Manchester City v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Broughty-Villian]

2-2 with another Barry own goal in the 94th minute, after we have played over an hour with 10 men, as bannan sent of for twatting barry.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

Man City are conceeding goals. 3-3 Gabby-Benteke-Weimann. triggering an unbeaten run of 6 games ........

[TaxDodger]

2-2. Dzeko 12, Yaya Toure 67. Agbonlahor 43, Bannan 87.

[Risso]

A battering, 3-0.

[eamonn]

It's my birthday on Saturday. I think I'll spend the afternoon doing something fun instead of following the inevitable disappointment on here. Keep us a few jaffa cakes on the match-thread though.

[Hillbilly]

Villa win. Lightening strikes twice shocker.

[Matt Collins]

Think we'll lose this one, after last weekend's efforts. The obvious steam selection choice I at left back, keeping the rest of the side the same. Stevens general play was better than lichaj's but perhaps Eric wouldn't have committed the faults for goals 1 and 3.

I think there are two other big considerations though:
- Toure. There's a risk that he's just too powerful for wee Barry and Ashley.
- wingbacks. In theory, our 4231 is a logical formation to play if city do play the 3412 they did on Sunday. But it didn't work at all for spurs as bale and lennon were piahed back.

I still think we'll shape up the same way. But there is a case for solidity in midfield, either with a narrow 4 - eg Holman Westwood kea bannan - in midfield; or dropping Ireland for kea to be a bit more defensive with a 433.

[PaulTheVillan]

Man City 2-1 Villa

Benteke

Toure
Dzeko

[manic-road]

2-2 Benteke and Barry own goal

[Dave P]

A tatering !  3-0 Citeh.

[Risso]

Hopefully Ireland will be up for it at least.

[paul_e]

1-1 for me, Benteke and Dzeko.

[supertom]

Spanking is on the cards sadly. The Manc curse continues.

[Monty]

I think we'll score, but I think they'll score more. We'll come roaring out of the blocks, pressing their back line into mistakes and generally making ourselves a nuisance. We might even take the lead. But one way or another, they'll come back at us, maybe Yaya Toure with a dodgy goal. From then on it's all one way.

My big worry is Benteke against Kompany. Kompany's a defender who might actually know exactly how to handle a player like Benteke, and that could leave our best avenue of attack closed off.

[lovejoy]

4-2 AET