FA Cup Match Prediction: Gillingham away, somewhere in North Kent
Saturday, 03 January 09, 05:30 AM · Comments (53)
After the start of the football season, today is the other day I look forward to. The magic of the FA Cup is something special and as football fans, one thing we all have in common is hope, so it sort of brings us all together, if only for a brief moment.
Yes, the FA Cup started a long time ago, but this is when the bigger teams get involved and it's when you usually get a shock or two. I don't think it will happen to us tomorrow, but you can never be too sure.
Gillingham is a nice little town and up until recently their team were playing Championship football so they'll have expectations as supporters and that thing called hope, but they're playing a midfield in the centre of defence tomorrow and they're not exactly setting their current league alight with any confidence of promotion.
But it's the FA Cup and anything can happen but a betting man has to put money on Villa, especially as it looks like Martin O'Neill is putting out his strongest available team.
Do you think the manager has learnt his lesson from the last two outings in the League Cup?
So, you've got to fancy that we'll win this game and it is my prediction and I'll even go so far as to predict that James Milner will get a goal and have an excellent game.
So, that's about it oh and Wayne Routledge has joined QPR so don't be surprised to see another right sided winger/midfielder joining this transfer window.
Nothing more from me today unless we do actually make a signing or two, which if I'm honest, I can't see happening, although nothing is impossible - which is exactly what you are thinking about now if you're a supporter of Gillingham.
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53 Comments · Add yours
We should beat the Gills and then sign Kightly.
I think we will put out the second string and beat them 3-1.
I've heard that Wayne Routledge from QPR is to be our first and only signing in this window.
Some of the posters here have mentioned Bill Howells in less than flattering terms. I’ve never read him so I don’t know. Until this morning when I saw an item with his bye-line on NewsNow and I followed it through.
Do people actually get paid for this drivel? No wonder the press is dying. An article full of utterly meaningless stats gleaned from league tables everyone can read; probably took about half an hour to write. Absolute shite.
In the interests of even-handedness to the press – did you read that article by J. Redknapp a couple of days ago in the Mail? Excellent. LINK
I mention this Redknapp thing to illustrate why Howells stuff is rubbish. We love football because it is a microcosm of life. It releases the passions of justice and human need, and the glory of battle and loyalty – without the casualties of the real thing. Redknapp shows how, ultimately, victory and glory are about character. We Villa fans love O’Neill and his warriors because we are supporters, but even commanding figures who have no attachment are roused by O’Neill. O’Neill makes Redknapp regret his retirement.
The achievement of our ends will be sourced not in statistics, but in a great man’s heart. How lucky we are. Criticise him if you must - but not casually and with disdain. If we are attentive and listen and watch, we can learn some secrets of his method. And as we do this we can relax and luxuriate in the envy of those poor fans who have no O’Neill. He will not be with us forever – enjoy him while you may.
Is this really the FA cup? Why aren't we playing Man Utd then? Why isn't it on BBC? I don't understand whats happening, next thing you will tell me is that we will soon be playing champions league football and Damian predicts Milner to have a good game. I'm going back to bed!
i believe that villa has a great MON and a great team i can bet on it to win FA cup this year and why not EPL?
I think its a good signing for QPR because he looked good at cardiff, the championship seems to be his best level.
I think we should really aim to win it! thank god we havent landed united for once lol
I heard from the sun that we will be playing our first team so we should stuff them. There manager has come out and said we should win 8-0 so it shows how much confidence he has.
i think 3-0 villa, milner to score 2 and agbonlahor the other.
would like to see delounso play he's been good in europe so he should be good playing against league 2 team.
i live in kent and i couldnt get a ticket for the game because they all sold out after bout 3 days
oh well itv quite good
Reply to villan-till-i-die:
read that to think he will play half decent side. but would be suprised if he starts with gabby and young . give them a rest play the likes of delfonso gardner salifuo. still a long old season in front of us and to be fair even with these lads playing we SHOULD beat em plus good experence for the fringe players who we mite have to call on later on in the season VILLA FOR LIFE
Anyone else not too bothered about the Cup this year? I know its the FA Cup and that we should aim to win as much as we can, but id much rather rest the likes of Young and Gabby and keep them for the Prem. Give the young players a chance in the early cup games and big the 1st teamers in futher into the competition. With a genuine chance at a champions league place, that surely should be the aim.
I'd be pissed off if we put out a full team.
4th or the cup?
damien or any others out there villabiker here can you help have tried to sign up for an ole ole account with my user name but it keeps telling me it has already been used, when i havent signed up yet - do you have any ideas why? its annoying filling in letters in the box every single time i want to send a message.
Reply to Nan_was_a_fan:
You know, that's how I feel. It would be almost irresponsible to put out our absolute 1st team. NRC, Storey, could be tried in their proper positions.
Why not play a full team, ur only gonna moan if they beat our 2nd tring, we've already established the 2nd string r nowhere near gud enough. And then we avnt got a game 4 a whole 7 days, i kno footballers r pussys but im sure even they can manage 1 game a week!!!
Honestly, I wouldn't have sleepless nights if we got beat tomorrow. I know it would give us another clear indication that our 2nd string arn't good enough, but don't we know that already? Stick a few youngsters in there and give them a run out and if they get a result great. If they don't, its good experience and we focus on the league.
I honestly wouldn't care if we lost tomorrow. Infact, I'd see the upside. The FA Cup may be a great competition, but it doesn't touch the Champions League.
The FA Cup is a competition this team can win. If Portsmouth can do it, why can't we. Rest some of the starters but lets play first choice for most of the lineup and go for it! As long as we don't have replays, this competition will be only 6 extra matches. That's my worry for today is that Villa play a second-string side and have to go to a replay at Villa Park.
Reply to odysseynumberfive:
I've heard £10m FOR Routledge to solve our right sided problem, his previous team didn't give him a proper run
Reply to villabiker:
I changed mine very slightly to get it to work, add a gap or underscore or something
Reply to churchil:
sounds like you read one of Bill's better pieces, he often resorts to nursery rhymes and demonstrates just how out of touch he is with Villa fans as almost a badge of honour
Spot on about O'Neill. How charming must MON be that Mrs Redknapp "fell in love" with him. This is not some dodgy bolier - it's Louise from eternal ffs. This is the type of charm that might just make the difference when signing a World star when its the right time to do so and might keep You and Gabby away from Real etc. We are a lucky club to have him, even if he can puzzle us with signings and subs, he just is and knows better than us
Reply to vdave:
Sorry i really can see your point but i can;t agree with you, we have not won the F.A.cup since 1957 this is a ji=oke for a club like ours.
Also i think it is a sad state of affairs when supporters would choose there club finish fourth over actually winning something.
The money that comes with the champions league has changed football. Dont get me wrong i want to finish at least fourth this season but i think instead of not trying to win the F.A. cup MON should go all out and get some quality players in this month.
Reply to Nan_was_a_fan:
Both
And the UEFA Cup as well
Reply to SidCowanslovechild:
cheers got it sorted with an underscore VILLABIKER
Reply to Nan_was_a_fan:
Come on, 5th and the FA cup plus a decent UEFA cup run would be a fantastic season
Agree with JonnyW there, let's be fair, we normally get knocked out at this stage so a good run will be a change. UEFA Cup football for the first time in years and to finish above Everton in a minimum 5th would make for an improvement in my opinion.
3-1 Villa tomorrow, Milner and Gabby x2, but as someone mentioned above, give Shorey and NRC a run in their normal positions and let's give Marlon a full 90 mins too!
if the likes of Shorey Harewood and Gardner cant come in and play the likes of Gillingham and not beat them i am afraid they should not even draw a wage
I don't know where you have been but Gillingham itself isn't a nice town. Kent is a nice county, but Gillingham is anything but a nice town I can assure you!
Good luck for the rest of the season after tomorrow. You have a fantastic manager in O'Neil and two of Englands brightest prospect. But I would rather we help you concentrate on the league after Sunday!
Advice for travelling fans: Wrap up warm what with the away end having no roof, and whatever you do stay away from Gillingham High Street! Go Livingstone Arms, its very friendly for away fans.
A few upsets today....I dont see too many problems with us putting out a full strength side with maybe a couple of changes. I think its better that way than to rush on Barry, Gabby and Milner in the second half if we drop a goal, like the Zilina match. Get the match out of reach early and then make some subs. I think Sidwell will score and Gabby. 2-0 Villa although nothing will surprise me....
Reply to Leroy:
I still can't believe I've read that. Man City 0 - Forest 3.
One or two of those City players earn more than the whole of the forest team put together. Staggering.
Reply to churchil:
I mean there are always upsets but that is a hiding....It realy does make you feel lucky to have MON and Uncle Randy as the head of our club. Portsmouth are a shambles, West Ham tried to spend and are in trouble...and look at Man City, they are the leagues joke at the moment....The way these two have gone about things has been slow but steady and the results are there. Many teams have tried to spend in one or two seasons and are going under, where we have slowly built a strong young lineup that has no reason to fear any team anymore. I would love to make an FA cup final this year having said that, i think it is good practice to show all teams a certain level of respect, and lets face it, we are not the leagues most deepest squad anyway. I certainly think that you cant take any match as a given and we should go out there and thrash the Gils with our full side and boost our confidence even further and get away from this winning ugly thing...
Reply to Leroy:
For this season only I am not so bothered about the FA Cup as I think from next year we will have a squad more able to compete on several fronts (including CL) - OK I am hoping.
I have a bit of a soft spot for Man City but now they have their ridiculous amount of money I would love to see the likes of Robhino at Barnsley and Blackpool next season
Porstmouth are a great example of why we shouldn't worry about the FA Cup. How happy do you think those boys are right now? With our current squad the last thing we need is to be challenging on 3 fronts. When we are established in the Top 3 we can go for doubles and trebles.
Reply to Nan_was_a_fan:
Nan, as ever, your wisdom is great
Reply to Nan_was_a_fan:
as you have said before nan play the 2nd string and see how it goes..well what about playing strong and at half time take the players off when the tie is won instead of chasing when were behind like we did against zelina, im sure it takes a hell of a lot more out of the boys when they have to up the tempo and chase a game.
Reply to Nan_was_a_fan:
and sod that.. next season i expect the quad
gotta agree wit hthat, everytime we play our 2nd string team, we have come unstuck!
Reply to odysseynumberfive:
My dear odyssey you must have been suffering the after effects of the new year celebrations.Wayne Routledge left us for QPR,not the other way around.
Reply to villan450years:
i think he was being pedantic???
Reply to villan450years:
I'm glad you pointed that out to me. I was looking forward to the press conference.
With regard to the cup, frankly it'd just be nice to make it past the 3rd round. I don't particularly care if we get knocked out at a later stage because I think the league should be our priority this season. But even so, it'd be nice to see our name still in tomorrow's draw for what would seem like the first time in ages.
Reply to churchil:
I'd love it if MON puts out a strong side on Sunday.I'd love it even more if we were 4 up at half time and MON then made some changes.There is a worry that with 3/4 players only one booking away from a suspension,we could lose one or two players for the WBA game.Why?I'd rather lose Barry,Petrov etc for that game, than later on,against a team we'd really need them for.
Reply to _AP68_:
Isn't that someone who looks after your feet?
3 players are 1 booking away from a 1 match ban. Ash Young and Petrov and can't remeber the 3rd. Why risk losing them against the owlbion?
Harewood might not play if being cuptied effects his value.
thats interesting keef but stoke are out now anyway, because thats where i think marewood is going
Why aren't we playing Man U?
[I'll even go so far as to predict that James Milner will get a goal ] I'll go one further Damon - I think he'll even manage a cross or two! ;-)
or perhaps even three!
BBC gossip column says £10m bid for Upson, but W Ham want £15m!!! Looks to me Laursen's injury could spell the end if this is true. Hope it's not cos Laursen's different class to that g@y bluenose.
MON get a RB and play Carlos at the back!! For £10m we could get 2 decent right backs!!!
Also says Kenweyne Jones for £5m. He's worth a punt.
I Don't think it spells the end of Laursen just he might now be like Ledley King and can only play games once a week and with european football likely it's a good option to have. Jones for £5mil would be a steal but i cancel see that one happening.
kenweyn jones would be a great signing
Not sure where to post this
But Why Why Why? Mat Upson, a freind text me about this the other day so i believe there is something in it.
Injury Prone No Resale £10-16m
What about Midfield or Attack
Why is our future going to be just to Defend & hope fro a break Lets spend the money on quality strikers not just defence
We want a good FA cup run, surely - it's just been too long since we won it. We need to put out a side that is
a) good enough to win
b) doesn't play all our top players from the start
c) doesn't cup-tie fringe players who we might want to move on unnecessarily
I can see Gabby or Ash being on the bench, in case. Delfouneso to start but Marlon not in squad at all. If Shorey isn't in squad at all, he's on his way... if not, play him and Luke in his rightful place. No room for resting other players at the back, but a bit of scope to bring in Salifou, Gardner or NRC in for Petrov or Sidwell (assuming Barry starts, being captain). Same rider... if one of those mids isn't in squad, they're going although anyone playing could be off to Man City as they've no reason to worry about cup-tied players