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!
They’re a scarily good side though.
I’d have preferred to play Pool, tbh.
I prefer PSG for thre reasons…
(A) Emery has a score to settle
(B) A continental type game will suit Unai’s tactics.
(C) An inferior complex with Liverpool, PSG are an unknown quantity.
Keep the faith brother 💪
Those are 3 very valid points RSS and ones I’d agree with. The pundits had got it so wrong with Liverpool. The better teams seem to have got through to the 1/4’s as predicted, but there are always the wildcards! Remember Porto!!!
And us back in 82, Bayern were odds on and who, if memory serves me right had never lost any final (until that fateful night in Rotterdam 😂).
I’m not sure about ‘continental’, RSS. From what I saw from the first leg, their brand of football was more ‘the full English’ rather than croissants and baguettes…
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/revenge-air-aston-villa-better-31182961
I’m not counting any chickens just yet BFR but should we progress well it appears Keith Wales of Birmingham Live (Evening Mail in old money) is on the page as myself.
Keep the Faith brother.
I honestly think that we have a fighting chance against PSG providing we beat Brugge that is. If we lose at least our away fans will have seen the Seine which is a great improvement on the Mersey.
I do wonder if our tempo controlling of near on walking football at times (and I’m not complaining on our brand of football like others, I happen to enjoy it) might suit against PSG who take a lot of risks in with full sprint, all out attack. I also cannot believe not one of those keepers punches knocked the ball straight to a Liverpool player. I feel like they ride their luck. That said, they do what they do well. We need to do our bit tonight first anyway.
OLL’s right – don’t get ahead of ourselves; first we have to do the business this evening.
Don’t write Brugge off; lest you forget they went to highly fancied Atalanta and won 3-1
UTMV
Hitch, it’s half time and we are 2-0 up, not a time to get get carried away but definitely in the driving seat.
We score first and it’s probably game over, they do – squeaky bum time.
But in saying that they have to attack, that should then leave gaps at the back for us to exploit.
Fingers crossed and roll on eight o’clock.
Agreed RSS but we’ve seen turnarounds in this competition already and as OLL pointed out Villa seem to have a habit of putting us through the wringer!
I read the article you posted earlier – the last paragraph is the one to raise eyebrows as Emery has previous in managing sides in Europe conceding big first leg leads – OK away from home and Villa have shown to be far more resilient at home rather than away.
But caution is not to be dismissed – so I remain cautiously optimistic 🙂
If Brugge score early, it could well be a very disappointing evening. Especially if Villa then try to defend the reduced one goal lead. Play to win. WIN THE GAME!
As for PSG, if we get through tonight, the kit man might want to have a look at reinforcing the seems of the players’ undergarments…
*seams
The fat lady hasn’t sung yet, Bum Bum.
If we do play Paris, you can bet there’ll be some serious shenanigans between their fans and a certain Mr Martinez. IF.
Should we go through tonight Asensio can play against PSG because (maybe some already knew this but it’s news to me) in UEFA competitions allow loan players to play against their parent club.
Happy days – a manager and a player with a point to prove.
Look at our bench today!
What’s the line up Tom?
Aston Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; McGinn, Tielemans, Kamara, Rashford; Rogers; Watkins
Subs: Disasi, Digne, Torres, Onana, Bogarde, Asensio, Bailey, Ramsey, Zych, Olsen
Think I’d have played Digne over Maatson.
COYL! UTV!
In Unia I trust , I would have thought Disasi warranted a start but that bench looks fantastic. Here we go lads . Good luck our team .
Strange that only Rashford from the new boys starts. I think our goals are going to come in the second half, hopefully when Brugge are desperate and leave space. 0-0 would not be a suprise unless Asensio comes on early then we win if he and Rashford get it going again. UTV.
Not enjoying this- giving them the ball. Lack of intent from us.
Good to know we are not the most stupid team in the cup. Thank you
Bruges down to 10 men!!! Great shot by Tiellmanns.
When we set up negatively we just can shift through the gears.
Watkins gone down with a bad case of embarrassment.
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? 😂