Written by Damian Monday, 04 January 2010 16:55
This is a big match and as such, it deserves a little build up, so it is getting a preview post so we can all get a little excited over it.
Tomorrow night will not determine if we go to Wembley or not, but by the end of tomorrow night we will either be confident or not very confident and for me, if a team wins, they will have much more confidence going into the second leg. Stating the obvious I know but this is an important match.
I say it is important, because neither manager were that bothered by the FA Cup match. We saw a total of 16 changes on the pitch and while both teams wanted to win going into the match, both managers were really not that bothered as tomorrow night is what it is all about.
You see, both managers know that a 2-0 in this match makes it extremely difficult for the other team and both managers know that a 2-0 win is more than possible - hell, it could even be more and that would make it even more difficult for the other team.
Both managers also know that silverware this season would save their jobs. Okay, Sam Alllardyce knows he has a job for life as his supporters have lower expectations, but Martin O'Neill knows he needs to pull something out of his hat sooner rather than later.
A trophy would mean he gets another crack at top four, no questions asked and it might also fill his players with confidence, although if I'm honest, silverware would probably just let our lot think they didn't need to do anything else this season, but that is an extremely cynical side of me and I am probably wrong.
Lessons
We lost at Blackburn in September but only after going ahead early and conceding a very late goal and Sam Allardyce will have very specific ideas on what they have to do to repeat that, or more specifically, to stop us from scoring.
Tomorrow night is about not thinking it is all wrapped up if we score very early on and it's about concentrating for 95 minutes, to make sure they don't score. We seem to do better away from home and I for one will be more than happy if we can leave Blackburn tomorrow with a victory as it will set the match up perfectly for us at Villa Park on January 20th.
If I'm honest however, I'm not convinced either manager has the balls to go out tomorrow and try and put this game out of reach, but I believe that is what is really needed. It could happen, but I'm not convinced one or the other will, as there is too much resting on it. I believe our players could, which is a positive thing, I just don't think they will.
Early Team News
Only doubt for us is James Milner who has hurt his foot. Apart from that, everyone is available and most are rested. Diouf is out for Blackburn for three matches which means he will be available for the return leg at Villa Park.
Don't expect much to change from the match before the FA Cup victory over Blackburn apart from maybe Milner out and Young back in. Despite all the changes for the Blackburn match, it was reactive, not proactive from O'Neill, so expect everything to go back to his favourite eleven. It's not a criticism, it is the just the way of the O'Neill.
Betting Odds
You'll get 9/5 for Blackburn and 6/4 for us at Paddypower here, which even though we are away, makes us favourites for this match. The bet you want to have though, if you are going to have a bet is on us and Manchester United to make the final - you'll double your money.
First Leg Prediction
I was quite confident going into the match in September and I got egg on my face, so you'd think I would have learnt a lesson and I have. However, I am confident again going into this match and while I'm fairly sure we will have the upper hand for most of it, I can't see us winning.
If I were a betting man, I'd be predicting a score draw for tomorrow night and while it might not be exactly what either team is after, at the end of ninety minutes, both managers will be happy that they didn't lose.
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jimmyavfc
said:
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... i could see us taking a lead back to vp 2-1 with ash and dunne scoring and mccarthy pulling one back for them my confidence normally comes back to bite me tho!! |
jc_villa
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... Cant see us losing although a think a draw is most likely. This is imo the most important game of the season. If we can set ourselves up good for the home leg and get to Wembley again it will be amazing! Seen as its so important, who do you think he will start in goal. I gotta go with Guzan especially after his pen save, but what bout the final? I know im getting ahead of myself but he'd have to play his strongest team right? Im gonna go with 2-1. Heskey to get the first and Carew the second as a sub. |
James Clift
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... I'm going and CAN'T WAIT!! We'll beat them I'm sure. The game in the league was a shock result and every neutral will be expecting a Villa win. Come on you Lions!! |
Daniel Wilson
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... I can see us going 3 down at theirs before scoring a late conselation to keep it alive. Then back at Villa park at 2-1 to us in the final minutes Dalian Atkinson will score and take it to extra time and penalties. Shaun Teale will get off his horse, pull the trigger and shoot the ball straight down the middle, Bosnich will become a hero and then we'll beat United in the final when Saunders scores a late penalty for a handball on the line by Kanchelskis. What odds can I get on that? |
GPalmer
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...I can see us going 3 down at theirs before scoring a late conselation to keep it alive. Then back at Villa park at 2-1 to us in the final minutes Dalian Atkinson will score and take it to extra time and penalties. Shaun Teale will get off his horse, pull the trigger and shoot the ball straight down the middle, Bosnich will become a hero and then we'll beat United in the final when Saunders scores a late penalty for a handball on the line by Kanchelskis. Name your odds and I'll take your money!  |
Simon
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... Away goals matter, so we must `score if it is to be a draw, but i think the lads would have learnt from our last league meeting there so i am predicting a 2-1 win for Villa  |
Simon
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... JC I think little brad deserves to play in all the remaining cup games, even the final. |
AVFC DAN
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... If delph can play the way he did saturday im expecting a rout, even though i will happily take a draw or even pushing a 2-1 loss if we lose can everyone stop getting on MON's back we will tank them at VP and off to wembley we go !! |
Spencer
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... We'll win 2-1, goals from DJ and Carew. I really hope Sidwell doesn't play and that Delph does play. |
keith
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... naughty damian "Both managers also know that silverware this season would save their jobs." being realistic, how many of the players we crave are going to have their heads turned by the "league cup winners" we need a cl spot to attract the better players. i also share that cynical side that if we are pushing a top 4 would players keep injury free for the final also kowing that if we achieve top 4 their place may not be guaranteed |
frem
said:
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... Villa will win 1-0 with Gabi scoring. Does anyone actully think we can atract players like Arteta and Ireland. Manchini has been there three games and Ireland has not impressed. We should go for him on the cheap. Upfront just thinking about Benjani, scored a nice goal against Boro and ran the chanels. |
StickyAV
said:
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... naughty damian "Both managers also know that silverware this season would save their jobs." How many people on here actually think that MON would loose his job if we didn't get silverware? Lets say we finished errr 7th. To think MON fears for his job is crazy IMO. |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
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...DanWilson82 said: I can see us going 3 down at theirs before scoring a late conselation to keep it alive. Then back at Villa park at 2-1 to us in the final minutes Dalian Atkinson will score and take it to extra time and penalties. Shaun Teale will get off his horse, pull the trigger and shoot the ball straight down the middle, Bosnich will become a hero and then we'll beat United in the final when Saunders scores a late penalty for a handball on the line by Kanchelskis.Woop Woop Both managers also know that silverware this season would save their jobs.Just noticed this complete whopper myself. Despite all the changes for the Blackburn match, it was reactive, not proactive from O'NeilAnd what does that mean ? Reacting to what ? Come on Damo, get in the groove, or go eat some more of that surstromming tinned fish to cheer yourself up. |
Damian
said:
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... StickyAV i didn't actually say he would lose his job if he didn't win it and you have taken it out of context. however, lets use your example and say we finished 7th and won nothing i actually think that lerner might be serious about wanting success at villa and after putting in all that money to get to 6th, stand still for a season then go backwards, it might actually be enough for him to look for someone that can do better ofcourse, if lerner isn't serious, then o'neill has a job for life because if your example happens and everyone is still happy or still thinks we are going forward - lerner doesn't have to change anything |
Damian
said:
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... Pancho Villan reactive over proactive means that o'neill only rested the players against blackburn in the fa cup because of this match coming up. it was a reaction. he risked the fa cup for success in this, whereas, if he was more proactive, then the players that came in against blackburn would be getting more and more football - not huge amounts more and not all at the same time, but they wouldn't be just 5 or 10 mins at the end of a game where were 3-0 up in but this isn't news - we all know o'neill does this. all i am doing now is putting words to it |
Daniel Wilson
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... Sounds like it might be getting called off by the sounds of this - http://www.sundaymercury.net/m...-25523885/ Not what we need at all... |
keith
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... damian Both managers also know that silverware this season would save their jobs. Okay, Sam Alllardyce knows he has a job for life as his supporters have lower expectations, but Martin O'Neill knows he needs to pull something out of his hat sooner rather than later. as i do not wish to take this out of context what exactly does it mean  |
Michael
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... dont think big sam has a job for life - blackburn could easily get relegated and that would mean the sack for him - as for mon - he's here for the next 6 years atleast! i think will lose 2moro night but win and go thru in the 2nd leg. 0-1 then 3-1 |
tubbydunne
said:
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... Martin O'Neill has been great for Villa. Lerner is a successfull business man so therefore he has half a brain and appreciates that the manager is doing a good job and constantly bringing the club forward and wouldn't in his wildest dreams contemplate sacking him. Winning a cup has no bearing on O'Neill's future. I hope we can hold to him when Liverpool and Man Utd come knocking |
Damian
said:
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... keithj it is about expectation. are you happy with 6th? i dont think you are but i think it fair to say that that is what we are likely going to get this season, if we are lucky and if we dont win anything then there will be rumblings from supporters and if lerner shares our expectations, even if a little longer term, then he might also be thinking the same thing however, should o'neill win silverware this season - it wouldn't really matter if we finsihed 10th - because we would have a trophy in the cabinet and that is what football is all about - winning things if however we stand still again this season and win nothing, there will be growing unrest and if we have learnt anything about lerner this year (or last) it's that supporters can influence his decisions - that is assuming he wants success for aston villa as much as he wants it for his american rugby team |
keith
said:
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... i actually think that lerner might be serious about wanting success at villa and after putting in all that money to get to 6th, stand still for a season then go backwards, it might actually be enough for him to look for someone that can do better = tight arse expects cl for what hes spent and if he doesnt get it will get jose and give him £150 million no jose, no £150 million = ofcourse, if lerner isn't serious, then o'neill has a job for life because if your example happens and everyone is still happy or still thinks we are going forward - lerner doesn't have to change anything |
Michael Statham
said:
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... my prediction either 0-0 or... we'll loose 0-1 but then in the home leg we'll pull something off and win 2-0 we'll beat man city 2-1 in the final and we'll all be happy except danwilson_82 who will loose his bet XD UTV   |
keith
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... damian i said all season i expect top 4, but i do believe it will be with the players we have, or similar, i would not expect any business man to throw money at something for the love of it. having said that i do think that if he believes the team is very close to a cl spot he will take risks |
Niki
said:
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... Villa has a very important goal this season - ranking in the top 4. I think if the club did not qualify in the top 4 will be a total failure. Participation in the Champions League is of fundamental importance for the future of the club. Anyway Cup will be won by a team from the other semifinal! |
bfastvilla
said:
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... hello everyone, would just like to know what everytone thinks would be a satisfactory end of season position and would winning the league cup go some way to making up for finishing in a europa league pos instead of champ league. If we didnt get 4th who would you prefer did :- spuds, scumpool or the bank of manchester citeh? |
Damian
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... keithj i believe he has to take risks right now then. but i thought that in january last season and the january before if you dont take the risks in january - when do you? |
Niki
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... Villa, Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool - all have equal chances to 4th place, but I think Totnam makes a very strong season and will finally break out Top 4 |
meregolfclub
said:
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... if we pay serious attention to the carling cup and win it then our europa spot is secured. we can then go all out for cl spot cus if we finish 11th/12th through trying to win every match rather than not losing matches. simples |
frem
said:
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... keithj- i agree with you. If this season we dont get silverwhere and finish 6th again, Learner might actully think about Oneill and where he can take us. If he looks at Spurs and city and realises the amount of cash they are spending and very soon if we dont they will leave us behind and the likes of Sunderland and Blues catching us up, surley he has to get his bank book aout or leave for a rainy day untill we get someone better than Oneill in. |
keith
said:
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... damian would love to take the risk now, a risk i would take is rudd vn at a probable cost of 3 million for 6 months loan. i know hes 34 but we dont need a grafter weve got loads of them, we need a killer in the penalty area and thats what he is. beattie, keane etc are no better than we have, so unless theres an andy gray or jpa hidden out there lets have a go |
George Templeton
said:
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... It should've been a 1-1 draw at Ewood Park in the league fixture and that is what it will be tomorrow night. I would be happy with that because I am confident that Aston Villa will beat Blackburn at home to go to Wembley! Come on you Villa boys! |
Mark
said:
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... Blackburn are a crap side. they are Bolton except with a few more crap players. We should win non craply. |
avfc forster
said:
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... villa will win 3 1 with a goal from gabby to start it of then were extend the lead at villa park to 5 1 on agg |
Car Frost
said:
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... O'Neills interview ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/h...440335.stm Blackburn have an average home record w4 d4 l2 but only won 1 away so I fancy a draw at their place and a home win, then Man U to trollop us in the final just kidding .. kinda. |
Nigel
said:
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... I'm hoping that they come at us, and we hit them on the break. Believe we should play 451 |
Steve Badger
said:
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... Some very strange lines in this post Damian, imo. MON doesn't need to win Silverware at all and surely even a final appearance would be an improvement over previous years, let alone a win, even if it's only the second cup. Neither do I think his job is at risk. And neither do I think he doesn't care about the FA cup. He's just prioritising and rightly so. We'd be crucifying him tomorrow night if we'd played our best 11 on Saturday and then looked tired in the semi, imo. Neither do I think Lerner has to take a risk really and indeed I don't think he will. silverware would probably just let our lot think they didn't need to do anything else this season, but that is an extremely cynical side of me and I am probably wrong. So if we were to win the league cup, we'd just give up?? I'm perplexed by that one. And I don't see how anyone's taking anything out of context, it's there in black and white. Not that I'm making a big issue out of it though, as I do agree with most of your stuff in some area or other. Indeed, the post title I agree with 100% |
Car Frost
said:
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... frem - yes, he would offer something very different. If you said I could grant Agbonlahor less pace but more flair and the ability to finish a ball from 20yrds then I'd take it, hence I'd take Jo. Just don't think we will go for him because he is not English and can be a bit silly off the pitch. |
Damian
said:
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... Badger I think he does need to win silverware or do better than we have done in the league the past two seasons. I think standing still or even going backwards isn't good enough. But that is an opinion. For me, the football is a key indicator and actually, the league table, or silverware is the primary indicator, because actually, that is what it is all about. I also think his job is at risk and I also think he would say, if asked, that his job isn't safe. So, while you might disagree with me on that - I don't think he will. Also, I'm not saying he doesn't care about the FA Cup or that he didn't want to win against Blackburn. However, we were quite fortunate to have got Blackburn. If we had got another Premier League team that wasn't in the semi-final of the League Cup or playing on Tuesday - I think O'Neill would have still rested several players and I think it could have been a lot tougher for us. And as you suggest, by saying we'd be crucifying him tomorrow if we played our best eleven and lost, he would have done it - much like he did in Moscow and what exactly did that achieve? I should state at this point that my point on resting players and using the squad is, that it shouldn't be about wholesale changes, it should be about pro-actively resting players - not just when you think you have an opportunity or when they've run themselves into the ground - these things need to be planned and thought through and my view is, that in his fourth season, he should be playing his squad rather than making these wholesale changes. As for Lerner, maybe it isn't a risk, maybe it is. If we can't agree on that though, if he does or doesn't is irrelevant. I think it is a risk otherwise why haven't we spent in the past two January windows, at a significant level, when we were in such good positions? But, to my point about us winning the league cup and then maybe giving up - I even said in the bit you quoted that it was an extremely cynical comment and that I was probably wrong - so really, no reason to be perplexed .. however, I will explain. If we win the League Cup and at the time we are say, for arguments sake, exactly where we are now, which is 6th and say, seeing as it will be the end of February, we will have 10 or 11 games left and lets assume, just for this argument that we are 6 points off fourth place by the end of February. I use those places as examples because this time last year we were 4th and now we are 6th and also because on Feb 28th last year we were also 4th - so I think it fair to assume we might very well be in the same place - at the very least you have to accept it as a good basis for this. Anyway, we would have won silverware (woop woop) and taking into consideration the average amount of games won by Martin O'Neill since he has been the manager of Aston Villa (just under 40%) it is sort of fair to assume that we will get, maybe 12 points from those 10 or 11 games left, which will actually not be enough when you factor in the teams above us will likely get the same - if you look at the last 10 or 11 games from the last few seasons, I think you'll find it looks very similar. So, the reason I wrote it was because sometimes, people, when they achieve something like a trophy, they do, sometimes regardless of their boss/manager, take their foot off the gas and if we were to win silverware, with potentially no other chances of winning silverware and extremely slim chances of finishing fourth were possible or, lets be honest realistic, it is possible, I think, but like I said 'cynical' and 'wrong' that it could happen with us too. As for taking out of context - the paragraph above directly linked was I was saying to 'expectations'. Blackburn fans expectations are going to be lower than ours aren't they? |
david
said:
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... Is there anyone who thinks that the squad has not improved each year under O'Neill? Does everyone appreciate that since the inception of the premiership a 6th place for Villa is a much better than average result? Are we now in with a shout of a cup final? None of this is complacency....we all want to see further improvement, but Lerner strikes me as an intelligent man who will look at the genuine progress made. Bearing that in mind I would be totally astonished if he had any thoughts at all about disposing of O'Neill. Does anyone have any facts to suggest otherwise? |
david
said:
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... Damian I should state at this point that my point on resting players and using the squad is, that it shouldn't be about wholesale changes, it should be about pro-actively resting playersI'm with you on this one. O'Neill does seem to have a differnet view whereby he likes to play the 11 men he thinks are in best form week in and week out. I too would prefer to see more rotation (not Benitez style...we dont have Champion's League pressures)so that we avoided the risk of burn out to a number of our best players at the same stage of the season. Having said that, we do seem to have much better back up than last year so tiredness in some players should not be the disaster that it turned out to be last year. In fact....it may give a few new players a chance to really show what they're worth. |
Damian
said:
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... r0bb0 i would say the squad is better, but then i would ask why isn't it getting used properly. having a squad isn't about having a player available when someone gets injured, but about making sure that come the business end of the season, your players are all at a high enough level to function at their best watch the likes of liverpool, chelsea, man utd and arsenal move up to 5th gear with 10/12 games left - we wont because his preferred 11 will be too tired and his second string will be nowhere near the level they need to be to move into that gear as for since the premier league started - i'll have to check this, but i am fairly confident our average position is 5th with quite a gap to the team in 6th place - but like i said, i would have check that ... and i would happily be proven wrong i believe we have also won two league cups and attended one fa cup final - so, while these are not the facts you asked for, we actually don't know what lerner wants either - as he has never told us - so it could be that lerner only wants top 6 and if that is the case - fantastic for o'neill - but if lerner wanted 5th last season and 4th this (like i said we don't know) it might very well be that o'neill gets the sack but you cant ask for facts on this however with an average of 5th and a fa cup final place and two league cups since the inception of the premiershipi think we are actually, a little below the average so far |
Damian
said:
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... r0bb0 i think you'll like my comment above - i think we have found something we both agree on |
beh
said:
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... robbo - that`s my main concern. The "Fabregas" & "torres" can wait til summer imo. If petrov, milner and gabby are out for 6 weeks, (we`ve been lucky so far ) our first eleven gets weaker by a margin. Our depth is better now but not enough to maintain current standard. Our achilles heel imo |
Aaron Wilson
said:
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... Damian, you forgot to mention Salifou isnt available as hes of to the African Cup of Nations. Surely we cant cope without him! Whos gonna take charge of that midfield and provide the creativity?? WE... ARE... SCREWED!!! |
Car Frost
said:
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... Lerner is a business man, maybe not a great one as he had the silver spoon treatment which is why it's hard to guess his goals. If it were you wouldn't you work out the net spend of the teams around you and use simple maths to work out roughly where you should be? The norm for business rules: * Design to specific cost and price targets - done * Think like a child - possibly * See and do the obvious - definately not * Follow practical three-year plans- we said 5 at the start I would say Learner is an odd business man but not necessarily a bad one, just unpredictable. |
Steve Badger
said:
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...None of this is complacency....we all want to see further improvement, but Lerner strikes me as an intelligent man who will look at the genuine progress made. Yes, he'll look at progress being made and that's what he'll continue to look for, same as any sensible gaffer imo. The Cleveland Browns from what I've heard were absolutely the pits before Lerner got his sacking head on. I refuse to believe that Lerner has even thought about it wrt MON. Damian you look at things too much in black and white, imo. What would happen if we won the league one season, but then won the league the season after without winning a cup? Surely that's standing still and by your logic, not good enough? Of course, you'll counter that at least then we'd be winning, but it would still be standing still in my example. Would you be calling/hinting for the manager's head then? (I am now starting to agree with those who suggest that's the way you think). And whilst you have a point about the actual football, you have to admit our shit football has been pretty effective against the prettiest football team in the league over the last couple of seasons and got us wins against 3 of the top 4 this season. Even if we were to finish 7th this season, I still would think we've progressed overall. I know your standards are high and I sympathise with that, but our owner is nowhere near the richest in the league (12th maybe the last I remember), our turnover is not brilliant and I actually think we're doing well. As Robbo said, every chance of a final, every chance of 5th round of the FA cup and still well in the chase for CL with a lot less hope of collapsing like last year. Oh and MON has come out and said he will make odd changes here and there. Don't forget we've played a lot less games than last season up to now. As for whether he should be doing it before now, well I've agreed with you previously on that one. |
Jonathan Walker
said:
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... refrence the players taking their foot off the gas when winning a cup, dont forget theres a world cup this year. |
Paul Theiss
said:
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... frem: Jo is sh*t--he would be a terrible buy. What is the obsession with him? Because he is Brazilian? He has been crap for City, and he has been crap for Everton. He hasn't scored a whole hell of a lot in the Premiership--he hasn't scored a single league goal this season (in 15 games), and, over all competitions, he has just 2 goals in 22 games. And his finishing, Frosty, is really quite poor. Plus, his attitude is more shi*t as his finishing---hence, City have wanted to have done with him, and Everton have booted him out the door. |
neil bangor
said:
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... I know a lot agree with me. No no no no to Jo Jo Jo Jo. Yes to David Villa. We poss need a top Cesc type player. No more squad crappy ones. We do not want aging players who are over the hill. We are Villa. Think big, no more Shoreys, Salifous, Routledges, Harewoods,. I could go on. These are good 2nd div players, not for us. MON's last 4 signings have been a rip roaring success. Richard Dunne now making headlines and big interviews. The future is bright. The future is Claret and Blue. YWC |
Rattus NorVillicus
said:
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... My number one feeling on the Villa at the moment is excitement. Going well in both cups with a good chance of Wembley Not far off a Champion's League place with much less chance of collapse than last season The transfer window is open and MON has said he's in buying mood. We won the last match comfortably while playing some of our second string players. So why the negativity ? No, I'm not having it. I feel good ~ deedle eedle eedle eee Just like I knew that I would ~ deedle eedle eedle eee woop woop |
davidc
said:
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... IF (big 'IF') this game is on, then it will be a proper old skool throwback cup tie. You know the sort, snow piled up around the edge of the pitch, snowballs lobbed onto the pitch, everyone in the crowd jumping up and down to keep warm, floodlights on full blast. Blacburn will know its now or never for tonight and will give it everything. I'd take a 1-1 if you offered it to me know. Tonight will be a true test of character due to the conditions and the importance. A night for men believe me. |
HT Sweden
said:
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... The MON approach to success is to build a team, not to bring in ready-made stars. For Lerner that means an invest in faith and time, not in silly big money. When you let the gaffer go with the MON strategy its obvious you cant as an owner (if youre not insane)ask for glory immediately. Imo the team building lacks a creative nr 10 and a 20 goals/season nr 9. Then we are ready for the big titles. |
King VOGRA
said:
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... Biggest game of the whole season tonight for me, As long as we don't get fcuking crushed like the first leg against Bolton many moons ago i think we'll go through over the two legs.I can see either a 1-1 or 2-2 draw tonight. |
Greg Hill
said:
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... Badger And whilst you have a point about the actual football, you have to admit our shit football has been pretty effective against the prettiest football team in the league over the last couple of seasons and got us wins against 3 of the top 4 this season. We were outplayed in these games. Ironically we should have got the point in the one we lost! If we played these games 5 times we would lose 4. That’s the point. I was at Liverpool at Anfield. We were poor for long spells. In summary… yawn… no Sid no Merse type no chance. Arteta for 25 million would be well worth it. That’s the frustration many feel. So near, yet so far. Martin repeat after me 100 times: central midfield, central midfield, central midfield, pass, pass, move, move, central midfield, central midfield, central midfield, pass, pass, move, move, central midfield, central midfield, central midfield, pass, pass, move, move … Even if we were to finish 7th this season, I still would think we've progressed overall. Mmmm. So. It’s beginning… The awakening. The quickening. |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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...Martin repeat after me 100 times: central midfield, central midfield, central midfield, pass, pass, move, move, central midfield, central midfield, central midfield, pass, pass, move, move, central midfield, central midfield, central midfield, pass, pass, move, move … Spot on. |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
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... So what do we do tonight if Milner isn't fit? Petrov and NRC in the CM with Downing and Young on the wings? Has to be doesn't it? This game really should suit our counter attacking style as they will feel more pressured to come out and get an advantage for the 2nd leg. Still though im not sure how i feel about this game tonight. Could go either way. |
Mike Carter
said:
 |
... Away goals? Is that a new thing for the league cup? They never used to have that did they? |
Chris Harper
said:
 |
... Viva Its extra time then goes on away goals if still same aggregate score. If equal on away goals, then it goes to penalties. I think |
Darragh McGeown
said:
 |
...The transfer window is open and MON has said he's in buying mood. Did I miss something? When did O'Neill suggest he was in a buying mood? If that is indeed the case, its not like him as he usually holds his cards close to his chest. |
davidc
said:
|
... Away goals do count. Which is exactly why a score draw tonight would be a more than decent result. |
John Samuels
said:
 |
... Damian, Wholesale changes or not, we won 3-1. I really don't understand your pro-active comment because surely MoN IS being proactive. Surely a reactive change would be to change the team after they are knackered from this game. The FA cup was of the least importance despite being Blackburn because we don't want to risk league points and we can't afford to blow the semi. It made perfect sense to me, why don't you list the games when we should have rested players and who we should have rested. Let me know which of the league and cup games this season wheren't important enough to warrnat playing our first team. I think you will agree we have a first team. You know, the ones you call the 'favourites'. Personally I think they are just our best line up of our best players. The other players we have are either good but not quite playing in form, or younger with a lot to learn and are being groomed for the future. How you can say 6th would be a backward step is ludicrous. Even if we finish 10th we will have made progress this season. The squad is bigger and better and well equipped for another tilt at top four. We have so much youth in the side going forward that we will be stronger, better and more experienced in attack next season and we have so much experience and composure at the back that we will be just as good, maybe with a season more's worth of understanding, even better. We have progressed further in a cup this season than we have for a long time, we have more strength in depth than we have ever had under O'Neill and we have Delph, Clark, Albrighton and Delfouneso to look forward to next season. I would be quite happy with a strong finish and a Europa league place again. As for us taking our foot off tha gas? I don't think MoN would let that happen, this team looks hungry and I believe they want to go out and win every single game. You're suggestion that they might throw a top four place if they won the league cup to keep their places and prevent better players coming in is the most erronious thing I've ever read. Anyway, rant over, I might pop back later for a prediction. |
whitey09
said:
 |
... im not a killjoy but im cautious bout 2nite simply cos i remember the last time we were in semi final of this cup against bolton wiv alladyce as manager,they were serious underdogs & they ended up walloping us up there so it aint gona b easy,id take a score drawrite now,if we dont leave ourselves wiv 2 much 2 do in the 2nd leg i fancy us in any final we play in.anyway best go and get me ticket cos my ride is due soon,lets show them wat were made of wivout being cocky then its ours 4 the taking utv |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
|
...Even if we finish 10th we will have made progress this season You might just about get away with saying 7th but 10th is really pushing it. If we finish 10th it means we have left 3 other teams gain a march on us and that in its own way would be going backwards regardless of anything else we have done. |
StickyAV
said:
|
... I tell myself I read this blog to see the stuff that badger, JPA, nan, churchill, doc, ak, chris et al have to say. But most of the time the articles are written in a similar tone to what I can only imagine the daily mail's support site for asylum seekers would be like. It's frustrating. But maybe that's why i stick with it. |
Chris Harper
said:
|
... Where Viva? Can anyone help? I haven't got a ticket for the return leg. Does this mean I won't be able to get a ticket to the final? I'm a season ticket holder and go to all the Home cup matches (usually). I would be gutted to miss out. |
Andi
said:
 |
... talking of calling game off and i am well pissed i have a ticket day off the lot a bit of snow and Britain comes to a hault how did we win the war ? |
SuperBox
said:
 |
... So in summary..... Playing the "favourites" = Bad. Squad Rotation = Bad Winning Things = Good. Winning Things = Bad. Reactive (resting players for a game) = Bad. Proactive (keeping players fit for bigger games) = Bad Allardyce changed 9 on Saturday, MON changed 7, therefore MON was more bothered about it than Sam, right? I wonder what MON has to do to keep people happy? I'm with Pancho - things are looking better than they have for a long time. Prediction - we surely will beat them. 2-0. Easy. Hang on, winning things is bad isn't it.... |
John Samuels
said:
|
...You might just about get away with saying 7th but 10th is really pushing it. I understand what you're saying and I may be guilty of hyperbole, but we have a better equipped squad no matter mwhere we finish. A season is a season, but in the scheme of things we are progressing. Everton didn't sack Moyes when they almost got relegated after finishing 5th and rightly so. It was the same team, same manager and they were just having a bad season and they went on to finish 4th the following year As it happens we are having a pretty decent season so far and I really cannot understand where the negativity is coming from. I think you have to remember the resources and players we have and realise where we are at the moment. I can understand WANTING to win every game, but you have to realise we won't. Damian just got my goat with the MoN keeping his job line. Uncalled for imo. So ak, I think we'll win tonight, comfortably too. |
Andi
said:
|
... Villa Chris i am sure we will be given more tickets than what we have season ticket holders so tickets for the final shouldnt be a problem |
Adrian Kilgallon
said:
|
...I understand what you're saying and I may be guilty of hyperbole, but we have a better equipped squad no matter mwhere we finish. A season is a season, but in the scheme of things we are progressing I actually do agree with you up to a point. I think we have a great platform in our defense to build on. We could possible have the best defensive outfit in the league right now. But if we did finish 10th that would have meant we have left a few teams catch us up and that would not be good. Can't see that happen though. At worst we will finish 8th. Just as long as MON has the balls the go and get the needed additions (regardless of nationailty) and the balls to go and start paying them the going rate in wages that is required to get them here even if he finds it appalling that they make so much money then i'll be happy that we are heading in the right direction under Mr O'Neill. I think to move onto the next step it may take MON actually having to take a gamble or 2 which is something he seems very reluctant to do. Joanovic and Defour would really show me that he is willing to do that. Next summer(possibly this Jan but probably not) is time to start acting like a big club for a change. |
Christian
said:
 |
... I'm a little confused. I haven't yet got a ticket for the 2nd leg (Villa Park leg). If I get one, will it increase my odds of getting a ticket for the final? I thought the tickets for the final would virtually all be gone with season ticket priority, corporate seats and fans with 10+ away day stubs??? Any ideas? We've got to beat Blackburn first though. I'd like a 2-0 win, get it wrapped up before the 2nd leg. I'm gonna say a 1-0 defeat tonight though, just got a feeling we'll be robbed! Maybe it's all the snow... |
James Collins is the ginger Paolo Cesare Maldini
said:
 |
... Games going to be off by the sound of things....rubbish!! I was really looking forward to tonight!! :0( |
Car Frost
said:
|
...Yes to David Villa. Great idea, can't believe nobody thought of that earlier. If we all put £20 in that should sort his flight over. Tell you what lets go for Torres too. While we're at it swap Sidwell for Fabregas and we should win the league. Bjesus! |
John Samuels
said:
|
...and the balls to go and start paying them the going rate in wages that is required to get them here He offered Barry £85k a week to try and keep him so I don't think that is the issue. Next summer(possibly this Jan but probably not) is time to start acting like a big club for a change. I think we are beginning to, but the reality is we aren't that big a club yet. We are getting there but we need a little bit of success and a cup would help. At least we aren't a selling club anymore, I feel quite safe in regards to keeping players like Ash, Milner and Gabby. It's steady, but it is progress. |
Damian
said:
|
... Juan Pablo Angel we seem to go round in circles all the time. you clearly believe that o'neill is doing a fantastic job and can do little wrong. i don't, although i did for his first two seasons i can say 6th is a backward step, simply becasue three seasons of finishing in the same position is standing still and everyone knows that standing still in this league is as good as going backwards. saying Even if we finish 10th we will have made progress this seasonis ludicrous, not my statement also, progress isn't about how far you go in a knock out tournament and it cant be used as a benchmark - it is nice, sure, but come on, don't put it down as progress - certainly not a tournament where so many of the better teams play teams full of kids and clearly do not take that serious you also cant say we have Delph, Clark, Albrighton and Delfouneso to look forward to next seasonbecause chances are they will not be playing next season. what you can say is we have them to look forward to in the future - but it's like General PR saying £30mn player 'if' the manager wants it - it's making stuff up .. much like this next bit you've just created my statement about taking the foot off the gas - which at the very time of writing it, I said is an extremely cynical side of me and I am probably wrongis not about anything other than what is possible and IT happens and regardless of what we think about o'neill and his fighting spirit - how do you know he wont give up when he has won silverware with realisticly no chance of winning anything else or finishing in the top four? you don't. sure - in an ideal world you would want to believe fourth is still possible, but in the real world, the REAL world, it isn't and we all know that, as of today, fourth is unrealistic - even the bookmakers have man city and spurs above us to come fifth i also never said anything about 'throwing' a top four place - in my example i said we were in 6th place, so it would not have been throwing it like the team did last season and i also never said anything about keeping their places to prevent better players coming in - you've made these things up JPA and calling them the most erronious thingyou have read when you haven't actually read them, is actually quite surprising Badger winning the league one season and winning it the next without winning a cup isn't standing still - come on. that woudl be like saying one decade we win two league cups the next we don't win any - we've gone backwards. football is all about the league. the tournaments are extras - like pizza toppings if you will. football isn't about a few matches it is about the whole season and the league - for every club - is the priority, to go further in the cups is a byproduct of having a successful football team in the league, although i am a little inclined to say apart from the league cup - but seeing as it is something we could win this season, i won't as for if we were winning the league every season but not winning a cup - of course i'd not be saying anything about the manager - but we are not. we finished 6th. 6th again. will probably finish 6th this season. how many more seasons do you want us to finish 6th before trying something new or how many games of football do you need to see before you want to start seeing something a little better? |
neil bangor
said:
|
... 1st, is this the final post by Damian in the near future? I hate being last on an old post. We will not be 10th. We have best defence in league,with tremendous back-up,there will be no implosion like last season. I think 4th is def on,even other club's fans think we are favourites. I'd like to see guzan start, rest Carlos, play Reo and Fabian in centre. Even 4 5 1 would be good. We should win. I hope it aint cancelled. I pity you guys who have taken day off to go to match. How did we win the war? UTV, COYL, YWC |
Damian
said:
|
... webcam in blacburn. apparently they have had 5 inches of snow last night http://www.blackburn.ac.uk/webcam2.html don't think the match will be on tonight |
John Samuels
said:
|
... Damian, You're suggestion that they might throw a top four place if they won the league cup to keep their places and prevent better players coming in is the most erronious thing I've ever read. Also, saying we are out of the running for top four is interesting. Why do you say that? We are up there around the top of the league with a strong squad and we've already taken points of a number of big clubs this season. I'd say we have as good a chance as anyone. I don't think MoN is faultless, I just think he is doing a good job. The team gets better every season and even the football has shown signs of perhaps improving (slowly) and I don't understand the ominous, negative approach to this game which should be celebrated. When was the last time we had a game of this size to look forward to. Sure we lost to Pool and Arsenal, but I think we played ok in both games. You also didn't explain you're proactive statement from earlier. This is what I said. Note the words 'suggestion' and 'might' and please do some reading yourself before pointing out my interpretation of the usual self contradictory statements you make. |
Andi
said:
|
... Christian - Blackburn shipped in loads of grit as neither of the clubs want it to be rearranged due to fixture congestion, according to a work collegue the roads to the ground and the main routes are fine |
John Samuels
said:
|
... In my quote, please note the words 'suggestion and 'might'. Read mine and i'll read yours. |
Chris Harper
said:
|
... Chiefy hope you're right dude. I also feel sorry for the people who have had a day off and got a ticket! I'll just have to revert to playing on Rock Band again! |
Christian
said:
|
... Cheers Chiefy, hope you're right! My source was from a blogger on a blackburn site, hopefully he was just scaremongering! |
Andi
said:
|
... Great its OFF, run for your lives everyone its snowing and apparently you cant drive, play football or walk in it as its a KILLER !!!!!! This country is an utter joke, How on earth did we win the war |
John Samuels
said:
|
... Oh well, gets me out of trouble anyway. I was looking forward to the conversation with the g/f where I tell her that depsite being the first freenight we've had together in over a week that there was a game on and football is more important than 'quality time'. |
Andi
said:
|
... and apparently the cold snap is due to last for 2-3 weeks so what do they think will happen by rearranging it till next week ? utter joke |
Car Frost
said:
|
... Thanks Macca. Oh well, gets me out of trouble anyway. I was looking forward to the conversation with the g/f where I tell her that depsite being the first freenight we've had together in over a week that there was a game on and football is more important than 'quality time'. Thats 2 of us JPA |
Damian
said:
|
... Juan Pablo Angel why do I say we are out of the running? in my example, i looked at where we could be at the end of february - it was an example and in that example we were 6th come febraury 28th (we were 4th at the same time last season) i wasn't saying it as of now. but, if we are 6th at the end of february and you then start factoring in how many games we will win - it is fair to assume that we won't finish in the top 4 if we are 6th by the end of february. in fact - it would be fair to assume we would finish lower than 6th it was an example. you could say, as an example, if we are 20 points clear at the end of febraury - top of the league - chances are we would win the league it was an example and what you have quoted - is what you wrote and you never read it - i suggested they took their foot off the gas from 6th place when realisticly they were never going to get 4th and nowhere did i suggest anything about keeping their places to prevent better players coming in |
neil bangor
said:
|
... JPA and Damian. If you were partners or married, I'd say divorce is on the cards Megan Fox prob doesn't bitch as much Look, be real. We will be 4th, no sweat. A v solid defence, a strong squad,a good manager, what more do we want? OK, a top midfielder and a top striker. Hell, this manager stuff is tough. UTV |
Damian
said:
|
... Juan Pablo Angel to throw a top four place would actually be what they did last season - i dont think we will be anywhere near 4th come the end of february but even if in your interpretation i did 'suggest' that they might do it again - it would hardly be surprising would it seeing as we did actually throw it last season |
John Samuels
said:
|
... Damian, I trust you assume in your example that we will go on a similar losing streak to that of last season. The thing is if we consistently continue to pick up points between the end of february and the end of may as we have all season, the likliehood is we will finish with a better points tally than last season. Now, even if that is not good enough to get us better than sixth you must agree that there has been an improvement. Couple that with a Carling cup final and i'd say that was a reasonable season and an improvement on last, considering we've had to contend with Laursen's retirement and the departure of Gareth Barry. My point is, you seem to be assuming that this team is going to drop as many points in march as it did last year and I don't think we will. If we finish strongly we have every chance of being right up there at the end of the season. We went on a steak of 4 points from 9 games and I can't see that happening again. I know we lost to the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Man U, but we also lost games against Spurs and Man City which will be big fixtures during the run in. We drew with Stoke, Everton, West Ham and Bolton before we nicked a win against Hull. These are all games we are capable of winning this year, including City and Spurs and if we can't beat them then we aren't good enough to finish above them and have to improve. The thing is I think we can, I believe. Wins against the lesser lot would have seen 4 points become 12 and we'd have finished with 70 points, 2 points behind Arse and in fifth place. The league is much tighter this season and i'd expect a lower points tally all round at the top of the table and 70 points this season may be enough to get top four. There is every reason to be optimistic and until we really do blow it i'm happy to believe. |
neil bangor
said:
|
... JPA, I agree. We will finish better than last season. It will be won by lowest points ever. There are now 7 top teams, boring to name. The sky 4 squads are worst ever, City's, Spurs' and ours are stronger- reason. Laursen's demise and Davies' injury did us a big favour, buying RD and JC and King Carlos rise to the top. I always thought he was good,even in scotland. If Rangers are top, Celtic must be really bad. Bad times up there. UTV |
Damian
said:
|
... Juan Pablo Angel yes, i am assuming that the team will drop off like they did last season and the season before - it is the only evidence we have don't get me wrong. i hope they dont. i hope actually we get better. i hope that we pick up more points and i hope we finish higher than we have the past two seasons but there comes a time for all of us where we stop hoping and having faith that it will get better and just accept what we have got. i have accepted that the most likely scenario is that we wont kick on because that is not what we have done for the past two seasons but like i said, i hope we dont but i think we will there is a big difference in where we both come from you seem to disregard what has happened in the past and hope it changes, i factor in what has happened in the past and hope it changes chances are i will be right, as past evidence backs it up but going on past evidence - the past two january transfer windows, we haven't properly strengthened when we could have done - if we do it properly this season, maybe it will change and maybe we will go on that run to secure top four football or even, move up to 5th place but so many things have to happen for that to happen whereas for us to finish in 6th - not much has to change the fundamental difference, from what i have read anyway is that you have this belief in martin o'neill and his style of football and i no longer have that i would love to be wrong and as i've said a few times - i wouldn't mind finishing 10th and winning the league cup, because for me football is about winning stuff, closely followed by getting better every season but if we do not win anything and don't get better (as in final league position) or get worse then i'm basing my position on things that actually happen rather than what i would like to, or would hope to happen |
neil bangor
said:
|
... Christ, Damian, your cup must always be half empty I reckon if Megan rang you, you would be too busy decorating |
Steve Badger
said:
|
... Greg1981, Mmmm. So. It’s beginning… The awakening. The quickening. I really fail to see what you mean here mate. I could understand you thinking we'd have gone backwards if we had an ageing squad, with an owner who was looking to bail out and won't invest, but we don't. JPA said it all earlier and I'm sure you don't want me to repeat it. If you can't see that we're a club/team on th up, it's pointless discussing it. Damian, how many more seasons do you want us to finish 6th before trying something new or how many games of football do you need to see before you want to start seeing something a little better? And what is this "little better"? Throw £100 mill at it? £200 mill? And what if it doesn't work? Get a richer owner in and throw £300 mill at it? I'm being daft of course. But how much have city thrown in and they're not looking certs for the CL to me. Very possible, but not certs. And the sad fact is their spending power is in a different league which we can't hope to compete with. As for what would happen if the owners were to pull out, well it doesn't bear thinking about. But we've gone through all this before. I suppose what you mean is go and spend £30 mill on a player who a) isn't worth it and b) will have to be paid even more inflated wages than normal for a player of his class to attract him. It boils down to whether you think MON's doing a decent job with the resources he has. It seems you don't. I've had a think about it since my last post and I think you're trying to be consistent and not make yourself look a mug if the wheels fall off. That's understandable I think, seeing as you're the one in the spotlight on here. I do think you could move slightly more into positive territory though mate. |
Damian
said:
|
... Badger when i say a little better, i mean in terms of the football as for the money city have thrown in, that was doomed to failure from day one becasue they had the wrong manager - i said as much before the season started now, ihave to say i'm not sure about mancini, but i fancy he will be able to attract better players (naturally the money helps) but while they are not certain of top four - i honestly wouldn't be surprised if they got it and if they do - then how much clearer does it have to be made - you need to spend money to get top four and you also need a manager capable of getting the team to play better football with regard to positivity though - it is only this season where i have lost my belief that o'neill can do it although i have to say i sort of lost faith in the o'neill concept about a year ago the thing is, if things haven't really changed in terms of the football (and people really seem to forget that is what it is all about) in his fourth season - i fail to see how they are going to change in his fifth or sixth or even 7th or 8th i just cant see it anymore and i've said it a thousand times - i'd love to be wrong, but like i've also said a thousand times - i cant see it happening |
keith
said:
|
... have we improved? the fact that we are disappointed if we dont finish better than last year says it all, every year now we want cl football and think theres something wrong if we dont get it. this is a big improvement on as long as we finish top midland side, but lets stay realistic, rome wasnt built in a day as they say. im sure we all see how close we are and want it now but im sure mon and randy are doing it the smart way for the better of avfc. |
John Samuels
said:
|
...I reckon if Megan rang you, you would be too busy decorating No, he'd be mowing the lawn |
John Samuels
said:
|
...i fail to see how they are going to change in his fifth or sixth or even 7th or 8th I believe a certain Sir Alex Ferguson won sod all in his first three years and was close to the sack when he landed the league cup in his fourth season...the rest is history. Give it some time, it'snot as if we're doing badly is it. I'm happy with consistently finishing in europe, iy gives a stable base, some extra income, a way to blood the youngsters and the experience of playing in europe ready for when we do crack the top four spots. |
Damian
said:
|
... Juan Pablo Angel times were different when sir alex ferguson took over, you have to agree with that and i also think it was the fa cup he won in his third year my point is, its different these days and it really isn't about buying young english talent - look at spurs and it isn't really about blooding youngsters and consistent european football - look at everton, it is about and this is horrible to say, spending money - look at chelsea and look what will happen at man city in utopia, it would be nice to believe the way we are doing it will work but it takes a blend of both. now, if you accept that it takes both (and you would have to be mad to think it doesn't in my opinion) then you either think lerner hasn't given enough or o'neill can't make it because if you think lerner has given enough then surely it is o'neill not delivering or if you think lerner hasn't given enough then it's o'neill has got the best out of the funds available naturally, we could finish 4th this season and i'd be wrong. or even 5th would be an improvement. but we have to wait until may to find out and like i said, i'd take us finishing 10th and winning silverware so where we finish might be irrelevant but it wont be if we don't win silverware |
George Templeton
said:
|
... I wasn't too confident when this match was originally scheduled, but now I feel like Aston Villa can put this tie away tonight. 3-0 and the preparations for Wembley can begin! |
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