CSKA Moscow 2 - Aston Villa 0

I understand Carew had a recurrence of his back injury, which is why he wasn't even on the bench. Don't know whether that's fact or not, but it would seem likely.

Problem is I'm skeptical, he's fit for other games even though he hardly turned up, yet cold night in Moscow he's a last minute pull out? In some ways I hope it is a proper injury because the last thing Carew needs hanging over his head is more doubts about his commitment.

oh and well done to the kids tonight, they did themselves and Villa proud. Shame JC wasn't up to it, his injury record is a major concern, could have done with him tonight. Wonder if he is another who will be back for the weekend or if he has another spell on the injury table? Hopefully we'll get an update on the latest injury or if this is a reoccurrence of the old one.

Have to fell really sorry for those poor ********s who paid out thousands to travel to Russia for a reserve game.

On a positive note - at 75% of our 4 shots were on target :0

Shame that we lost, I am unsure how I feel about the selection. On the one hand i can understand MON, on the other I feel for the supporters who travelled. My own priorities would place the Premiership way above anything else, including the CL. Time to take a breath and wait to see what happens this spring in the Prem, then see what happens in the summer transfer wise.

It's the first Villa game since I've supported them (1992) that I've forgetten we were playing. I was driving down to cornwall from london and at 8pm put on fivelive and remembered 'oh *****, yeah 'we' are playing tonight, or indeed have played...' MON ruined this game so much for me that I forgot...really odd...

Well, boo hoo! We are out of the UEFA Cup / Euro Vase. I have many happy memories of the cup, beating Inter twice with our original great Dane Kent Nielsen (la la la), Athletic Bilbao home and away and two good Basque mates who I'm still in touch with, Collymore's goal against Atletico Madrid. Fantastic. But that was then and this is the media created wealth age of the prawn sandwich eaters and the 'Top 4'. I don't know how many of you really recognise how important this season actually is. For me it is akin to when we finished second to Manure and DIDN'T invest. Thanks Herbert for that one. Anyway, Top 4 means we keep Barry. Top 4 means we enter the Holy Grail that is the Champions League and get our profile raised in places most of us have never heard of. Top 4 means we can nick the players that Chelsea and or Arsenal are after (and maybe some of their players if Joe Cole or Kalou fancies a move). I know nothing is for definite and if we were 5th or 6th then I'm sure we would have gone for it. But we're 6 points clear of Le Arse! We need to keep winning. And we need OUR STRONGEST SQUAD available for that. I don't like it that we have to 'prioritise' but I do understand it! So. I'll keep my memories of the UEFA Cup, but I'm looking forward to the bright future that we keep hearing about and that is all about top 4 and Champions' League football. UTV

And Barry if he want's to go to cess still he will regardless of the great support he has received this season.

can't always go on about 68 Naz, can't blame people being a bit peed off at modern football (as you say not just Villa) but it is all baffling. Maybe times are just changing and some of us will now drift off as football always used to be about trying to win win win!

Hi JF Not going on about 68 mate - just that some fans are saying these are dark days for Villa - panic panic panic - just reminding people where we came from. Over here in UK till June - then back over (home) to top up me tan!!!.