Europa League Winners Post-Match Celebration Perma-sticky

[Astral Weeks]

I know it’s been talked about before but when we look back at footage of the two European finals we’ve played in and won, it will always be that funny bit of trivia that it’s been against German teams in red, we are wearing white, in a game where we didn’t concede a goal and officiated by a French ref.

And our keeper started the game with an injury ( though he was able to finish the game this time).

[Meanwood Villa]

Something dawned on me earlier, had it not been an awful decision by the referee in the final game of last season we wouldn’t be having this moment. We may well have gone on to win the CL but probably unlikely.  We may have made the final and ended up unlucky losers who knows what could have happened.

What we have done, for a fan base and club alike is won some silverware. It’s not as immediately financially as profitable as a season in the CL but winning the thing long term might well prove to be. Would Newcastle swap places with us on Wednesday night? Too right they would.

I had a random chat in a Hammersmith supermarket today after seeing a bloke in a Villa shirt and he said exactly the same thing. I hadn’t actually clocked that myself but he was spot on, just like Bow.  All hail shit OT refereeing decisions.

I meant to post this on the "where are you right now" thread but forgot. On Friday afternoon, I found myself on the same Manchester Victoria platform as post Old Trafford last season, nearly a year to the day but in a very different mood.

[john e]

Lovely post exigo

And you are right we were all there, even if we weren’t actually there
In my case the local Football Club had opened up specially for us 30 or so Villa fans and a few interested non-Villa fans to watch things unfold

I’m old enough to have seen us win everything apart from the you know what, but this was the first time i ever saw us win silverware with my four kids, grandchild, son-in-law, and even the Mrs. popped in for a bit
What does it mean to me, it means when the time comes hopefully a long time from now i can die a happy man maybe by then with more memories of lifting trophies

Because one way or another no matter where we found ourselves when McGinn lifted the Cup
We were all there

[ez]

Marvellous stuff by some random Italians.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYo9T70MhZA/?igsh=MWNrN2F2Y2M0bmc5ZA==

That Lancia in the martini racing colours - beautiful.

That is excellent.

[ez]

I like Ally McCoist as co commentator on our games.

[Percy McCarthy]

Wonderful stuff Exigo. Deserves a wider audience.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Out and about yesterday and I can honestly say I’ve never seen so many people wearing Villa stuff away from a match. Shops, garden centre and out on the street…bloody glory hunters!!

Tony Morley was in a coffee shop in Walmley, he didn’t have his Villa top on though!

[pauliewalnuts]

I like Ally McCoist as co commentator on our games.

I've always liked him as a co-commentator (in general, I mean), him and that 'Fletch' bloke are the best commentary pairing around, IMO.

[Godfrey Brian]

Lovely post exigo

And you are right we were all there, even if we weren’t actually there
In my case the local Football Club had opened up specially for us 30 or so Villa fans and a few interested non-Villa fans to watch things unfold

I’m old enough to have seen us win everything apart from the you know what, but this was the first time i ever saw us win silverware with my four kids, grandchild, son-in-law, and even the Mrs. popped in for a bit
What does it mean to me, it means when the time comes hopefully a long time from now i can die a happy man maybe by then with more memories of lifting trophies

Because one way or another no matter where we found ourselves when McGinn lifted the Cup
We were all there

Nice post John E. I've bored my kids and grandkids silly with my Rotterdam and glory days stories for decades. It was wonderful to be together on Wednesday night and share the victory. Feels like we've positively passed the baton on to a new generation or two somehow. (Shan't stop telling them of Rotterdam, Highbury, Mansfield etc- they won't escape that easily!)🙂

[john e]

Lovely post exigo

And you are right we were all there, even if we weren’t actually there
In my case the local Football Club had opened up specially for us 30 or so Villa fans and a few interested non-Villa fans to watch things unfold

I’m old enough to have seen us win everything apart from the you know what, but this was the first time i ever saw us win silverware with my four kids, grandchild, son-in-law, and even the Mrs. popped in for a bit
What does it mean to me, it means when the time comes hopefully a long time from now i can die a happy man maybe by then with more memories of lifting trophies

Because one way or another no matter where we found ourselves when McGinn lifted the Cup
We were all there

Nice post John E. I've bored my kids and grandkids silly with my Rotterdam and glory days stories for decades. It was wonderful to be together on Wednesday night and share the victory. Feels like we've positively passed the baton on to a new generation or two somehow. (Shan't stop telling them of Rotterdam, Highbury, Mansfield etc- they won't escape that easily!)🙂

Wow Mansfield away 1-1 (my first Villa match I lived in Mansfield at the time)
Geoff Vowden God rest his soul

I said to my kids you’ve heard me bang on about Gary Shaw and Paul McGrath. When you’re my age you’ll be telling your kids and grandkids about John McGinn and Emi Martinez
They will live with you forever

[Meanwood Villa]

I like Ally McCoist as co commentator on our games.

I've always liked him as a co-commentator (in general, I mean), him and that 'Fletch' bloke are the best commentary pairing around, IMO.

I agree generally but I also think sometimes they lean in to the bantz side a bit too much.

[cdbearsfan]

Nice of the racist twat to bother his arse complaining after Villa's final.

Starmer urges TNT to make Champions League final free-to-air - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/clypgywjwywo

[Luffbralion]

Got back from Istanbul yesterday. Having been unable to go to Rotterdam in 82 because of work, I was determined to be there and see us lift a trophy after so many fallow years.

Ten years ago I watched Villa lose at home to Bournemouth in that dreadful relegation season. Yet another meek capitulation. I felt appalled by the ineptitude of the team, the management and the hierarchy.

One word sums how I now feel:  PRIDE. Proud of our brilliant manager and our outstanding owners, our city, our amazing fans (those who were in Istanbul and those watching at home, wherever they were in the world) and proud of all our players and the journeys they have been on in order to lift a major trophy.

Unai has created such a culture with his relentless drive and acumen and has achieved that progress largely with an inherited team (such an exception to the model of the so called big six and their transfer budgets).

We cherish these moments.

[Tuscans]

[olaftab]

Nice of the racist twat to bother his arse complaining after Villa's final.

Starmer urges TNT to make Champions League final free-to-air - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/clypgywjwywo

I am ashamed of his obvious bias in many areas. No way he deserves the Labour shirt.
Anyway the CL final is not a national interest event and TnT have shelled out lot of money to cover European games, it’s only right that they protect their investment.