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Local derby, 120th competitive meeting as it happens. Cup game. Mid-week. Under the floodlights. Only a fool would try to predict the outcome of one these; all bets are off and anything can happen. McLeish has called for a hostile atmosphere and described the reputation of the City fans as being “volatile but not in a nasty way”, whatever that might mean.
Meanwhile, Gérard Houllier has appealed for calm: “It’s a game which is on TV, and it’s a derby, but more importantly, it’s a game of football, and a game of football must be played with football arguments and nothing else.”
I imagine it will indeed be a pretty hostile and volatile atmosphere, no need for me to fan those flames, but it will be an environment that could have any number of affects on our young team. They may go in knowing no fear and play a tenacious, attacking game and let the opposition worry about the significance of the game, or they may buckle under the pressure of intimidation.
West Ham accomplished two things last night when they thumped Man Utd 4-0; they proved that anything can happen in a cup game and they made this competition a whole lot more interesting by knocking out the reigning champions from the last two years.
As disenamoured as I am with the League Cup, I can’t deny the prospect of two legged semi-final and the two-in-three chance that the opponent won’t be Arsenal isn’t extremely appetising. With our league form offering little to be optimistic about in terms of final position in May, this cup could be our only opportunity to qualify for Europe again next season, something I’m desperate for us to achieve.
The good news, more because of his record against the Blues than his form this season, is that Gabby is likely to be available. A good performance from him, maybe with a goal or two, helping us to a win could well kick start his season and re-energise the rest of a team at a vital time.
As I say, attempting to predict the outcome of this one would be foolish, but we definitely can beat them and beat them hard, even with our massively depleted squad, but it will take a few seriously good performances on the pitch, no one can be carried in this one.
Team news will be available as usual on Twitter before kick off. The other quarter final tonight is between Ipswich and West Brom, Arsenal and West Ham have already booked their place in the semi-final draw the timing of which is still to be confirmed which will take place after the game, to be broadcast by Sky.
The last encounter at Villa Park had much sucked out of it by the early kick off and tactics designed primarily not to lose, this one promises to be a far more electric affair altogether. See you on the other side!
Villa Starting XI: Friedel, Young, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Hogg, Bannan, Clark, Downing, Young, Agbonlahor.
Subs: Guzan, Pires, Cuellar, Lichaj, Delfouneso, Carew, Ireland.
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8 Comments to “Carling Cup Fifth Round at the Blues”
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gotta disagree on your rationale for tonight being important: the carling cup isn’t worth it because it’s a route into europe – it’s worth it because we haven’t won a proper trophy in a long time. the only value to european football is the financial cartel of the champions league. i’d personally rather we didn’t actually qualify for the europa league – imagine if we’d have had those games as well this season with the injuries we have!
that’s cool, to each their own.
i generally hold little value in the league cup as i see it as an anachronistic nuisance and i’d prefer to watch us playing someone new & different from romania or somewhere than burnley or blackburn or whoever, but that’s just me.
the draw is live on sky sports immediately after the game
thanks for that, i’ll add that in.
I’d just like to see us win a game. Oh and maybe do sone defending. Perhaps win a header? Play keep ball in the last 5 mins of a half? Carew sprint about being useful? Ireland kiss the Villa badge? Warnock avoid getting booked? But hey, I’ve always been a dreamer.
2-0 to them. More doom to come.
any one now a good stream showing the game? it’s a late kick off over here. UTV
i haven’t got set up yet, but i’ll probably be grabbing one of these.
http://bit.ly/dVIKLV
Sorry for the poor spelling it’s late and had a few pints.