Manchester City v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Stu]

I never used to, but I have come round to believing it. I know it sounds ridiculous but it happens in other countries including big ones like Italy, FIFA believes it is a massive problem and wants to find better ways of fighting it. Honestly I no longer trust the premier league referees integrity.

Except that unlike Italy, the UK hasn't had to deal with Mafia insurgency in local, and to an extent, national government for decades. There's a very different culture to conspiracy and bribery in Italy, and I don't think it's a good comparison.

But not all club owners  are from our culture, and it's fair to say that some of the more wealthy ones hail from cultures where one doesn't gain or retain one's fortune or power by exhibiting traits like transparency, integrity, fairness and honesty. 

What the dickens is going on here?

EDIT: ahaaaa, I see your quick edit

Probably not, but I was commenting on the comparison to Italy. Plus, I don't think it's wise to just assume that people MIGHT be corrupt because of the place where they hail from. In fact, the shisters tend to get found out; the guy at Man City before the Sheikh for a start, plus those at Pompey and the Blues.

[ktvillan]

To blame the officials is a red herring.
We were outclassed.

Yes, against the most expensively assembled team in the League that cost about 10 times our team.  Fancy that.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I am. Possibly the post game anger talking but it is how I feel.

That said, I agree a debate on whether or not officials are corrupt should not be the main focus.

The main focus should be us as a team being outclassed and in the relegation zone and how the hell we are going to get out of it. In particular I worry that once again we are simply giving up possession time and time again.

[silhillvilla]

Ok I've found a positive
Shots on Target 8-8

[pooligan]

Yeah ,one man to blame for the mess the club are in,the man who owns the club who we never see or hear from. No wonder the Browns were happy to get rid of him

[ciggiesnbeer]

Ok I've found a positive
Shots on Target 8-8

I will grasp that straw!

[eastie]

I expected to lose today , however I'm hoping the confidence gained from our display last week hasn't been destroyed by the trouncing today, we were poor today and too many players had off days - we need to put this defeat quickly to bed and give a much better performance against the gunners.

Arsenal will be tough but they are suspect at the back and beatable, reading ,qpr and stoke are Huge and we need to pick up wins .

[Risso]

To blame the officials is a red herring.
We were outclassed.

Yes, against the most expensively assembled team in the League that cost about 10 times our team.  Fancy that.

Southampton outclassed us as well, and they cost bugger all.

[silhillvilla]

Yeah ,one man to blame for the mess the club are in,the man who owns the club who we never see or hear from. No wonder the Browns were happy to get rid of him

It's all well and good being a mute when things are going well, but it's times like now where we need to hear from the owner or CEO. Even if it's just to say hello.

[lovejoy]

I can accept officials missing something but to make up things which didn't happen surely begs the question of either incompetence or dishonesty.

[Toronto Villa]

This is starting to feel eerily like last season where the side simply have forgotten how to win games or hold leads. And when we get behind there is next to no fight to get back into it. When you look at Norwich and Reading winning, Southampton getting a massive 3 pts at QPR who will now likely make a managerial change, and ignoring the likes of West Brom beating Chelsea, there is real concern that the rot at the club is too deep even for Lambert to correct. We were very lucky last year that we ran out of games. One or two more weeks and we'd have gone for sure. This season, the worrying run has started very early and if we don't figure this out soon we'll be cast adrift of the others.

It's no longer just about resources. Whether Randy will give the manager money to arrest the situation. The malaise at the club just seems so deep.The kids are trying but the quality and experience isn't there. I'm trying to stay balanced about this as I know there is a long way to go and a lot can change, but it's bloody hard keeping a positive or optimistic outlook on things.

[pelty]

Have not read the thread, so sorry if I am repeating... But can we stop hoofing the ball every freaking time we get it in the back?!?!?!? It simply invites pressure right back on us. In the preseason, it seemed that we were trying to play it on the ground, but this strategy has gone out the window with Benteke in the team. Why? Please stop it, Lambert!

[dicedlam]

Christ...Its 'slits your wrists saturday' on here.

Get used to it.  It will probably be like this all season and a nail biter at the end, but I prefer the ride were on at the moment than the crap served up by that prick last season.

Keep the faith.

[Legion]

Have not read the thread, so sorry if I am repeating... But can we stop hoofing the ball every freaking time we get it in the back?!?!?!? It simply invites pressure right back on us. In the preseason, it seemed that we were trying to play it on the ground, but this strategy has gone out the window with Benteke in the team. Why? Please stop it, Lambert!

We don't.

[Clampy]

I'm still optimistic if i'm honest. We've brought a manager in who recognised pretty sharpish that last season's full backs were not good enough and replaced them. The jury's still out on Bennett but Lowton does look good, He's also signed a decent looking midfielder and a striker who looks a class act. It's not good at the moment but i honestly think we'll be ok.