Manchester City v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Rigadon]

So, of late, you've managed to:

- put together a decent run of form
- get us playing like a team
- startkto win the supporters over as the confidence returns, albeit a brittle confidence
- made it look like we're not going to get relegated
- even start to get fans to forget some of the gaffes of the earlier part of the season.

In the last few days you've:

- watched our unevolved local neighbours manage to overcome the odds, beat Arsenal and win a trophy.

So, with this fresh in the mind, and the achievements of the first block of points in mind, what do you do next, when faced with a cup tie we could win if we played our strongest side? A victory which would leave just Reading between us and a semi final place?

You go and play a team weaker even than most peoples' definition of "a weakened side" in the typical cup context.

And the result?

We've shown a total lack of respect for the Cup.
You've shown a total lack of respect for the supporters.
You've reminded us just how out of step you have been with the feelings of the fans all season until recently.
You've made us a bit of a laughing stock on live television.
You've pissed away all the achievements you've made of late, all that confidence, all that improved spirit. There it goes, pissed away.

Pathetic.

Bang on.  Is he some kind of fucking sadist?

[Richard C]

GH: "Take away the 2 goals and 1st half was even".............what drugs is he on??

He really did say that didn't he, we can't both have misheard.

[Risso]

GH: "Take away the 2 goals and 1st half was even".............what drugs is he on??

Take away the fact that I'm not Brad Pitt, and I could be shagging Angelina Jolie.

[Lobsterboy]

As I said in the match thread - absolute dog shit.

I agree with irreverent ad to some extent in that if he wanted to shuffle the pack the players missing at the back forced his hand somewhat but it left him with a straight choice; do I want to win the FA Cup or not.

The answer was clearly no based on tonight's selection.

Dunne, Herd, Delph, Bannan and Gabby all put a decent shift in but Petrov, Bradley and Heskey were shocking.

Bradley gets the benefit of the doubt; the other two should never wear the shirt again

As for Houllier's comments about us picking a team of internationals that simply doesn't cut it with me and please, please do not fuck the Bolton game up

[Dave Cooper please]

God's sake, calm down people. I'm not happy either, but we're only five points off relegation and that would be a disaster outweighing this by light years. "Sacking offence", my God.

The poor darlings have one game in two weeks after this, I'm sure they would have managed tonight as well.
Okay so we might have got injuries, well we might get them against those purveyors of the beautiful game at The Reebock as well.

[Risso]

GH: "Take away the 2 goals and 1st half was even".............what drugs is he on??

He really did say that didn't he, we can't both have misheard.

He did.  He's deluded.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I'm lost for words.

I can only think Houllier is such a wonderful comfort zone he doesn't give a shit. Absolutely no logic to his selection. None.
Looking at him and MacAllister just sitting there looking clueless, I got they idea they both realise they've been found out.

It's one step forward and two steps back.

[ez]

So he doesn't believe it was a weakened side? Is he going to stick with that line up then?

[richard moore]

Of course, if we beat Bolton away and are suddenly not that many points off top six, we may all politely draw a veil over tonight...

[Risso]

Sackable offence? Ridiculous.

This whole season has been a sackable offence.

[Mister E]

Clattenburg - absolutely crap: Bell-end-o-telli should have been red-carded (same offence as Rooney).
Clark - a superstar in the making.
Dunne - excellent tonight.
Herd - dealt a tough card, but looks a decent player.
Delph - see Herd.
Delfouneso - dealt a tough card and didn't really deal with it.
Heskey - senior player; didn't step up to the plate. Crap.
Gabby - gave the ball away too much.
Petrov - insignificant, outclassed and increasingly irrelevant.
Bannan - I'm afraid to say, outmuscled and too petit.
Bradley - tidy but needs more acclimitisation time.
Friedel - time to move on.

[tarzansbrother]

Can someone explain the resting of our players? Havnt they just had a 2 week break and after Bolton won't they have another 2 week break? Also why are we resting a spurs fullback that isn't stopping at the club, surely play him in every fukin gameif he plays well.

[Jimbo]

Sackable offence? Ridiculous.

If this was a one-off, then maybe. But it isn't. It is, however, a giant piss-take of our club, our fans and the competition. At the very least he could admit he got it wrong. He didn't. He's gone too far, he has to go.

[Irreverent ad]

As I said in the match thread - absolute dog shit.

I agree with irreverent ad to some extent in that if he wanted to shuffle the pack the players missing at the back forced his hand somewhat but it left him with a straight choice; do I want to win the FA Cup or not.

The answer was clearly no based on tonight's selection.

Dunne, Herd, Delph, Bannan and Gabby all put a decent shift in but Petrov, Bradley and Heskey were shocking.

Bradley gets the benefit of the doubt; the other two should never wear the shirt again

As for Houllier's comments about us picking a team of internationals that simply doesn't cut it with me and please, please do not fuck the Bolton game up

I think the question wan more "can we win the FA Cup" rather that do I want.

If Ash and Downing were playing we still would have lost tonight as the back 4 was weak.

I can forgive him this one as long as we go for it next.

[TonyD]

GH: "Take away the 2 goals and 1st half was even".............what drugs is he on??

Take away the fact that I'm not Brad Pitt, and I could be shagging Angelina Jolie.

Makes Col Gaddafi look credible.