UEFA Cup draw and a related coin-based conspiracy

By: Chris | December 19th, 2008

Aston Villa were represented in Nyon this lunchtime for the draw for the last 32 and last 16 of the final UEFA Cup. I’m in two minds as to how well it went.

CSKA Moscow are our visitors on 18th or 19th February, and we face a hugely difficult trip to Moscow for the return leg on 26th February. The venue is the notorious Luzhniki Stadium and its plastic pitch, and CSKA will, I believe, still be in pre-season. I think that’s a really, really tough draw – and we could do without the stonking big journey. That said, to win it we’ll have to beat the lot. Bring it on.

If we do get past CSKA (backed by one Roman Abramovich, of course), the round of 16 could be very interesting. Another ridiculously difficult game against Shakhthar Donetsk could be in the offing.

But Shakhthar’s 32 opponents are Tottenham Hotspur, making an all-English tie possible. Hilariously, this would be Harry Redknapp’s third trip to Villa Park this season – and we all know how much the ol’ barra’ boy loves his visits to the Villa.

Which brings me neatly on to the issue of the famous Coin of Doom, launched from the Trinity Road Stand during the game against Portsmouth – undoubtedly aimed at Redknapp, given his appalling incitement of the crowd last season – and hitting linesman Phil Sharp.

That would be the same Phil Sharp who failed to award Villa the Most Obvious Penalty of All Time following Gary Cahill’s handball in our game against Bolton last weekend. Think on.

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Category: UEFA Cup

Tags: Coin of Doom, CSKA Moscow, Harry Redknapp, Other, Tottenham Hotspur, UEFA Cup

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Comments  

• peachy |  December 19th, 2008 at 8:30 pm

  
  
  

  On the plus side, we’re one of four teams still standing in the hunt for the last Intertoto trophy. That’s something, right? Right?!?

  And perhaps someone will offer crazy money for Vagner Love in January.

  Posted from United States

  

• Chris |  December 20th, 2008 at 12:52 am

  
  
  

  There’s still four? Bloody hell, that’s some teams with long seasons.

  I think we’ll just about match CSKA, I definitely don’t think we need to fear them. We can deal with Vagner Love, no problem.

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• Drew |  December 20th, 2008 at 12:01 pm

  
  
  

  I’ve heard a million different rumors about people buying Love, so he might not even be a nuisance in this tie. I’d love to see a Spurs vs Villains tie in the last 16. English ties are always more intense and enjoyable.

  I think taking a shot at the ref is a somewhat well founded idea, but it seems a little circumstantial. It could have been because he had a chip on his shoulder, but chances are he just is a bad Official overall. And COINcidentally (funny i know) he missed the handball against Bolton.

  Either way all the Villains out there still have something to be happy about today after the victory over West Ham. Milners shot was a Beauty. and now you’re sitting pretty in 3rd place!

  Posted from United States

  

• peachy |  December 20th, 2008 at 12:29 pm

  
  
  

  CSKA as a team merely concerns me… but Moscow in February on a plastic pitch is downright terrifying.

  Our remaining Intertoto rivals, by the way, are Depor, Sporting Braga and Stuttgart (also, coincidentally, staring down an away game in Russia.)

  Posted from United States

  

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