Simon Uvl 🦁

NO LIMITS TO OUR DREAMS.

99.9% of my tweets on Villa are wholly positive. But facts remain and only facts. In 2 semi finals, one a two legged Conference League, 1 FA Cup where there was a legitimate claim to be better than both teams in quality, the team choked. Choked. Not went toe to toe and weren't better on the day. Choked. I'm not a blind fan. I comment on what I see. Forest have conceded 0.5 goals per game in their last 10 games. This is a fact and only a fact. So Villa not scoring plus choking in semis means I'm hoping that the Villa Park crowd can do enough to remind these players to not be scared and just replicate what we've seen for 90% of the last 3 seasons. My literal hope of seeing this team guaranteing basic semi final staples ( tempo and aggression) is the Holte End. That's not right. If we pummel Forest and don't score, everyone leaves Villa Park saying "we did everything we could". Palace at Wembley and Olimpiacos, comparable games, Villa didn't turn up, conceded exactly 3 goals per game in each game and did do without laying a glove on the opponents. If Villa do that Thursday then they go out, again in a whimper. All I need to see as a fan ( because I love this team) is the Villa that I saw when I went to Newcastle a couple of months ago. Aggression, tempo, dominance, last ditch defending, bottle, bravery. In short, what we all know they can do. Villa lost 2 semi finals not because the players weren't talented enough, or because they're not likeable, wholesome young men. Villa lost 2 semi finals because it looked like they couldn't handle the pressure of being favourites in a semi final. Same favouritism as they have to own against Forest. I'll leave you with this I know this Forest team will fight, bite, scratch, time waste, dark arts and work like their lives depend on it. Can you guarantee Villa will do the same? Nothing wrong with being not good enough. I played in a Villa and Liverpool team that fell near the final hurdle in Europe. We weren't good enough. But at Anfield (PSG) and Atletico (Villa Park), no Liverpool or Villa fan can say those games lacked aggression, pace, tempo, urgency. We just weren't good enough. I do not know whether Villa will play like a pre season friendly without any understanding of what's at stake, or whether it will be breathless like Bayern. And that's worrying. Because tactical discipline and patience is one thing, not raising your game in a semi final is another. I'm not the only Villan that has asked these questions and my opinion is as valid as anyone else, no more, no less.