Written by Damian Tuesday, 22 September 2009 14:16
The last time we played Cardiff was in the old second division in 1975. I can't say I remember it that well, only being a few months old, but Brian Little scored both in a two-nil win.
That match was at home. The one earlier in the season saw us losing 3-1 away but the thing that some will remember about that season was that we won the League Cup against Norwich after Ray Graydon got the winner.
But that was a long time ago and quite a few things have changed since then. Well, not that much for Cardiff, but they have for us. Since we last played Cardiff, we've won the League Cup four times, the old first division, the European Cup and the European Super Cup. Quite an impressive haul since 1975 wouldn't you say?
But, none of that is going to matter tomorrow night as this is cup football and quite possibly the biggest match of the season for Cardiff and one that they'll be going all out to win.
The cups are never easy and while on paper we should win and I fancy we will so have a tenner on at 4/9 with Paddypower, it isn't for certain.
Early Team News
Chances are quite high that we will see Nigel Reo-Coker play in this match and it really wouldn't surprise me if Martin O'Neill made quite a few changes, not only to rest a few players but also to let a few others have 90 minutes.
Don't be surprised to see Delph start and don't be surprised to see us play 442, which might also provide an opportunity for Milner to get a rest and another chance for us to see Marc Albrighton. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Petrov rested and Beye start, which if it does all go horribly wrong, will have some questioning the seriousness Martin O'Neill gave this tournament, but I think he will be taking it seriously and I think even with quite a few changes, we should have enough to beat Cardiff.
Current Form
Cardiff are having a decent start to the season and currently sit 6th in the league but current form is quite horrible. They have lost and failed to score, in three of their last four matches.
Our form is much better at the moment. We have won our last five league and cup games, and kept three successive clean sheets.
History Books
But, we have been warned and we don't have to go too far back in the record books to know what it is like to play Championship sides in the League Cup (Doncaster in 2005, Leicester in 2007 and QPR last year). I just wonder if the attendance tomorrow will beat the attendance of 32,748 from 1975.
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paul mclafferty
said:
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... my team for the game i would like to see guzan l,young, cueller,collins,bouma albrighton, NRC, petrov, delph,a,young carew i think collins will play as it is against his boyhood club so he will be well up for it, if no bouma then i would give shorey his chance. my bench would still consist of the big guns to avoid previous hiccups. 2-0 to the villa. |
tommy_villa
said:
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... holteend paul are Bouma and Young fit again? That would be a huge boost! I think I'd give Clark the nod ahead of Collins, he deserves another outing after his last performance. I'm thinking lots of goals in this one and Delph to score his first brace for the club. |
Simon
said:
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... Don't recall the Cardiff game, but went to the Final with my dad when i was 9. Lets hope the Villa can repeat that run, cos its beeen a long time since i was at Wembley  |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
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... Reo for Captain. In with the Beye and the Shorey Clark and the Cuellar in the middle Then, it's gotta be Reo with Billy Bannan, Craig, Delpho, and Albrighton, With the Fonz up top |
paul mclafferty
said:
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... pancho... to be fair mate i think your team would be in for a slip up as we have done before like damian said above, i think we need to take this cup serious this season as we are already out of europe and i fancy other top clubs will be playing strong sides this season because of the more competition for league places (europe). |
keithspikevillan
said:
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... 1975. Villa park, February cold and sleeting. I remember it well cos it was my first ever visit to Villa Park, and the night my life changed ,forever claret and blue from that night on.Living in Wolverhampton I d always followed Wolves,but kept aclose eye on villas results, sharing the name Aston. 2Brian Little goals later, one a magnificent diving header set in motion my love affair that continues to this day. still as strong, but not such a frequet visitor as I now live in Yorkshire. Thanks Damien for sparking those fantastic memories, |
Andi
said:
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... Isnt it great having a squad a quality sqaud talking about Bouma, Young, Reo, Fonz, Albrighton, Clark coming in a getting a game mean while knowing we will have people like Gabby, Carew, Petrov, Dunne, Fridel, Ash, Milner etc etc on the bench just in case. Guzan Young, Collins, Clark, Bouma/Shorey Bannan, Reo, Delph, Albrighton Fonz Heskey/Carew Bench Marshall, Milner, Petrov, Gabby, Heskey or Carew, Cuellar, Gardener oh the choices we have now its mindboggling which ever team goes out i think its fun time go for lots of goals maybe 4-0 |
paul mclafferty
said:
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... bouma and shorey played for the reserves in a behind doors friendly on monday against coventry which we won 7-1 also heskey and ashley are major doubts for wednesday. |
Andi
said:
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... While some people may say lets play it safe and play full strength team look at the peace cup our young lads will do us proud they have a point to prove, imagine you play your heart out help win a cup then dont get a game how enoying so any chance they do get they will want to show MON it werent a fluke they can step up. |
paul mclafferty
said:
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... sorry bouma and luke young not bloody shorey i was reading cheify's post while typing. |
John Samuels
said:
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... --------------Guzan-------------- Lichaj---Collins--Clarke---Shorey Albrighton---NRC--Delph----Bannan -----Delfouneso--Carew----------- My team for Cardiff. keep the other lads on the bench though just in case. Is anyone going to bother cheering Ricky Scimeca? |
John Samuels
said:
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... Hasn't played in over a year apparently, but Jones may rest a few as they have a pretty big game against wednesday at the weekend. Could be a walkover looking at the Cardiff fans website. |
Lukas
said:
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... Sie for tommorrow night I presume is Guzan Beye Collins Clark Shorey Albrighton Bannan Delph Gardner Delfonso Carew(c) NRC to be bench warmer. |
Andi
said:
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... Cardiff fans site - Some of them are quite down and negative while the hardcore i presume think they could quite possibily nick it. Even so they all seem pretty excited about going to Villa Park and are talking about singing alot (so that will put the villa to shame on a wednesday night game, its bad enough on a saturday) |
paul mclafferty
said:
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... havent cardiff sold nearly 6500 tickets?, if they have omg they will be load. |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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... I think i would go with the following team tomorrow night : Guzan Beye Collins Dunne Warnock Albrighton NRC Delph Young Carew Delfouneso I would play most of the back line to help get them more aqqaunted with each other. Plus we need to put out a fairly strong team if we are not to caught out yet again. Cardiff are a good side(normally very good value in an accum) and need to respected. If Luke Young is fit i would probably play him over Beye. |
Andi
said:
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... Cardiff had something like 4500 tickets and their site reckon they had sold 3200 of it, the way the attendance has been down the villa they will out number us..... question why dont fans sing anymore ? and why, even though we are winning do we have massive gaps in the ground where fans should be ? |
John Samuels
said:
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... How many tickets we would we have sold if it was Chelsea or Man Utd? It's a really big game for them. It's a shame Dave Jones is gonna rest a few players. I imagine Scimeca, Wittingham and Enckelman will play. Mon has to start Collins against his old club, wouldn't be fair on the lad otherwise. I think we will lose. 1-0 to Cardiff, Leicester all over again. |
Andi
said:
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... luke young at funeral tomorrow so wont be in team Ashley Young is a doubt after picking up a knock against portsmouth |
Damian
said:
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... Enda there was talk of it last week and if it has happened i've missed it so i apologise |
villacraig1982
said:
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... the reason why fans don't go down is because it's £20 a ticket, simple as. After paying between £5 and £15 last season to watch European football, why should we watch the same 2nd team play a team like Cardiff for £20!! If the tickets were half that price, they'd get double the amount of fans in and double the amount of balti pies would be eaten!!!! Also, hasn't albrighton gone out on loan to Notts Forest?? |
John Samuels
said:
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... Soshould we play Lichaj, Beye or Cuellar at RB? I say play the youngster, if he can handles Juventus and Fiorentina he can handle Cardiff |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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... JPA i would def go with Beye. I don't think Lichai looked over impressive to be honest and what would Beye think if he wasn't played. Beye hasn't done too much wrong as far as i can remember and the Newcastle fans really rated him. I think you know my thoughts on Cullar at RB. |
steven the toffee
said:
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... hello villans how are you all doing.i havent been on for a while.hows villa life treating you. |
John Samuels
said:
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... i Certainly do ak, I certanly do. Ok I'll go with that, Beye, Collins, Dunne and Warnock. Not tempted to give Shorey a run out? Imagine if Warnock took a War-knock ha ha. |
sazavfc
said:
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... i think the most realsitic team sheet for tomorrow is: Guzan Beye Collins Clark Shorey Albrighton Petrov Reo Milner Carew Fonzy |
John Samuels
said:
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... Ah steve the Toffee, not bad here we are getting to grips with an animal we don't know very well. Selection problems lol. Also enjoying our best start in ten years. How is it up north? |
paul mclafferty
said:
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... the back four i think will be guzan beye cueller collins shorey if it is any different then i think as someone posted earlier it will to get the boys gelling a bit more. |
Keith
said:
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... I think MON will start with Dunne and Collins to give them extra playing time together. My team would be: Guzan Beye Collins Dunne Shorey Albrighton NRC Sidwell Delph Carew Fonz I would have Gabby, Milner and Young among the subs just in case. |
Billy7
said:
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... Hi people, not been on here of late, work nights now, anyway, its nice to see the different opinions of who should play tomorrow night, as we actually have a squad!!! yippeeee lol. i mean if L.Young is fit there is a possibility of 4 different right backs, we didn't have 1 not that long ago!!!!  DUNNE IS YET TO CONCEDE A GOAL THIS SEASON? IS THIS CORRECT? |
George Templeton
said:
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... Good article John, for me last January and selling Gary Cahill were my biggest problems with Martin O'Neill's transfer market work. And for all the criticism Randy Lerner gets the money has been there and its been spent! I think the team ths squad is in good shape until January and hopefully the money will be there then! |
marcus taylor
said:
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... sorry, i might be a bit late with this news, and i apologize now if it has already been talked about, but has anyone read the report on skysports, downing is expecing to return in november! good news, be good to see what MoN does then |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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... Just seen the end of the MON interview. It doesn't sound to me like NRC has that much of a long term Villa career to be honest. Now i only caught the last of it but thats how it came accross to me. Anyone else see it? |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
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...ak_27 said: What interview ? Do not believe Petrov, the club captain, would have spoken out if it was all over for Reo. |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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... It was on SSN. Basically what i caught was just the end and it went a little like this: MON : And that is the end of the matter. I won't be saying anything of what was said in the meeting. If NRC people want to say what was said that is up to them Reporter : So this whole thing is in the past MON : Thats the end of the matter ( he meant the discussion not the actual NRC matter). Reporter : So NRC has a future with Villa MON : Thats the end of the matter Reporter : So will NRC be in the tean tomorrow night MON : I haven't picked the team yet. Me: Like i said i only caught the end of it but the comment about if his people want to say what was said that is up to them and also when asked if NRC had a future he replied that's the end of the matter instead of just a yes gave me the impression that things are far from over. Might just be me but thats how it came accross to me. |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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... Just seen it again there and maybe its not as bad as i thought if you could take the comment thats the end of the matter as that all if forgiven. |
pete
said:
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... steven the toffee saw a artical in one of the national papers was it you as it was from stt |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
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... ak_27 : Yes, caught it on the Official Site. Hard to read MON though. Let's hope things have blown over. |
paul mclafferty
said:
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... ak_27..... i am in the same understanding as you, mon could have answered reo was available for selection instead of the stone faced reply he kept giving.. |
Andi
said:
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... Just in case anyone wants to know Blues are getting spanked its 2-0 to Sunderland, Arsenal 0-0 WBA, Liverpoo 0-0 Leeds and Peterborough 1-0 Newcastle. |
OhioVillan
said:
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... I thought I read somewhere that Albrighton had gone on loan to Notts Forest. Did I misread.....? |
Andy Scarborough
said:
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... I think that MoN wanted an end to the interview by saying that was an end to the matter (the matter of the bust-up with NRC). If he answers a question about selection, that can lead on to another question, and so on. MoN handles interviews on his own terms. He wanted to say no more about the matter, or imply anything by his answers to peripheral questions. I hope this is an end to the matter. I have a team to pick for tomorrow, and someone has nicked all my pins. |
Guner
said:
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... At very least, we'll see part of the the young guns. I really would like to watch The Fonz or Bannan on left instead of Young (if we'll play 4-5-1, Delfouneso would be better, if we won't the other one). He's recent form is below average and we need to keep him for Citeh clash. Here's My first 11: Guzan Young (if available)-Cuellar-Dunne-Shorey Albrighton-NRC (Captain)-Gardner-Bannan The Fonz-Heskey Up the Villa! |
adam james
said:
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... I cant wait for the game tmrw - but lads can you help me out? I usually get the train in for the games - but tmrw im driving straight from work - where's the best place to park? |
Martin Clabon
said:
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... I always park on Witton Rd or one of the little roads off Witton Rd, of which there are many. There is always some where to park and it avoids paying. |
paul mclafferty
said:
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... jamo..where are you comming from? if your comming from the m6 south then get off at j6 and keep right onto the aston express way then take the 1st exit onto the roundabout, take the last exit on the roundabout towards lozels there you will find about 25 yards to your right a social club called ruskin hall, it cost a fiver but its brill to get back onto the motorway again after the match. |
THE AV VILLAN
said:
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... NEWS FLASH - Ryan Giggs has just scored for United. Man Utd 5 - Man Citeh 3 UTV!!! |
Dave
said:
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... This is quite a funny parody, only takes 5 mins to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...re=related  |
Jeremiah Wood
said:
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... Can't Beye also play CB? I think that there will be a few changes, and I don't see Cuellar playing, since he's played all the games so far. I'll say the team will look like this: Guzan Beye Collins Clark Shorey Albrighton Gardner Delph Bannan Fonz Carew |
Dave
said:
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... I think they should give Lichaj a run out too. I would also partner Fonz with Heskey... |
Rich
said:
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... Think its important to give the back four more experience of playing together (although they are doing a bloody good job so far). Tonight then I'd play tyhe following: Guzan Beye (Young if fit) Collins Dunne Warnock Albrighton Reo Coker Delph Shorey Fonz Carew |
Deano-avfc
said:
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... Hasn't Albrighton gone out on loan? I hope we do rest a few players tonight for the league but I do hope we don't screw it up this early again.. I'd much rather start with a strong team then when 2.0 up take off 3 key players rather than the other way round if the crapola hit the fanola.. Anyway, I'm saying 2-0 with goals from Sidwell and Carew. UTV |
Damian
said:
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... Deano-avfc And the others who have mentioned it .. there was talk of it and if it actually happened and I missed it, I apologise, but I did check our club site and the Forest one .. and did a search for 'marc' in both and while he comes up in ours, there is no mention of it happening, just paper talk. |
Andi
said:
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... Just so everyone knows: Albrighton is not on loan to Forest he is at the villla L.Young has a funeral and will not be in the team A.Young is a doubt after picking up a knock against pompey E.Heskey wont be fit until Blackburn |
Richard Dunne my lord, Richard Dunne!!
said:
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... I'd go for Guzan, Beye, Cueller, Dunne, Shorey, Albrighton, Gardner, Reo, Delph, Bannan, Carew.... |
rockyvilla
said:
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... Andy5759 comment54 Downing has a spare pin now! Think Luke selection may be too near the funeral(ie on his mind) my team would be guzan-give (him practice and friedel rest) Beye-collins-dunne-shorey allbrighton-NRC-Petrov(captain)-Milner Carew-Fonz BENCH-Mapshall, Clark, Leija, Delph, Gabby. wouldn't play anyone who had a knock need 100% fit for league This gives the FRINGE players a chance without compromising the importance of the game IMO. |
McParland
said:
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... I honestly believe if we put the following team outas they are now we can beat Cardif tonight and get past the previous third round defeats Nigel Sims. Peter Aldis, StanLynn, Crowther, Jimmy Dugdale, Johnny Dixon, Peter McParland, Jackie Sewel, Les Smithand two others? unable to say if my positioning is correct its been to long ago since i stood at the holt end cheering them on. |
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