Pictures of the Semi Final, sunny day but disappointment at the end
James Spare, sat next to me at the game and took this excellent photo’s. If you have some decent photo’s of yesterday then please e-mail me and I will put them up.
Cheating ref’s and no noise from Chelsea fans
You have to say that the atmosphere from Villa fans was magnificent today, especially after half time there was a 20 minute wall of noise from the Villa end. Did anyone hear the Chelsea fans apart from the goals ? In fact after the game you would not believe which team had won and which team had lost, did their fans really care, a much as us, nah, FA Cup means nothing to them.
That is the worse bit of it like with the league cup final !
But my anger is totally reserved for Howard Webb. For most of the match we were more than a match and until they scored they like us did not have a shot on target but Webb was truly dreadful today and I rate him.
1) Just how could he not give the penalty on Gabby, it defied as much belief as Phil Dowd’s refusal to send off Vidic, MON’s reaction on the touch line said it all
2) THIS tackle on James Milner, Martin O’Neil is right to be fuming at this. However this masked
3) The ref allowed play to go on after this horror tackle and Deco for the second time (first was booked) took down Petrov who was bursting clear, should have been sent off. Chelsea knew this they subbed him straightaway afterwards.
So Chelsea got through because from a lucky shot the ball happened to fall straight at Drogba’s feet and that sums our recent weeks, it is all about fractions of luck and of course a ref who knows his job and not afraid to give the decisions against the so called ‘big’ clubs
FINALLY – SOLD OUT
From the OS
That is not unexpected, went down just before 6 and only a few left with cars still coming in and ticket office opening for a bit longer. I wonder what the atmosphere will be like with a lot of people experiencing their only chance at Wembley with Villa
Should be a cracker (or as good as Wembley allow)
Ticket Update for Semi Final
Whilst there are still tickets available for tomorrow, people on forums are being told that there is now ‘limited availability’ and numbers of less than 1000 being mentioned.
Therefore if you want to go I would suggest you get on the phone NOW to the ticket office but apparently long waits or get yourself down to Villa Park.
Semi-Final build up – Bright Hopes and Sunny Forecast
So have you seen the weather forecast for Saturday then in the North of London ?
Well according to the met office we are expecting 19 degrees and sunny weather, perfect conditions for football, a few drinks and photos
According to all the pundits we are expected to be thrashed. OK you can understand why they may say this, it is not as if our last match would give few people any hope we could actually win. But actually for myself I prefer that, let everyone write us off, let John Terry think we will fade again after 60 minutes and lest show them all how wrong they are and how determined a side we are.
I know and I have seen us fight and battle in every game (well except one we shall not mention !), I expect a Villa team to go out on Saturday and pay back for 7-1 to show the doubters just how wrong they were to write us off (that includes our own fans).
It is going to be a stunning day for weather and I think coming back up the M40/M1 Villa fans will be reflecting on a stunning days football for Villa, of course !
Semi Final Build up – Time for Payback – The FA Cup MATTERS
No Villa fan needs reminding of the humiliation that Chelsea dished out to us two weeks ago but it should not be forgotten that for the first half we more than competed that we do know.
So all that matters now is to think of the prize at the end of Saturday, concentrate on what really matters which is not the opponents but the game. I can understand why Petrov and Young reacted as they did against John Terry’s comments but the place to show this is on the pitch Saturday because Chelsea expect nothing less than a comfortable win and that will be their downfall.
For them and it seems the rest of the football world the FA cup is now an irrelevance the booby prize if top 4 is not possible or even a Champions League win. However for Villa fans (well the ones who are going and I suspect the vast majority of us) the FA cup does really MATTER.
It has been built into our own fragile psyche’s that we have not won it since 57, we are aware that we have appeared in only three semi finals since then, it hurts that of all teams this is a disgraceful record. MON has said he wants players at Bodymoor to be reminded of the European Cup win, so I hope he has reminded the players of Johnny Dixon, got Peter McParland in for a talk.
Show the players how this is really our pot of gold and we deserve to win it again and leave NOTHING on that pitch Saturday.
Oh and hope for a referee who does his job properly !
Semi Final Build Up – Why have we not sold out by now ?
The Official site has now announced that from tomorrow Season Ticket holders can now purchases 2 tickets extra per season ticket for the semi final. Along with with this there is an effective general sale of tickets to anyone with a booking history this season.
The rumour around is up to 5,000 Season ticket holders have not brought a semi ticket and over 5000 remain for sale.
I have got to say I do not understand that at all. Yes we were only down in London 4/5 weeks ago and yes it is an expensive business but surely the FA cup is our destiny, after 53 years of hurt we will win the bloody thing some time and why not now.
Yes so we lost to Chelsea 7-1 the other week but that has no baring on a one off cup game, why get so disheartened about it ? Surely you want to say you was there at Wembley when we got revenge for 2000 ?
Surely that is worth a £50-80 payout ?
However with the details announced today I can not imagine us not selling out now and maybe with fans being there for their only time then the atmosphere could be better ?
UPDATE – 15:00 – 07/04 – Rung up ticket office today to renew season ticket and asked about availability and was told 3500 left
Webb the referee for Semi Final
It as been confirmed that England’s ‘top ref’ Howard Webb is the referee for the semi final on Saturday.
He has been dodgy recently but can he really be worse than Dowd was ?
WEMBLEY Semi Final Ticket Details – NO Internet sales
Thanks to Chelsea’s website being quicker than ours, we have found out the ticket details for the Semi Final on April 10th 5PM KO
Tickets are £30, £40, £50, £60 and once again we have the West End
The cheapest £30 tickets are all the upper tier and I think this sale may well go to general sale
Allocation 32,000
Will presume full details for buying Villa’s tickets will appear in due course
EDIT now on OS
Ticket Allocation confirmed as 31,837
NO internet sales, which is disappointing.
It takes a couple of reads to understand the allocation but good idea to give those who went to previous FA cup games first choice.
FA Cup Semi Final against Chelsea to be played 10th April
The FA have confirmed as predicted on this blog that the FA Cup Semi Final will kick off on Saturday 10th April at 5PM.
Best option for me anyway !!
Wembley Ticket UPDATE for FA Semi Final
Well here we go again.
Just to confirm that based on last seasons semi final we will get slightly more tickets than for the Carling Cup Final at around 32,000.
The full details will be released on Thursday 11th March but the prices are likely to be around £10-25 lower than the Carling final, so probably between £25 and £60 (link for Man U last season).
Before people start to panic again it is worth remembering for the Carling final the ticket distribution went to people with a 5 game history and it is likely that a number of season ticket holders will not go for the tickets due to cost, time and not being a final. I would not mind betting it goes on general sale to anyone with a booking history.
The game is likely to kick off either on
Saturday 10th April 17:15
or
Sunday 11th April 13:00
My best guess is that we will be the Saturday game as for TV our game is the more attractive game and the Saturday slot is for ITV the better one for advertising revenue.
FA Cup Semi Final vs CHELSEA
Date 10/11th April
If on Saturday 10th April KO will be 17:15
Anyone think that the media will be delighted the so called glamour tie will be on !
Should not be surprised, as ex Spurs and Chelsea players doing the draws (Ginola never turned up for us !!)
Hope this time we turn up !
Match reaction – We NEVER do it easy – WEMBERLEEEE
Well what can you say, disgraceful 1st half performance, worse than Doncaster I have to say. My post on the team selection was being vindicated and MON was in serious trouble.
However MON must have gave the lads the biggest bollocking of their lives and it looks like Carew got the whole lot of it with a great hat trick and even managed to set up one
PHEWWWW
Blackburn like or what !!
Do we have to concede goals to get us going, appears so but we are there and that is what counts.
Great chance of glory now
OH and MON finally wins in March !!
Carew starts with Heskey, can not believe it
This will be the last blog post before I go to the pub and I am shocked at the team
VILLA: Friedel; Cuellar, Dunne, Collins, Warnock; Downing, Milner, Petrov, Young; Carew, Heskey. Subs: Young, Albrighton, Delph, Delfouneso, Sidwell, Guzan, Beye.
I have supported MON all the way and whilst I wanted Young to start there may be issues we are ot aware of.
However Gabby is ill today, perfect chance to play Delfouneso and yet we have the two lumps up front when pace and skill can unlock lower league defences.
I hope the two of them prove to be good and I and probably the majority of us look like idiots when compared to MON but I fear with the two of them up front, I really do.
Good news however with Albrighton fit enough to be on the bench
FA Quarter Final – Reading A – 7th March 13:45
So we play Reading a week Sunday, and I am quite glad at that, a derby game is always bloody difficult. Reading have done very well to progress as far as they have and our recent record down there is mixed.
Obviously though this is a winnable game now for the Semi Final and one hell of a season building up
To confirm game is live on ITV Sunday 7th March KO 13:45
This means that the home game against Sunderland is now postponed.
Are you watching Gareth Barry, HA HA HA
Before I get onto the main substance of this blog, lets just review today’s game.
For the first half that is possibly the best football I have seen from Villa, fluid, ball to feet and nary a long ball in sight, how it was just 1-0 god knows !!
For the second half we seem to be sat back, probably relaxing for the cup final but even then created chances. Probably for the that reason we let Palace back in, however we stepped up a gear, got two clear penalties and game over. The likes of Downing, Delph, Gabby and Young were very good. I also have to say Carew played his best for a long time despite what some are saying on the forums and remeber I am not his greatest fan !!
However after the game we learnt Man City had been dumped out of yet another cup competition and that is pure Karma for what Gareth Barry did do. He did leave for so called chance at glory and yet since he has left we have got better and better and the likes of Downing and Delph for the future look like offering far more than Barry did at Villa, at least Downing takes shots !!
In most cases the grass is never greener and now Barry is finding this out to his cost. Remember Gareth where you are now, one point above us and no chance of a trophy, look at us, one final, a quarter final and one point behind 4th. This is the best season since Brian Little’s of 1996 and he has missed out of it (whether we would have done as well with him is moot point) and I wonder what he is thinking tonight and when he speaks to ex colleagues ?
all his own fault and we are better for it.
6 defeats all season, one final, one quarter final and one point off 4th, fantastic
So now onwards and upwards to Wembley then a week later onto Reading, BRING IT ON !
Crystal Palace to face the power of Delf
Well I hope that this is the case and Nathan starts tomorrow. I have seen enough of him this season in cameos and starts to know he is the real deal and whilst I understand why he was left out for the first game, for tomorrow there is no excuse.
Clearly with the Carling Cup final on the horizon we would expect a few changes to the team. For certain Petrov with a virus is out, Gabby after taking a knock against Burnley I expect not to be risked. Also Luke Young will certainly return to probably replace Dunne and of course Delph for Petrov. The big question will be is whether one or all of Downing, Milner and Ash Young will be rested, that is not clear at the moment and MON has been evasive on what he may do.
What we expect from Palace will be a fully committed side we saw at Selhurst, but they are now struggling with fitness, down to the last 19 professionals and maybe the lift that Warnock gave them after administration is wearing out. The rumours still surround Warnock and QPR and many people think this could be his last game in charge at Palace if they lose, obviously lets hope that is the case from a Villa point of view.
So we hope for a comfortable win tomorrow, no injuries or sending offs of course and future development of Delf and Delph. Win tomorrow and February then starts to look a very good month indeed with the Carling Cup of course to cap it off.
KICK OFF for Palace game – 8PM
Please be aware that the KO time for the replay on Wednesday is now 20:00 for streaming on FA.COM
Villa vs Crystal Palace game live on FA.com
The FA have announced that the replay game next week is live on the FA stream next week
However at only £10 for adults and £5 for kids at VP I would still say the best place to go is at Villa Park and I would say for Season Ticket holders who would want to go to any probable FA Cup final it would be a must go match.
Great ticket prices for Crystal Palace replay
Well done to Villa and especially Crystal Palace for agreeing to fabolous low prices for the replay on Wednesday 24th February
Tickets are £10-15 for adults and £5 for Children.
At these prices and with the news Palace are taking up in their 6,500 allocation this deserves a near full house for the game.
Full credit to Crystal Palace the team and their fans
Not often will I watch a game and actually like what I see about the opposition. From my previous post despite Warnock’s bleating today I am a big fan of his, he tells it like it is and always sticks up for his players and club.
Clearly with the whole administration providing Warnock with the perfect motivational tool, the Palace team attacked with vigour, defended with determination and apart from the Alan Lee elbow. The entire Palace team played in the right spirit of the game.
There was also no little skill involved and for me Neil Danns was a revelation. When he was at Blues he showed nothing like the little flicks and skill we saw today and it was good to see a lower division play in the right team and try and take us on at our own level.
Palace deserved the replay and the extra money you will get but hopefully the result in 10 days time will see the Villains through to the quarter final.
Palace will always have a sweet spot in many Villa fan’s hearts for this one comment from the ex owner, Simon Jordan
I think they are disingenuous. The ethics with which they do business, I don’t appreciate. I have had enough dealings with them to be able to have that view. Am I surprised? They sell dildos for a living. That gives you a judgement on what they may or may not be.
I see other club’s chairmen as the enemy. I want to go in there and beat them up. Some of them like Sullivan I would like to do that to.
Finally a word for the fans, even though our fans were great, yours were a credit, with 100% support for the team and I like that fan area at the corner of the Holmesdale End. In these times sometimes it is easier not to be bothered with the team, you showed today how the right way is to support your team.
The magnificent fans get just rewards as Warnock just whinges away
That was a great game of cup football, with both sides giving 100% and sportsmanship all over the field from two committed teams.
The Villa fans were MAGNIFICENT today and they deserved the late Petrov equaliser for the support alone. There was about 2000 there and they sung from first to final whistle and well done guys and gals.
As for Neil Warnock’s comments
I’m absolutely devastated. All my career I’ve had to battle against the odds. We played a Premier League team and worked our socks off. The first goal was a bit iffy but the second was a disgrace. It came off Delfouneso. The referee and linesman waited and waited and then gave a corner because it’s a Premier League team.
Well of course the corner was not one but on the balance of play we deserved the draw and replay but this idiot (who I do actually like) clearly forgets
the deliberate elbow by Alan Lee on Stephen Warnock, clear red
clear penalty not given after the foul on Ash young in the first 20 minutes
it is called Karma Neil, your team played well but we deserved the draw though it gives us plenty of headaches leading up to the League Cup final, I hope the ticket prices are reasonable for it.
Possible FA Cup Quarter-final draw – Reading or West Brom AWAY
After a very good game with Palace and a late headed Petrov equaliser we went into the quarter final draw and if we get through the replay we will play
Reading or West Bromwich AWAY
Tie to be played 6/7th March
Got to say that the draw has opened up, if we win the replay, for the Semi Final place
FA Cup Final 2000 pictures
OK, so most of us would like to forget the final it was that bad.
However with a great chance of progression to another final tomorrow, I think it is worth just reminding those who went and would like to go, what a FA cup at the old Wembley was like.
If anyone has any more pictures please let me know at ianrobo@sky.com
Recent Comments