I'd say on paper home to Soton is an easier fixture than away to Liverpool.

Largely agree with what Eddie says above though. There are many potential banana skins for both sides and a fair distance to go yet before anything is decided.

How VERY dare you...

We're improving of late and held you 0-0 at your place. I know our good dorm has been patchy but Leicester are at home to Saints whereas you're away to us.

With both teams pressing, it could be quite a battle though.

I agree 100%. we have to keep putting pressure on them, and see how they deal with it

to be honest, I just picked two fixtures at random off the top of my head to make the point. I'm not necessarily saying those two particular fixtures are identical.

Doesn't really matter who you play, all games aside from Villa, can be difficult.
The advantage, if any, is playing first and getting the points on the board.
That applies extra pressure then.

If saying the Liverpool game away isn't any harder than Leicester's home game versus Southampton and now saying they're not identical can only lead me to deduce you think it's an easier fixture, as that's the only option left!

Agree - results ape usually all over the shop this stage of the season as nerves, desperation, relaxation and death throes all set in.

Aston Villa been in the top flight since 1988/89. Founding members of the premier league. Brilliant achievement. Just goes to show the grim reaper of relegation is indiscriminate

How is it a 'brilliant achievement'?

A club the size of Villa, with the resources that have been available to them, should be a nailed-on Premier League side.

They're a club that has been hopelessly mismanaged.

City through but another injury to Kompay - doesn't get much luck.

Must be some sort of on going issue which they don't know how to heal.

27 seasons in the top flight IS an achievement. I did say in my comment that the grim reaper of relegation is indiscriminate and visits any club regardless of size. Villa probably took their place in the top flight for granted and this may be a wake up call. They may come back better and stronger or they could go the other way and slip into league one. Who knows ?

I don't disagree with the rest of your post, but I don't think that Villa being in the top flight for less than 30 years is that much of an achievement.

If they'd have been managed well, they'd be a perennial top 6 club.

I can't imagine Villa fans are celebrating that 'achievement ' . I doubt they think it is one.

can't see garde lasting long in the champ. wonder who'll replace him?

I'm not sure about top 6. City, United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs are all bigger clubs I would say and the likes of Everton and a well run Newcastle should theoretically be rivals. But they should certainly be a stable Premier League side that is established in the top ten.

I'd like to read a proper comprehensive account of their decline over the years because they were a handy enough side less than ten years ago.


Probably one of the grim crew of rotating Championship managers. Was going to say Steve Bruce but he has Birmingham City connections. Looking at how they seem to opperate, it's probably going to be the cheapest option available.

[QUOTE[/quote]


He received the Man of the Match award.

It's rather concerning considering that it's his 14th calf injury at City.

The advantage that both Leicester and Spurs have is that they are in battle with another club who are new to being in the position. I think if either were up there with City or Chelsea who have done it a number of times and now how to win it then they may feel more intimidated or feel the pressure more but the fact that both are up against another team who haven't got the experience either will give them both a boost

I still think Leicester might choke it there's so much football to be played, the pressure is absolutely nothing to the pressure they will be receiving as they edge closer from the media and a nation of neural football fans

If they do I think it will the biggest achievement in premier league history

Coupled with other success stories like spurs, west ham, Watford and Bournemouth and flop seasons for Chelsea, Man Utd, along with villa and Newcastle staring at relegation, it's been by far the most unpredictable season in my generation

I know, goodness knows what he would have received if he had actually managed to successfully pass to one of his own team regularly.

Agree with above except the fact that you are vastly under emphasising the achievement it would be if they do it.

The amount of speculation about Leicester folding is somewhat ironic considering they are being chased by a team, Spurs, who have folded so often when a top four place has beckoned they could be entered into an Origami competition.

Very true

The speculation is going to come from the fact Leicester in this position is an unknown so there's no background knowledge of how there going to handle this

MK Dons and Bristol City players maybe enjoying themselves a bit too much at the races?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/...-Festival.html