Is this the way to Barcelona and a quick look back to Fulham

I’m going to start with Jamie Carragher and I didn’t put it in the title because I don’t think that weasel deserves the exposure, but he’s backed down as we all knew he would and Aston Villa have graciously acknowledged this and said they’ll no longer proceed with anything legal.

And this was how it was always going to play out and I’m glad it did. And I’m glad our owners did what they did too because I’m fed up of this big six and what I can only say is a clear agenda from Sky and other media outlets.

And by that I mean, if a team is doing well and a position is likely to become available at one of the big six, you don’t hear Sky and other media suggesting that one of the other big six managers might be about to get poached, it’s always Brighton or Brentford and now Unai Emery.

And it’s not actually that the Brighton or Brentford managers are actually that good, they’re doing well because the Club is so well run and the players are brought in for the system they have built.

Show me a former Brentford or Brighton manager that has done well after leaving and I can take a position that you would, as a sensible person, also agree with that confirms it was in all likelihood, the Club.

And this big six is purely made up on revenue. Spurs, in fifth place have finished the last two seasons lucky to stay in the League. Manchester United could get relegated this season. Manchester City are possibly going to be expelled and most certainly relegated because they cheated to get there.

It’s broken, the entire thing is broken. But I guess, as we’re seventh on the list by turnover, when Manchester City are expelled we get promoted into the top six and it will all be okay. It won’t.

Fulham second half

I can’t write a post without mentioning the second half on Saturday night and well, that’s what it all came down to. Had we played the second half like we did the first and if the skipper had converted the penalty, we’d have won by three or four.

It’s one of those things and it’s not nice, but we will learn. It’s also still very early into the season and with Manchester City about to be expelled, it’s all about to get quite exciting.

But Spurs have won three in a row, so they are back and going to challenge. They’re not and they’ll be lucky to finish top half. But this post isn’t about the League, it’s about tonight.

Barcelona

Right, to the main reason for the post and it’s Barcelona tonight in the Champions League and they don’t get much bigger. A win tonight and it means four out of four but defeat would mean we’ll be on the same points as Barcelona.

Yes you read that right and you probably knew it but we are above them and above them for a reason and we’ve got a manager that knows them as well as he knows any opposition having faced them 30 times.

That’s a lot of matches and the stat that isn’t very nice is he’s only won three. But he’s now at Aston Villa, one of the big six (remember, Manchester City are getting expelled) and this is a different game.

It’s not going to be easy for us but it’s not going to be easy for them and either side can win. That’s where we are now, going into a game with Barcelona and it’s tough to predict.

And it’s why Sky and all the other media have to start talking differently about Aston Villa. And it’s why Unai Emery is here to stay… he’s built it, with a little help from his friends.

Some match facts from the BBC

• This will be the first meeting between Barcelona and Aston Villa since the European Super Cup final (played over two legs) in January 1983, which was won 3-1 on aggregate by the Villans (lost 1-0 away, won 3-0 at home).

• Unai Emery has faced Barcelona on 30 occasions in his managerial career, winning just three of those (D6 L21). Of teams he has faced five or more times, his win percentage against Barcelona is his lowest against any opponent (10%).

• Barcelona are on the longest current run without a clean sheet of any team in this season’s Champions League (18 games). However, their average of 2.97 goals per game in the competition under Hansi Flick is their highest under any manager (86 goals in 29 matches).