You know a cup competition has been so devalued, that it’s almost worthless, when there’s practically no mention of tonight’s game in the news.
It’s a massive shame as it’s a competition that brings back some of my best ever memories of being a Villa fan.
Was I the only one who got down on my hands and knees in response to Tony Butler’s request to “get yer prayer mats out” in the run-up to our second replay against Everton, for instance?
I doubt it.
Heh, the things footy does to you, eh?
So over the years I’ve forgot about and had to read up on the format.
It’s seven rounds and we had a bye in the first one.
We’ve won two and if we win tonight, we’ll be in the quarter finals, which to me makes things very interesting.
It’s easy to say the competition is a waste of time, but it’s not like we’ve had to put much effort in to get this far is it?
And I think we’ll definitely win tonight, simply because we’re on a roll and Stoke er, aren’t. Actually that’s not strictly true, as they beat Wolves in the second round of the cup a couple of weeks back and won away at Preston at the weekend.
Not that I’m bothered. It might be a bit tougher than I imagined on the face of it, but I’m supremely confident that we’ll be in the hat for the quarters.
At least I would be if I knew we were going to play our strongest eleven.
Which we won’t.
Ross Barkley is cup tied, so we won’t be seeing him and he’s about the only change I might have expected from the squad that faced Bristol City in the last round anyway.
Whether it’s to give some of the second string minutes to keep them in trim should they be needed in the league or maybe a last once over by the management team before getting moved on, there’s little reason to change things just yet, in my opinion.
I actually found my password for one of the betting sites a couple of days back and was tempted to have a tenner on this one.
They don’t give much away do they?
7/4 on for the win I’m seeing.
It’s hardly worth the hassle, so I don’t think I’ll bother.
Hmm, a second glance shows I can get 15/2 for a 2-1 win and that’s much more like it.
I’m not really a betting man, but that would definitely spice things up a bit and if I do bother that’s what I’ll go for, because that’s my prediction.
You can guarantee that’s wrong then.
I thought this would be on Sky tonight, but it’s not so I don’t know how that will leave the streaming situation.
Whatever, I’d love us to progress and actually win the thing. It’s the closest we’re realistically getting to silverware this season, after all.
I should know better than to be supremely confident, shouldn’t I?
Oh well.
Streaming through Carabao Cup Live – £10 match pass
Ah, I forgot about that.
Good shout Hitch and I’ll probably have a bit of that.
I’ve just seen that Villa TV are providing free live commentary too.
https://underagaslitlamp.com/2020/10/01/are-aston-villa-plotting-an-ambitious-swoop-for-diego-costa/
Don’t know what to make of this article – pure fiction?
I’d say definitely fiction.
He’d have to halve his wages for a start.
I like that site, but blimey, that’s a bit of a push.
Somebody thinks it’s the first of April.. pigs do fly.
You saying that Badger about the cup in the years gone bye, I followed them by coach from my club with me and my mates for years, happy days because we booked clubs to drink in after every match. I’m still a fan that supports the cup games and think it’s important to win. It seems to have lost its edge over the last 2 decades or so and it’s a shame . Not going to predict as never won a sodding thing doing that so hope its going to be a good game. Am I feeling better over things at Villa? Too fxzxing right I am.
Elmo as a CB again.
Proving his versatility to justify keeping him, I wonder?
Traore in and Trez rested. Hmm, don’t know what to make of that.
Steer; Guilbert, Elmohamady, Hause, Taylor; Nakamba, Lansbury, J.Ramsey; Traore, Davis, El Ghazi.
Subs: Kalinic, Cash, Konsa, Douglas Luiz, Hourihane, Jota, Watkins.
Wonderful picture no sound, El Garzi heavy footed again , balls high and wide when crossing . fowl outside the box Langsbury from the rear. we are in control .
Brentford beat Fulham 3-0.
Absolutely rubbish defending sees Steer save well and the resulting corner ends with a goal by Volkes.
1-0 and we need to step it up.
So far exceptionally poor and Stoke deserve the lead.
Stoke unbeaten in last six games against us
Poor so far by Villa. Stoke deserve lead.
Stoke unbeaten in last 6 against us at VP!
Lansbury misses an easy header.
Better play then though.
Davis fails to net.
Should he have done better?
I’ll give him the benefit.
Really haven’t created anything. Much too slow on the ball allowing Stoke to get behind the ball.
Not one shot on target.
Will have to make changes second half if we’re going to get anything out of this game
Weak team, Taylor Gilbert, Langsbury el gazi, Ramsey, he needs time to mature, Davis well words fail me. We need to play to win . I don’t see it
Traore probably the best of a very average bunch.
And it’s extremely noticable that he’s massively left footed.
Noone seems to have got into the game at all.
Oh, the commentator said there was too much passing back. Hmm
Apologies – apparently we had three shots on goal – must have missed them 🙂
I’m trying to think of options.
Forget width, as it isn’t working with Taylor and Guilbert.
Take El Ghazi off and replace with Watkins.
Lansbury replaced by Hourihane.
2 up top and play straight down the middle?????
I’m not convinced.
We just need to up the pace and outplay them, simple.
Probably Luis on for Nakamba with a mandate to push up too.
Let’s look at the logistics of this game tonight, looking at some of our footballers they haven’t the wanting, take the club’s view, why keep playing these games and no money through the turnstiles. Our look at things, we want a winning team whatever. It seem to me they don’t care.
Stoke should have had a second.
We’re just far too slow and ponderous.
We have to change it up.
We’re lucky Stoke aren’t out of sight.
Back to the worst of Villa tonight and none of this lot will be challenging the first team squad.