Well, two goals ahead, playing at home & 90 minutes away from another European semi-final, this time in the Europa League, which some label Unai Emery’s forte. I’ve seen a lot of differing posts, some exclaiming that we are already through and that this will be a walkover, and some making this out to be a very tense night. I can see both sides, personally. Should we be on our A game, I back us to completely dismantle Bologna, as we have seen the three times we have played them already. Have we been known to bottle it in the big games before? Yes, absolutely – we must be completely switched on and fully prepared for Bologna to pose a threat. We do not need to make this difficult, and that is thanks to Ollie Watkins’ late goal at the end of the first leg, but I honestly think in these types of fixtures home advantage does not mean too much.
The record speaks for itself, we have faced Bologna three times in Europe in the last two seasons, with one being last week, and put SIX goals past them whilst only conceding ONE, which was a great goal by, in my humble opinion, the best player across the two sides last Thursday – Jonathan Rowe. My opinion was shared by the majority of the forum, that we should definitely be looking at him in the summer because he looked extremely promising. I actually saw someone on X say we should sell Rogers and get Rowe, and he got laughed at upon making the call… but after Sunday’s showing I really beg to differ, his persistent ball-losing (if that’s a word) was the root of Forest’s equaliser that I saw two metres from me, in row C at the City Ground right behind the goal.
On a personal level, I do believe I am not going tonight unless I get an extreme wave of FOMO in the next few hours and book a ticket, but I simply do not think I can justify paying the extortionate prices they are charging to watch us currently 3-1 up against a team I’ve seen us play twice at Villa Park already in the last two seasons – not if I want a cat in hell’s chance of going to Porto away or Forest away, anyway.
Team news tonight; Martinez I believe is a doubt, but having Bizot in goal doesn’t particularly worry me, I think we have a good back up goalie in Bizot and most importantly I think he would be happy to spend the rest of his career here, he gets a decent amount of minutes for his age, to be fair, and he knows the fans are appreciative of him. I am also reading Mings has picked up a knock but I am not too sure. Sancho and Kamara out again, obviously. As for our Italian counterparts, they have around 3-4 injuries, but I am unsure as to how significant they are. I believe if we take care of their attacking threat then we will be OK.
On the whole, we have a superb chance to progress to the Semi-Finals of the Europa League tonight, and in turn a superb chance to win the competition that we are favourites to win. I would like to see Forest go out tonight, I just don’t think we would benefit from having the unconscious pressure of having another English side in the competition – I honestly don’t think we’d live it down if Forest win it and we don’t.
I am going to be positive and say 2-0 Villa, but this could easily end in us making it difficult for ourselves if we are not on our A game. Play it safe, Villa.
UTV!
He’s back
Arnie???
Arne Rogers 😄
Really don’t want Forest, though.
Emery’s team talk. I want you to practice scoring goals.
Well it’s good football tonight and my player scored a good goal, 3-0 so far to Villa.
Someone needs to pull the ref’s pants down. He’s determined to be the star of the show and there’s no better way than showing your vegetables on international television.
A very comfortable first half. Time for substitutions now. Players on yellow cards probably first of all.
Just in case we rely on a penalty shootout in the semi final or final, we really need to practice them!
Wasn’t a poor penalty – GK just chose to go the right way. Good save rather than poor penalty.
Leon Bailey coming on – you know what’s coming. How long then lads?
30 seconds? 😂😂
Take Cash and Chesty off for God’s sake!!!
Cracking aggregate scoreline!!!!
Dunno why he hasn’t took Cash off.
Got your wish Bum Bum, long overdue that, why don’t he try Bogarde .,
Konsa!!! 4-0!!!
Tricky trees in the semi – is that good or bad?
Unai will have to make it a controlled European tie. If it turns into a blood and thunder PL game, it will be messy. Patience and control will be the order of the day.
Congratulations to Unai and the boys btw. We’ve got to the point after 3 years that we take these things for granted. We shouldn’t.
Yeasssss great win woop hooo we should beat forest over 2 legs should of beaten them on Sunday
Wow what a season this could be
I honestly think we can make it simple against Forest. BFR I think that you are spot on and that we are aligned on the situation about having Forest, from what I’ve seen you write in the last few weeks.
Being at Villa Park for the second leg is a big bonus. We have to come away from the City Ground at least level. I hope I’m worrying about nothing and it turns out to be routine. I can’t see it, though.
Yeah I understand you. Forest will want to knock us out and they’ll for sure take the mick if they do.
The Premier League has scheduled Nottingham Forest to play away to Chelsea on Monday, May 4.
That’s three days before the 2nd leg of the Europa League semi.
It will be the only time this season a team in the Europa League or Conference League has been scheduled on the Monday.
A word for Ollie – 100 goals for the Villa. A very exclusive club that hasn’t had a new member for a very very long time. Most of them are very early 20th Century or late 19th. Congratulations, Oliver!
He’s seen off Ings, Duran, Malen, and now it looks like Abraham will go the same way. It speaks volumes, however demanding we might be. Reminds me of Andy Cole, albeit far less prolific, in that people focus more on his misses rather than all the goals and everything else he contributes. If he scored all his chances, he’d hit 40 a season every year. Although that would be nice, it’s unrealistic. Well done, keep up the good work!
Ollie has 100 goals in all competitions since joining Villa – only Salah and Haaland have scored more over the same period.
At times, I don’t think Villa fans appreciate how good he is in an era when top strikers are at a premium. Add Ollie’s assists and it’s a very impressive record. He also leads the line so well.
There is really no debate as to who should understudy Kane at the WC.
Correct. I’ve been very harsh this season. But his numbers and consistency over several years are unmatched. And he keeps seeing off striker after striker. I don’t think he does himself any favours and he’s admitted as much in a recent interview with the BBC, in that he’s too nice. Whereas top strikers are traditionally, well…c***s.
Yeah can argue we’re a bit harsh but he still misses too many.
Coventry City promoted last night, they’ll play us like it’s a cup final and we have no choice but to do the same otherwise we’ll end up having a dismal record against them like we did Wolves.
Difference is Alfie – historically we’ve always struggled against Wolves but not against Coventry who were always good for points home and away!
Have to say it’s good to have them back. Richard Keys probably wet himself.
We hope Hitch, time have changed and football got more in intricate. It will be good for the game having local clubs playing each other where London and Manchester get all the glory.
Does anyone know why Villa Shirts are available at heavy discount ie £20 from The Villa Shop or even cheaper from JD Sports.
Just bought one for myself and the granddaughter from JD Sports for £40
Always happens at the end of the season Gerry, last summer they did an absolutely gigantic sale where they let all the fans into a hospitality room at Villa that was being renovated at the time, put loads of shirts out and other gear at extremely discounted prices, I got a few stuff.
Queues were then worst I’ve ever seen though, 1-2 hours queue full with people who had a full box of stuff. People were buying for Christmas etc.
I wouldn’t bank on that Hitch. Don’t be shocked if Coventry get something off us, we’re not good in them type of games.
Just checked eBay and plenty at 60e for the Irish fans, some second hand at well. Maybe that explains the boxes.
Nice.
We confident for tomorrow?
You have to be confident. They are not a rubbish side that we should beat easily so no overconfidence. They have an 8 goal worse difference than us when, for the last two years, we have been the negative side. They will be playing not to lose. Its there for the taking. Chelsea will stuff Utd tonight. So many doors are about to be shut but not the one we are going through.
Chelsea have deserved a goal.