‘If tha’ can fit tha’ in thee'er, tha’s gorra big un’
After last week’s promising shut out against the Wolves, it was time for me to make my 1st ever visit to Villa Park to see the Super Reds (and only games against the Super Reds count, Reedy says so). I tried to be optimistic: Villa hadn’t beaten us at Villa Park since before I was born. But the head said we were in for beating, and so it proved.
We got to Birmingham. It was sleeting, it was snowing, it was miserable. No worries – we had tickets for the front row. S***. I hate sitting low down, nevermind the front row. Luckily, our seats were so appalling (past the corner flag) that Andy and I could stand up without upsetting anyone behind. This was great, as it also afforded a top view of all the stewards who stood in our eyeline. Our reputation precedes us.
Still, plenty of space in the upper tier (though we couldn’t find a staircase). After going one down in 2 mins (a low cross at the far end bundled in by £15m Hogan) I asked a steward if we could go in the upper tier to, like, see the game. No, this wouldn’t be possible. Even worse, I’d missed a 2nd Villa goal. 7 mins in and the game is over. Perhaps a poor view might be for the best. How many are Villa going to rack up? Fortunately, Villa showed a replay endless times on their big screens. What’s Davies doing? I dunno, but he’s not flying off his line and punching it clear, that’s for certain.
As we set ourselves for a pounding, up the pitch we go and a 1st sight of new deadball specialist Stevie Mallan. He whips the corner in right footed from the right and Cavare bangs it in with his head. Goal crazy! Funny, we don’t get a replay of THAT goal. (Fine, it’s Villa’s prerogative; but if I was a Villa fan, I’d want to see the goals we score AND concede. Perhaps Villa fans don't mind being patronised.) Villa fans in the North lower also occasionally serenade us with ‘You’ve only come to see the Villa’, an arrogance that always seems to beset these ‘big’ teams lowering themselves to our level. Yes, I think, that’s why I’ve seen you maybe 4 times in my life. I love watching Villa.
To be honest, the goal is completely against the run of play, as Villa continue to carve us open like the turkeys we are. Grealish (I think) runs between 2 or 3 defenders and lays the ball off for an easy sidefoot for Hourihane. 3-1 and 20 mins in. If this goes on, we’ll concede 10. Somehow, despite Villa’s superiority, they fail to add another before half time and we trundle off, grateful for 3-1 and a feeling we might yet avoid a proper hiding.
Hecky decided to change it at half time, Hammill on for McCarthy. The experiment of 5 at the back and a midfield triumvirate of Potts, Mallan and Moncur being a dead loss. This, despite one eternal Reds fan in the bogs pre-match declaring it a bold and exciting decision. These optimists. They really get me. Straightaway we look a better team, and aside from a Hogan effort off the post (again, against the run of play) we run the half without ever looking like scoring. And as Andy pointed out, the match is still in the other half of the field, so we can still see FA.
I have a vague recollection Bradshaw had a shot saved, but I know the closest we came. New signing Moore cuts inside from the left, beats one player…maybe two (it’s a long way away) and now is in front of goal, I’m guessing 10 yards out…and he blazes over with his right. He’ll fit right in here. Despite the pressure, I don’t think we ever really looked like scoring, though Villa did survive one penalty appeal (from A. Reed) as one of our guys got chopped. Turned out to be a free kick about 30 yards from goal.
*** No idea. Honestly, I don’t feel qualified to have an opinion. Worst view in a long time.** Cavare. Scored. Though I didn’t think much of his defending.* Mallan. Set a goal up and looked dangerous on set pieces.
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| Welcome to .... |
After last week’s promising shut out against the Wolves, it was time for me to make my 1st ever visit to Villa Park to see the Super Reds (and only games against the Super Reds count, Reedy says so). I tried to be optimistic: Villa hadn’t beaten us at Villa Park since before I was born. But the head said we were in for beating, and so it proved.
 |
| A miserable day in Brum (aren't they all?) |
We got to Birmingham. It was sleeting, it was snowing, it was miserable. No worries – we had tickets for the front row. S***. I hate sitting low down, nevermind the front row. Luckily, our seats were so appalling (past the corner flag) that Andy and I could stand up without upsetting anyone behind. This was great, as it also afforded a top view of all the stewards who stood in our eyeline. Our reputation precedes us.
 |
| It's ok, I don't wanna see the goal. |
Still, plenty of space in the upper tier (though we couldn’t find a staircase). After going one down in 2 mins (a low cross at the far end bundled in by £15m Hogan) I asked a steward if we could go in the upper tier to, like, see the game. No, this wouldn’t be possible. Even worse, I’d missed a 2nd Villa goal. 7 mins in and the game is over. Perhaps a poor view might be for the best. How many are Villa going to rack up? Fortunately, Villa showed a replay endless times on their big screens. What’s Davies doing? I dunno, but he’s not flying off his line and punching it clear, that’s for certain.
 |
| The teams come out. |
As we set ourselves for a pounding, up the pitch we go and a 1st sight of new deadball specialist Stevie Mallan. He whips the corner in right footed from the right and Cavare bangs it in with his head. Goal crazy! Funny, we don’t get a replay of THAT goal. (Fine, it’s Villa’s prerogative; but if I was a Villa fan, I’d want to see the goals we score AND concede. Perhaps Villa fans don't mind being patronised.) Villa fans in the North lower also occasionally serenade us with ‘You’ve only come to see the Villa’, an arrogance that always seems to beset these ‘big’ teams lowering themselves to our level. Yes, I think, that’s why I’ve seen you maybe 4 times in my life. I love watching Villa.
 |
| Mallan whips in the corner for our goal. |
To be honest, the goal is completely against the run of play, as Villa continue to carve us open like the turkeys we are. Grealish (I think) runs between 2 or 3 defenders and lays the ball off for an easy sidefoot for Hourihane. 3-1 and 20 mins in. If this goes on, we’ll concede 10. Somehow, despite Villa’s superiority, they fail to add another before half time and we trundle off, grateful for 3-1 and a feeling we might yet avoid a proper hiding.
 |
| Villa North Stand ultras. |
Hecky decided to change it at half time, Hammill on for McCarthy. The experiment of 5 at the back and a midfield triumvirate of Potts, Mallan and Moncur being a dead loss. This, despite one eternal Reds fan in the bogs pre-match declaring it a bold and exciting decision. These optimists. They really get me. Straightaway we look a better team, and aside from a Hogan effort off the post (again, against the run of play) we run the half without ever looking like scoring. And as Andy pointed out, the match is still in the other half of the field, so we can still see FA.
 |
| The Reds' contingent. |
I have a vague recollection Bradshaw had a shot saved, but I know the closest we came. New signing Moore cuts inside from the left, beats one player…maybe two (it’s a long way away) and now is in front of goal, I’m guessing 10 yards out…and he blazes over with his right. He’ll fit right in here. Despite the pressure, I don’t think we ever really looked like scoring, though Villa did survive one penalty appeal (from A. Reed) as one of our guys got chopped. Turned out to be a free kick about 30 yards from goal.
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| A packed Holte End. You've only come to see the Barnsley. |
*** No idea. Honestly, I don’t feel qualified to have an opinion. Worst view in a long time.** Cavare. Scored. Though I didn’t think much of his defending.* Mallan. Set a goal up and looked dangerous on set pieces.
Londontykes' MOTM: 1. Hammill 2. Mallan 3= Cavare/No-one
Despatches:I like coming to Birmingham. Makes me feel superior. But we did do well on pubs today, calling at a café-bar (‘Cherry Red’?) with a range of draft and the Victoria Theatre Bar, with a pint of some local unfiltered. We don’t do Brewdogs. Corporate bullies.
Oh, and Andy got a touch of the match ball, cleared our way at one point. It reminded me, I've never touched the ball during a game in more than 35 years of spectating.
Onwards and upwards!
Drink du jour:
In a throwback to the 80s (Birmingham?) I enjoyed a game of 3-2-1. 3 pints of Schneiderweiss at the Cherry pre-match, 2 Longhorn IPA unfiltered at the Victoria, and a pint of Weihanstephaner at the Euston Tap (which has been refurbished upstairs since Andy and I’s last argument).
Away: c1500. Decent, if unspectacular atmosphere.
The Damage:
£13 train
£30 ent
= £43
Programmes? Never saw one on sale. Their loss.
The Tunes:
Transformer (Lou Reed)
Sound of Water (St. Etienne)
Skywriting (The Field Mice)
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| Villa v Barnsley panorama |
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| Trinity Road, pre-match. |
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| Pre-match in the Cherry Red. |
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| No, thank YOU. |
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