Aston Villa v Manchester City Match Thread

[villadelph]

zZzZz..

[pauliewalnuts]

It's 0-0 versus the champions elect.  I swear people just prefer to moan rather than support the club.

Dante, mate, you've utterly missed the point. Most on he would be happy if we really had a go and yet lost to a top side like City 3-2. We wil likely lose 2-0 by never having got out of our half.

Absolutely.

It's hard not to conclude we're playing for the draw, we'll go a goal down, and then we'll start trying to keep the score down.

[PaulWinch again]

It's embarrassing that we play in this manner at home, and I can see why we never ever win.

[Summers]

Possession is 32/68, according to Skybet.

[Olof's Beard]

I defended him over the Heskey subsitution last week but I am flabbergasted that McLeish has abandoned all the positive work of recent months coming forward and reverted to this horrible brand of football.  I actually feel quite embarrassed that the world will be watching this.  He wasn't kidding when he said that we would be getting "ugly" to cure the defensive woes.

The likes of Albrighton have done that much chasing back that every time they have had the ball at their feet they look completely shagged.

Oh, and how the hell can Petrov be sweating his chin off in that temperature.

[Jimbo]

We're about as potent as a papier-mache water cannon.

[Irish villain]

It's 0-0 versus the champions elect.  I swear people just prefer to moan rather than support the club.

What do you mean? No shots on goal at half time as the home side? Haven't won at home since November? Lets all clap and applaud the wonderful efforts.

[JUAN PABLO]

10 men behind the ball , not to concede . BORING . we are at home , give it a go FFS . He did this against 'The Mighty Reds YNWA', spurzz and Manure and didnt work .

We are not SMALL heath , we are BIG ASTON VILLA.

[PaulWinch again]

It's 0-0 versus the champions elect.  I swear people just prefer to moan rather than support the club.

Dante, mate, you've utterly missed the point. Most on he would be happy if we really had a go and yet lost to a top side like City 3-2. We wil likely lose 2-0 by never having got out of our half.

Absolutely.

It's hard not to conclude we're playing for the draw, we'll go a goal down, and then we'll start trying to keep the score down.

Dante it's exactly that type of thinking which lead to the 'performances' against Spurs, Liverpool and Man Utd.

[Apyadg]

Did I just see Ray Winstones head say "Villa to score first 150/1"

It's about 3/1 for Villa to score first on most sites. You'd be better off betting on the world to end in 2012.

[hawkeye]

reverted back to surrender football, lets wait until they score before we do anything-dire

[Rigadon]

We have been shite so far. When heskey starts we are always like this. Not his fault. Just the way it is.

[villadelph]

Possession is 32/68, according to Skybet.

sounds about right.

someone tell petrov to stop going backwards. he ruins all forward momentum we create, heskeys not helping either. He hasn't shot up the wing a single time, has he even been near the corner flag yet.

What is this line up?!

[Compass]

I just worry when Keane goes where is our next win going to come from? He got us out of a sticky situation against Wolves (who are dire) and I feel as though once he goes we'll be dragged into a relegation battle.

[spaf]

Well that was a bit shit. Lucky to be in the game. Glad that City aren't at the top of their game.

Some observations:

Albrighton on the left and Heskey on the right are there obviously to protect Cuellar and Hutton. Is it worth it? Petrov and Gardner got overran by sometimes even 4 vs. them two. Positive attacking contributions from Albrighton & Heskey <2. Didn't see any, but just to be sure.

Bent and Keane up front: why? Is it living up to the fetish "have to play two up front at home". That's load of bollocks. I wish Keane would play more in the hole. Maybe he's been there but I've missed it because of the hoofing that's going on.
 
I'd throw in Ireland is eager and smart in closing the players down. Always dangerous on the ball. Keeps possession. Get Clark in to strengthen the middle and help us keep possession. Sub Heskey and Albrighton.

So the formation would be not diamond 442, but a 41311/451 with a narrow + fluid "plus five" in the middle.

              Bent
             Keane
Gardner Petrov Ireland
              Clark
Cuellar Dunne Collins Hutton


Edit: maybe Gardner could be replaced with THE NZOG.