2-0 up
Well done boys
Emery is a brilliant coach. One of the best and most underrated in the world, imo.
Interesting trajectory of both clubs ( Fulham Villa) since May 2018
After we beat them in the playoff final they were a club in financial crisis. Now they're competing in the CL, that's some progress in a relatively short time.
Good for them. Freiburg look like a pub team though so not surprised Villa are coasting this.
3-0 now - total control. How brilliant must that feel
Well done Villa
Very proud of you
Emery's record in the Europa League is incredible. Is that 6 times he's won it now?
Edit: (Answering my own question) - this will be the 5th time he's won it and 6th final he's got to!
Well done Villa - really impressive performance and great goals
Congratulations
Amazing result
Nice, quick attacking football. How I miss that.
Emery putting Lindelof at DM in the last 4-5 games was an absolute masterstroke.
Harvey Elliott hardly played a game all season and ended up with a European Winners' Medal
Quote from: HV71 on May 20, 2026, 09:13:17 PMInteresting trajectory of both clubs ( Fulham Villa) since May 2018
I remember walking back to the coaches with a Villa fan and he was complaining (as you do) about the owners and management at that time. Things have gradually improved for them since then.
A significantly degraded competition which is probably only slightly better than championship standard in the main.
The fact that Villa faced a team in the semis that were not even good enough to qualify for the competition via the premier league says it all
Quote from: HV71 on May 20, 2026, 09:13:17 PMInteresting trajectory of both clubs ( Fulham Villa) since May 2018
Was just thinking this.
And I still can't help but wonder what would have happened if we'd won in Hamburg.
Quote from: ffcthereligion on May 20, 2026, 10:17:03 PMA significantly degraded competition which is probably only slightly better than championship standard in the main.
The fact that Villa faced a team in the semis that were not even good enough to qualify for the competition via the premier league says it all
Yeah it's weird. When we had our run there were some serious teams in the way, not least the winners.
But even Shakhtar were one of the best sides I've ever seen live at CC.
Well done Villa. Congratulations.
They've been performing well since we beat them in the Premier League & they sacked Gerrard to bring in Emery
In terms of trajectory, I'm more frustrated by Bournemouth showing us how it's done. In fact, both Forest & Bournemouth have now qualified for Europe from our last promotion year.
Quote from: ffc73 on May 20, 2026, 10:38:14 PMIn terms of trajectory, I'm more frustrated by Bournemouth showing us how it's done. In fact, both Forest & Bournemouth have now qualified for Europe from our last promotion year.
Don't get me started.
I echo the well done remarks on villa . Good end to an up and down season for them .
Congrats to Villa - cant help feeling a bit envious of their success and upward trajectory since our famous playoff final victory over them. Granted they´re a bigger club than us, but the thought that we could have been in their position with a little more ambition, is hard to ignore.
Quote from: Citizen Smith on May 20, 2026, 11:58:29 PMCongrats to Villa - cant help feeling a bit envious of their success and upward trajectory since our famous playoff final victory over them. Granted they´re a bigger club than us, but the thought that we could have been in their position with a little more ambition, is hard to ignore.
Thjink the manager has a lot to do with it
Freiburg, are they something to do with Lynard Skynard?
A major trophy - that's what our ambition should be. Very jealous.
Quote from: Neutral Zone Ultra on May 21, 2026, 12:40:04 PMA major trophy - that's what our ambition should be. Very jealous.
Maybe one day... 🤔
Quote from: MisfitKid on May 21, 2026, 08:44:48 PMQuote from: Neutral Zone Ultra on May 21, 2026, 12:40:04 PMA major trophy - that's what our ambition should be. Very jealous.
Maybe one day... 🤔
It hasn't happened in my 70 years of 'supporthood'...so I'm not optimistic for my remaining time...
Quote from: Nero on May 21, 2026, 12:16:07 AMQuote from: Citizen Smith on May 20, 2026, 11:58:29 PMCongrats to Villa - cant help feeling a bit envious of their success and upward trajectory since our famous playoff final victory over them. Granted they´re a bigger club than us, but the thought that we could have been in their position with a little more ambition, is hard to ignore.
Thjink the manager has a lot to do with it
The topic of what do managers actually do came up on the last train journey home. The managers merry go round includes a few who seem to depend on a huge entourage, a few that seem to be a big name but nowt else and the occasional gem. Over the last decade or so we have seen the likes of Iraola, Glasner, Emri, Klopp and Pep himself come to the fore and these have proved you can make good players better and you can make these better players fit into a jigsaw that works. I fear this is a club Silva can't join as our good players have not become better players, some good players have actually regressed and players brought in to complete the jigsaw simply don't fit. My goodness I would pay to watch us mixing up the corners a bit just as Villa were doing but we lack any sense of creativity, that old school 'training ground move' or even any recent signing thriving in the first team. Silva has been with us a while, certainly double the time spent at Watford and Everton, and to be honest I would have liked to see something more/different by now.