[BB74]

It will be an absolute miracle if we go up IMO.

We have to be 4th favourites.

Even if we do go up it will be a long hard season because Shan will be given the gig full time seeing as ‘he will have earnt it’.

I think Leeds will do it.

[bosh]

Baggies. Heart ruling the head. Would feel dirty saying otherwise.

[BB74]

Baggies. Heart ruling the head. Would feel dirty saying otherwise.

On what basis do you think we will beat Villa over two legs and then go on to win at Wembley?

[phbaggies]

On what basis do you think we will beat Villa over two legs and then go on to win at Wembley?

I agree Albion all the way! On the basis that we have played them twice and took 4 points, on the basis I am a supporter of Albion so expect us/ hope to win every game and the fact we have a front 2 that can score for fun, if we click we will batter the lot of em!!! Why are we scared of Villa anyway, they finished below us and didn't beat us this season??

We have a load of 'older' pro's with big game experience, the others don't, relatively young squads and their nerves will get to them

Have Faith! SOTV COYB!!!!!!!!

[tuamigos]

Its in the stars.
We beat the vile in the semis and Derby at Wembly.

KARMA! 

[Regis Rocket]

Any of the 4 could win it. It could go down to 'luck' and 'hairsplitting decisions', so I've gone for Albion.
The way I see it is that Albion counter attack at Villa Park with Gayle and Philips to win 0-1.
Then we take them back to The Hawthorns and beat them there to set up a final with Derby...for our revenge from 2007 (it's been a long wait).
I then wake from that 'wonderful dream' to have a 'nightmare' the following night...that Villa blast 3 past us in first half hour (a la Bristol City) and although we put up a fightback at the Hawthorns to make it 3-2, it's not quite enough...and we end up saying 'if only we'd played like that first leg'.
You see, anyone could win it depending how you dream

[Pureade1]

Im Albion and have been all my life, never backed anyone to beat us and not going to start now.

COYB SOTV

[bosh]

On what basis do you think we will beat Villa over two legs and then go on to win at Wembley?

No logic whatsoever. Thats why the heart says us - head says we're outsiders and not the team in form. But........ potentially 3 one off games (does that even make sense) who knows?

[SmethDan]

........Albion all the way! ........Why are we scared of Villa anyway, ............Have Faith! SOTV COYB!!!!!!!!

I'm not scared of the Vile in any shape or form, I'm looking forward to knocking 'em out  .
 

[FallOutBoy]

Sorry, but I think it will be Villa.

[gerry m]

We have to believe that we can beat this lot COYB.

[OldburyWBA]

Can we keep Albion v Villa talk in the matchday threads please, we don't need or want multiple topics discussing the same things.

[timdon]

Quality.


Gayle, Gibbs, Hegazi, Phillips and Brunt.

I was feeling quietly confident until you put the kiss of death on our chances. With your record of predicting how we would do and how Villa would do this season (and Wolves for that matter), I've now written us off completely 

[SmethDan]

Villa must have died during the Easter period and been resurrected as some kind of indestructible force.

It appears I missed the chrysalis like metamorphosis of the pink and blue pyjama clan.

Strange that, especially the bit where they died.

Never mind there's always the next time.

[TheJacko2000]

I was feeling quietly confident until you put the kiss of death on our chances. With your record of predicting how we would do and how Villa would do this season (and Wolves for that matter), I've now written us off completely 

I won 85 quid on Liverpool to go through last night at 16 to 1. Hope this helps.

[tegga]

My head says it will not be us getting promotion and I base that on our form and frailties that cannot be over looked. Plus I can't see us beating any other contender, I feel pessimistic about our chances like many fellow baggies. But come the villa game I will be shouting my mouth off in encouragement, cause that's where my heart is.
Come on you baggies surprise the doubters.

[Bilston Dan]

It really is a lottery. It depends on what we turn up like. At the end of the day I think we could beat all 4 teams if we are playing to our full potential, but I just don't think the squad Jimmy will put out will be good enough. Tactically we've been inept for a while now.

Heart says Baggies, head says Leeds.

[timdon]

I won 85 quid on Liverpool to go through last night at 16 to 1. Hope this helps.

Ah, that explains all. We'll win the league, Villa won't make the playoffs, Wolves will be relegated, and now Liverpool to overcome a 3-0 first leg. You are a heart over head man, explains the Brunt fetish as well 
Congrats on the win though. Hope you had something on them to win it as well, available at 25s before yesterday. Great match, thoroughly deserved to go through. I thought 3-0 in the first leg was harsh to be honest.

[seteefeet]

I would just like to thank both Liverpool and Tottenham for showing me that we should never give up.
I have been feeling as negative as anyone about our chances but it's time to get on board now. These two champs league games should give us all hope and, whatever happens at Villa Park, we need to rock up on Tuesday and raise the roof! These games do not come around very often, we should be loving every minute of it, not sulking and moaning.
I know we are no Liverpool or Tottenham but Villa are no Barca or Ajax either and we've shown more than once this season that we are capable of a fightback, when necessary.
Come on boys, let's put em out!

[KN22]

I would just like to thank both Liverpool and Tottenham for showing me that we should never give up.
I have been feeling as negative as anyone about our chances but it's time to get on board now. These two champs league games should give us all hope and, whatever happens at Villa Park, we need to rock up on Tuesday and raise the roof! These games do not come around very often, we should be loving every minute of it, not sulking and moaning.
I know we are no Liverpool or Tottenham but Villa are no Barca or Ajax either and we've shown more than once this season that we are capable of a fightback, when necessary.
Come on boys, let's put em out!

Blo*dy great post and echoes my sentiments entirely.... Come on boys!!!!

[EastYorksAlbion]

I would just like to thank both Liverpool and Tottenham for showing me that we should never give up.
I have been feeling as negative as anyone about our chances but it's time to get on board now. These two champs league games should give us all hope and, whatever happens at Villa Park, we need to rock up on Tuesday and raise the roof! These games do not come around very often, we should be loving every minute of it, not sulking and moaning.
I know we are no Liverpool or Tottenham but Villa are no Barca or Ajax either and we've shown more than once this season that we are capable of a fightback, when necessary.
Come on boys, let's put em out!

Couldn’t agree more. Vile might think they are Barcelona, but they are not. We have no reason to fear them, they are no better than us, and Liverpool and Spurs showed that if you play without fear anything can happen. We have a chance to get to Wembley by beating them, what a feeling that will be if it happens. COYB SOTV.

[walter baggie]

Villa are not as good as some think they are ,players need to up the gears for the playoffs ,and we will sail through them!!!

POSITIVE MENTAL ATTITUDE,

SOTV

[Mister AT]

Villa has got one talisman. Keep Grealish quiet and they are worse than ordinary.

I would say they have the same amount of threats as we do.

I would say their best 3 players are Grealish, Mcginn and Abraham. Keep them quiet and you win.

Same with us, keep Gayle, Rodriguez and Phillips quiet and more than likely we lose.

It's going to come down to who wants it more.

[TheJacko2000]

I would say they have the same amount of threats as we do.

I would say their best 3 players are Grealish, Mcginn and Abraham. Keep them quiet and you win.

Same with us, keep Gayle, Rodriguez and Phillips quiet and more than likely we lose.

It's going to come down to who wants it more.

McGinn and Abraham played while Grealish was injured, they trucked along at 1.2 points a game or something. The epitome of a one man team.

[Atomic]

I would say they have the same amount of threats as we do.

I would say their best 3 players are Grealish, Mcginn and Abraham. Keep them quiet and you win.

Same with us, keep Gayle, Rodriguez and Phillips quiet and more than likely we lose.

It's going to come down to who wants it more.

They have four huge players Mings, Grealish, McGinn and Abraham. We have two Hegazi, Gayle.

They are the better team. We have to hope for luck / the breaks and one or two of ours to over-perform while one or two of theirs under perform.

[seteefeet]

They have four huge players Mings, Grealish, McGinn and Abraham. We have two Hegazi, Gayle.

They are the better team. We have to hope for luck / the breaks and one or two of ours to over-perform while one or two of theirs under perform.

3 of their's played in the 2-0 win at Villa park whereas only 1 of ours did, yet we totally controlled the game. Think you may be hyping them up a bit too much.

[darbolina]

They're a different team to the one we played and beat 2-0. They've just been on a record run and have a very settled team and system. We are underdogs but if we're committed, organised and tight at the back , we will have chances with our forwards. Hence, we shouldn't be too open and try to pick them off patiently.

We do have much more experience in our team too (yes we're old)..............

[Atomic]

3 of their's played in the 2-0 win at Villa park whereas only 1 of ours did, yet we totally controlled the game. Think you may be hyping them up a bit too much.

You're talking one game though. People go on as though Grealish is Messi, he's good but he's not that great.

All four were missing on Saturday but they ran Norwich close.

[Atomic]

They're a different team to the one we played and beat 2-0. They've just been on a record run and have a very settled team and system. We are underdogs but if we're committed, organised and tight at the back , we will have chances with our forwards. Hence, we shouldn't be too open and try to pick them off patiently.

We do have much more experience in our team too (yes we're old)..............

That's why I'd go 4-5-1 and defend deep. Can't be done with carrying pooh like Bartley. Let's keep it tight and try and nick one of the legs.

[Andio]

That's why I'd go 4-5-1 and defend deep. Can't be done with carrying rubbish like Bartley. Let's keep it tight and try and nick one of the legs.

Shan is set in his ways with 3 at the back so highly doubt he would change it, but yes I think I would go 451 for the away leg.

[MarkW]

Gents, we have a match threads for Villa chat. I'd suggest you move the discussion there

[the other AJ]

Looking at the other 3 teams objectively, they all have previous history of bottling it.

Leeds have seriously fallen away in the last few games.
Derby have fallen short previously and have been hovering in this position for a few seasons without seeing it through.
Villa crashed and burned in the final last year and are under serious pressure financially to go up, which I hope transmits into the dressing room.

We shouldn’t fear any of these and as others have said, it’s about charging out of the blocks from the off and getting right in their faces.
COYB!!!

[BB74]

Everyone who voted Albion still confident?

[elmo_in_swansea]

Leeds for me - just get the feeling it's their turn - sorry guys

[gerry m]

Derby no shots on target all game at home as well.

[RedHead_Baggie]

Leeds for me - just get the feeling it's their turn - sorry guys

Fine by me as long as it’s not Villa or Derby.

[AlbionFan]

I voted Leeds on the basis that they have the most experienced manager imo.

[tuamigos]

Just be glad to see the end of the season and see what transpires

[ttree30]

Would be even more of a miracle now Gayle’s out of the final as well - even if Albion can retrieve the situation on Tuesday night.

https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/west-bromwich-albion/2019/05/11/dwight-gayle-will-be-banned-for-play-off-final-if-west-brom-reach-wembley/

[paulosull]

Just be glad to see the end of the season and see what transpires

me too, season has been blah

[BalisPen]

I would be more than happy to see Leeds go up if we don't do it, as they finished 3rd anyway.

[gazberg]

Yes i agree Balis. I don't like the playoffs. The best 3 teams should go up. Playoffs are a farce. If we miss out then serves us right for being half hearted the last few games of the season. The top 3 are the top 3.

[BalisPen]

Very surprisingly in all 3 divisions the PO finals are between the bottom 2 teams out of the 4 that qualified.

Wonder if that has happened before.

[OldburyWBA]

As our interest has ended this topic will now be locked