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”
Bloody hell. Cracking goal when we were playing some tasty stuff.
Ball watching? And we look bloody knackered.
It’s like a tiger toying with a dead baby antelope. Painful to watch.
Chasing shadows, the bubble has burst, it’s how many now .
Nothing we can do. Literally just too good. They make us look slow and clumsy. They break at the right times, get back at the right times coupled with their undoubted individual quality, there is no chance. Gulf in class is incredible. City haven’t even got out of 1st gear.
Ouch! Men v boys and for me we started with two luxury players in Bailey and Buendia. Both offered little and I agree with comments about offloading Bailey. He is clearly injury prone and apart from 10 minutes against Everton he hasn’t produced. We might as well swap Buendia for Ramsey who at least offers industry. Really disappointed so far because I expected better and now I’m hoping we don’t get hammered. So much for my stupid prediction 😔
Chuky on for Buendia, please. Permanently.
Purslow: “We’ve replaced Grealish with Ings, Bailey and Buendia.”
Smith: “Shit.”
Terry and O’Kelly: “f*** this for a game of soldiers.”
Smith really was dealt a shocking hand, was he not?
Chasing shadows now, bubbles bust they are too good for us . We was never in the game from the start. this will give Gerrard time to see he does need to buy in January’s window .
Sorry, but all that playing out from the back ramped up the pressure on the players who already knew they were up against it. Why not get the ball up to Ollie then get men forward quickly to support and build from the final third?
Seeing Mings and Konsa standing on the edge of the six-yard box while Martinez played out short passes while City stalked our area was akin to walking into a gay bar with latex hot-pants on. Sorry if I’m not allowed to write that – who knows what’s allowed these days, what with the death of the sense of humour and freedom of speech. If offended, delete and ignore, please, and accept my (not particularly sincere) apologies.
I thought it funny BFR 😂
So did I, BFR. .
Haha, don’t worry, BFR, it’s a man’s site.
I might as well say I can’t stand woman talking about the game too, while we’re at it.
Brilliant BFR
Yes, Watkins gets us back in it.
2-1
Yeeeeeessssss!!!!!
Please take Buendia off. A liability.
I repeat. A f***** liability.
Great to see Prince Wills enjoying that too!!!!!
Cracking goal from Ollie. Buendia though, how many times does he lose it? Seems to put us under instant pressure every time he does too. Think he needs to come off, I’d even prefer El Ghazi.
Good shout. Bring him on now!
Pen??????
Looked like they were appealing for something, but I didn’t see it.
They clattered him from behind.
Yes. Come on, lad…
I’m quite impressed by much of what I’ve seen tonight. Still a long way to go but B&B have not been good. Citeh scored from a deflection and a corker so no complaints.
We’ve played some smart stuff but aren’t as fit as we could be…
Chucky on!!!!!
Also some ball watching and we’re not being as swift at getting back when our attack has broken down.
Come on Chucky!!!!!
If it was the other way around yes but it was us …
Chuky, unlucky.
Eh up, Sanson coming on for Naka.
I’m interested to see what he brings.
My guess would be precious little, Badger.
Mike Dean, you absolute w***splat. So what’s Mings supposed to do? Teleport to somewhere else in the box because Ederson’s standing behind him?
We have to keep Chuckie. he’s quality. ..
This has been a good game.
They were just too good, weren’t they?
Buendia and Bailey???
Another good thing tonight…Gerrard does not look happy. No sign of “Oh well, it was Manchester City”. He’ll not sleep well and will be up super early making plans. Sanson played some damned sexy balls as did Chucky although the latter didn’t grasp the concept of moving into space enough for me. Our defence was great. Citeh crowded McGinn and his big fat arse out of the game. Ollie worked his rocks off as did Luiz. Young was also incredible in his play and attitude.
Lots and lots of positives.
UTV.
City certainly know they have been in a battle. The difference was the quality of the pass to the scorer and the quality of the strike. i watch the first goal back a few times and cant see a deflection, but the ball bounced over Martinez’s hand.
Second was good enough to win any game.
We rattled them after scoring, their composure with chances evaporated.
Our free kicks lacked invention lobbing the ball to a row of players on the 18 yard line should be a once-only attempt, not the only routine.