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”
It’s quite easy to write lately, for some reason.
But I had to stop it getting to long, meaning I didn’t mention setup or tactics or whatever.
No matter, it’s very straightforward. It’s exactly the same as the last game.
Why change anything, when almost everyone played well?
I’d very happily take a point – even if we have to park the proverbial bus and keep it to 0-0!
(Apologies to those who are going to pay to watch it at VP if that’s the case…)
You been reading Lawro Badger? He thinks Citeh may be short of the three players you mention which, he feels, gives us a chance of nicking a point. I don’t have a problem with that given it aligns with your own thoughts.
I think using ‘He who shall not be named’ is just an ironic nod to JK Rowling’s character Lord Voldemort and is a bit of nonsense and sort of in joke.
As the site’s new stato; the stats are so predictably appalling I refuse to mention them but, suffice to say, that even scoring a goal would be momentous 🙂
But, foolishly, I’m going with you – a draw, but not so foolish as to try and predict the score 🙂
Tomorrow is a bonus game thanks to the last two wins. I hope JG does play because that will add to the spice. I’m sure Matty Cash will be hoping for him to feature. Pep whinging about injuries isn’t unusual. Too many games for his small squad I suspect 😏
We certainly are overdue a win seeing as it was 2013 the last time we enjoyed success.
As with all teams that are better than us, we will need to win the 50-50’s and put some hard (but fair) tackles to get under their skin.
I would keep the same team except maybe swap Young for Luiz just so we have more energy.
I disagree about Young – moving him to the centre of a narrow midfield appears to be an inspired decision by Gerrard.
Hitch, why would I read that muppet?
More importantly, do you think I care what he thinks?
I don’t 🙂
Holte, yes, it’s a freebie game, to my mind.
Which is why I’d have put Archer in the squad, where in the event we’re getting battered and he’s sent on, the instuction is “just enjoy facing them top players and don’t worry about what happens”
Cash against Grealish?
I hadn’t thought about that and yes, it appeals.
Luiz and Naka, you mean?
Yes, maybe. Depends if your priority is to maybe score or maybe not concede.
I could live with either choice.
I was ‘pulling your leg’ Badger 🙂
Actually the almighty Lawro has been pretty positive about Villa – and that’s before Gerrard joined.
Anyway – moving on – I just hope we put up a decent show and actually compete rather than accepting defeat which has been the case far too often against Citeh in recent years.
Just think of the media frenzy if we pulled off a shock win 🙂
With a Grealish OG?
Sounds just like a scripted EPL/Sky plot 🙂
And Archer scored a 6 tonight playing for the U21’s against Charlton.
Shows what I know.
?
We lost 2-1 to Charlton in the EFL Cup – Archer played but didn’t score.
6 out of 10 mate.
Did you think I meant 6 goals?
Well I didn’t really get what you were saying tbh. All clear now.
He’s still young so inconsistency is to be expected.
My Ipswich mate says Barry not even on the bench for the Pappa John Trophy so he feels sure on his way back to VP. I agree.
What I would like to see is City made to think of a plan B. This by Cash and Targett standing as wide as the City wingers and threatening to intercept the pass to them.
I hate making predictions but I have a feeling in my gut that we might get something from tonight’s game. I’m going 2-1 to Villa but I won’t be too disheartened if we lose as long as we continue to make improvements in our play.
Ah, you might need some Immodium for that, Hotle… 😉
Interesting changes from Gerrard – Young and Ramsey drop to the bench, Luiz and Buendia come into the side. Otherwise unchanged.
Grealish and Foden on the bench for Citeh – no de Bruyne.
He’s keeping the energy levels high, Hitch. Young and Ramsey back for Leicester at the weekend. This is something Bruce and Smith fell down on – not resting players with half an eye on the workload. Spot in, in my opinion.
I can understand Luiz coming in, but Buendia?
That’s erm, interesting to say the least.
What odds Bailey to pull a hammy in the cold tonight?
The way City pull players around is frightening.
It’s going to be a long night and I’m really not enjoying this already.
Strange shape.
Targett and Cash are way narrow and pushing up, leaving Luiz and Naka (?) to cover.
It scares me, the ease in the way City can get the ball into those areas.
Why can’t Bailey see the simple ball – how many times has he lost possession?
Buendia 🙁
It’s both of them Hitch.
And it’s 0-1.
Yes, go on laugh Grealish, you twat.
Notice how he wiped it off as soon as the cameras were on him?
That’s it then
Either they’re really good or we’re total shite. If one more defender tries to play out from the back against these again, I’d like to see to see someone kick them in the bollocks.
As for Buendia and Bailey, take them off quick. Please.
Still messing around at the back BFR – got your hob nails on? 🙂
🙂
Bailey pulled up. Well, who’d have thought?
Looks like the money invested in Bailey is money flushed down the shitter.
Sick note Bailey down again
What odds Bailey to pull a hammy in the cold tonight?
Evens? And there we go!!! He’s not been great so far so it may be a good thing. Young on!!!!
Shame I’m not a betting man, Bum Bum.
I wouldn’t have bet against you.
We’ve not been bad in parts but B&B wasted the ball.
“What odds Bailey to pull a hammy in the cold tonight?”
Uncannily close BFR.
Not good enough, along with Buendia tonight.
Makes me wonder if he knows he’s having a shocker and just doesn’t fancy it?
Don’t think Gerrard will put up with injury prone bottle jobs like Bailey. Waste of money, cut our losses and get rid of think whilst he’s still got some value.
He won’t stand for mentally weak players Adam.
Hence I agree, get rid sharpish and get others in.
Wearing ourselves out chasing shadows
Right that’s me finished
2-0 🙁