When was the last time we had a Saturday 3pm kickoff?
I don’t remember, but it seems like it’s been ages and it’s nice to have one today. There’s just something that seems right about it and late Sunday night kickoffs just don’t do it, do they?
I haven’t heard much about Liverpool lately, so I had to look at the league table to see where they actually stand. Imagine my surprise then, to find that they’re only five points above us, having played one game more.
That sort of puts things in perspective really, because even though I think we’ve been playing poorly for months and results have definitely been poor, what does that say about the rest of the clubs in the Premier league?
Not a lot, it would seem and I still struggle to see that we’re ninth in the table.
So, where I was fearing a major backlash after us thrashing Liverpool at home, now I’m not so worried.
It would seem the Reds are not the same team they were, yet they’re in the middle of a European tie against Real, so they’re not doing too badly.
They have a lot of players out, in Jordan Henderson, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Divock Origi.
That’s some list and it partly explains why they’ve not been as strong lately.
There’s nothing wrong with Liverpool’s attack though and they definitely have players who can hurt us.
Hopefully, our defence can stand firm and keep them out, but I suspect we might concede a couple today.
On the plus side, their defence is vulnerable and we have the capability of hurting them too.
The big news for us is of course Jack Grealish being out again and not looking like he’s likely to be back until May at the earliest.
It’s ok though, because Smith said it’s not a long term injury(!).
I seriously wonder if there had been copious amounts of alcohol involved before he came out with that statement.
If what will turn out to be three months isn’t a long term injury, I’d hate to see one that is.
Still, it’s just another example of the BS he has been speaking for months now, I suppose, so I’ll just leave it there.
I think a lot depends on how Smith sets the team up today and indeed, who he plays.
We all know it’ll be pretty much the same personnel as always, but he does have choices in how he plays them.
Our best bet is to actually go at Liverpool and put their defence under pressure from the off.
This would involve McGinn getting further forward.
If that doesn’t work, there’s always the option of putting Davis on. Not to score goals, but to bully the defence and create space for Watkins.
I see goals in this game and hopefully we’ll see a more lively performance from the lads, which will hopefully lead to us getting some too.
I’m going for 3-2.
I’d like to think we can actually edge this one, but I don’t quite have that confidence, so I think it’s going to go against us.
I actually think the performance is probably more important than the result today. We wouldn’t normally expect to get much from this game, after all.
What we don’t want is an abject poor performance and a heavy defeat.
But then, I don’t think we’re going to get one.
Up the Villa!
Prem football is a duopoly, so it’s not like a loaf of bread.
I haven’t paid for Sky for years.
I’ve never paid for BT.
I have paid for Villa TV, but can now access Ifollow for any of the Champoinship teams.
I can access all games, movies, you name it, all for £50 a year.
It’s probably what Bill was taking about all those months back.
My last proper game was the 3-3 draw against Sheff Utd. I left when it was 0-3, because I was froze stiff (literally just arrived back from Sri Lanka) and was bored witless, gagging for a smoke and a beer.
It really wouldn’t surprise me if I never go to a live game again. I don’t see where the enjoyment is when you can’t even bounce up and down, singing.
Kids don’t know what they’re missing.
Which is probably why they’re ok with paying a fortune.
Maybe, Badger. But as far as I can see, it’s a simple ‘supply and demand’ scenario. If there is demand – i.e. if fans buy tickets for these games and pay for broadcasting subscriptions, then the clubs will supply. If, like I said, fans vote with their feet, and don’t turn up because they know the breakaway is wrong, then the league won’t last 5 minutes. Even more so if fans don’t pay to watch on TV. If they do, then you can’t blame the clubs for supplying the product there is demand for – it doesn’t matter if it’s bread, peanuts, smartphones, football… If we stop buying, the ‘product’ will cease to exist. It really is that simple, in my opinion. As long as we buy, we’ve no right to complain.
There will be plenty of demand.
At home, because the fans won’t be able to attend and will want to watch their team play. Also around the world, because that’s how it is.
Whatever, I don’t think it’s about demand.
It’s about pure greed and the clubs wanting more at the expense of the rest of the game, imo.
It could all prove to be academic, in time.
Many of these clubs are massively in debt and this might well be a final option for getting more money. When they’ve blown this, then what?
I’ve just heard on WM that it’s a midweek league, where they want to keep playing in the domsetic league.
Are they serious?
If the powers that be come to some compromise and allow this, well……
And they’ll want the domestic league organised to suit them.
This nothing short of a power grab with all the other English Clubs expected to worship at their table.
I’m with you Badger, if the regulatory bodies cave in to these demands it will just be the start of a very slippery slope.
I hope our owners make a very robust statement agains these proposals.
It was Hitch, I like you can follow games anywhere in the world, what’s happening now in the game is what I’ve said years ago on here, a supper league that will damage the football not only Villa but all the English clubs. We have yet not solved the hate and fascist element in the football fans, now it’s going to get worse with European hate against us being England. it’s a bad move and them top clubs should be put to the sword over it, owners being greedy every time .Sky and bt must be clapping their hands over this.
I think this is just a threat so they get their way in the new champions league setup.
They’ve only done this now because the European championship is due to be revamped this week,it’s obvious what their up to.
The trouble is they’ll get their way and still carry on in their respective leagues.
In my view they should be demoted to league two at the end of the season.
Imagine the teams in league two playing these big teams it would be like Xmas every day for players and clubs and the chance to put these upstarts in their places.
I think that would actually be good for the game and lower league’s.
Anybody think this would be better than fines and expulsion???
You demote them, they’ll be back up in no time.
That’s not a punishment.
Sky initiated this mess with the formation of the premier league. Reluctantly I caved in and subscribed for their deals with BT sport included. I have tried streaming services but without success. Ironically however without Sky or BT during the pandemic, it’s fair to say that TV revenue has kept clubs from going bankrupt while fans can’t attend.
As for the super league I just can’t see it taking off. Surely there is too much opposition for it to succeed. Apart from the owners of these self proclaimed ‘Super 12’ there hasn’t been anyone come forward to applaud it. Would Sky or BT consider broadcasting the games after the backlash from everyone including their own pundits! No German or French clubs involved and they still call it super.
I’m hoping like Badger that they do go ahead with it and get kicked out of the domestic competitions and participating players banned internationally. Then when it all goes belly up and they come back begging to be allowed back in and we tell them to shove it. Won’t happen of course but it would be great.
I think Roy is probably right and the whole aim here is a compromise.
The Prem, FA, Eufa and Fifa shouldn’t stand for it at all and should quite simply give the ultimatum.
“Start this and you’re gone. No negotiations”
But that isn’t going to happen.
There’s just too much money involved and I’m not going to say it’s being milked by crooks (ahem, it is) but they won’t want to lose it.
There will be a compromise and if so, it’s a disgrace.
The real issue here is that these six clubs want to rule English football and make every other club subservient to them – however they dress it up.
Meanwhile, Man City are struggling to shift 2000 tickets for the Carabou cup final.
Very strange.
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-carabao-cup-tickets-20418260?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=exchange
The interesting part for me is what the writer says;
“However, at a time when the club has shown itself to be out of step with supporters it does not reflect well that they have found it so tough to shift tickets. It also hardly supports their position as one of the biggest clubs in Europe at a time when they are taking on UEFA, the Premier League and FIFA to try and form a new super league.”
It would seem even the local rag don’t like this.
I think they are serious this time around, that’s why ManU and Juventus have resigned from the UEFA board.
I hope they go and are kicked out of ALL domestic competitions and none of their players are allowed to represent their nations.
Thankfully a number of players at ManU have already said they don’t want to be a part of this.
My Spurs mate is gutted at this. The idea of his team never playing mine again is galling.
We said this has been coming for a long time. Once the foreign owners get a majority it’s over.
Wouldn’t it be great if the top players with a brain put in transfer requests and refused to play in the Disneyland League? They’d filter down to the likes of Villa, Everton, Leeds etc. The PL would then be ‘new look’ with the top players still there, and these ‘super 6’ would be no more super than the 6 veg on display in Aldi every week, empty shells of what were once mighty, respected clubs.
I’ve mentioned fan power – how about player power? How can a player like Rashford – of the people – play for United in this competition? Would be totally hypocritical. There are plenty of other players who aren’t happy and have no idea what’s going on. They’re being treated like bitches. Time for them to speak. The Americans need to understand that without the fans and players, the clubs they’re pimping out are nothing.
The best sanction I’ve just heard is to refuse work permits to any foreign player the clubs wanted to sign.
Now that would be interesting!
How can Florentino Perez be president of the new BS league if he’s also Real chief? Conflict of interest? And how think are the owners of the other clubs to join a league in which one of their rivals’ chief will be the president.
Bizarre, ‘Mickey Mouse’ stuff. Would be laugh it loud if the morons weren’t deadly serious.Speaking of ‘deadly’, love Manu Petit’s comments – he says they are “gunning football down” and deliberately “killing” the game with VAR and the Horseshit League. Spot on.
Are the cracks beginning to show.
It seems Chelsea are withdrawing from the ESL.
Fan power?
You see, Hitch? Fans have more power than they know! In fact, the fans ARE the clubs, as they are the ONLY constant. Owners, CEOs, managers, players are all always in a state of flux; true fans are constant through generations and the fabric of these great bastions of English culture and history. They clubs are nothing without their fans. The sooner their demented owners realise this, the better!
And Man City, so Chelsea and Man have shown their colours now by pulling out of supper league.
And United’s Woodward resigns and will leave at the end of the season.
The castle is falling but will the clubs owned by the clubs Yanks (or Levy) pull out?
Update Woodward has resigned and is going straight away (rather than at the end of the season as originally planned).
Perhaps, the Glazers would like to share a taxi with him and pick up Abramovic and Kroenke on their way to Gatwick?
Good.
I’d genuinely put the lot of them up against a wall.
Now all the instigators need rooting out and the lesson be learned for the last time;
DO NOT TRY AND MESS WITH THE GAME!
Well, I’m surprised. The fans do care, after all.
Citeh are officially out, as are Chelsea (well, almost officially).
It shows who the instigators were.
And I’m sorry, but it’s bloody Americans, in Man Utd and Liverpool, who just don’t get the British game and attitude to it, at all.
Seriously, this should be remembered.
Because they are truly the enemy to our game.
I’d be interested to know what the other country’s fans have said about this, but I can’t find a thing.
It wouldn’t be much without the British teams anyway, I don’t suppose.
This has to be dead in the water now and I find I’m laughing my nuts off at the fact that Real and Barca are still financially massively in trouble.
It would seem all the British teams are bailing out.
I’d strongly suggest the game should use this position of massive strength to beat these clubs with.
10 points deduction as a “don’t you dare try this again.”
I can dream, can’t I?
Arsenal;
“We made a mistake”.
Too bloody right you did, you absolute and utter scumbags, the same as the rest of them.
You knew exactly what you were doing and thought noone would give a toss.
When even the Prime Minister gets involved, you knew you had a problem and absolutely no option but to bail.
Yet you make it sound like you’ve made a courageous decision.
You make me sick.
Seriously, I’m very close to spewing it with football.
To be honest, I’m on the verge of closing the site and have been for months.
It’s not me asking for “please keep it open” type posts either, so don’t bother.
I’m sick of seeing my opinion on here, is the truth of it.
Or is this the reality and the clubs have been bought off?
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2021/04/20/uefa-offered-premier-league-big-six-significant-amount-of-money-to-leave-european-super-league-in-dampening-news-claims-report/
Badger, I don’t think there was a pay off to leave. There was too much protesting for it to ever succeed.
I do think there should be some punishment to prevent this happening again which is always likely.
Brilliantly passionate four minute answer to the question of the ESL from Dean Smith in his press conference ahead of tonight’s game.
If you haven’t seen it worth a watch.
Where can u see it, Hitch?
By the way 2-1 to Villa tonight!
Is Jack back?
No Grealish.
On YouTube – I’ll try and post a link
Bum Bum – not being that clever with IT, I can’t find out how to post a link. If you follow AVFC on Facebook you’ll find it. Otherwise go onto the OS and watch the Citeh press conference with Deano – he answers the question there.
I think it tells us a lot about him.
Hope that helps.
Cheers mate!
One up!!!!!!
Routine win for City coming up. They have two 11s that would beat us. I would like to see us have a go but l doubt it. Would be nice to see Chuk get some decent pitch time
I’ll have a look Hitch, tell you this I’m pissed off about Grealish and the none information to us fans, I had a lot of respect for him and thought we have a legend in our club. But we dont we have a spoilt kid acting like players of yesterday, if he loves football like he says he does then come clean and talk to us, sod the agents, and the club talk to us fans . He has lost his chance in the world cup and competitions .I’m like Badger lost interest in football and ready to walk away. Take a look at this team tonight!! 4 -1 city what a cock up?
Oh, look. McGinn’s got another goal involvement, this time scoring instead of assisting. I wonder if he’s playing a more advanced role again? Who knew? (slaps forehead)
UTV
Not even bothering to watch the game – what’s the point.