Match Thread PLAY OFF FINAL Wembley Villa v Derby 27.05.2019

[Saunders82]

I thought I would start this thread really early so hopefully we can get lots of comments of what people think of the day/season maybe, personally I'm glad its Derby in the final not because I think it will be easy but because I think it will be a really good game, this is the game that gets you a chance of the big time and as such we don't need an Albion type game (mass defence) or a Leeds type game (lots of tough tackles and scores to settle) whoever wins they should do it on the back of good football. No need to tell anyone that we need to be on our game right from the off, Derby will be full of effort so we need to absorb and match this effort with some extra attacking fervour, THIS IS NOT A PRACTICE FOR THE REAL GAME this is IT we have to forget the two wins earlier in the season because they will be up for it and so should we be, I'm expecting a tight game which I think we can edge if we bring our "A" game, I'm going 2-1, UTV

[VillaBill]

There was part of me that wanted Leeds , but it’s Derby & we would of all took this as the final given the chance.
Can Derby play as well as they did against Leeds ?
I hope not
Can Villa play as poorly as we did against Albion?
I hope not
On paper, we should win, it’s which team has the mentality to quell the nerves and deliver when it really matters.
I’m going 2-0 , and a nice relaxing Monday afternoon in the

[FoxyAV]

After we thumped them 7-0 over the two matches this season, I was a bit surprised at some of Derby's scores against some of the teams we struggled against. I also thought they looked really good against Leeds in their second leg (after a 0-1 defeat at home without a shot on target), but then since both were on the attack it made them both look better than they probably actually were (plus Leeds should have gone on the defensive when their player was sent off). I'm happy it's Derby though because I don't think they'll push us around like Leeds and West Brom did, plus we have a Smith. We've looked a considerably better team since he's settled in. Hopefully everyone's rested.

[Dazzle]

Start with Whelan, start fast. I would think it has to be close between who starts up front, Kodjia or Abraham. Abraham not very effective against WBA, Kodjia been in better form. I still suspect Abraham will get the nod against a less physical Derby. I do, however, expect Derby to do something different than what we’ve seen in the previous two encounters with us, because they have to. They simply have to try and keep it tighter because they’ve been dicked twice by us trying their “normal” game. They’ll go as physical as they possibly can and have a lot of men behind the ball most of the time, and look to play on our mistakes, mistakes we made quite frequently against WBA. I’d like to think we’ve learnt from recent games and that if our usual tactics aren’t working against a blanket of players in defence then we can switch to something like a 3 at the back to allow an extra forward to come on whilst still retaining midfielders. We should win, but we have to turn up on our A game. And be patient.

[FoxyAV]

The two West Brom matches were three days apart. The boys will have had a day shy of two weeks to rest, recover, get training and be prepared. Hopefully the silly mistakes won't happen with them all rested and ready to go.

I actually feel we have a better, happier and more settled side this year over last.

[Saunders82]

Looking at the remarks so far and thinking about things, the Albion game was a real stodgy defensive game, the baggies had no ambition other than to keep things as tight as possible and nick a goal and then keep things even tighter which almost worked, Derby will have some attacking intentions I'm sure, which will give us space to play our game, this is a final the richest game in the world apparently lets enjoy it and see what our boys can do for us, UTV

[WendyOz]

I's times like this I wish I was there. If anyone on this forum is going to the game, please give the boys a cheer from me. I met someone who's husband is a mad Ram and he's flying to London for 4 days. Half his luck!
Hopefully when we're back where we belong I'll be able to get AVTV again on cable.
UTV VTID

[VillaBill]

I's times like this I wish I was there. If anyone on this forum is going to the game, please give the boys a cheer from me. I met someone who's husband is a mad Ram and he's flying to London for 4 days. Half his luck!
Hopefully when we're back where we belong I'll be able to get AVTV again on cable.
UTV VTID

Hi Wendy, I’ll be there, you can be rest assured that there will be 40k Villans sending Derby our best wishes Monday UTV

[VTID85]

'kin hell this week has dragged and still the weekend to get through yet!

I work in Nottingham and have been approached by numerous colleagues who are Forest die-hards to be informed they are fully behind us for Monday. Which would be nice, if not for the fact it's only because of our opposition.

[AstonThriller]

Alright lads, just thinking about the big day tomorrow and a few things come to mind.

1. A lot of people say "the two games don't matter" but mentally I think it is an advantage to know that we CAN beat Derby and that Derby themselves know it too.

2. Some folks have said "Oh Derby were missing players in the second game and didn't have Mount in both fixtures". Well what I would say to that is there is a common denominator in both the games we played against them and that is the Derby defense. In both games they had pretty much a similar back four and having just watched the highlights of both games it's frightening how many chances we created against that back-line and how many problems we caused.

3. They don't have a legit defensive midfielder who can man mark Jack and Mcginn like West Brom did. And that deficiency saw Hourihane score three times against them and both Jack and Mcginn scored too.

4. Abraham's physicality and movement was a big problem for them and he scored home and away too.

5. Derby's biggest weaknesses all season have been what? Crosses into the box and set-pieces. Out of the seven goals we scored against them three were from crosses in open play and two were via set-pieces. Even against Leeds out of the three goals they conceded one was via a cross and another via a set-piece.

6. Derby had a great fightback against Leeds yes, but let's remember this was still the same Leeds who totally bottled the top two race and couldn't beat Villa, Wigan and Ipswich when down to ten men (they lost two of those as well). But still Leeds had countless chances In the second leg themselves.

7. Our performances against Albion wasn't the best I know. But I'm a firm believer in the notion that "styles make fights". Albion played 541 and sat deep and tried to counter. This is a tactic we hadn't seen all season and even when they went down to ten men they stuck to it. What folks fail to realise though is two years in a row we've had to face teams In Boro and West Brom who have premiership players in their team. That Albion team were playing Spurs, City, Liverpool etc just a year ago, and now everything is on the line so of course it was gonna be tough, but we came through it and that's all that matters In the end.

Anything can happen obviously and everything I noted above could go out the window . I'm just praying that this time the Gods are on our side.

COME ON VILLA!!!

[Dazzle]

I feel that we have to get a tune out of whoever plays on our right side. ElGhazi i would think is a guaranteed starter, and so the remaining wide position is between Adomah and Green. Green really didn’t hit the mark away at WBA, and so I’d have to go with Adomah. Either way, we need a performance from one or both of them out wide.

[WendyOz]

I am sitting at my desk looking at my corner flag from 1977 and I'm jealous of everyone going to the match. I've shed plenty of tears at Wembley in my time. Not going to happen this time.
I will be up watching until 2am tomorrow. We will be a Premier League Team then.
C'mon you Villa Boys!

[Army villain]

I was watching villa last year with my best mate, he was a Celtic man, but loved the villa, it was a bad day, villa did not show up, Bruce was a let down, My mate died at the beginning of the year, he said villa will go up. So I am of to the same pub to watch villa try again, this time DS is in control and we are a much better side then last year. We need to attack from the off, lots of pressure, keep on attacking, I just hope it's our year.UTV.

[Dions_Bald_Head]

Enjoyed the Championship, still not sure we're in the shape I'd like for the PL, but bloody hell this really does feel like unfinished business. I'll be roaring down on the south coast.

Let's have it.

[VTID85]

Ain't nobody....


....like El Ghazi!

[Saunders82]

Most of the game we were taking the game to them and dictating the game but the final 20 minutes were very nervy, a goal out of nothing the injury to Mings and it was a whole new ball game but we saw it through, we are back with the big boys with lots of work to do, UTV

[VTID85]

I've not felt right all day, was in A&E with my wife this morning, a little short of sleep and had a sick feeling in my stomach til El Ghazi scored. McGinn's goal got me up and jumping about but the last 10mins I had a cold sweat!

[Dions_Bald_Head]

Business Finished!

What an afternoon - thought I was the only Villan in the pub until a guy comes up to me at the end & says "I saw you celebrating, can I buy you a pint!"

PS hope all's well @VTID85

[VillaBill]

Great day, great atmosphere, didn’t feel as Derby laided a glove on us, the injury time was the longest seven minutes ever, but boy nonetheless nobody could begrudge us that win yesterday.
O have really enjoyed the championship & winning games once more, but the Prem is the only place to be.
For moments like these, this is why we are football supporters, ITV

[deadbuzz]

I still can't quite believe it, before the match I'd managed to convince myself that Derby had suddenly turned into Real Madrid, and I was sure that Mount and Wilson were going to cause us massive problems, and when Hourihane was announced as starting over Whelan I was even more concerned about Mount, but to be fair I thought Hourihane had a really good game, his pass leading up to El Ghazi's goal was excellent.

I think another perhaps slightly under valued performer for us in recent games has been Elmohamdy, I would have been happy for Bruce to take him in January, but he's been really stead at right-back since, he's also got the second highest amount of assists in the whole squad, which has really helped down the right side considering how out of form Green and Adomah have been.

[Sponsored content]