The Thriller In Meh Villa

Going to be weird, as in I bet lots of people have booked flights already (I know some myself), and then don't end up using them, so they'll be empty seats - despite there being lots of people desperate to use those seats.

Well Thursday is a bit of a nightmare for me because I have clients all day. And I mean all day. 25 or so. If we manage to succeed then i will be frantically looking at flights and tickets and wondering. How much money do i really need to fix my house? It's a whole thing.

But as we say, got to get through thursday first...

It will be difficult keeping people away from telling me the score until I can sit down and watch later.

Any news on Morgan and or Murillo yet? I am happy with Cunha playing to be honest. He really has been very solid...

Chicago: Counting down.

Posting this seems rather dangerously close to GLOWG to me.

And I know how seriously you take superstitious hoodoo jinxery.

Press conference hasn't ruled out (or ruled in) Abbott or MGW.

GLOWG specifically refers to posting on an opponent's forum prior to the match.

I said 'dangerously close to'.

It's amusing how Villa have been favourites (I think?) for the tournament since before a ball was kicked, and yet now, on the eve of the semi-final second leg, quite a few of their lot are trying to play the underdog card.

I still have them as mostly likely to progress, given the home advantage, superior players and more big-game experience. Early goal and they're in the driving seat.

That said, I hope anybody's (sic) not stupid enough to write us off.

Radio Nottingham say Gibbs-White is having a mask made in order to take part tomorrow. He's surely not going to be able to compete for a header all evening?

Yeah I literally didn't bother listening to it as I knew that would be the case. Why would we.

Be like having Brennan back.

It's kinda the point of the mask, to spread the load of any contact onto a different part of the head. Whether he'll have the same level of control is a different discussion, but although he is pretty good in the air he can still be a massive influence on the game without needing to head the ball.

I'm guessing he will be on a significant amount of painkillers as well.

Ryan Yates with Hjelde goal-line-defending-free-kick-in-Harty-era eyes.

Murillo trained today apparently (in Nottingham, not Dubai). Sangare, Aina, Ndoye, Abbott absent. .

Mrs BW has failed a late fitness test which means I've got the task of taking Little Miss BW to and from dancing this evening.

I'm therefore going to miss the first hour of the game on TV, which probably isn't a bad thing. By the time I join, it'll be clear what needs to happen and I'll have sidestepped the nervousness of the first half.

Just hoping there's still something on the game going into the last half-hour.