Manchester City v Aston Villa Match Thread

[Ross]

It such a strange decision.  Pre-match Houllier made much of the 4-0 loss being the low point of his career, then he picks this team.  This could easily be embarrasing, I think we are fortunate City have so many injuries as they are clearly taking it asy now.

I am worried that this could really stall our league recovery.  No carrot of Wembley for the players just a relegation battle.  I wonder what Ashley Young things of not playing tonight - it has probably made his mind to leave if he was in any doubt at all.

[Phil from the upper holte]

We will win things he says?

Don't make me laugh, Mon would have been crucified for putting Delph at LB & rightly so, I think herd has done ok

[A|C]

Agbonlahor is useless, so limited. He needs to watch Bent's movement and learn from him, He won't learn though because he just isn't good enough.

I hope the rumours of selling him are true

That'll be one more player who always scores against us when he plays.

[Holtenderinthesky]

I think I'd be more disgusted with GH if he completely changes the team at half-time rather than leave it as it is.

That's exactly what I said.  It'd be a bigger kick in the balls than it already is.  I could see Ash coming on at 4-0 and getting sent off or injured.  We have not come from behind to win in almost a year, and that was against relegated Portsmouth. 

[Lobsterboy]

Absolute dog shit.

[Richard C]

anyone got a celtic v rangers link going?

Quite hot up there.

[TonyD]

GH talks about giving up.

He surrended this before it even kicked off.     

Utter disgrace.    This is worse than Moscow.

[Karlos96]

I've just about had it with football, seriously what is the point?  All the time you spend watching them and they basically just concede the tie.  This was out best chance of winning anything and he has just thrown it away i'm so fucked off with it all.

[Fergal]

My mind is made up.  Fuck GH right out of the club.  If this is not the time to play our strongest team when is?
And no it's not funny at all...

Agree 100%. He can use his payoff to buy a ST at his beloved Anfield.

Behave. We've been fairly good of late. He's picked the wrong team, which is a big fuck up and really fucking annoying, but for him to go would be pointless.

I know but I am venting my spleen and will calm down later but I feel sorry for all those who spent hard earned cash to go to Manchester and watch this.

[JUAN PABLO]

what was Petrov doing with that corner ..   

[Morten]

I'd be absolutely livid if I'd gone to this game.

3 days after our rivals win a trophy, following on from one of our best performances of the season, for a massive cup game live on national tv, he picks this team?

It's beyond belief.

This is exactly how I feel. Houllier even said we might be more motivated now Birmingham won the League Cup. And he talks about being sure that we will win trophies. And then he puts out this line up - it is a disgrace ! How can he drop Young, Walker, Reo-Coker and Downing after Saturday ? Are they rested - if we loose, we will have a 2 week break after the Bolton game. Why not give it our best shot ?This is the most important game we have left !!! I am really angry about this. Houllier was slowly winning me over, but now...

To the game: Petrov is really bad and worse, he does not look bothered, they take the away from him so easily. Bannan tries and so do a few others. I hope for changes in the second half.

Is the General thread open again ?

[Jockey Randall]

Utter utter gash... I am running out of ways to vent my spleen.

It is futile though. I would bet my house on them beating us with our strongest side out at their place, so I am happy to see people like Bannan showing that he is up to it etc... Continuously lambasting Houllier for rotating the squad tonight is not going to achieve anything, and this team has played a damned sight better than the one did before Christmas.

Exactly. Bannan has been really good so far. I don't agree with Ged but if he feels this will help us in the league then so be it.

I don't get all this city winning at walking pace stuff though, it's the only way they know how to play FFS! That second goal showed the quality they have at their disposal but Mancini still manages to do his best to bore the pants off the punters. I can't see them winning anything with him in charge.

[jonzy85]

My mind is made up.  Fuck GH right out of the club.  If this is not the time to play our strongest team when is?
And no it's not funny at all...

Agree 100%. He can use his payoff to buy a ST at his beloved Anfield.

Behave. We've been fairly good of late. He's picked the wrong team, which is a big fuck up and really fucking annoying, but for him to go would be pointless.

I'm beginning to think for him to stay is pointless...it's only a matter of time. Whether it's the summer, 10 games next season, maybe he makes it to Christmas, Houllier will not succeed at Villa. Didnt want him in the first place, would have liked to have seen him gone at Xmas, briefly started to rethink after the sginings that were made, but a decision like tonight tells you what he thinks of our club...mid-table fodder, not capable of winning a cup.................Jesus, I missed the first goal on tv, do they even know what way they are supposed to defend corners??? That is a systemic problem, which is all down to management.

[JJ-AV]

We're a laughing stock.

[ez]

if we were in the bottom 3 i could understand