Aston Villa (0) vs Nottm Forest (1) - EL SF 2nd leg pre match

[PeterWithesShin]

It's now or never for a number of the players I reckon. I've said before that I think we'll see a lot of movement in the summer and the only way is down for a fair few players.

[Monty]

It's now or never for a number of the players I reckon. I've said before that I think we'll see a lot of movement in the summer and the only way is down for a fair few players.

Yes, I think this is what I mean. It feels like we're due a bit of a squad overhaul, which isn't bad in and of itself - it's just that the club has given us no real reason to think they can pull off the necessary good business.

[Billy Walker]

I would say that our transfer situation and management of that situation is bad and getting worse, and in the last year has been borderline farcical. Look at our opponents yesterday for how easy it is to fall back if you get that side of things so badly wrong for a long while.

Yesterday's opponents got it wrong by chopping and changing their manager every couple of years. They even sacked a manager on the eve of a final. They've been a basket case for a good few years and need stability and direction - we have both, thankfully.  Re transfers, we have to operate within tight FFP regulations, so in that context I believe our manager is working absolute miracles.

[Monty]

I would say that our transfer situation and management of that situation is bad and getting worse, and in the last year has been borderline farcical. Look at our opponents yesterday for how easy it is to fall back if you get that side of things so badly wrong for a long while.

Yesterday's opponents got it wrong by chopping and changing their manager every couple of years. They even sacked a manager on the eve of a final. They've been a basket case for a good few years and need stability and direction - we have both, thankfully.  Re transfers, we have to operate within tight FFP regulations, so in that context I believe our manager is working absolute miracles.

None of which I find very reassuring!

[darren woolley]

I can see us winning 2-0.

[Pete3206]

The short-sighted reaction of miserabilist, defeatist Villa fans (not a personal dig at you, Pete3206, just observing the views of podcasters etc) is certainly a bonus for Forest.  The rest, not so much.  This is sport.  If bookies make us favourites, so what? That's just noise and meaningless noise, at that.  Forest are huge favourites, going by the recent results, they have a lead to defend away from home so the pressure is entirely on them.  The Villa players won't bottle this, my concern lies with our fans some of whom seem to be hellbent on manifesting defeat. 

Fair enough Billy but, are you not concerned by the drastic dip in form, surrendering to a Spurs side easing to a 2nd win in 2026, the other being at already relegated Wolves?

Only a few weeks ago, we stank out Molineux, then got thrashed by Chelsea who were on a terrible run, meekly surrendered at Old Trafford and produced a dismal 2nd half showing at Fulham, not even laying a glove on them. OK, we got wins at home to West Ham, who were rubbish and Sunderland and we very nearly cocked that up at the death.

We were crap in the 1st leg at Forest, absolutely crap. Then came that nonsense yesterday. Both Forest and Spurs expressed a desire to press and win the ball and we couldn't match them. I love Emery and admire what he's done for the club and hope he continues to manage the team. But we can't keep getting to these stages in competitions and just being rolled over by teams like Olympiacos, Palace and Forest.

[Ads]

Why were we crap at Forest? A game where nothing happened beyond two VAR decisions. Why do we have to pretend our wins dont count in the league?

[Paul.S]

It’s been the issue for seasons now but we have no pace. The only player who you could describe as quick is Maatsen. I’d go all Mcleish and play him in a wide attacking role. It definitely won’t happen but something has to change and we have to surprise them. Push Rogers into the middle instead of Buendia.
As usual, in any game, the central midfield area is vital, we need to get some physicality in there.
Please Unai, don’t play Sancho and please let McGinn be fit.

[Brazilian Villain]

If we didn't go through after playing a full strength team against Spurs, some of the same people moaning about yesterday would be questioning why Unai hadn't rested players ahead of a semi-final.

We may or may not go through, but I'm willing to trust the guy who's won it four times on what gives us the best chance to get to the final.

[Dave P]

How would we be if we won 1-0 at home and had to defend this away at a team chasing the champions league. Forests players and fans must be all over the place more than us

[Billy Walker]

The short-sighted reaction of miserabilist, defeatist Villa fans (not a personal dig at you, Pete3206, just observing the views of podcasters etc) is certainly a bonus for Forest.  The rest, not so much.  This is sport.  If bookies make us favourites, so what? That's just noise and meaningless noise, at that.  Forest are huge favourites, going by the recent results, they have a lead to defend away from home so the pressure is entirely on them.  The Villa players won't bottle this, my concern lies with our fans some of whom seem to be hellbent on manifesting defeat. 

Fair enough Billy but, are you not concerned by the drastic dip in form, surrendering to a Spurs side easing to a 2nd win in 2026, the other being at already relegated Wolves?

Only a few weeks ago, we stank out Molineux, then got thrashed by Chelsea who were on a terrible run, meekly surrendered at Old Trafford and produced a dismal 2nd half showing at Fulham, not even laying a glove on them. OK, we got wins at home to West Ham, who were rubbish and Sunderland and we very nearly cocked that up at the death.

We were crap in the 1st leg at Forest, absolutely crap. Then came that nonsense yesterday. Both Forest and Spurs expressed a desire to press and win the ball and we couldn't match them. I love Emery and admire what he's done for the club and hope he continues to manage the team. But we can't keep getting to these stages in competitions and just being rolled over by teams like Olympiacos, Palace and Forest.

I'm not "concerned" per se. I think there is context.  Unlike a lot of other (rival) clubs we have gone deep into Europe and have had to balance our players' minutes accordingly. Over the past ten days (I think) we'll have played two games more than Liverpool and Man Utd, the manager has to factor that in when he picks our teams.  We have two very clear priorities - achieve Champions League and win a trophy - despite all the obstacles against us we are on course for this.  Since our Europa quarter final win, I think Unai has started to prioritise that trophy over league fixtures, too - another factor behind our dip in league form.  I'm just trying to look at the bigger picture and the way Unai is trying to manage our season - and  if the way it has panned out had been offered to us back in August, surely we all would have grasped it? 

Thursday night is now a one-off match, Forest have it all to lose and we have everything to gain, we're in an incredible position. Genuinely, the negativity, the hysterical podcasts, all the moaning betrays a bottling mentality within the fanbase, not our manager (who has won many trophies).  Small Heath, Nottingham Forest and Arsenal fans will be lapping up the reaction of Villa fans to Unai's tactical decision - seriously, as a fanbase we can be our own worst enemy at times.  We have the chance of making a European Final on Thursday night - I'm going to say it again - a European Final! My message to everyone here is to snap out of the funk, and grasp the very real moment we are in.

[dave.woodhall]

Yup.

[Brazilian Villain]

Well said, Billy.

[Sexual Ealing]

I agree with you, Billy, if we get through on Thursday we'll soon stop caring about Spurs. It just feels like we're less likely to do so after turning in that shitshow last night.

[Stu]

I think we’ll likely concede so we have to go all out in this tie. It was the worst fixture we could have got in the semis tbh. Yesterday was awful and Fulham was bad but we didn’t deserve to lose at Forest. All to play for and I’m sure Emery and the players will be motivated.