Aston Villa v Manchester City Post-Match Thread

[Ian.]

I can see why he set us up like he did and Heskey really put a shift in but after the encouraging signs over the last few weeks, I was hoping we'd play to our strengths rather than trying to nullify Man City's. Looking at Man City's record, if you can shut the up for the first 25 minutes, you're in with a chance. Today, despite a couple of near scares, I thought the defence looked the best it's looked for a long time, although it could be argued with Petrov and Gardner playing so deep, we had 6 across the back line.

Where we failed today, apart from Dunne going missing for the goal, was any real threat up front. As a few mentioned on the Match thread, we really should have introduced Ireland and N'Zogbia immediately after they scored and played to OUR strengths. In the end we were unlucky not to equalise, Carlos really should have buried that header and Bent his shot. Hart did very well but in a game with so few opportunities, he really needs to be more clinical.

Hopefully in the next four games we'll get back to playing to our strengths and if the players show the same level of commitment as they showed today and they'll need to, I really can see us picking up a few, long overdue wins.

That's more or less my take on things. 

And mine.
Its a pity Gabby wasn't fit. This formation would have suited him better than Bent today.

[preston28]

I've been on call this weekend - rushed home to watch the game. Dull, turgid, uninspiring to the piont it became more interesting watching my wife change my 4 week old's nappies.
Why play Heskey and leave 2 who can bring attacking intent on the bench?  Back to the drawing board Mr. McLeish.............

[Hopadop]

I've just been telling my two year old that the mighty Villa were cruelly denied the points in today's top of the table clash.

I consider this a white lie

[Steve R]

....
Today, despite a couple of near scares, I thought the defence looked the best it's looked for a long time
....

I didn't think we defended that well to be honest, it was more a reflection of how ordinary Man City were.

With the Toure brothers in Africa, Tevez off his rocker, no Balotelli, no Dzeko, no Richards and Silva having an off day, if I were a Man City supporter I'd be thinking 'thank fuck for Alex McLeish'.

[paul_e]

What's happened to Mark Albrighton? When he first broke onto the scene he was like a breath of fresh air with a cross to die for. For most of this 12 months though he's been like a little boy lost. Today he was a complete and utter waste of space. I lost count how many times he lost the ball. Dreadful performance.

A big part is that he's been played on the left almost consistently this season.  On the right he looks like he belongs, on the left he looks lost.

Aside from that last season, when things were going well for him, ash was playing in the hole and was giving an option on the edge of the box which was always in the thoughts of the defender, now that option isn't there they can just force him inside knowing his only option will be to pass back to petrov, who will turn and pass to dunne/collin, who will pass to Given, who will HOOF!

I'm actually quite upset with how many people are turning on the kids at the minute.  They're being dumped into a side where the senior pros are hiding and making constant errors.  We have a captain who's doing nothing to help them on the pitch and are palying a style that is miles from what they're used to.  I can't see any of the kids being hugely successful in the current environment, that's my biggest issue with the management and club in general at the moment, we need to do everything in our power to make sure these reserve and youth players are the best they can be.  We don't want big names on big money and big fees so the option is to buy young and develop a side, this just isn't happening.

[JJ-AV]

Although the streaker was funny, if it wasn't for a station-wide train delay I'd have missed my train back to Nottingham by 1 minute. I'd have been very pissed off if I'd had to wait an hour 'cos of that.

[olaftab]

McLeish's thoughts on the game from Pravda."Everton was good inspiration for us. We played very similar. Unfortunately for us we let one in and didn't get luck at the other end that Everton got on the night. "
He's putting it all down to bad luck.

This is worrying. The current manager of the once proud and great Aston Villa  saw playing man f in city as an almost impossible task and regards another rival's performance as an inspiration.

[steffo]

AMC believes in 'narrow' football. Wingers are a luxury to be avoided. How do you expect Albrighton and N'Zogiba to thrive when the football is lump it up and wait for the ball to drop and wait for Petrov and any other to shoot from distance. - Didn't he call Craig Gardner the new 'Frank Lampard' whilst at Blues?

[usav]

Where we failed today, apart from Dunne going missing for the goal, was any real threat up front.

Dunne was not at fault for the goal, that's on Collins and Cuellar.  Cuellar was marking Barry and Collins was marking Cling-on.

[andyh]

I never thought I'd se the day when a Villa goalie would be time wasting, at home, IN THE BLOODY FIRST HALF.

[olaftab]

Are Wolves worse that us at home?

[garyfouroaks]

I've been on call this weekend - rushed home to watch the game. Dull, turgid, uninspiring to the piont it became more interesting watching my wife change.......

Good to see that football is normally so high on your list of priorities.

[mr woo]

A pointless 90 minutes. We finished with the side we should have started with and despite what the manager claims I doubt we'd have scored if the game had gone on for another six hours. Yet another lesson in how to play football with the handbrake firmly on.

Positives- Gary Gardner, didn't do a fat lot but certainly wasn't embarrassed against potential title winners.

Negatives- I'm sorry but for a £20 million pound player Darren Bent has the first touch of a drunken rapist. With Vibration White finger syndrome.

[The Left Side]

Gutless performance... please make it stop soon!

[kippaxvilla2]

'All the Aston Villa fans want to see is the players sweating blood which they did today.'  Alexander McLeish.  13th February 2012.