I think the headline sums it up doesn’t it?
I watched most of the Man City-West Ham game and City are just scarily good at times. They had the ball for minutes at a time because West Ham literally couldn’t get hold of it. And when they did, it was more often than not because a City pass had gone astray.
In fairness, their possession wasn’t matched by the amount of chances they created, but it’s very difficult to win when you can’t get hold of the ball, is my point.
If Man City score first and the chances are they will, it’s hard to see how a team can come back, as they have to chase and burn themselves out.
Still, nothing is impossible.
Squad news and nothing much has changed. Traore is weeks away with his thigh problem, Trezeguet is in his second week’s training.
Ings has had a flare up of his injury. I don’t believe it.
Let me restate that. I really don’t believe it. The conspiracist in me says that’s a load of rubbish and I’m guessing he’s been stamping his feet.
But then, I know many of you don’t like my conspiracy theories and are happier to take things at face value, which is fair enough. So I’ll just leave it there.
Otherwise, we’re all good and Kienan Davis will come into the squad to replace Ings. I don’t get that move, because while I don’t think there’s a chance in hell Davis will start, I’d much prefer to see Archer as back up.
I suppose Gerrard and the coaches know how the players are doing in training and we don’t have much choice but to trust them.
As for Man City, Pep Guardiola is crying wolf because he said;
“the fact is we are in trouble because we have few players. We have just 15 or 14 players and we are in a difficult position because a lot of players play a lot of minutes.”
Hmm, that’s a shame isn’t it? The fact that those players are on average way better than almost any other team doesn’t matter, I suppose.
Come to think of it, how many other club’s fans would be well happy if the top 6 were limited to 15 players for a month or two, just to level things up? I’d probably ultimately decide against that, but at first glance it sounds pretty good to me.
Kevin De Bruyne has had covid and is doubtful. Jack Grealish and Phil Foden have apparently yet to prove their fitness, whatever that is supposed to mean. Pep says they might be able to do minutes, but I smell shennanigans and am guessing they’ll be available.
And of course, the big story is going to be about “he who shall not be named” playing against his boyhood club: the club he supports.
Oh, I can’t be doing with that refusing to say his name stuff. I’m sorry, but I think it’s childish.
It’s Grealish for me, simple. He’s just a player and none are bigger than the club.
Whatever you think of him, he’s just gone ballistic, hasn’t he? His love life is making headlines, he’s advertising some clothing range on telly and even his calfs are featuring on a calendar.
I wonder how he’s coping with the mental side of things?
Personally, I think he’ll be able to handle it and when things settle down he’ll go on to be excellent for City.
Do I care much? Not really and it is what it is. I agree with others who have previously said it; he’ll be back down the Villa eventually. Hence I’m not going to slate him.
The big question is will he actually want to play against us?
I very much think he’d prefer not to feature at all, but he’s a professional and I’ve no doubt if he was to come on he’d do his utmost best.
But I’ll bet he’d be terrified at the thought of assisting or even worse, scoring against us.
Oh well, give me £230k a week and I’ll happily worry about that sort of problem
So what to think?
Well, I didn’t think we’d beat Brighton and my Palace win prediction was a very half-hearted one.
Yet we won both.
On the face of it, it’s going to be an almost impossible task getting anything out of this game.
But in keeping with the new found enthusiasm and confidence that’s running through the fans, I don’t think we’ve lost this before we kick a ball.
I can’t bring myself to predict a win. That’s pushing it a little bit too far.
But I can see us scratching a draw, particularly if we get the first goal.
I’m going for an optimistic 1-1
UTV!
Comments
104 responses to “Villa – Man City; Daunting”
We showed some spirit second half. Clearly we are miles behind in terms of quality but we gave them a game. Stevie G will have learned more from tonight than the previous two games. Looks like Bailey will be out for a while (again) and I guess Targett if concussed will be unavailable against Leicester. Young did well though when he switched back to LB. I’m not downbeat as we won the second half and hopefully we will carry the momentum into Sunday’s game.
I thought Buendia improved second half and slipped a great ball into Chuky who maybe should have hit it first time. Watkins, Young, Luiz and Nakamba impressed and the lesser spotted Sanson came on and looked useful. Definite positives to be had with only Bailey who is looking a waste of money and the Targett injury the downside. Stevie G felt we should have had a penalty which I tend to agree with. He said Bailey was looking sharp which I certainly don’t agree with!
Bailey has had two years of injuries, according to the post-match comments on Amazon. Which begs the question: why f*** did they spend 30 million on him???! Emmanuel Dennis at Watford – 3.6 million. Oh dear. Does Lange take the rap for this? Shocking. What happened to due diligence? Or did it go when the 100 million can through?
*came through
We can only hope Bailey’s time at VP will be like that of the late, great Dalian Atkinson. He missed pretty much all his first season 1991-92 with injury, scoring one goal in the opening game. Then we all know what happened in his second season. Having said that, he got injured again at Christmas after that incredible brace at Hillsborough in December ’92, and didn’t score again that season, resulting in Villa missing out on the inaugural PL title. Still haunts me as a fan, that one.
If Bailey sparks for half a season next year and launches a title bid, I’ll certainly take it!
Like many others I thought we played some good stuff tonight.
To me, Luiz and Cash were outstanding, and Young showed his class.
Nakamba did well and ran himself into the ground. Buendia was hopeless in the 1st half, but looked a lot better in the 2nd – it WILL come right for him, I’m sure. Chukwumeka shows real promise, but he’s not the finished article – whatever his agent is whispering in his ear.
The disappointments: McGinn was a bit over-run at times, Targett just seems very ‘lightweight’ although I can’t fault his effort.
The biggest disappointment has to be Bailey. Apart from being completely injury-prone, I think he’s still living off that 20 minute cameo against Everton earlier in the season, and I hope BFR is right in suggesting that we might need to wait until next season to see what he really can do.
More poisitives than negatives from my point of view!
Ardent, I think Citeh targeted McGinn and cleverly kept him out of the game. Meatball certainly isn’t one to sit on his chunky ass and wait for the ball to come to him.
They also showed how to commit many fouls and make them look ‘innocent’ – a trick our lot have still to master.
Can’t take issue with any of the comments on here.
Cash was the stand outfit me but Watkins also showed signs of returning to form. Very well taken goal from another Young assist. That’s the first goal Citeh have conceded from a set piece this season. Young now 43 assists for Villa.
I also thought Buendia started ‘finding his feet’ second half and Sanson may well turn out to be an asset – there was certainly enough to suggest that from his 20 or so minutes.
We do need to get something out of the Leicester game though.
Stat correction ‘mea cuppa’. It was, of course, Luiz that got the assist for Watkins goal so back to 42 assists for Young. Still a Villa record number in the EPL though.
Hitch I’ve just replayed Gerrards summery on the match, you can without doubt see he knows football and will put it right. What he’s said was far more you’d get from Smith. Identified mistakes and praises the team for second half comeback. I’m well pleased with what I sore and know we will get it right. ,
I thought playing you know who (childish mention ) only 3-4 minutes was a kick in the backside to me ,especially when the Prince was at the game and looking to see an 100 million made footballer from our club get injury time only. Villa are back and we now have the right guy taking us forwards.
First of all, I always looked at this game as a ‘free hit’, as it is only Gerrard’s third game and it is Manchester City after all. It actually pains me to say that because, having watched football for as long as most of us have, I never thought that any team would not give themselves any chance against another. This is, unfortunately, what money has done to the game. City were no more as big a club as Villa until Sheikh whatshisname came along. I still blame Abramovic at Chelsea for starting it all off though.
Anyway, back to the match. I wholeheartedly agree with all the comments about Bailey. I watched him at Palace as well as last night and I hope that Gerrard is considering looking elsewhere in either January, or in the Summer.
The jury is still out for me with Buendia to be honest but I have faith in Gerrard, from how he has conducted himself so far, that he will make the right decisions.
Yes, we were outplayed at times but I also think we more than matched them and gave them things to worry about. There also seems to be a newly found togetherness and spirit about the team, I don’t know if anyone else has noticed that. It is my hope that Gerrard, with his experience at the Liverpool FC Academy, puts some trust in youngsters like Chucky and Archer. Incidentally, does anyone know what Louie Barry is doing these days ?
Finally, I was hoping that Amazon would televise the game, different to the hype and circus that both Sky and BT broadcast at the most minor of things, like
****BREAKING NEWS*** WAYNE ROONEY CUTS HIMSELF SHAVING !!!!!!
However, true to form, Amazon followed suit. I have never seen so many camera shots at an opposing team’s bench as I saw last night. I can’t think why.
Anybody ????
Anyway, upwards and onwards. Up the Villa
Mark, Louie Barry on loan at Ipswich but getting no game time. A combination of an injury / tooth abscess set him back. Also the new manager overloaded the squad after Barry’s move which further denied him game time opportunity.
Now, not even being selected for U23 side.
My Ipswich mate is sure he’ll return to Villa in January. From what I can gather Villa do have a recall option and may have a L2 loan already agreed for the rest of the season.
Not just the ‘effing camera shots!
I actually turned-off the sound in the 1st half because I was getting sick listening to Clyde Tyldesly and Andy Townsend (who, at least, should know better…) creaming themselves over anything & everything to do with “Citeh”
You guys should have watched Amazon’s 3 minute preview of the match. Jason Manford (a City fan – I guess they couldn’t afford Noel or Liam) and Wes Brown (remember him?) driving through Manchester – yes Manchester, in the back of a taxi talking about, you guessed it, anything to do with Manchester – Main Road even got a mention, as did United. Absolute garbage and I’m still trying to work out where the rest of the ‘preview’ is.
Thanks Hitch. I knew he was out on loan but wasn’t sure how he was getting on. So much said about him, especially after his wonder goal against Liverpool in the F A Cup. At least he has time on his side. You never know
My Ipswich mate said, of what he’s seen of him, that he’s a class act and this seems to have been reflected generally in comments from their fans but the new manager has opted for experience.
He needs regular game time so hope he’ll get that wherever his new loan is.
It should be noted that Amazon use BT’s facilities.
Whether that includes the same production team, I don’t know, but it wouldn’t surprise me and if so that would explain the usual slant on things.
I was going to write a post talking about how poor we were first half, but turned it round well in the second etc.
But you chaps have already covered it between yourselves and saved me a job 🙂
I’ll just sum it all up with “I was massively annoyed about the first half, but second half, miles better. Luiz was my motm, but there were some other good performances too. We’re still way too soft, as was seen by how City often bullied us. We need a couple of players who can sneakily stick the boot in a bit.”
I’ve noticed in all (nearly all?) matches we have a lower foul count than the opposition which bears out your point but also something Gerrard alluded to when talking about Citeh’s second goal. I think he was implying we should have cut out the attack in their half by a foul if necessary.
We need to be smarter and if we need to foul to cut off a risk then we should – but it’s knowing where and when to do it – a skill that Citeh seem to have mastered.
“We need a couple of players who can sneakily stick the boot in a bit.” – well, yes, up to a point.
IMO it’s less about needing new players, but a about some of our’s (particulalrly defenders & mid) learning how to foul without getting a card or giving away a penalty- what I think of as ‘streetwise’ football.
We do have players (Konsa, Cash and Mings, spring to mind – and thinking about it I’d also include Targett) who are prepared to get stuck-in, but unfortunately they’re not as clever or subtle about it as Citeh or Liverpoool.
Too often as soon as one of our lot does have a go, it’s right in front of goal, we’re down to 10 mean and VAR gives the opposition a penalty!
I’m sure that Gerrard & Mcallister (neither of whom I remember as exactly squeaky-clean players in their day) can work on that in training….
It’s actually why I think I gave Naka motm last game and Luiz motm this game.
They both got stuck in. But not nastily, which as you’ve both hinted, Gerrard should be able to teach.
I’m convinced top sides make sneaky fouling a part of the game, along with falling over and looking like you’re dying when someone breathes in your direction.
Oh, while I think about it, 2 points.
I found it fascinating that the press universally said that Grealish was welcomed back and clapped.
You could have fooled me. While there was some clapping, the booing was miles louder, from what I heard.
It was also notable that the fans launched into “I’m Villa till I die” and maintained it for a good while, just to prove the point.
Hardly a welcome and I say that as someone who wouldn’t boo him.
It would seem in this woke world it’s not the done thing to have the hump with someone.
And when they scored, there was a shot of Grealish laughing.
I actually fell for that at the time. It was pure instinct and the bad feeling of having conceded a goal and led to me calling him all sorts.
But on reflection, I realise that there is no way on earth Grealish would have laughed at us conceding.
So that clip must have been filmed earlier and dropped in when they scored.
That is despicable, simple as and shows how there’s a massive agenda.
(sigh)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10268785/Aston-Villa-star-Kortney-Hause-crashes-180k-Lamborghini-school-fence-yards-gate.html
I’m not commenting, because I don’t have a clue what happened, but it’s just bad publicity isn’t it?
What a plonker! Footballers buying these high powered sports cars just because they can, doesn’t mean they should! We hear regularly about them crashing simply because they underestimate the acceleration etc. Maybe JG has been giving him driving tips! Seriously though, shouldn’t there be a test for driving these kind of cars in the same way you need to drive a HGV.
Holte a good theory that, if they do it on motor bikes which they do it should be a practice on high powered vehicles as well. I’ve driven high powered motor and we dont have the roads to use that power. Looking at that damage he wasn’t doing a legal speed . Questions should be asked. ..
I’ve owned two extreme cars in terms of power and acceleration (and still have a pretty powerful car) but didn’t buy the first until I was 50 and that, I think, is the issue here – lack of experience.
I don’t believe a ‘special test’ would actually change anything. I would advocate a higher age limit for a licence to drive these super cars and a mandatory driving course run and funded either by the companies in question or by the purchaser of the car.
Actually a number of these companies do offer such a course but it’s not mandatory,
With Jack, fans have to accept he signed a contract extension that brought the club in £100 million quid. He did not have to sign that but he gave the club a massive payday. He could have walked way for nowt.
Secondly, when a hero returns you have to accept the fact there will be an element of theatre, or booing and heckling. You don’t want to me it comfortable for them. Jack, don’t take it personally!
God bless though lad, but the Villa take priority.
…make it comfortable…
The over Xmas fixtures on tv lads.. utv. .
Our home clash at Villa Park against Leicester City has moved to Sunday, December 5 (ko 4.30pm), live on Sky Sports.
The club’s December trip to Anfield to face Liverpool remains unchanged before Dean Smith’s side travel to Norwich City on Tuesday, December 14 (ko 7.45pm), live on BT Sport.
The Villans follow that up with an unchanged encounter against Burnley ahead of a Boxing Day test at home to Chelsea, which is now a 5.30pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports.
Villa’s trip to Elland Road to take on Leeds United will now get underway at 5.30pm on Tuesday, December 28, live on Amazon Prime Video.
Before Villa wrap up their festive fixture schedule with the club’s first-ever trip to Brentford Community Stadium to face the Bees, which now takes place on Sunday, January 2 (ko 2pm), live on Sky Sports.
Anyone watching????
McGinn seems quiet again…