Rich

Who's in line to get in there before you like? There's mine.

http://ic2.pbase.com/o6/61/114161/1/86440219.RjTzeCqh.2wanker.gif

You're a great man.

It'll just be Simpson and Santon. On another note: hopefully he'll stop bringing Gouffran off and give a bit of rest someone who does actually play in Europe too.

Alan Curbishley.

Source

It's been very quiet on them, but after the Benfica game Pardew (I know, I know) said he thought they'd be alright for Sunday. In the pre-match press conference he made no mention of them being missing when he was listing the players that were definitely out. There's been no training pics or anything to know any more than that, unfortunately.

Started 5 out of the last 6 and came on as a sub in the other.

They've been able to pick the same team in the last four matches, but obviously can't tomorrow because of Sidwell's suspension and Dejagah's injury. Suppose Frimpong automatically comes in for Sidwell, but it'll be interesting to see what he does out wide. His primary option is to bring Emanuelson in on the right or swap Duff back to the that side from the left, where he's been back to playing recently (the wingers do swap regularly during games anyway though). Don't suppose he'll want to meddle with Berbatov given the form he's in, but another option would be to push Ruiz wide and drop Berbatov in behind Rodallega to give them some pace over the top against us in a game where we should be looking to press on. Schwarzer; Reither, Senderos, Hangeland, Riise; Duff, Frimpong, Karagounis, Emanuelson; Ruiz; Berbatov in a 4-4-1-1 looks most likely and while I know we don't like the idea of varying our formation to deal with opposition, particularly at home, is there really the necessity for Cabaye to play in alongside Perch against a team playing in this manner? I personally hope he's given more license to get up and support the attack with Perch being used as the single pivot in front of the defence. Let him look after Ruiz, leave Berbatov between the two central defenders and expect more of an "up and down" contribution from Cabaye/Sissoko to watch Frimpong and Karagounis while allowing Gouffran and Marveaux (hopefully) more free reign to support Cisse.

Sadly not.

When we scored first last season we won 19, drew 1 and lost 3 in the league. What's changed?

I know Villa play like mad cunts and get nervous at times, but every time I see their games/highlights I still feel a weird envy.

Looks like these are bringing their usual thimble full of fans, but amazingly we look likely to sell out most of their vacated space in the away end plus everywhere else as well. Cracking effort considering there's two far more glamorous games within a week afterwards. Haven't had this feeling of pure agony in the build-up for a game in a long while.

Too much like last seasons strip. No offense.

Did you see a child get hit in the face by a police baton in that video there mate?

Glad it's been recorded, but that fucking nugget with the scarf wants a slap for causing the kid to get twatted. So unecessary.

I thought they ran the game outside of 30 minutes (20 mins at the start of the first and 10 at the start of the second) but that was to be expected with them being the favourites, at home and a goal down fairly early on. 3-1 is still a kick in the pods though, given the opportunities we created. A one goal defeat would have been somewhat palatable, but two takes the piss a bit with how the game unfolded. It's not like they were carving us open time and time again.

Thought Spurs was one of his best showings last season and we were 2-1 down then. Probably more than that too but I can't be arsed to go looking. He, like a few of them, has totally lost whatever he had found during the last campaign.

I think you guys just read what you want to read, personally. Most on here were realistic about our chances/the abilities of our teams and were generally accepting of the probable outcome of the tie.

Sneaky Dave is sneaky.

Weren't the two post hits from a Jonas cross and a Marveaux pass respectively? Have I forgotten one?

3 fouls, 1 offside and 1 yellow card in 13 minutes. That's more fouls than any other player of ours managed in the entire fucking game. Where is cameo Shola of 11/12?

I know it's been said a million times before in scenarios such as this and was probably covered in the match thread during real time but this guy was proper useful when he came on tonight wasn't he? Fuck. Me.