We so rarely get that far that I’ve practically forgotten what it is.
I thought that was a good game overall. Not particularly footballing-wise, albeit we play some cracking stuff at times. Indeed, Villa did what they usually do and scare me witless through giving the opposition the upper hand for long periods of the game.
No, I thought it was more because Spurs were incredibly dirty, with the way that they so often didn’t even try to tackle and either manhandled or just blatantly pushed our players. That used to be called ungentlemanly conduct and the culprit would have been booked a lot earlier. In fact I found myself raging at the telly asking how many times they would get away with it before a card came out.
It’s disgusting play, to my mind, designed to just bully the opposition. Fortunately we did superbly in not letting it get to us.
Whereas along with many other Villa fans I’ve previous called our lads a bunch of softies (ahem) I thought we were exactly the opposite today and that’s what got us through the game.
The first, really early goal gave us loads of confidence and allowed us to play our favourite game, in rapid, tight, passing that left Spurs chasing shadows and running their guts out for very little gain. That said, Spurs made it easy for us too, in leaving acres of space for loads of our players.
The Lilywhites showed plenty of resilience too and came out a lot better in the second half, which is where my usual unease set in. Fortunately, they seem bereft of confidence and frankly weren’t good enough.
The best part was being able to call Rashford and Asensio on for the last half hour. That gave the whole crowd and myself a great lift and I thought that pretty much finished Spurs off. We did let ourselves down and failed to keep a clean sheet again after Bogarde couldn’t stop the goal. That was a shame, as I thought he’d done pretty well up until then.
There were very good performances. Rogers was quite rightly given MOTM. Ramsey, McGinn and Digne showed lots of effort and it’s probably easier to say who I didn’t think were too good. Which is probably only Tielemans, who I thought had an off day, by his standards.
So the over-riding plus points for me were being able to bring on the quality of subs we did and actually qualifying for the fifth round.
And then there is something. even more encouraging. Look at the teams that have been knocked out already. Liverpool, just today, Arsenal and Chelsea. All the teams that we know would most likely beat us in a one off game. Everyone else is eminently beatable and the only risk I see is Newcastle.
The point is, this could prove to be the best chance we’ve had to actually win this pot after so, so long.
And with Emery the cup winning manager that we all know he is, in charge you just never know. This could actually be our year.
Perhaps the best thing of all is that it seems to me that now we’ve got this far, Unai is actually going to take this very seriously, something I’ve never thought before.
I don’t want to jinx us, but it all bodes well and I’m a very happy bunny today.
Oh and I can’t wait for the draw tomorrow!
Interesting spiel about the cash sloshing around the CL gravy train:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/feb/10/how-did-manchester-city-earn-47m-more-than-aston-villa-in-champions-league-group-stage
Not surprising really – the rich get richer – and not just in football.
I think it was Alfie who asked which we would prefer – in précis – an FA Cup win or qualifying for CL again this season?
I think this article answers the question – consistency in qualifying for the CL provides the financial base from which to win trophies on a regular basis.
BFR. See reply next page 😇😇j
Forest are really going to feel the effects of this marathon Exeter game come the weekend…😁
Penalties. Cracking performance by Exeter!!! Come on!!!!
Gutted Forest made it through.
Look at this: https:
//www.thesun.co.uk/sport/33344171/lucas-paqueta-yellow-card-birthday-gift-brother/
I’ve been making comments like these for a good while now (half tongue in cheek), sometimes about referees and their relatives. It’s just far too easy to exploit the power they wield when people can bet on stupid things like yellow cards. It’s disgusting but it’s the sick betting industry’s fault. Anything to fleece people for their cash. Sport is corroded and just plain stinking as a result, even at the highest level. That’s why I made the comment about Carlos a while back when his extremely wayward pass led to a goal. Who knows what goes on, what they tell their families. Bet on this, bet on that, and they do it. Who’s to stop them? Who will know? All too f****** easy. But we plough on regardless. Pathetic and disgusting.
He wouldn’t have got great odds on Paqueta being booked…!
Not the point, Bum Bum!
Don’t need to be great mate, just need a good wedge to stick on it.
Exactly, RSS.
Just watching Brugge v Atalanta and hoping that we get one of these. Brugge not great but should be seven up and as for Atalanta with a crap defence, toothless attack and an invisible midfield they would be easy pickings if we are on our game.
Austin Macphee joins Roberto Martinez at Portugal as assistant manager.
I actually think it’s nice that he’s appreciated, as I get the impression he’s not rated by most Villa fans.
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-coach-replaces-thomas-30988655
I’m one of them Badger. Macphee is supposed to be a top rated set piece coach but I don’t think our performance attacking or defending them is anything special. Few people in football can hold down two jobs like that.
I imagine it would be a perfect job for a bigamist: league weeks in Brum, international weeks in Lisbon. A wife in every port, or maybe the other way round if he takes the duty frees home.
The other way round? A port in every wife? 😏
I think we’re second in goals scored from set pieces, to be fair.
Would he be in charge of defending set pieces?
I’d have thought it’s more about attacking set pieces, which tbf is where we are quite innovative, imo.
And it’s not like we have a team of giants, is it?
I did think he is responsible for both attacking and defending set piece strategies.
Wow! Are the wheels falling off the Pool train? The normally calm Slot got red carded and they drop points against Everton. Actually fancy us against them.
Slot machine jammed. Since Arne was sent off post match for something he said he may get more than 1 match touchline ban. I would share your optimism if we could field our best back four, but we may have none of them fit. Pool’s finishing far better than ours so it is unlikely we will score more – but I was there to watch a certain 7-2 thrashing when every shot we had went in, so you never know.
The Moyes effect and last Derby at Goodison. Wouldn’t read too much into it. We played them just in the nick of time before Moyes’ skills took effect.
Need Brighton to beat Chelsea tomorrow night which will take them above us on goal difference.
Easy 3 points for Bournemouth against Saints and hopefully dropped points for City and Newcastle as they go at it.
Villa must smash Ipswich with the new attack and fix the GD, which essentially means we’re in extra point short. Need a +4 result minimum.
3 home league games in a week coming up. Liverpool and Chelsea probably the weakest they will be all season. Massive opportunity to close the gap. Have to go for it!
Ipswich tomorrow – a game we must win and win well with a clean sheet.
My concern is yet another defensive combination likely to be Digne, Disasi, Mings and Garcia. Doesn’t help when we are already have a poor defensive record.
Onana still out as is Konsa and Cash.
Emery has to move Kamara back into a midfield defensive role (surely) but does he put Tielemans or McGinn alongside him – however he sets up all three should start.
So who will be his front three?
Rogers for sure but Watkins might start on the bench coming back from injury. Going to be interesting.
Bogarde and Disasi in defence for me.
I wouldn’t rush Mings or Watkins back against Ipswich. Whether it’s Bogarde or Disasi alongside Kamara, that would be okay with McGinn and Tielemans in front. In fact apart from Konsa, I would start the same team as last weekend which performed really well.
Massive news on Man City winning their case against the Premier League in relation to Associated Party Transactions (APT). In essence, the Premier has tried to limit sponsorship deals clubs can enter into to what they thought the going rate should be for a club and its size.
The outcome is very likely to cause a siesmic problem form football. It now means state owned football clubs will very likely be able to funnel unlimited amounts of money into football. I would expect it to be the death of football. Man City and Newcastle dominate everything.
It would appear that V Sports and Nassef Sawiris through his business empire could sponsor Villa for example £200m per year. Sounds great, but City and Newcastle state owners could sponsor £3bn per season.
UEFA and FIFA have to re- establish integrity and sporting chance back into the game. There should be a ruling that clubs cannot be owned by Countries, where currently occurring need to be sold within a time period. Or, a reasonable cap on what any club in the world can spend on wages / transfers.
The real problem is that both organisations are attracted by money. The new World Club football format and moving another World Cup to the winter, show FIFA chasing the $.
If the Premier turned around and kicked out state owned clubs, would that halt this madness? Would these clubs try and join with other ‘European Super League’ breakaway clubs, to form their own league financed by Saudi Arabia? Would European governments ban these matches from being watched in European countries?
I truly fear for the future of football.
Ye football is just business now the soul has gone out of it and it’s not a patch on what it once was money has ruined it big time sad really
Also think it’s corrupt as fuck I go back to the matt le tissier story when he had to kick the ball out of play in the first 30 seconds cos there was loads of money on it and that was years ago