Well, we had a great chance to take what I’m sure would have been a much needed three points last week against Leicester and totally blew it with some horrendous defending and our constantly trying to play out from the back when we’re really not very good at it.
By all means do it when the odds are definitely in your favour, but jeez, just go longer, quicker if it’s at all iffy. It shouldn’t be too difficult, but footballers aren’t known for being the sharpest tools in the box, are they?
Still, I won’t harp on it.
Yes, I will, it was awful and I’m still bloody fuming.
Which brings me to the Juggernaut that is Man City and their never ending ability to spend ridiculous amounts of money while always dodging the FFP rules.
Guardiola can protest about how everyone is out to get them, but we all know they’ve been at it for years, even though nothing has been proven.
I’m not even sure the Premier league can prove anything this time, but if they can, it’s nice to know that there will be no CAS ready to overturn any guilty verdict this time and we can only hope punishment will be extremely severe, as is only reserved for when clubs, just like individual crooks who have taken the proverbial for years, get punished.
And if the league can’t ultimately prove it, at least City will know the whole football world is on their case.
It’s a last chance to prove it though, as another attempt would surely lead to a claim of harassment.
And if City aren’t massively punished and are just hit with a fine and a points deduction, it’ll have been a waste of time anyway. A club of City’s resources would be laughing at that.
Only relegation and the striking off of any achievements would be adequate punishment for me.
And then add in the enforced sale of a load of their players too.
Let’s see how they like having their best players taken off them.
Am I bitter? You bet I am.
I don’t dislike City as a club. I’ve always rated them as very much on a par with the Villa before the current owners arrived and they play great football that is good for the game.
But I dislike the idea that it’s all been done illegally.
Anyway, on to the game and the usual squad news, which is not too bad for us.
Ash Young is fit after going off against Leicester, Traore is training again, but it’s too early for him and Diego Carlos should begin training this week after suffering his Achilles injury months ago. No doubt he’ll be weeks away from playing, but it’s welcome news.
As for City, with their squad, it’s hardly important, but John Stones is the only player that’s not available. Phil Foden has trained after a bout of illness.
I find it very easy to think that if our defence play like they did last week, we’re probably in for a hiding by double figures. Things are hard enough even if your defence is playing well, but as much as I think at least some of our defenders need to leave, I also think they can’t possibly be as bad tomorrow. Two games running? No, surely not.
And City are just frightening when they attack too.
But by no means unbeatable. Indeed, in their last six games both teams have collected 10 points according to this table
As an aside, there’s some interesting numbers, generally in that table and they’re worth a look.
But then, we haven’t beaten City in our last 14 games. It doesn’t bode well.
I expect goals, probably more than 3, but I can’t see us getting anything out of it.
I’m going to go 3-1 to City.
Comments
111 responses to “Money Citeh – Villa; Oh dear”
Whichever way you look at it, it’s a tough game.
And then it’s Arsenal next.
We could really have done with that 3 points last week 🙁
Today could be a suprise. Citeh are rocking and our Leicester game was a nailed on win. Funny old game football…
Citeh will get away with it. People like them alway do while the rest of us suffer.
Acknowledging that we handed Leicester most of their goals they’re a better team than their league position suggested partly as a result of players missing due to injury. I think I’m right in that last weeks game was the first for some time where Rodgers had a full squad. Rodgers also outthought Emery particularly in the way he organised the press and we weren’t clever enough to avoid it.
Today they are beating Spurs 4-1 which, perhaps, reinforces the point.
Have to agree with you Badger about Citeh; they’ll throw megabucks at top lawyers and wriggle their way out of the charges. And, if anything, it will reinforce their determination tomorrow rather than working for us.
Can’t see us getting anything from the game but I expect us to give them a hard fight.
Spuds beat Citeh last week, then lose to Leicester this week. Funny old game and Leicester on a roll…
I’m dreading the thought of where we will be after them games to come. We’ve missed our. Chance of saying mid -table it’s likely be that we will be just out of the drop zone end of season . It’s all down to playing out of the box, who ever brought that in needs to get back to coaching lesson’s. We’re in for a hiding 3-1 we just don’t have the player’s and another week to keep my head down , I do hope I’m wrong like always.
Conte. Is in hospital while the caretaker oversees Spurs victory over the champions, and returns to the dugout this week at the Crisp-bag to see his team thrashed in a dispirited listless display like a team in a losing rut.
Villa fans know what inconsistency is like. But we have been remarkably consistent against Citeh, failing to win in 14 and playing to their strengths by allowing them to station players forward on the touchline [e.g. where Jack who normally stands] with no attempt to cut off the supply. That and about 25% possession explains why we have been beaten before we started.
Anything different Unai? Surely the master tactician can produce a few surprises, but whether enough to score more than the clown show at the back lets in – remains to be seen. I’m going for Citeh to find their scoring boots 4-? and if Villa can find theirs we should bag a couple.
As long as every team member plays to his best and Emery sets the team up effectively, regardless of the result I will be happy.
Let’s face it, we are up against a state financed team, who have allegedly been corrupt in getting into their current position.
On a different note, I see Chukwuemeka not getting the rub of the green he expected. Another ex Villa player finding out the grass is not always greener.
Sid, I saw that too.
Apparently the locals are calling for him, yet Potter (is he Blues or Villa?) won’t play him.
Meanwhile, Archer had another blinder for Boro, from what I saw on SSN.
“whether enough to score more than the clown show at the back lets in”
This is exactly what I wanted to say, but it would only lead to me criticising the main culprit again so I kept away from it.
Hmm.
Anyone on here remember how Championship clubs complained that we bent the FFP rules by selling the ground when we got out of the Championship? Funny how that was OK but what City do isn’t.
If we outspent every other club in the league and won everything most of us would just enjoy the ride.
Ignore me. I’m in a bad mood.
Many companies decide to sell and lease back assets such as land and buildings if they need to raise cash – it’s a perfectly legitimate arrangement assuming you’re happy to sell the ‘family silver’.
Derby did the same but engineered a better return by over stating the value of the stadium; that, I believe, is one of the reasons why they suffered penalties.
If I understand it correctly what Citeh have been doing is over valuing income and understating costs – the latter by for instance paying staff a portion of their salary through separate companies. They are also accused of receiving sponsorship deals from their owners albeit disguised by routing it through (third party) companies which is not permitted under FFP regulations (sponsorship from owners that is).
There’s a world of difference.
All fine and dandy mate that is unless, you’re selling it to yourself???
Don’t think that matters RSS as long as you sell it at an independently established market price rather than creating a ‘special purchaser’ by massively inflating the value which would be contrary to FFP regulations which is what we’re talking about here.
I’ll bow to your superior knowledge Hitch👍
(Although Still sounds a bit bent )
So let me get this right.
Man City sell their own ground ( to themselves) at inflated price?
So they then pay themselves for an asset they already own lock, stock and barrel?
And as a consequence spend a shed load of money to purchase something they already have?
If you ask me I’d have just kept it 😂🤣
https://sponsorship.sportbusiness.com/news/man-city-owners-paid-bulk-of-etihads-sponsorship-fee-leaked-files-show/
The difference Hitch is that Villa sold the ground to a separate company formed specifically to buy it rather than a third party. That was just a manoeuvre to bend the FFP rules. If you don’t want to see that as the case 🤷♂️
That doesn’t mean I see what City have done as the same as I don’t.
Just saying we aren’t pure as driven snow
I remember and criticised it on here at the time.
It wasn’t on the same level, but you’re right, we basically did the same to get promoted.
There’s a nagging doubt that will always remain with me though;
Would Bielsa have offered to give that goal back to Man City?
I seriously doubt it.
Hence the Villa are judged as an honest and highly respected club by neutrals, imo.
And long may it be so.
Man city will get away with it its all about corruption just like Mendy and Greenwood no one can touch these clubs or players they have too much power
Oh dear fellow Villans just read a sobering statistic.
Emery V Guardiola head to head
Played 12 – Lost 8 – Drawed 4 – Won 0
)-:
Ah – time for a win then – or perhaps not!
Tbf to Emery whenever he’s played Guardiola he’s always been punching up – never even been on a level playing field. So nothing’s changed for today’s game.
I’ll be happy with one point from our next two games – after that we need to be winning games against teams below and around us – especially at home.
Villa ladies going for it 4-1 up at half time, shit they should play for the men’s team.
6-2 now Bill; Nobbs hat trick.
We’ve made the move in the WSL we’re still waiting to see in the EPL.
You look at the Citeh team, then the Villa team and I don’t think one of our players would get in their side – might even struggle to get more than a couple on the bench!
Going to be a long afternoon.
What’s up with Duran?
No Ming’s Mcginn on bench Durran on Bench so I’ve heard.
Duran is on the bench. He is missing from the list on BBC.
Mings Injured I hear and Chambers in.
This will be interesting, i thought 3-1 make it 4 or 5 one.
6-2 great result for the ladies. 5th place.
A joke already.
0-1
I thought we had a good 240 seconds.
😂😂
5-0 City – if we’re lucky
1 to Man City 4 minutes in ,
According to the the OS Duran is not on the bench.
It’s going to be one of those weekends when the gods of football pile up against us.
He is on the bench.
The OS? No comment.
How comes your bestie Ming the merciless ain’t in?
Injured? I don’t know, but I suspect something’s not right.
Last week’s fiasco probably got something to do with it
Apologies, Duran is on the bench – he’s listed on one team sheet but not on the match centre.
Anyway not watching the game I’ve had enough bad news this week to last me a long time without having to endure a Villa defeat – not that it’s really important in the scheme of things.
No it isn’t mate, just something for us old timers to chat bubbles about 😁
We’re just so, so lightweight.
Will Emery realise this, I wonder?
2 nil .
Just wow 🙁
0-2