Disco Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Its moments like this I think we deserve to be in Europe, we never put out weakened sides. Was talking to a couple of lads on Tuesday about what would be the agg score if we had to play Madrid or Barcelona with the current plight of our team. Barcelona would destroy us, but I think our team could give Real Madrid a few problems. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Heneage Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Its moments like this I think we deserve to be in Europe, we never put out weakened sides. Was talking to a couple of lads on Tuesday about what would be the agg score if we had to play Madrid or Barcelona with the current plight of our team. I meant more UEFA cup with Villa and Spurs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newcastle Fan Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Milan are OUT, all those legends and they got knocked out by Claudio Fatssaro Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Its moments like this I think we deserve to be in Europe, we never put out weakened sides. Was talking to a couple of lads on Tuesday about what would be the agg score if we had to play Madrid or Barcelona with the current plight of our team. I meant more UEFA cup with Villa and Spurs. I know, i was just commenting. At much it was tedious in places going to watch dead rubber Waffa games i do miss it so. Prefer to watch a pointless Waffa midweek game than say a home game against Wigan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Hope Arsenal catch Villa now. Pretty pathetic from O'Neill considering it's the competition that really made him. No offence, but that's nonsense. Oh, hang on, you mean Arsenal who routinely put out their kids if it suits them? We're in with a good chance of CL football, which we didn't expect, but we've a small squad, and we've been playing matches since last July. Arsenal play their kids when they feel they need to rest first teamers. We've done that, but not having their squad depth, we've had to do it in the UEFA cup rather than the Carling Cup. He's had to make a pretty difficult decision today, but he made the right one. We just do not have the squad depth, something had to give. If we were 8th or 9th now, it would have been different, but we're not, we're 6 points ahead of Arsenal in fourth and staying there is the most important thing. Incidentally, I've been to all the home UEFA matches this season, and all the Intertoto games before that, so I've probably got reason to moan (thought not as much as if i had gone to Moscow), but in the long run, it is the right thing to do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisJbarnes Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Hope Arsenal catch Villa now. Pretty pathetic from O'Neill considering it's the competition that really made him. No offence, but that's nonsense. Oh, hang on, you mean Arsenal who routinely put out their kids if it suits them? We're in with a good chance of CL football, which we didn't expect, but we've a small squad, and we've been playing matches since last July. Arsenal play their kids when they feel they need to rest first teamers. We've done that, but not having their squad depth, we've had to do it in the UEFA cup rather than the Carling Cup. He's had to make a pretty difficult decision today, but he made the right one. We just do not have the squad depth, something had to give. If we were 8th or 9th now, it would have been different, but we're not, we're 6 points ahead of Arsenal in fourth and staying there is the most important thing. Incidentally, I've been to all the home UEFA matches this season, and all the Intertoto games before that, so I've probably got reason to moan (thought not as much as if i had gone to Moscow), but in the long run, it is the right thing to do. i agree with this, to an extent. on another note, hull are through to the fa cup quarters after getting past millwall and sheff united. massive opprtuity lost, this makes me angry. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Heneage Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Hope Arsenal catch Villa now. Pretty pathetic from O'Neill considering it's the competition that really made him. No offence, but that's nonsense. Oh, hang on, you mean Arsenal who routinely put out their kids if it suits them? We're in with a good chance of CL football, which we didn't expect, but we've a small squad, and we've been playing matches since last July. Arsenal play their kids when they feel they need to rest first teamers. We've done that, but not having their squad depth, we've had to do it in the UEFA cup rather than the Carling Cup. He's had to make a pretty difficult decision today, but he made the right one. We just do not have the squad depth, something had to give. If we were 8th or 9th now, it would have been different, but we're not, we're 6 points ahead of Arsenal in fourth and staying there is the most important thing. Incidentally, I've been to all the home UEFA matches this season, and all the Intertoto games before that, so I've probably got reason to moan (thought not as much as if i had gone to Moscow), but in the long run, it is the right thing to do. Arsenal put their kids out in Carling Cup and sometimes the FA Cup. The only time I've seen them do it to date in Europe is Prague last year and Fenebache games that did not matter as qualification had been secured. If they put kids out against Roma last night for example I'd be more inclined to agree. You cannot strive to better yourself by qualifying for Europe then say "Oh well actually we want Champions League football now so we'll just put our reserves out." How can you ever expect to be able to handle both? I give Everton credit for trying, but in my opinion the strongest Villa XI could have beaten CSKA over two legs. If you are desperate to play reserves and give the likes of Guzan a game, do that in the games that you have after qualifying like an Arsenal do. While I agree that using kids in the Carling Cup and Fa Cup is off similar ilk in terms of being a bit of a mick take, you can't argue that Arsenal have the resources to do it. I imagine that these cups aren't high on Arsenal's priority list. I just think overall it would be nice to see a team try and see how far they can go. Truly test Villa and see how they cope. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Arsenal put their kids out in Carling Cup and sometimes the FA Cup. The only time I've seen them do it to date in Europe is Prague last year and Fenebache games that did not matter as qualification had been secured. If they put kids out against Roma last night for example I'd be more inclined to agree. You cannot strive to better yourself by qualifying for Europe then say "Oh well actually we want Champions League football now so we'll just put our reserves out." How can you ever expect to be able to handle both? I give Everton credit for trying, but in my opinion the strongest Villa XI could have beaten CSKA over two legs. If you are desperate to play reserves and give the likes of Guzan a game, do that in the games that you have after qualifying like an Arsenal do. While I agree that using kids in the Carling Cup and Fa Cup is off similar ilk in terms of being a bit of a mick take, you can't argue that Arsenal have the resources to do it. I imagine that these cups aren't high on Arsenal's priority list. I just think overall it would be nice to see a team try and see how far they can go. Truly test Villa and see how they cope. But Arsenal have better resources than we do - that's undeniable - so the point at which they use their kids is lower down the football food chain than where we use ours. You mention Guzan, he's actually played in every UEFA Cup game this season, so probably not the best example. The defence (other than keeper) we put out tonight is pretty much the starting PL defence, but there was no point him risking Ashley Young or Barry in a fixture like this - we're struggling with injuries already, we just can't take the chance. MON's job isn't to test us and see what we can do on all fronts, it is to get the best result at the end of the season for the club. If he gets us in the Champions League, that will be an outstanding achievement. He obviously thought that we didn't have the resources to do both, and if he felt that way - can you blame him? Football these days is all about the CL, the difference between the clubs who are in it and those who are not is immense. I don't like that - I prefer winning trophies, you get to put them on your honours list, something you don't do with a fourth place finish - but that's the way football is these days. There's also one major difference between Everton's CL appearance and ours (should we get there, which lets not forget, is nothing like certain). Everton financially didn't have a pot to piss in, they couldn't invest the money to build the squad prior to their CL year. We do have. It is an excellent opportunity, and he's done the rational thing (although I acknowledge the emotional arguments to the contrary) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Heneage Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 Arsenal put their kids out in Carling Cup and sometimes the FA Cup. The only time I've seen them do it to date in Europe is Prague last year and Fenebache games that did not matter as qualification had been secured. If they put kids out against Roma last night for example I'd be more inclined to agree. You cannot strive to better yourself by qualifying for Europe then say "Oh well actually we want Champions League football now so we'll just put our reserves out." How can you ever expect to be able to handle both? I give Everton credit for trying, but in my opinion the strongest Villa XI could have beaten CSKA over two legs. If you are desperate to play reserves and give the likes of Guzan a game, do that in the games that you have after qualifying like an Arsenal do. While I agree that using kids in the Carling Cup and Fa Cup is off similar ilk in terms of being a bit of a mick take, you can't argue that Arsenal have the resources to do it. I imagine that these cups aren't high on Arsenal's priority list. I just think overall it would be nice to see a team try and see how far they can go. Truly test Villa and see how they cope. But Arsenal have better resources than we do - that's undeniable - so the point at which they use their kids is lower down the football food chain than where we use ours. You mention Guzan, he's actually played in every UEFA Cup game this season, so probably not the best example. The defence (other than keeper) we put out tonight is pretty much the starting PL defence, but there was no point him risking Ashley Young or Barry in a fixture like this - we're struggling with injuries already, we just can't take the chance. MON's job isn't to test us and see what we can do on all fronts, it is to get the best result at the end of the season for the club. If he gets us in the Champions League, that will be an outstanding achievement. He obviously thought that we didn't have the resources to do both, and if he felt that way - can you blame him? Football these days is all about the CL, the difference between the clubs who are in it and those who are not is immense. I don't like that - I prefer winning trophies, you get to put them on your honours list, something you don't do with a fourth place finish - but that's the way football is these days. There's also one major difference between Everton's CL appearance and ours (should we get there, which lets not forget, is nothing like certain). Everton financially didn't have a pot to piss in, they couldn't invest the money to build the squad prior to their CL year. We do have. It is an excellent opportunity, and he's done the rational thing (although I acknowledge the emotional arguments to the contrary) Aye but its like going to Disney land just to watch other people queue. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colos Short and Curlies Posted February 26, 2009 Share Posted February 26, 2009 One big difference between Arsenal and Villa. You are forced to enter the Carling/FA Cup. You strive all season to qualify for Europe, then do your best to get knocked out?!? I'm sure all Villa fans will be pleased with the team selection tonight when they finish fifth and get to watch the Waffa final from the comfort of their living rooms. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 o get knocked out?!? I'm sure all Villa fans will be pleased with the team selection tonight when they finish fifth and get to watch the Waffa final from the comfort of their living rooms. The point being that having rested so many players this evening, and currently being fourth by six points, we've given ourselves a better chance of not finishing fifth. There's no givens in football, we're doing well but there is a long way to go - there's also no given that we'd have reached the final. There's a huge, huge difference to being in the CL and the UEFA Cup. We might end up not in the CL and we're not going to win the UEFA Cup, but it is a gamble. He;s having a go for it, and I think he is right to do so. Trust me, I've seen pretty much all of our games this season, and we've not got the squad (particularly given current injuries) to progress in the UEFA and finish top four. We've got two fit centre halves, Bouma is still fucked, Heskey is carrying an injury, NRC has been out for a while, Carew now has a back injury again. It is all well and good saying "have a go for it", but i'm guessing it isn't quite so simple when you are the man making the decision. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wullie Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 That season we finished fifth and lost in the semi final, given the choice it would have been the trophy every single day of the week. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Think City will win the UEFA Cup now. Will make a mockery of those who said Given should have stayed until the summer. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest toonlass Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Hamilton 0 - Rangers 1. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashtoon85 Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Everton 1-0 West Brom (Cahill) West Brom's marking :laughterisnotargumentation: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley17 Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 My decision to fill my team with Baines, Cahill and Jo has 2/3 paid off Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Darth Toon Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Defending like that is why West Brom are going down. Loving Carson with his 4 fingers held up; "how the fuck were there 4 of them completely umarked right in the middle of our box??" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmonkey Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Defending like that is why West Brom are going down. Wouldn't mind seeing us sign Morrison in the summer if we want to add another decent squad player in midfield. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tooj Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Think City will win the UEFA Cup now. Will make a mockery of those who said Given should have stayed until the summer. I fancy Hamburg personally. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattypnufc Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Off to the 'Bay match for a cheap spectator afternoon...probably the best football i'll see in the flesh for the next few weeks given the fixtures at Barrack Road. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmonkey Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 West Brom have dominated the second half. Everton look really poor without Arteta. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilko Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Off to the 'Bay match for a cheap spectator afternoon...probably the best football i'll see in the flesh for the next few weeks given the fixtures at Barrack Road. I might go to that actually. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Saha 2-0. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashtoon85 Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Quality goal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
midds Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Good good. Want West Brom dead and buried this season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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