Manchester City v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[5ft811st2 Durham]

Those moaning about team selection= in view of the injuries would you really of preferred to see Beye and Warnock tonight instead of Herd and Delph Don't think he had a lot of choice with regard to the defence and at least they tried.

I just wanted to see a proper team put out, that was capable of giving City a game, and that certainly does mean that I would have preferred Warnock and Beye as full backs. Who wouldn't compared to a couple of kids who between them had never played one first class game in those positions?

The team we put out tonight would have been likely to have problems with most sides in the top 3 divisions.

Absolute disgrace.

[frank]

I suppose I agree with those of you who've said that avoiding relegation is more important than the cup, but up here in Manchester, having endured that pathetic performance, it's very hard not to feel angry and let down. Although some of the team had dreadful games (Petrov and Bradley especially, but also Gabby and Heskey), the manager is the one responsible for our wretched showing tonight. By all means rotate, give fringe players a chance, rest players who will be needed to put in a strong performance on Saturday - but not to this extent. It's a question of balance, and that's what GH got totally wrong with his team selection tonight. The result was an inept and embarrassing performance that did nobody any good - the players, the club or the fans.

[Chris Smith]

We already have Collins, Cuellar, Baker, Makoun and Young unavailable for the weekend, a couple more injuries or suspensions tonight and we'd be in deep shit.

Like I said it isn't what I want to see but surely everyone can see why a manager worried about relegation, and we're still a long way from being safe, might take a more cautious approach. I'm not asking anyone to like it, I'm just saying that I can understand his thinking.

[PeterWithesShin]

The day that the manager of Aston Villa Football Club decided that it wasn't worth trying to win the FA Cup is quite possibly my saddest day as a fan. Still, I look forward to 6th-16th in the league and not being relegated being added to our honours list.

And i'm left feeling, if they can't be bothered any more, why should I?

[SO Villa]

What if our 1st team had lost 4-0 again. Then lost the confidence they had gained and lost against Bolton.

How fucking defeatist is that? Do you really think the confidence of the players is that fragile? It's a cup-tie, a one-off. We were the underdogs anyway so we could have gone and had a bloody good go at it and if we lost, so be it. I fail to see how a defeat tonight would have shattered the players' confidence.

[Clampy]

Those moaning about team selection= in view of the injuries would you really of preferred to see Beye and Warnock tonight instead of Herd and Delph Don't think he had a lot of choice with regard to the defence and at least they tried.

He did'nt have too much choice with the full backs no and they both did well, but he left an awful lot of good players on the bench, more than he needed too.

[LeeB]

Those moaning about team selection= in view of the injuries would you really of preferred to see Beye and Warnock tonight instead of Herd and Delph Don't think he had a lot of choice with regard to the defence and at least they tried.

I just wanted to see a proper team put out, that was capable of giving City a game, and that certainly does mean that I would have preferred Warnock and Beye as full backs. Who wouldn't compared to a couple of kids who between them had never played one first class game in those positions?

The team we put out tonight would have been likely to have problems with most sides in the top 3 divisions.

Absolute disgrace.

I'd rather hold a raffle to play two fans at full-back than play either of those pricks again.

[villa `cross the mersey]

We are a lame, toothless team - Bradley looks no better than the alleged "dead wood" we already have. Feeble.

Give the guy a chance, it was his first game in this country and it was hardly the easiest place to start.

Played at Blackpool... didn`t impress then either. As I keep stating - if he ain`t ready don`t feckin play him ...hardly rocket science.

[pauliewalnuts]

We already have Collins, Cuellar, Baker, Makoun and Young unavailable for the weekend, a couple more injuries or suspensions tonight and we'd be in deep shit.

Like I said it isn't what I want to see but surely everyone can see why a manager worried about relegation, and we're still a long way from being safe, might take a more cautious approach. I'm not asking anyone to like it, I'm just saying that I can understand his thinking.

True, and I think most of us can understand that, the need to rest some players, but this is a competition we had a chance of doing well in (look at the draw), and it is hard to support that level of changes to the line up. We had Reading at home between us and the semi final. It was never going to be easy, but we didn't even try.

Then there's bringing on rested players at 3-0 down with nothing to play for, which kind of throws the "not risking injury" thing into doubt.

My main fears now are that we've pissed away a good chunk of the recently re-won spirit, he's alienated the supporters when it was entirely unnecessary (which is the same way he did it before, largely), and we're going into the next league game on the back of a thorough beating.

He's had a thankless job this season, but sometimes he really is his own worst enemy.

[SO Villa]

We already have Collins, Cuellar, Baker, Makoun and Young unavailable for the weekend, a couple more injuries or suspensions tonight and we'd be in deep shit.

Like I said it isn't what I want to see but surely everyone can see why a manager worried about relegation, and we're still a long way from being safe, might take a more cautious approach. I'm not asking anyone to like it, I'm just saying that I can understand his thinking.

We've had more players injured in training this season than during games so do we not bother with that as well, just in case?

[5ft811st2 Durham]

Those moaning about team selection= in view of the injuries would you really of preferred to see Beye and Warnock tonight instead of Herd and Delph Don't think he had a lot of choice with regard to the defence and at least they tried.

I just wanted to see a proper team put out, that was capable of giving City a game, and that certainly does mean that I would have preferred Warnock and Beye as full backs. Who wouldn't compared to a couple of kids who between them had never played one first class game in those positions?

The team we put out tonight would have been likely to have problems with most sides in the top 3 divisions.

Absolute disgrace.

I'd rather hold a raffle to play two fans at full-back than play either of those pricks again.

He may as well have done.

[BBNCCW]

What if our 1st team had lost 4-0 again. Then lost the confidence they had gained and lost against Bolton.

How fucking defeatist is that? Do you really think the confidence of the players is that fragile? It's a cup-tie, a one-off. We were the underdogs anyway so we could have gone and had a bloody good go at it and if we lost, so be it. I fail to see how a defeat tonight would have shattered the players' confidence.

This. They might have jizzed millions all over the place but they're not unbeatable! Especially not in a cup tie when they're biggest threat isn't even starting! This is the day we have finally turned the corner and accepted mid table mediocrity, with no challenge for the cups and no challenge for europe. I just don't understand where we plan to go from here, when you consider all the stuff buzzing round about accounts and our wage bill. How are we planning on decent player to fill the void that will undoubtedly be left by those who actually want to win something?!

[Irreverent ad]

What if our 1st team had lost 4-0 again. Then lost the confidence they had gained and lost against Bolton.

How fucking defeatist is that? Do you really think the confidence of the players is that fragile? It's a cup-tie, a one-off. We were the underdogs anyway so we could have gone and had a bloody good go at it and if we lost, so be it. I fail to see how a defeat tonight would have shattered the players' confidence.

Thats not defeatist. It happened earlier in the season and tonight we played a makeshift defence. At the site of our worst performance of the season I think it could be very fragile and affected us for the rest of the season.

If confidence did not matter in football we would be comfortable top half by now.

[Lambert and Payne]

Toys still being thrown well away of the pram?
I think resting the players was a good idea considering who we already have out and were not garuntee'd safe. Were still just 5 points off 18th. Not worth the risk considering Bolton and Wanky coming up soon. Dont need more suspensions
The senior players let us down tonight, the kids played well.

[bvb]

i dont fuckin believe the neighbours are havvin a fuckin party  the bastard blues  they only stopped last night and the cheeky twats banging on the wall singing  there shitty keep right on ,,,,,,,,,,,, and to top it all i just answered the door he's sent his son round to ask me to go round for a fucking beer, i cant take no more of this sort it out lerner ye nob