Manchester City v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Rigadon]

I'm going for 1-1.  Gabby will have their defence at sixes and sevens and Bent will poach one from the space created.  I reckon we'll score early on, will battle valiantly before Dunne nods one past Given in the 98th minute.

The absolute ultimate in Villa-ness.

I even know how it'd pan out for me. I'd find it unbearable to watch, turn it off with 15 mins to go. Having given it some time for the match to end, I'd take a peek at the match thread, whilst praying it had ended well, and through my fingers see a sequene of very short, mainly one word posts.

I'd look properly and see it is a succession of people saying "shit!" or "FFS" or "bollocks", and that would be that.

Haha.  This.

[London Villan]

I can see it being like the Chelsea game a couple of seasons back, I turned off after the 4th went in... wasn't until later that evening I saw the full horror story of the final score.

Fair play to anyone brave enough to go up there and watch it for real.

[OzVilla]

I expect us to be comprehensively beaten but not embarressed.
2-0 to them.

[TaxDodger]

I'm looking forward to going to Manchester. If we lose I might entertain myself by doing this..

[TimTheVillain]

Our next game is the Baggies.

This Saturday is a write off...we're in for a hiding.

4-1 Citeh

But all could change by the presence of one man .... http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2011/10/13/aston-villa-emile-heskey-is-our-franz-beckenbauer-says-alex-mcleish-97319-29587304/

[Mark H]

I think we will lose this one 3 or 4 nil - hope I am wrong but fear the worst

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Hate to say this but Delph will get sent off if played.  Put Clarke in the middle at least we will win the aerial battle to release some pressure. Got to play Gabby and Bent up front or they will be knocking it about without any pressure to bring there whole defence into our half ..........

[Reuben]

I can see it being like the Chelsea game a couple of seasons back, I turned off after the 4th went in... wasn't until later that evening I saw the full horror story of the final score.

Fair play to anyone brave enough to go up there and watch it for real.

To be fair, I thought something like this before we went to Arsenal last season.

Much as I like the above idea about Clark coming in, McLeish seems reluctant to start him so I don't think he'll bring him in for this one.

[LamBeast]

On face value we should get stuffed,McLeish waxing lyrical about Silva on MOTD isn't helpful either,EVERYONE knows his ability,its up to US to step up!

We have the firepower,do we have the belief?!

[cdbearsfan]

I can see it being like the Chelsea game a couple of seasons back, I turned off after the 4th went in... wasn't until later that evening I saw the full horror story of the final score.

Fair play to anyone brave enough to go up there and watch it for real.

To be fair, I thought something like this before we went to Arsenal last season.

Much as I like the above idea about Clark coming in, McLeish seems reluctant to start him so I don't think he'll bring him in for this one.

I don't know if he necessarily dislikes Clark... he's been injured for most of the season. I doubt very much we'll change a winning team unless Bannan or AN Other is carrying a knock.

[cheltenhamlion]

We will get beaten but it won't be a whacking

[Matt Collins]

Can't see we'd play the diamond again up there. I expect the same players, if fit, in a 451. Is Ireland likely to be fit?

[DeeBoy1]

Corals are offering Villa at 7/1.
No self respecting Villa fan can refuse those odds. Go on put 10p. on it.

15/2 at William Hill - had £5 left in my account after the England game....was worth a punt

[DeeBoy1]

I'm going for 1-1.  Gabby will have their defence at sixes and sevens and Bent will poach one from the space created.  I reckon we'll score early on, will battle valiantly before Dunne nods one past Given in the 98th minute.

The absolute ultimate in Villa-ness.

I even know how it'd pan out for me. I'd find it unbearable to watch, turn it off with 15 mins to go. Having given it some time for the match to end, I'd take a peek at the match thread, whilst praying it had ended well, and through my fingers see a sequene of very short, mainly one word posts.

I'd look properly and see it is a succession of people saying "shit!" or "FFS" or "bollocks", and that would be that.

Haha.  This.

Seems scarily feasible, very scarily.

[Matt Collins]

Sky reckons our injury doubts will all be fit. I'd thus play:

Given - cuellar, Collins, dunne, warnock - petrov, Clark - bannan Ireland gabby - bent