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Dear Villa fans, I appreciate this is a long shot but here goes. My uncle Hugh, lifelong claret and blue, is up from wales the weekend before the Liverpool game and would have loved to go with his two favourite nephews. I’ve just rung the ticket office to be (politely to be fair!) laughed at and told tickets sold out instantly.
Have any of you champs got season tickets, think you’ll be unable to go, and not got round to selling them on yet?
Have any of you champs got season tickets, think you’ll be unable to go, and not got round to selling them on yet?
Still don't know what to make about last night! Relieved at the second half comeback, but frustrated that Martinez's error really put us on the back foot from the outset. Whilst I do think he is usually Mr Reliable he does have the grim distinction of three Premier League own goals, more than any keeper in PL history!
On to tonight then. I hate having our fate out of our hands but if Spurs fail to win against City we are back in Europe proper!
On to tonight then. I hate having our fate out of our hands but if Spurs fail to win against City we are back in Europe proper!
PurpleTurtle said:
Still don't know what to make about last night! Relieved at the second half comeback, but frustrated that Martinez's error really put us on the back foot from the outset. Whilst I do think he is usually Mr Reliable he does have the grim distinction of three Premier League own goals, more than any keeper in PL history!
On to tonight then. I hate having our fate out of our hands but if Spurs fail to win against City we are back in Europe proper!
It's still in your hands, tonight is just a bonus. Draw against Palace on Sat and you've got CL haven't you, even if Spurs win both their games. I think Man City beat Spurs tonight anyway, giving you CL qualification tonight. Gotta watch FFP, couple of bad transfer windows combined with high wages and dropping out of CL massively does you over, we should know!On to tonight then. I hate having our fate out of our hands but if Spurs fail to win against City we are back in Europe proper!
What no-one seems to realise is that Villa has the highest head-to-head points haul of any of the Top 5 clubs, irrespective of the scoreline at Tottenham tonight.
Aston Villa: 13 points
Arsenal: 12 points
Liverpool: 10 points
Tottenham: 8 points with City to play tonight
Man City: 7 points with Tottenham to play tonight
Based on that fact alone, I don’t think anyone can begrudge Villa hopefully securing 4th place in the table. It also shows that if tonight’s result ends in a draw, City will have the worst head-to-head record of all 5 clubs. It’s just that they obliterate all of the lower teams!
Aston Villa: 13 points
Arsenal: 12 points
Liverpool: 10 points
Tottenham: 8 points with City to play tonight
Man City: 7 points with Tottenham to play tonight
Based on that fact alone, I don’t think anyone can begrudge Villa hopefully securing 4th place in the table. It also shows that if tonight’s result ends in a draw, City will have the worst head-to-head record of all 5 clubs. It’s just that they obliterate all of the lower teams!
Leicester Loyal said:
PurpleTurtle said:
Still don't know what to make about last night! Relieved at the second half comeback, but frustrated that Martinez's error really put us on the back foot from the outset. Whilst I do think he is usually Mr Reliable he does have the grim distinction of three Premier League own goals, more than any keeper in PL history!
On to tonight then. I hate having our fate out of our hands but if Spurs fail to win against City we are back in Europe proper!
It's still in your hands, tonight is just a bonus. Draw against Palace on Sat and you've got CL haven't you, even if Spurs win both their games. I think Man City beat Spurs tonight anyway, giving you CL qualification tonight. Gotta watch FFP, couple of bad transfer windows combined with high wages and dropping out of CL massively does you over, we should know!On to tonight then. I hate having our fate out of our hands but if Spurs fail to win against City we are back in Europe proper!
PurpleTurtle said:
Gah, I wish I'd spotted this yesterday, a friend of mine was unable to go so had a couple of spares, sorry,
We had a lovely time watching it in the pub, great game for me as a neutral and I got home at a reasonable hour!! Thanks for response though. I’ve told him we’ll get to a game next season, presumably a cold one against bottom half opposition involving a nice hot bovril that all their new found top half fans will find excuses not to bother with! I’ll ask again on here though if I’m struggling.
Purple turtle Reading wipe your feet when you walk in purple turtle?
Lovely job!! Can’t quite believe it.
My sensible head says we can’t go mad with spending because of FFP and we’ll potentially do a Newcastle and bomb out at the group stage but we’ve got a formidabelsten manager, fantastic owners and a great core of players, so let’s just enjoy the ride.
We’re totally gonna get dicked by Palace on Sunday btw! We’ve run out of steam, they are on fire, and the result is meaningless for us now. Would be good if Unai gave some of the younger players a decent run out in a pressure-free game.
My sensible head says we can’t go mad with spending because of FFP and we’ll potentially do a Newcastle and bomb out at the group stage but we’ve got a formidabelsten manager, fantastic owners and a great core of players, so let’s just enjoy the ride.
We’re totally gonna get dicked by Palace on Sunday btw! We’ve run out of steam, they are on fire, and the result is meaningless for us now. Would be good if Unai gave some of the younger players a decent run out in a pressure-free game.
Well a week’s a long time in football. After the euphoria of Champions League qualification on Tuesday, we get battered 5-0 by Crystal Palace and, more worrying, are now being heavily linked with re-signing Ross Barkley. WTF!? After a very few promising early games, he was absolutely woeful for us last time round. Why risk taking him on again at 30 years old? Let him play on for Luton in the Championship.
I do wonder about the wisdom of having a player come back, Ashley Young did well even give his age, there's also rumour of Grealish coming back which I don't agree with as the club has moved on from him and the situation would just turn into a circus. Barkley played well in many games for Villa and from what I have read and understand he was very good at Luton. Villa need to build a squad of players who can step into vital positions when other players are injured, tired or suspended, the team were running on empty come the end of the season and better, fresher legs may have helped, if Emery & Mochi think he's the right fit then who are we to argue.
Well I will! I also agree with you about Grealish by the way. He’s had all that attacking flair coached out of him by Guardiola. Nowadays (if he plays at all), he just passes the ball back to Rodri or whoever’s nearest. Doku has pretty much replaced him. Honestly I don’t think he deserves to go to the Euros, but if he does, please Southgate let him off the leash and allow him to play like he did for Villa. Yeah, I know, fat chance of that happening with GS at the helm.
I'm taking the Palace result with a shovel full of salt.
Yes, I think they would have beaten us even if we had put out a full strength side (they are the absolute form team at the moment) but it was a complete nothing of a game for us, several players rested, Olsen in goal - guaranteed to ship at least four goals - and our 56th game of the season with a long injury list - we're absolutely knackered and have stumbled over the line into the Champions League without a win in 5 games.
That's why I'm keen to sign players like Barkley, as a squad player. He's looked really sharp at Luton, will join on a free and doesn't have silly wages. He isn't going to be a first choice but he will bolster the squad for relatively little outlay against the backdrop of needing to balance the books in regard to FFP, in a season where we will have a lot more games than we are used to.
I see Olsen, Couthino, and Longlet all on their way for us. Many people say Lucas Digne will be going, personally I would like him to stay as he has been reborn under Emery, but I think he's also on big money so might be moved on.
Yes, I think they would have beaten us even if we had put out a full strength side (they are the absolute form team at the moment) but it was a complete nothing of a game for us, several players rested, Olsen in goal - guaranteed to ship at least four goals - and our 56th game of the season with a long injury list - we're absolutely knackered and have stumbled over the line into the Champions League without a win in 5 games.
That's why I'm keen to sign players like Barkley, as a squad player. He's looked really sharp at Luton, will join on a free and doesn't have silly wages. He isn't going to be a first choice but he will bolster the squad for relatively little outlay against the backdrop of needing to balance the books in regard to FFP, in a season where we will have a lot more games than we are used to.
I see Olsen, Couthino, and Longlet all on their way for us. Many people say Lucas Digne will be going, personally I would like him to stay as he has been reborn under Emery, but I think he's also on big money so might be moved on.
LotusOmega375D said:
Well I will! I also agree with you about Grealish by the way. He’s had all that attacking flair coached out of him by Guardiola. Nowadays (if he plays at all), he just passes the ball back to Rodri or whoever’s nearest. Doku has pretty much replaced him. Honestly I don’t think he deserves to go to the Euros, but if he does, please Southgate let him off the leash and allow him to play like he did for Villa. Yeah, I know, fat chance of that happening with GS at the helm.
Interesting point. I'd love to see JG come back but I just don't think it will happen simply because Emery probably values the kind of player who leads a more conservative lifestyle off the pitch. I don't think he's had his flair 'coached out' of him because that is just sheer natural ability. If he's allowed to play in his own style he will do, it's just not Pep's style. He's been named in the Euros squad so it will be intriguing to see how him and Watkins play together, if given the chance. Gareth will probably give him 10 minutes as sub in the group stages.
PurpleTurtle said:
I'm taking the Palace result with a shovel full of salt.
Yes, I think they would have beaten us even if we had put out a full strength side (they are the absolute form team at the moment) but it was a complete nothing of a game for us, several players rested, Olsen in goal - guaranteed to ship at least four goals - and our 56th game of the season with a long injury list - we're absolutely knackered and have stumbled over the line into the Champions League without a win in 5 games.
That's why I'm keen to sign players like Barkley, as a squad player. He's looked really sharp at Luton, will join on a free and doesn't have silly wages. He isn't going to be a first choice but he will bolster the squad for relatively little outlay against the backdrop of needing to balance the books in regard to FFP, in a season where we will have a lot more games than we are used to.
I see Olsen, Couthino, and Longlet all on their way for us. Many people say Lucas Digne will be going, personally I would like him to stay as he has been reborn under Emery, but I think he's also on big money so might be moved on.
Good post and mirrors my thoughts. Sounds like the fans had a great time at Crystal Palace and we were always going to lose that one. Yes, I think they would have beaten us even if we had put out a full strength side (they are the absolute form team at the moment) but it was a complete nothing of a game for us, several players rested, Olsen in goal - guaranteed to ship at least four goals - and our 56th game of the season with a long injury list - we're absolutely knackered and have stumbled over the line into the Champions League without a win in 5 games.
That's why I'm keen to sign players like Barkley, as a squad player. He's looked really sharp at Luton, will join on a free and doesn't have silly wages. He isn't going to be a first choice but he will bolster the squad for relatively little outlay against the backdrop of needing to balance the books in regard to FFP, in a season where we will have a lot more games than we are used to.
I see Olsen, Couthino, and Longlet all on their way for us. Many people say Lucas Digne will be going, personally I would like him to stay as he has been reborn under Emery, but I think he's also on big money so might be moved on.
The FFP situation is frustrating and I really hope that we don't sell Ramsey to help balance the books. In addition to Olsen, Coutinho, and Lenglet, Zaniolo will go back to Galatasary, Chambers will be off, and I can see Diego Carlos going to a middling European side too. As much as I don't want it, I wouldn't be surprised to see Duran go and we really need to get rid of Dendoncker too.
With Mings, Kamara and Buendia coming back, and that highly rated new RB coming in (forgot his name, soz) we'll have some cover but not enough. Barkey, if he comes, will never be first choice but he represents a good value option off the bench or as a rotation option. If he's happy with this and trains well then we can't really lose. We do need others though, particularly in defence and up front. Hopefully we'll have another productive summer!
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