Chindie

More than happy with the result, happy with a lot of the performance. We miss a striker like a man would miss a leg. Carew was anonymous largely. Top stuff from Petrov and Downing particularly. As for NRC's chance, never in doubt as to the outcome . Somewhat worrying that the moment Chelsea started to really bother we looked like a team holding on for dear life at times, and thats with Chelsea at a bit of a canter.

A few years ago in the FA Youth Cup semi leg at Villa Park, which they went on to win and went through to the final, saw one of the most petulant displays I'd ever seen, which he was a part of, that began my ire for him. At the end of the match it was raised to simmering disgusted rage as the word removed, with one of his team mates who was another one exceptionally keen on gamesmanship, decided that, in victory, the best thing they could do is take the piss out of the crowd. They ran straight to the Villa fans, in the corner of the Holte and Trinity and goaded us, time and time again, running towards the crowd waving their shirts and then scuttling back laughing, again and again. Since then I've wished him nothing but an uneventful career ended swiftly with an horrific injury.

Chelsea with this much easy possession gives me heart palpitations.

Bollocks, Kakuta off. He survives unscathed. Any Villa man to break his leg would have been a legend forever in my heart.

Worth saying that Downing and Petrov have both been fantastic. And Irelands shown glimpses of what he might do when on top form, he's clearly still got the quality and vision. Just need to pick him up more. Shame Carew isn't looking like he's having one of his quality games.

Interesting half. We've had the better chances and should have the lead. Chelsea look like they've got an arseload more in the tank but don't seem bothered to use it. Kakuta remains unbroken, for shame.

Chelsea look lethargic and lacking a few ideas. Thankfully that is. If they did click it'd not be pretty for us.

Another good chance drawn from nothing. Great play from Stan and Ireland is so unlucky.

Yep... shame. He's currently lumbering around deeper than even Ireland is. He appears to have the idea of 'playing off' the wrong way round. Doesn't seem to get the ball to stick either. Very annoying.

Lovely idea there from Stan.

I think everyone in the stadium might have known Beye was throwing that to Carew. 'JOHN! JOHN! COME HERE! JOHN!?'

Petrov forward pass to NRC... shall we continue the silliness?

Downing is playing magnificently in all aspects fo play. Probably been our best defender even :shock:

He does it anyway, regardless of open play or not. It pays not to say silly things.

Yes. Even just earlier he hit a smart quick freekick down the line for Warnock.

I'm starting to worry for the Spanaird's future here.

Clark readying to come on. Cuellar? :?

More vision than usual for us. Downing looks well up for it. Missing this many chances early on doesn't bode well to me though, typical Villa to rue the chances.

**** me what a chance.

COME ON YOU LIONS

I hope Collins breaks Kakuta at some point incidentally. I hate that word removed. Lets have a leg breaker.

3-1 Chelsea.

When you've finished with your Bible, be sure to burn it. It'll give off a lovely blue flame and the screams of innocents.

Spoilt ballot.

Stick with it, another tough to get into book imo but well worth it About 200 pages into this now, I'm going very very slowly with it, only reading a few pages at a time. I'm trying to drag it out because it marks the end of anything unread for me and right now, I'd rather not further invest in books. It's not been slow for me at all, or hard to get into. A couple of moments have seen it slow somewhat or have my interest waning but it's largely been quite good. Elsewhere the Booker prize went to Howard Jacobson, a book which anyone who watched last week's review show will know China Mieville really didn't like.