Courtesy of Bradley Ricketts. Cheers Bradley!
Aston Villa 2-0 Cardiff City. Nothing less than what was expected.
I said before the game today that if we lose this game then it is disgusting. A win is a win in the FA Cup no matter how it comes, especially with our record, and, to be honest, I think we played well last night and could’ve scored many more.
Cardiff, on the other hand, offered nothing. El Ghazi I thought actually played pretty well with what he had and made good runs, lots of respect for him of course.
With Villa, I thought (and I am sure most will agree) that Tielemans looked extremely off in the first half, however, he picked it up in the second half, which was fortunate as, apart from risking Kamara, we had little to replace him with.
Asensio shined again, alongside Rashford, who I read created the same number of chances (6) last night than his highest number of chances created for Man Utd.
Overall, a good performance and I am happy that we are in the hat for the draw, which takes place tomorrow after Man Utd vs Fulham.
Now, is the FA Cup really winnable then? All Villa fans know that our record is poor in this cup, and many lifelong Villa fans say that this trophy is the only one they haven’t seen us win, as we last won it in 1957. And then there is the younger generation of fans (like myself) who have seen us win nothing in our lifetimes.
We currently stand as second favourites to win the cup behind Man City, however, yesterday I checked and we was 3rd favourites behind Newcastle (albeit ahead of Man Utd, which shocked me), however, we have jumped up due to being the first team in the quarter finals, and things may change depending on results and the draw.
We are also one game away from Wembley, although a semi final at Wembley does not feel the same as a final, but that could turn into 2 trips to Wembley with a win. But we must take it one step at a time, I am hoping for a home draw again, despite the prospect of 7,000 Villa fans in an away end seeming exciting, it is what is best for Villa, given that we have lost 2 games all season there.
We can all hope. And I am going to stick my neck out there and say we will win it v Man Utd in the final. Everything on the line to play for. UTV!
I thought Tielemens was poor last night and has been for a while.
Whatever, I think it’s a bit ambitious to say we’ll win the cup, but you never know.
As much as it’s been devalued, it would be fantastic to win it and the law of averages suggests it’s about time we did.
Tielemans first half I couldn’t believe what I was watching. Worse than when he first joined. But improved as we went on.
I’d love to win that trophy, but with my age I’d love nothing more than to see us win any trophy tbh. Apart from that little one that the Blues are in.
Players are but human beings with all their faults and frailties!
I rate Tielemans extremely highly even when he was at Leicester and I was chuffed when we signed him – on a free, lest we forget.
I agree though he wasn’t anywhere near his best first half, losing control of the ball and dwelling on it when he could have made a simple pass to Watkins putting in the clear.
I agree, however, he did play better second half.
It would be nice to win the FA Cup with the bonus of securing, as a minimum, a place in Europe next season.
Alfie, you’re right – it’s all down to the QF draw – if it’s our year we’ll get a winnable tie, if not we’ll be off to some horrible place like Palace or Newcastle!
The other primary factor is getting all our key players fit and keeping them fit to the end of the season – in that respect it was encouraging to see Kamara on the bench.
UTV
Another first for Villa Park, but not what I was expecting.
Last night was the first outing of the “Semi-Automated Offside adjudication.” What is that if not robots as linesmen? I didn’t see any. “Oi! C3PO ! are you blind?” “Get your bits out for the lads!” and other appropriate versions of the traditional banter.
Shouldn’t that be ‘Get yr bytes out for the lads’???
On a different tack – has anyone heard what’s happening with Canadian Pete. His absence is beginning to raise concerns?
last i heard he was in hospital with pneumonia
Yeah. Nasty stuff going around all over the bloody planet! Will be good to have him back.
It would be incredible to win it. How many living Villa fans have seen it?
But we won’t!
Ye hope Canadian Pete gets better soon think we all miss him
With you on that Little8.
Get well quickly Pete.
BarCodes have gone. Anyone you would rather play? Or avoid?
Man U, should they get through.
No matter how well we play the powers that be seem to conspire some bullshit to ensure they ( Utd) come out victorious.
Thank goodness they’re out 😁
Preston, result!
Manure are out! Great news.
And we have Preston away next up.
Great draw.that
Every chance City will go at Bournemouth. And hopefully Fulham can see off Palace at their place…
Almost a perfect draw!
Is it written in the stars?
Nope. Work to do…
Preston Away.
Fantastic draw, in fact!
Away to Preston!!!!!!!!
Just hope Fulham do a job on Palace, they really are our bogey team.
Man City are always difficult but this season definitely beatable and hopefully Forest go.
Not too much to ask 🙏
Bradley, cheers for your header but mate played well?
Seriously?
We were utter dog s***e and Asensio, ok he chipped in with two goals and thank goodness he did but most of the match he went AWOL.
A wins are win mate but sorry, there’s no way I feel anyone could wax lyrical about that performance.
We could only have got one better draw – Preston at home!
We mustn’t take it for granted – they beat Burnley 3-0, a side that hadn’t conceded a goal for heaven knows how many games. They will fancy their chances and if we’re not on our game then we could end up with a big dollop of egg on our faces.
Last time we played Preston at Deepdale in the FA Cup – 3rd round on 28th January 1967 – a game that I was at. We won 1-0 with a goal from right winger Dave Roberts. I have good memories of the game.
Let’s hope that history repeats itself and we get a win but not the rest of what ensued
as it was the start of a pretty torrid time for Villa and for me watching Villa regularly both home and away (like continually losing to Blues!)
Having been relegated at the end of the 66/67 season, we bought Brian Godfrey and Brian Greenhalgh from Preston, Tommy Cummings was appointed manager in the summer and proved to be a bigger disaster, the Board resigned, enter Deadly Doug and Tommy Docherty but the rot had set in and Villa were relegated to Div3 at the end of the 69/70 season under Vic Crowe.
Ah the memories of one’s youth!
It’s in our own hands now.
Great story Hitch we’ve had some great teams at the Villa but we’ve also had some baaad ones
Great draw and we have a good chance of beating anyone left wow to win the fa cup would be amazing
Is it possible to be in the stars,the planets all aligned this year as well🤔
Preston first winners of the double and one of founder members, villa also plus we 2nd winners of the double, can it really be our year at last and in centenary year almost though I think that’s 2024 by right.
I’d love to see villa win the cup again it was in 1957 I started to support the mighty villa I think mainly at the time because it was all about Manchester United and I liked the underdog.
Imagine rashford and asensio on big Wembley pitch with hopefully torres pinging the long passes and garcia bombing down the wing also tielemans with room to spray his passes.
Mind you I’d feel more confident if we still had Duran Imagine him on Wembley pitch
Are the good times coming back I wonder with everything all lining up.
Here’s to a great end of the season. I could do with some good times at the moment not a good 2024 and very bad start to 2025 in fact even worse utv.
Dear oh dear.
The four players we have acquired from Brugges – Nakamba, Wesley, Balaban and Engels.
I think they owe us for that lot!
UTV
Seriously good team news ahead of tomorrow –
Kamara, Cash, Mings and Torres all in the squad
Torres is a welcome surprise. Although I doubt he’ll start he’s important for us in Europe were his game is suited to the CL.
Rashford, Asensio and Disasi also in the squad but Malen and Garcia miss out because they couldn’t be registered under CL rules. Only allowing three additions seems very restrictive; perhaps EUFA should look at this?
UTMV.
https://youtu.be/fl9dPjgh8Kk?si=BBTH6L8FCVXJ_Gn5
Well done to whoever produced this. Superb work. Enjoy!
Just started watching – don’t know whether it’s the same for everyone but if the first advert is Barbados (Aer Linus) the shots of the resort is The Crane where we have our apartment!
Thanks Aer Linus for the free advert 🙂
Onana (Mr Glass) is still not available. What a waste of money!!
Yeah, I just read about Pau, Mings and Cash all back. Kamara too?
We should have enough not to risk them. If we can give them this ‘quieter’ March to recover a little more that would be great. Really missed Pau.