I feel I owe a bit of an apology. Well, I don’t really, but I’m a nice guy and feel a bit guilty about not commenting much lately.
I want to do a Max Bygraves and tell you a story.
I’ve been with Virgin Media for their broadband for the 25 years I’ve lived here. And probably 10 years before that, when it was Birmingham Cable, then Blueyonder.
And so it came to renewal time. Long story short, they wanted 54 quid a month for 200ish Mb. Which is a total joke. I rang to negotiate, but they weren’t having any of it.
So, sick of this total ripoff, I told them I was done and cancelled.
The reason Virgin have been able to charge so much is because there’s no competition. I remember Openreach installing Fibre down our street about 2 years ago. We’re the last house in the block. I thought they’d done ours too, but they hadn’t and because of that , Virgin knew we had no choice if we wanted an ounce of speed.
Which is where I looked around and Vodafone said we had Fibre installed and they could do me a deal. I signed up and long story short again, They’ve messed me about for 2 months now, with no installation.
They’ve even credited my account with 300 quid for my trouble. Great, except I’ve never used any of their services.
Hence I’m hotspotting off my phone for internet and it’s abysmal. Some days I can’t even get half a Mb.
And so it was for the Brugge game. I saw the first goal and missed the other 3, because of buffering.
The moral of the story?
The big boys have it all their own way and rip you off. Until the customer decides he’s had enough.
And the funny part of all this, is that while I await Openreach giving me a supposed connection, I’m here in Spain for the weekend, where my 600Mb up/down connection is working perfectly at around a quid a day. Go figure. Which one is the third world country, I ask myself? Spain or the UK? I’m happy with my thoughts.
Tomorrow then and I don’t have a clue again.
Squad news is that Unai’s comments confuse me somewhat.
Tyrone Mings, Matty Cash, Boubacar Kamara and Pau Torres are sort of okay, but need to be protected. Barkley is out, as is Onana, who is apparently close. García, Malen and Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba {sorry, but who?} are all okay after being ineligible for Europe.
As for Brentford,Norgaard is back after a concussion injury and Mathius Jensen will be involved. Rico Henry is in full training, while Gustavo [Nunes], Igor [Thiago] and Josh [Dasilva] are all running.
I wish they’d just say if they’re ready or not, but hey ho.
It’s quite simple, this one. We’re rubbish, so the best I expect is a 1-1 draw.
Except I think we really ought to start proving that we’re better than what I perceive.
I think we might sneak this, 2-1. I’d love that. A win it is.
UTV!
Comments
236 responses to “Brentford + Villa, Who knows? and an apology”
What’s the ply? are we trying to tire them out because it’s not working. Where’s our football that we play because this is boring, come on lads play football saying that just had a glimpse.
To run the clock and not concede Bill, admittedly not much of a spectacle but if it achieves the desired result then so be it matey.
I feel sorry for the Villa fans spending £100 to watch a game as dull as dishwater. Bruges still look a better team with 10 men. I get the fact we are keeping a solid defensive style to suffocate their attack and it’s up to them to score but please think about the supporters. I wouldn’t be watching if I wasn’t a Villa fan because there’s nothing entertaining about our style of play.
We started the game giving them 90 mins to score 3 goals. Now it’s 45 mins to score 3 goals with 10 men. We have done ok. Save the great game of football for the final. As I said they will give us space as they get desperate.
This is over just a case of how many.
Yeeesssssss!!!!!
Quality – shows what we can do when we attack with purpose
BFR mate can you hear that oversize lady singing mate? 😂
Now that’s a goalscorer
We’re learning that European football is actually a game of chess.
2!!!!!!!!!
The Fat Lady has finished her song.
https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExOGNhejgxb2M5NTJjcHljc2FvandmbndwM2c3ZGptanNlZWViOWEzdiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/ru5Hw2awZM9ELsF2UJ/giphy.gif
3-0!!!!!
Which twats said this game was boring?¿!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😍😍😍😍😍
Bum Bum I did a tw#* useful didn’t you know . ?
Yeeeaaaaaa in the world of happiness wooo hoooooo
Bum Bum – it was boring. But part of a plan by Emeri.
And now when we attack we look so good.
Champions League quarter final. Read that you lot!!!!
The Asensio and Rashford combo has clicked from day one. I’m starting to think that Watkins place in the starting XI is at risk.
Pressure will be on PSG in the QF. No one expects us to beat them. If we get them back to VP with a draw or even a goal behind, then I would fancy us to cause an upset.
But don’t discount the Watkins/Rogers paradigm. To have TWO pairings like that in one team is astounding stuff!
I see Real blagged the penalty win again!!!
CLOUD NINE!!!!!!!
What a fix with Real, double touch?
What a load of old tosh.
Yep.
And while I’m having a winge the BBC MOTD, we win and into quarters but given short shrift.
Dippers go out and oh my lord, so much air time and coroners inquisition.
Yep.
I just love watching Asensio play – different class.
Wasn’t much help at the pub quiz last night – more interested in watching Villa.
The manager Sonya is a Villa fan and disqualified one team for disrespecting Villa – you might know Blues fans – she gave them a right going over – it was hilarious.
So she should , how about permanent ban disrespectful people, Villa fans are more behaved 😇. Hitch you’ll have to get her to change the Quiz nights 👍. Was Badger there he’s done a bunk .
Bill, you really wouldn’t want to mess with Sonya!
Nah, no Badger – he’s probably still having trouble with his internet – that and work.
Another brilliant tifo last night – very emotional with the gas lamp.
Absolute class.
The noise just before kick-off was deafening, even in the Trinity – can only guess at how loud it would have sounded in the Holte – even louder than the Bayern game, if that was possible.
Someone earlier mentioned ‘boring’ – there were several occasions during ths 1st half where we passed backwards rather than attacking, and you could actually hear some fans getting rather ‘irate’ or ‘impatient’ with the players. It’s been a long time since I’ve heared that at VP, probably the first few games when Emery joined and not everyone was over-joyed by the slow build ups, etc.
Second-half completely different. Asensio already on his way to becoming a VP Legend…
Great that we get rid of this extra game, we were forced to play to help Liverpool, this weekend. We need Fulham and Bournemouth to draw or lose. What a night we all had last evening. We have dreamed of these times.
I am sure many of you know of this guy. Obviously a real Villain and captures the mood in the grounds. Here is a link to last nights game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4Kw3ExQ1ug&ab_channel=VillaOnTour
Absolutely dreaming Gerry getting through the big group was enough for me but now the quarter finals of the European cup WOW
Beating Brugge was a piece of history but I’ve got a feeling that we’re not finished yet. PSG appear to be everyone’s darling just because they beat Liverpool but let’s not forget that in the overall campaign PSG have been beaten by Bayern, Arsenal, Atletico and only drew with PSV. They are playing well now but who knows if they’ll go off the boil next month? Dembele at Barcelona was famous for blowing hot and cold.
Anyway, I think that Slot was tactically naive and I don’t think that Emery will be giving Dembele, Barcola etc. the space they need. So, as Super John suggests, let’s keep dreaming.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/mar/13/john-mcginn-aston-villa-fear-no-one-champions-league
After watching that bulls***t disallowed pen the other night I think UEFA already have the name of the winners etched on the cup!
Don’t be surprised if there’s some skulduggery over the coming matches and a few very dubious decisions.
See EUFA are discussing this whole ‘penalty double hit’ with IFAB.
It’s clear that the intent of the law is to prevent the penalty taker (deliberately) striking the ball again before any other player has touched it but is poorly drafted. It seems EUFA want the rule redrafted so an ‘accidental’ double strike as in Wednesday’s game would result in the ball being re spotted and the penalty re-taken.
That would make more sense as Alvarez clearly slipped taking the penalty.
Hitch in my experience if you smell a rat…
It usually is a rat.
Congratulations to Konsa, Rogers and Rashford for getting into Tuchel’s first squad although others in there do tend to leave one scratching one’s head!
Pleased that Ollie misses out – he needs a rest (hope that doesn’t sound too selfish?). Reckon he’s been playing with a few niggles lately so the warm weather training should be good for him.
Just wondering if getting into the England squad so quickly might help to make up Rashford’s mind to stay. He’s certainly getting noticed as a Villa player and for all the right reasons for a change. Matt Kenrick made a good point about the Villa Comms Team and how they are keeping him off social media and out of the limelight. Seems to be helping.
I honestly think that Konsa and Rogers should be fixtures in the England squad anyway so no surprise there.
Good luck to all.
I understand Tuchel’s thinking. Ollie for all his qualities (he’s been a brilliant servant to Villa) but if you were being honest with yourself and you are looking for a clinical finisher to make the difference in a tight game you’d have to ask, is he your man?
RSS – Ollie’s injured and is unavailable for selection, that’s why he was substituted Wednesday – OS saying a ‘sore knee’.
That’s rubbished my comment, cheers mate 😂
Sorry RSS – mea culpa for not being clearer on my post.
It’s fine Hitch 😁
This no fixtures for two weeks is killing me!
Yea, there’s plenty of football but it’s just not the same if you are not invested in it.
The fact is it’s looked like Ollie couldn’t finish his breakfast for months and I don’t care how many he’s scored.
There have been numerous better finishers at the Villa of late, that’s just fact.
But I still believe he’s our number one, whose all round game adds massively to the side.
And I agree, he’s been seriously over-worked and will benefit from a good rest.
He could be up for the Ballon Barn d’Or but chances are he’d miss the ceremony.
Very harsh, RSS.
Henderson. Why???????!!!!!!!!
Tuchle said in his interview something along the lines of him being a roll model for the younger players?
I don’t get it either.
A different tack. I wanted to post this but not on Wednesday night.
I’d love Gerrard to say – Tyrone needs to look me in the eyes and tell me he belongs in The Champions League Quarter Final.
To think that muppet of a manager felt Tyrone wasn’t up to it. I reckon Tyrone told him he wasn’t up to it.
Tyron certainly is up to it. What a comeback!
Gerrard and Purslow – they were made for each other!
I’m not a fan of the Football Regulator idea; Government interference never ends well – it will be a disaster – so Purslow’s an ideal candidate. Heaven help us.
Purslow wasn’t all bad, Hitch. He was exactly the right man at the right time. It was time to move on because the club went to a different level and his skills set was no longer needed. But they were ready for the next level due the groundwork Purslow did. He cocked up royally with Gerrard, no doubt. Other than that, he did a lot of good work for the club.
Some players’ errors are massively highlighted and blown out of proportion. Mings and Rashford are two such players. It’s unfair and can’t be easy. There’s an element of jealousy that borders on hatred with these guys.
Man C 2 – Brighton 2, great result for us 😁