythelonely]

Err, no it's not!!

Definitely is.

[Somniloquism]

Isn't it a bit early for this thread?

Bit early? The game is next Wednesday.

It’s this Wednesday. Next Wednesday is a week Wednesday.

Err, no it's not!!

[FVMode]I think we should have a poll to decide if a thread is needed to discuss this. However I'm aware that some won't like that so can we have a poll to discuss whether to have a poll to decide this.

Also, where is the Man City pre-match thread?[/FVMode]

[Drummond]

'Wednesday' is the nearest Wednesday. 'Next Wednesday' is the Wednesday after 'Wednesday'.

[Olneythelonely]

'Wednesday' is the nearest Wednesday. 'Next Wednesday' is the Wednesday after 'Wednesday'.

Correct

[Drummond]

And having typed it a few times I've realised what a weird word Wednesday is.

[martyn ellis]

The word "Wednesday" originates from the Old English "Wōdnesdæg," meaning "Woden's day," with Woden being the Anglo-Saxon equivalent of the Norse god Odin, a chief deity in Germanic mythology

[cdward]

I met a lad a few years back who was a Sheffield Wednesday supporter, he had the team name tattooed on his forearm in large letters, but the tattooist spelled it "Wendesday" instead of Wednesday.

[Mellin]

He has it right. It's Des O'Conner's day, not Odin's.

[Percy McCarthy]

I like Disasi but I’ve no idea why people would want him over Cash at RB.

Well, if it’s what they’re predicting rather than what they want, perhaps they’re just remembering that in the most demanding games Unai nearly always plays a centre-half at right-back instead of Cash. Go back further and he even preferred Ashley Young there.

[London Villan]

Hoping Unai has rewatched the Liverpool vs PSG matches and realised Slot's headless-chicken attacking perhaps isn't the way to approach these two games.

Emi

Desasi
Konsa
Mings
Digne

Kamara
Onana

Ramsey
Teilemans
Rogers

Rashford or Watkins


With McGinn and Asensio ready to come on after 60 mins if needed.