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So how is everyone feeling now?
A few weeks back I thought we were in the hot seat for second auto spot. But Cardiff have really hit their stride. Fulham too. And with Saturday's result, Wolves not exactly home and dry yet either. Could be a brilliant (and nail biting) end to the season.
A few weeks back I thought we were in the hot seat for second auto spot. But Cardiff have really hit their stride. Fulham too. And with Saturday's result, Wolves not exactly home and dry yet either. Could be a brilliant (and nail biting) end to the season.
I think Wolves are going to bottle it. Last time they were 10 points clear and blew it, had to suffer the ignonimy of West Brom beating them to promotion and them not getting promoted.
I think we are hitting our stride now, Bruce has got his players playing how he wants them and, dare I say it because I'm really not a fan of him personally, John Terry has our defence very well organised. (with apologies to chief PH Terry-hater ElectricSoup!) The run-in is going to be exciting.
I think we are hitting our stride now, Bruce has got his players playing how he wants them and, dare I say it because I'm really not a fan of him personally, John Terry has our defence very well organised. (with apologies to chief PH Terry-hater ElectricSoup!) The run-in is going to be exciting.
counterofbeans said:
I stopped supporting Villa on 17th June 2011 but I may have to start again soon!
Well I must admit, Villa and football generally have taken a bit of a back seat for me generally in last few years. Last season was at times more depressing than the near relegation years. But I've enjoyed this season. Nice to win a few games. I like the look of our squad. Always had time for SB. Not getting carried away here though. If we were promoted, I'd not expect a return to former glories any time soon but nice to feel that we are getting better, not worse. It's been a very long time since I've felt like that.I can't really call at all how the league is going to finish. Think Wolves will probably take 6 points from there next couple of games and might just find their feet again. They certainly have the squad to find some form again. Think we might be fighting for second. Cardiff look superb at present but I'd like to think Villa have a bit more depth and might just have enough to grab second. Frustrating to think where we might be sitting if we hadn't had such a poor start. I'm sure we were about 15 points adrift in October.
Can't see Wolves dropping out of the top two, even given the current blip in form, but who knows?
For the first time in a long time, I don't automatically fear the worst every time there's a Villa game about to kick off. The players actually seem to want to play for the team now.
I fear it's the play offs for us - but live in hope!
For the first time in a long time, I don't automatically fear the worst every time there's a Villa game about to kick off. The players actually seem to want to play for the team now.
I fear it's the play offs for us - but live in hope!
Gad-Westy said:
Well I jinxed that good and proper
You can say that again! 
More points thrown away on Saturday to cap a pretty dire week. It's like December all over again.....
That pretty much kisses goodbye to any realistic prospect of automatic promotion. If they play like they did against QPR and Bolton, I can't see much prospect of getting anywhere via the play-offs either!
Don't throw it away now! I dread to think what another season is the Championship would mean financially, once the parachute payments cease.
Lurking Lawyer said:
Gad-Westy said:
Well I jinxed that good and proper
You can say that again! More points thrown away on Saturday to cap a pretty dire week. It's like December all over again.....
That pretty much kisses goodbye to any realistic prospect of automatic promotion. If they play like they did against QPR and Bolton, I can't see much prospect of getting anywhere via the play-offs either!
Don't throw it away now! I dread to think what another season is the Championship would mean financially, once the parachute payments cease.
Sad to read earlier that a Villan of recent memory JLloyd Samuel died in a car accident recently. The team will wear black arm bands tonight.
I wish Derby had held on last night - I'd have preferred them in the Play Off Final rather than Fulham. Assuming of course that we get there, and with Villa my many years of bitter experience suggest it's never sensible to assume anything!
I wish Derby had held on last night - I'd have preferred them in the Play Off Final rather than Fulham. Assuming of course that we get there, and with Villa my many years of bitter experience suggest it's never sensible to assume anything!
Lurking Lawyer said:
Sad to read earlier that a Villan of recent memory JLloyd Samuel died in a car accident recently. The team will wear black arm bands tonight.
I wish Derby had held on last night - I'd have preferred them in the Play Off Final rather than Fulham. Assuming of course that we get there, and with Villa my many years of bitter experience suggest it's never sensible to assume anything!
Was very sad news indeed. Villa seem to have lost too many ex-stars in the prime of their life recently. I wish Derby had held on last night - I'd have preferred them in the Play Off Final rather than Fulham. Assuming of course that we get there, and with Villa my many years of bitter experience suggest it's never sensible to assume anything!
Nail biting end last nigh but good result.
I went to the game last night, it was great to see Villa Park rocking. I only get to the occasional home game these days, but do most of the London away ones (which was easier in the Prem, if not slightly depressing in the Lerner era).
Play-off games are always hard fought, but glad we managed to nudge it over the line. We'd be lost without Terry, Snodgrass and Grealish, our three key players IMO. Hopefully we will have enough for Fulham - I will hopefully going with a fellow PH-er who is of the Craven Cottage persausion!
Play-off games are always hard fought, but glad we managed to nudge it over the line. We'd be lost without Terry, Snodgrass and Grealish, our three key players IMO. Hopefully we will have enough for Fulham - I will hopefully going with a fellow PH-er who is of the Craven Cottage persausion!
TwigtheWonderkid said:
As a neutral, looking forward to the final. The youth and exuberance of Fulham v the know how and experience of Villa. In the end, I just don't thing that Terry / Bruce will allow you to fail. These guys know how to win.
Hmm, not sure. I went to the corresponding fixture at Craven Cottage earlier in the year and Fulham were by far the better team. Villa hoofed and headed but offered very little and ran out of puff. Fulham have been a bit rocky recently and could get overawed by the occasion however if they keep composed I'd expect them to have too much for Villa.Losing on Saturday was bad enough but the financial repercussions of another year in the Championship and the impact of FFP is much much worse.
So, goodbye to Terry, Johnstone, Snodgrass, Grabban and Onomah. Not too fussed about the last of those but the others were stalwarts of last season and we're going to struggle without them.
I'd say it's a racing certainty that Grealish will leave - his agent will surely already have started pouring honey in his ear about big pay rises if he moves to the Premier League and needing to step up to the next level. The only possibility of him staying is his childhood love of the club - and I can't see that being enough when push comes to shove. It wouldn't surprise me to see James Chester go too. He's young enough to be attractive to a PL club, and he played really well last season.
I suppose getting Agbonlahor off the books will help the wages bill and the FFP position. Looks like the transfer of Carlos Gil will go ahead too, and he's reportedly on quite significant money too. Terry would presumably have been on mega-money as well, so I suppose that's a silver lining to that particular cloud.
I do hope Tony Xia remains interested and engaged. He bet an awful lot on getting back up within two years, and he lost. The last thing we need is another Lerner-esque absentee owner who has lost interest but can't bring himself to sell up.
After a season of more pluses than minuses (at least before Saturday anyway...), I can see a return to the dismal results and perennial struggles of the previous few years
Just have to hope we don't do a Leeds.....
So, goodbye to Terry, Johnstone, Snodgrass, Grabban and Onomah. Not too fussed about the last of those but the others were stalwarts of last season and we're going to struggle without them.
I'd say it's a racing certainty that Grealish will leave - his agent will surely already have started pouring honey in his ear about big pay rises if he moves to the Premier League and needing to step up to the next level. The only possibility of him staying is his childhood love of the club - and I can't see that being enough when push comes to shove. It wouldn't surprise me to see James Chester go too. He's young enough to be attractive to a PL club, and he played really well last season.
I suppose getting Agbonlahor off the books will help the wages bill and the FFP position. Looks like the transfer of Carlos Gil will go ahead too, and he's reportedly on quite significant money too. Terry would presumably have been on mega-money as well, so I suppose that's a silver lining to that particular cloud.
I do hope Tony Xia remains interested and engaged. He bet an awful lot on getting back up within two years, and he lost. The last thing we need is another Lerner-esque absentee owner who has lost interest but can't bring himself to sell up.
After a season of more pluses than minuses (at least before Saturday anyway...), I can see a return to the dismal results and perennial struggles of the previous few years
Just have to hope we don't do a Leeds.....Lurking Lawyer said:
Losing on Saturday was bad enough but the financial repercussions of another year in the Championship and the impact of FFP is much much worse.
So, goodbye to Terry, Johnstone, Snodgrass, Grabban and Onomah. Not too fussed about the last of those but the others were stalwarts of last season and we're going to struggle without them.
I'd say it's a racing certainty that Grealish will leave - his agent will surely already have started pouring honey in his ear about big pay rises if he moves to the Premier League and needing to step up to the next level. The only possibility of him staying is his childhood love of the club - and I can't see that being enough when push comes to shove. It wouldn't surprise me to see James Chester go too. He's young enough to be attractive to a PL club, and he played really well last season.
I suppose getting Agbonlahor off the books will help the wages bill and the FFP position. Looks like the transfer of Carlos Gil will go ahead too, and he's reportedly on quite significant money too. Terry would presumably have been on mega-money as well, so I suppose that's a silver lining to that particular cloud.
I do hope Tony Xia remains interested and engaged. He bet an awful lot on getting back up within two years, and he lost. The last thing we need is another Lerner-esque absentee owner who has lost interest but can't bring himself to sell up.
After a season of more pluses than minuses (at least before Saturday anyway...), I can see a return to the dismal results and perennial struggles of the previous few years Just have to hope we don't do a Leeds.....
Interesting summer ahead. I think I'm looking it a little more positively for next year at the moment. It clearly depends on who stays, who goes and who comes in but looking at last season, we were there or there about's with the top 3 teams, a long gap back to fifth and those 3 teams won't be there next season and I'm not seeing anything too worrying from the three teams coming down. So we could be a good position for auto promotion next season if we can avoid too many changes. Couldn't face another play offs! I'll reassess in August.So, goodbye to Terry, Johnstone, Snodgrass, Grabban and Onomah. Not too fussed about the last of those but the others were stalwarts of last season and we're going to struggle without them.
I'd say it's a racing certainty that Grealish will leave - his agent will surely already have started pouring honey in his ear about big pay rises if he moves to the Premier League and needing to step up to the next level. The only possibility of him staying is his childhood love of the club - and I can't see that being enough when push comes to shove. It wouldn't surprise me to see James Chester go too. He's young enough to be attractive to a PL club, and he played really well last season.
I suppose getting Agbonlahor off the books will help the wages bill and the FFP position. Looks like the transfer of Carlos Gil will go ahead too, and he's reportedly on quite significant money too. Terry would presumably have been on mega-money as well, so I suppose that's a silver lining to that particular cloud.
I do hope Tony Xia remains interested and engaged. He bet an awful lot on getting back up within two years, and he lost. The last thing we need is another Lerner-esque absentee owner who has lost interest but can't bring himself to sell up.
After a season of more pluses than minuses (at least before Saturday anyway...), I can see a return to the dismal results and perennial struggles of the previous few years
Just have to hope we don't do a Leeds.....Gassing Station | Football | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff