[Archived] Villa Semi Final Match Preview

[Hughesy]

Villa's website also say that they think the re-arranged game will be next thursday.......WHY have we not done the same as City & United, instead of playing 3 games in 7 days?

[John]

Obviously cannot do much about it but this fixture congestion surely can only work against us.

Thing is, every league match takes extra importance now because of how tight the bottom half is.

[Hughesy]

Well you would think that for Fulham @ home - you would rather have 5 days to prepare, rather than an extra game in there and 3 days to prepare.

Id much rather move the Wigan @ home game to later - and we could maybe use that to break up a more difficult spell later in the season!!?

[Presty On Tour]

Perhaps the so called expert asked for those dates.

It's not official yet though, so there is hope.

[Tris]

Well you would think that for Fulham @ home - you would rather have 5 days to prepare, rather than an extra game in there and 3 days to prepare.

Id much rather move the Wigan @ home game to later - and we could maybe use that to break up a more difficult spell later in the season!!?

I'm sure with a simple phone call you can sort it out, contact boy - let us know when you've confirmed the new dates ...

[Paul]

I didnt miss them calling us 'Blackeye' - mud sticks and thats why we get soft refs against us more often than not!

Villa's website also say that they think the re-arranged game will be next thursday.......WHY have we not done the same as City & United, instead of playing 3 games in 7 days?

Well you would think that for Fulham @ home - you would rather have 5 days to prepare, rather than an extra game in there and 3 days to prepare.

Id much rather move the Wigan @ home game to later - and we could maybe use that to break up a more difficult spell later in the season!!?

You need to calm down a bit, stop trying to be Rovers No 1 fan and the fount of all knowledge on here. Rovers and Villa will have to discuss a new date and reach a mutually acceptable arrangement which then has to be agreed with the TV and FL people. Strangely the new fixture date doesn't revolve exclusively around Rovers.

We have played 3 times in a week on 6 seperate occassions this season and I don't recall it being a big deal then so why now? Personally I feel we need to get these games played, out of the way and concentrate on picking up 12 points before the end of February, far more important.

[Manc Rover]

I think one of The Fivers main writers is a Villa fan, as they love to have a pop at Bongo-Bongo FC (Small Heath)

Yeah they've called us that for years. They have a go at everyone and here's some others

Stev£ieMBE at Steven Gerrard

Pope o Rangers

The Queens' Celtic

Englands John Terry

Bucktoothed Robert Earnshaw

MU Rowdies

Human Rights FC (City, when Thaksin was in charge)

Emmerdale Eminem - Alan Smith

Mr Em - Heskey

[roversmum]

Is it me or are those names truly not amusing?

[PAFELL]

Is it me or are those names truly not amusing?

Roversmum, it is not you. Those names are worse than pathetic.

[LeChuck]

They probably need context, I like The Fiver but it didn't really work in list form. I don't think Manc was trying to amuse though, just point out that we're not the only ones to have our name altered.

[Guest Kamy100]

I think the reason for us playing the game on Thursday is because Sam see's reaching the Final as a bigger priority than the Premier League, quote from today Lancashire Telegraph:

"“The Carling Cup remains more important than the Premier League for us at this stage. The prospect of reaching a major cup final has to be our priority."

I am not having a go at Sam, but for me it is the opposite at the moment, I would love nothing more than see Rovers get to Wembley but Premier League points are just as important, if not more important for me. The other way to look at it is of course that Sam is ultra confident that Rovers will be ok in the league and therefore the focus is on reaching the final.

[G Somerset Rover]

I think the reason for us playing the game on Thursday is because Sam see's reaching the Final as a bigger priority than the Premier League, quote from today Lancashire Telegraph:

"The Carling Cup remains more important than the Premier League for us at this stage. The prospect of reaching a major cup final has to be our priority."

I am not having a go at Sam, but for me it is the opposite at the moment, I would love nothing more than see Rovers get to Wembley but Premier League points are just as important, if not more important for me. The other way to look at it is of course that Sam is ultra confident that Rovers will be ok in the league and therefore the focus is on reaching the final.

Good post Kamy.

It's the same for me. Don't get me wrong, I'd love nothing more for a day out at Wembley because lets face it, it could be the last chance that we'll have for some time. It's just with the way that our fixtures have panned out (we have a nightmare run in), the matches in the Premiership here and now are crucial to our survival chances because we don't want to go into April needing to beat the likes of the top four.

As an aside I'm liking the new optimistic Big Sam.

[Eddie]

I think the cup is more important right now:

1) Could be a big boost to the squad and players

2) Chance of winning something

3) Only chance of getting into Europe now

Still unlikely to happen, but if you told me we could win our next 3 cup games and in exchange lose our next 3 league games I know what I could choose.

We're in a difficult league position and relegation could become a huge concern very quickly, but I am glad that we won't sacrifice the chance at something reasonably special just because we have league games surrounding the tie.

[CrazyIvan]

I can understand the concern regarding league position over the League Cup but I remember the last time we won the cup when we were in the bottom 3. It provided a much needed boost and we ended the season in 10th place. I'd take that again!

[Manc Rover]

Is it me or are those names truly not amusing?

Wasn't trying to amuse, just pointing out some of the players/teams they have a go at. Personally I think they're as funny as piles!

[Rover Down Under]

Bloody 'ell fire! Last night was an utter disgrace, the lowest point of the season, NOT ONE of our players even turned up! S'no good at all, blah, blah blah, typically crap performance, all stood there frozen, whinge, whinge, whinge, no noise from the fans, really icy atmosphere, wibble, wibble, wibble...

[Guest Kamy100]

Bloody 'ell fire! Last night was an utter disgrace, the lowest point of the season, NOT ONE of our players even turned up! S'no good at all, blah, blah blah, typically crap performance, all stood there frozen, whinge, whinge, whinge, no noise from the fans, really icy atmosphere, wibble, wibble, wibble...

[CrazyIvan]

Bloody 'ell fire! Last night was an utter disgrace, the lowest point of the season, NOT ONE of our players even turned up! S'no good at all, blah, blah blah, typically crap performance, all stood there frozen, whinge, whinge, whinge, no noise from the fans, really icy atmosphere, wibble, wibble, wibble...

At least there wasn't any hoofball!

[tcj_jones]

Sam's spot on. This is the most important game of the season so far. Our recent history in the cups in simply sensational for a club of this size and it is important to the fans. We will never win the Premier League again and this, realistically, is the only trophy we really have a shot at.

Moreover, the club has been in decline for a few seasons now, almost to the point of relegation under Ince. We have a reputation for poor football, limited transfer funds etc etc. To get through these two legs and into a final would get us into Europe, revitalizing the club - people would want to play for us. Furthermore, the cup games can be really exciting for the fans and may well be what persuades the masses to come back again next season.

If we were currently in the bottom three with time running out to secure a safe points total, then I'd agree that, as nice as a trip to Wembley would be, survival is more important. However, at this time of the year, many teams have gone through fixture congestion and are in a similar position to us. Furthermore, even if we were to lose both league games, we'd still have some 16(?) to gain points with no cup competitions to provide distractions and with absolutely no future fixture congestion whatsoever.

Get through these next few games, prioritize the cup and then see where we stand on 21st January.

[stuwilky]

To get through these two legs and into a final would get us into Europe, revitalizing the club -

Wouldnt we have to win the League Cuo final to qualify for Europe?

[CrazyIvan]

Wouldnt we have to win the League Cuo final to qualify for Europe?

Yes.

[MarkBRFC]

Yes you do, im amazed people still don't know this. You have always had to win the League cup to get into Europe.

The FA Cup was a different matter as sometimes the runner up would get into Europe depending on a team already in Europe winning the cup, that has changed now though so that only the winners of both cups qualify for Europe.

[alexanders]

Bloody 'ell fire! Last night was an utter disgrace, the lowest point of the season, NOT ONE of our players even turned up! S'no good at all, blah, blah blah, typically crap performance, all stood there frozen, whinge, whinge, whinge, no noise from the fans, really icy atmosphere, wibble, wibble, wibble...

It was Andrew's fault!

He had NO time on the ball what so ever. Didnt make a single pass and dissapeared for the whole game. He is @#/?!

[Amo]

It was Andrew's fault!

He had NO time on the ball what so ever. Didnt make a single pass and dissapeared for the whole game. He is @#/?!

Still his best performance this season.

[roversmum]

Wasn't trying to amuse, just pointing out some of the players/teams they have a go at. Personally I think they're as funny as piles!

I realised that, Manc Rover, comment not aimed at you!! Apologies for not making it clear. If that's the best they can manage it's a bit sad, eh?