The Intertoto cup that we won in 2001 obviously doesn’t count then, even though it was administered by the same Uefa that administers all the current European competitions.
Just like football didn’t exist before the Premier league, nor did any older competitions that aren’t current, obviously.
I wonder how the dark side feels now their Fairs cup is being obliterated from history in a similar way?
They’re probably not as concerned as they are about their impending final game against Norwich on Saturday. Not that I’m too bothered. I just thought I’d throw it in, in case anyone doesn’t know the predicament they’re in and might fancy a bit of a laugh.
Anyway, I haven’t really said much about our Conference league exploits because I’m simply not knowledgeable enough about European football. I’ll watch it occasionally for a big game, as I did last night, but generally I don’t bother and am loathe to talk about European teams for fear of making myself look a mug, which in fairness, is already not too difficult.
And the same is true of Olympiacos. Except I do know one thing about them. I’m not really inclined to call the Greek league a joke, but the reality is there are a couple of Greek teams that very often feature in the Champion’s league and tonight’s opponents are one of them.
I’m quite surprised they never achieved qualification for this year’s competition, but they did make the Europa league, only to be relegated to face us.
Which all in all makes them tough opponents.
Squad news and the big one is that Martinez is suspended for receiving three yellows. Anyone else think is timewasting is becoming a bit tedious and more costly to the team than playing the game and not getting suspended?
Whatever it’s okay, because Olsen will replace him, which is fine because according to Unai “the team trust him and believe in him”.
Hmm, colour me not in the slightest bit convinced about that, but I’ll go with it. Not that there’s any choice. In fairness, his hamstring issue might have kept Emi out anyway and if that’s still affecting him, the rest can only help, you would think.
Tielemens and Moreno are out, but Zaniolo might be available, which is a good thing, because I feel he’s better suited to a more European game at this stage of his Villa career. If he stays with us, that is.
Olympiacos don’t seem to be in too bad shape regading injureis from what I can see, but defender Andrea Ntoi and midfielder Giorgos Masouras are both suspended for tonight’s first leg.
Thoughts then and it’s difficult, isn’t it?
As per, I’m predicting nothing, but the truth is over 2 legs, I’m not feeling confident. There’s no reason for it at all, other than just a hunch. I was chatting to a Manc who likes a bet and I said that if anything, I’d put my money on a draw for tonight.
Ultimately, I just think a lot depends on which Villa turn up. If we play well and our defence can keep it together, we’re more than capable of winning. And we do seem to be dveloping a bit of a knack of not losing, even when not playing well.
Here’s to nervously hoping. We need to take advantage of being at home ffor this leg.
UTV!
I applaud our players 👏
I’d have knocked this ref out by now. And then sent myself off.
😂😂
Wasn’t xl it was would you belive it a Greek guardian dog
You can’t make it up and now Luis missed a penalty
Again due to Greek players mucking about
Can’t eat food and drinking through a straw now
Never rains but pours eh
Hope they put the dog and the owner down.
Get some good lawyers Roy and go for it,
So both the French and Greeks give their sides extra time off before European matches!!!
Of course.
Bravo, Unai. There’s no way I’d have shaken his hand.
Yeah – their manager is a preening arrogant ………..
A game too far with our dwindling squad. Corrupt officials and a piss poor keeper has cost us! Only consolation was Spurs losing.
Play the kids in the second leg and save our first choice team any risk of injuries. It’s obvious UEFA want a Greek team in the final.
So, a 2-0 win in Paraus next week it is!!!
Still say the ref was the worst ever.
Get well soon, Roy.
You’re not through yet, you c****!
Watching that if we do manage to get 4th we need some serious recruitment in the summer otherwise we’re going to get embarrassed in the CL.
I feel sick watching their celebrations.
If I felt it was a fair game I’d be saying “fair play”. But I just can’t.
First time ever, we’ve conceded 4 at home in Europe, I believe.
I find it amazing the no one on TNT even suggested there was a problem with the officiating. Are they not allowed???
Apart from the terrible refereeing and VAR it’s clear that Villa are running on fumes. Having said that we scored two great goals – had a perfectly good goal disallowed, a stonewall penalty overlooked and they scored an offside goal, a fluke from a deflection and had a dubious penalty awarded.
We clearly used up all our luck against Lille – where tbh we were lucky to go through.
On the other side of the discussion – too many injuries in key positions have finally done for us. Olsen just doesn’t have any presence and with Tielemans out and Luiz looking pretty useless (without Kamara alongside him) then we have no shield in front of the defence..
Somehow we have to fashion one win from our last three games to secure 4th. In the broader picture securing Champions League football is more important than a bit of silverware.
Sometimes it helps to rationalise things. Strangely I felt more deflated after the home game with Lille. Play the kids in Greece it really doesn’t matter anymore. I’ll be more gutted if we can’t get a result at Brighton.
The odds were anlways against us with injuries and the EUFA directive that a Greek club had to be in the final.
Good summary, Hitch. I’d still be inclined to go for it in Greece. After some severe pressure has been applied to UEFA by the club. What’s good for the goose…
Reluctantly agree.
I’d throw this now.
To cap it all again, we play Sunday, they have the week off.
Oh yeh. We’re fucked then.
Unfortunately, a bridge too far tonight. Emery truly is a great man never bemoaning our injuries, but in not, so I will! He has worked miracles with our squad to go so deep into Europe and the Premier position we currently hold.
Whether Olsen was at fault for any of the goals, I don’t know. What I do know is that in virtually every match he plays we ship goals for fun. At the end of the season time to sell him on.
Why were we so typically British with their penalty. Let their penalty taker have a free run, no dark arts shown by us. They score. When we have a penalty they repeatedly delayed it and put Dougie off.
But Spurs lost and that lifts my spirits.
We would of battered them if we had a bit of rest and a few more not injured gutted
We’d be ahead if it wasn’t for the ref, regardless of rest and injuries.
We’re not always in total agreement on this blog but tonight there are no dissenting voices.
UTV
We might get a few players back for next Thursday. I don’t think we picked up any injuries although I wouldn’t be surprised if we did. I’m guessing Olsen plays against Brighton but having Martinez back for the second leg plus possibly Tielemans will help our chances. First goal will be crucial so we need to defend better.
On another subject, was it just me who was annoyed with Konsa never seeming like he could pass the ball forward. A number of times the ball went to him and he could have played the ball out to Cash but decided to pass back to Olsen which allowed them to press us again, which they did well TBF.
Watching Emery’s interview was similar to the one after Chelsea game. He gave short responses to questions asked and was clearly unhappy with the performance.
Unhappy with the way the game played out with the way Villa were treated. Any chance of a footy Brexit?
Unai is a class act. Post match interview: “they played better and deserved to win” and when asked about luck not being on our side, “it’s not lucky.” I take my hat off to his professionalism (if I wore a hat).
Can you imaging Mourinho if he got shafted by the officials as we did last night. He’d be foaming at the mouth!
He’s spot on BFR, pick it to pieces…
0 -1 Why does Langlet go out to the player?
0 -2 Watkins bad touch. Digne doesn’t follow the player in.
2 – 3 Luiz handball, why?
2 – 4 Olsen should save.
We could whinge about the ref all day but aren’t those goals are down to individual player error?
RSS – you make fair observations. The only one I think a little harsh is the Luiz handball.
The rules on handball in the penalty are nothing short of ludicrous and totally unfair on the defenders. In Luiz case he was jumping – what is a natural position for the arms – I defy anyone to define it. In addition it was ball to arm – how could he avoid it?
Villa have both suffered and benefited from IFAB’s stupid laws on handball. Can’t remember the player who had his arm outstretched when Baileys cross hit it. Not a handball because, apparently, his arm was in a ‘natural’ with finger extended (here’s a lesson for defenders – point your finger) pointing for the benefit of a colleague. We even had the completely idiotic suggestion that Bailey ‘deliberately’ aimed for his arm. No penalty given!
Now players defend with their arms behind their back, players sliding get penalised because a ball strikes their trailing arm. This way madness lies!
I think Canadian Pete had it right – if a deliberate hand ball creates a goal, prevents a goal or goal scoring opportunity then it’s a penalty. All other handballs in the penalty area should be a direct free kick. Far fairer and far more entertaining.
Not that IFAB have any sense when it comes to rules of the game now dictated to by technology rather than technology being an aid to override ‘clear and obvious errors’.
What was the 1970’s film where a marathon runner is trying to beat the 2 hour record, and towards the finish line he’s zig zagging due to exhaustion? I think Oliver Reed was in it? That’s how I feel about how Villa are doing now. A small squad doing double the work.
God I hope Tielmanns, Emi and Moreno are back soon. The wayward passing last night, and also at the Chelsea game just reeked of total and utter exhausted players running on empty.
With Chelsea doing us a favour last night as predicted, we need one more win…as I predicted 😁. We beat Brighton, I can see our players being carried off the field at the final whistle. What an effing slog!
Roy, sounds terrible. Let us know how you and your wife get on. The fact the dog was Greek is beyond ironic!!!! Almost laughable, but you sound too rough to allow a fit of the giggles!!!! All the best.
So the roller coaster goes on. Sunday will be crucial. If we beat Brighton and Spurs lose to Liverpool then we’re in the CL. This means that Emery can throw the kitchen sink at the second leg against Olympiakos. Also don’t forget that the Greek side lost to Maccabee Tel Aviv 1-4 not so long ago so they’re far from unbeatable at home.
If not then fourth spot and making it to the semis means that we will have had a tremendous season.
If you want a handle on villa’s performance with some wicked humour then in my opinion this is the best podcast, enjoy (:
https://play.acast.com/s/the-villa-podcast
Birmingham’s new signing, Lee Gwon. 😁
Very droll RSS but I like it 🙂
Whilst I’m unlikely to shed any tears over our ‘neighbours’ fate it’s not a good look for Birmingham itself.
Time to get that spaceship stadium built! Ready for blast off! 🤣
😂😂
Watching Pep’s globetrotters and if that’s a pen I’ll eat my hat,.
As I saw it the city runs into the defender ( but then again I fuuking detest city, so my judgement may be a little clouded).
I see new washing machines on their way to the ref and VAR officials in Man City and Wolves game . That was not a penalty.
Totally 💯 agree Bill 👍
Bill more like a nice diamond ring for the little lady, a pack of the finest Cuban cigars and a private jet for the flight to that private Caribbean island (allegedly) 😁
My, my guys – you’re not suggesting that VAR and the ref lack integrity – surely not.
🙂
Question the integrity of the powers that run or officiate football???
Heavens forbid Hitch 😉
Seriously, why the hell are we not seeing the VAR team going through the decision process anymore??
Basically , it’s telling us fans to shut the f#@k Up. The worst thing is they have done it and think we won’t notice.
Silly little football fans, keep coming to the games, paying your tv subscriptions and we will fix and fudge the entire fucking thing so when the likes of City come along and offer us a few trinkets for a couple of devions to go their way, you lot don’t get a chance to ruin it for us.
My feeling towards football is becoming more and more numb to it all and I will just drop it and move on to UFC the more it continues.
Simply put, as I discussed with my father in law. Referees do not need to get half as involved as they are. It’s to bloody much! I understand it’s a contact sport (and it bloody is by the way) but you watch any other sport and referees are so much more professional and subtle. Boxing, tennis and mma i don’t fée referee have anywhere near as much influence
Thanks for your best wishes guys after dog attack
Getting better slowly was able to eat today, not so bothered about arm injury all part of a day’s work to me as I’ve been in forestry and timber business for over 50 years so plenty scars. The worst bit is damage to lips and mouth as now I’ve lost my good looks and not so handsome
Birmingham being relegated has cheered me up what idiots to sack manager when 6th and looking good,serve them right I say.
Here’s hoping Brighton have started their holidays and Liverpool after weeks rest want to give klopp a great send off,but only tomorrow utv
Good luck everyone tomorrow,
Shame about women manager leaving but they beat Brighton good omen maybe