Aston Villa v Manchester City Post-Match Thread

[Clampy]

My ratings
Guzan 4 - threw in the first goal, rooted to his line for the second and his efforts with the ball at his feet left a lot to be desired.
Bacuna 6 - like many others very poor in the first half but a beautiful free kick. Aside from set pieces looks a limited player to me. Good to have someone who can take a decent set piece though.

Jesus you are hard to please. Had to stop reading after your "like many others very poor" comment.  I do not really understand how people describe our first half performance as poor. Just remember who we were playing... man fuckin city. Top top world class players seasoned professionals major winners. Yes they had the ball but other than 3 long shots from Nasri, Toure and Milner how many times did they rip us apart?

I take it you've finally got over the team selection from Tuesday then?

[olaftab]

I loved the Argus, those were the days when on occasions you bought it not knowing the Villa score.

Was there any other way? I knew the only way was to queue up at the shop look towards the direction of City centre wait for the Evening Mail van. Some didn't stop and than one did. You tried to catch a glimpse of the scores in the bundle as the driver rushed it into the counter....yes those were the days!

[saunders_heroes]

My ratings
Guzan 4 - threw in the first goal, rooted to his line for the second and his efforts with the ball at his feet left a lot to be desired.
Bacuna 6 - like many others very poor in the first half but a beautiful free kick. Aside from set pieces looks a limited player to me. Good to have someone who can take a decent set piece though.

Jesus you are hard to please. Had to stop reading after your "like many others very poor" comment.  I do not really understand how people describe our first half performance as poor. Just remember who we were playing... man fuckin city. Top top world class players seasoned professionals major winners. Yes they had the ball but other than 3 long shots from Nasri, Toure and Milner how many times did they rip us apart?

I think we defended quite well 1st half, but there wasn't much else to shout about. The midfield and up front offered nothing. 2nd half was totally different though, we really had a go and were rewarded for it.

[olaftab]

I take it you've finally got over the team selection from Tuesday then?

No mate I will never get over that but you do get hurt by those you love and than you remember why you  love em! I always want the best available Villa team to take the field and compete and that they did yesterday.

[saunders_heroes]

I loved the Argus, those were the days when on occasions you bought it not knowing the Villa score.

Was there any other way? I knew the only way was to queue up at the shop look towards the direction of City centre wait for the Evening Mail van. Some didn't stop and than one did. You tried to catch a glimpse of the scores in the bundle as the driver rushed it into the counter....yes those were the days!

I still really miss the Argus. Another reason to dislike Sky.

[dave.woodhall]

I take it you've finally got over the team selection from Tuesday then?

No mate I will never get over that but you do get hurt by those you love and than you remember why you  love em! I always want the best available Villa team to take the field and compete and that they did yesterday.

Have you stopped to think that putting the team out that we did on Tuesday enabled us to play like that yesterday?

[E I Adio]

My ratings
Guzan 4 - threw in the first goal, rooted to his line for the second and his efforts with the ball at his feet left a lot to be desired.
Bacuna 6 - like many others very poor in the first half but a beautiful free kick. Aside from set pieces looks a limited player to me. Good to have someone who can take a decent set piece though.

Jesus you are hard to please. Had to stop reading after your "like many others very poor" comment.  I do not really understand how people describe our first half performance as poor. Just remember who we were playing... man fuckin city. Top top world class players seasoned professionals major winners. Yes they had the ball but other than 3 long shots from Nasri, Toure and Milner how many times did they rip us apart?

Agreed. The ratings are a bit harsh, especially for Guzan, whose excellent awareness led to the pass to Andi which enabled him to score the winning goal.

[eastie]

My ratings
Guzan 4 - threw in the first goal, rooted to his line for the second and his efforts with the ball at his feet left a lot to be desired.
Bacuna 6 - like many others very poor in the first half but a beautiful free kick. Aside from set pieces looks a limited player to me. Good to have someone who can take a decent set piece though.

Jesus you are hard to please. Had to stop reading after your "like many others very poor" comment.  I do not really understand how people describe our first half performance as poor. Just remember who we were playing... man fuckin city. Top top world class players seasoned professionals major winners. Yes they had the ball but other than 3 long shots from Nasri, Toure and Milner how many times did they rip us apart?

I think we defended quite well 1st half, but there wasn't much else to shout about. The midfield and up front offered nothing. 2nd half was totally different though, we really had a go and we're rewarded for it.

I agree, we looked a different side 2nd half - it seems to often be the case that we don't start playing well until we go behind , we have come from behind on a few occasions already this season and taken 6 points from losing positions.
We haven't lost a lead as yet this season either .

[olaftab]

Have you stopped to think that putting the team out that we did on Tuesday enabled us to play like that yesterday?

Yes I have thought about that and may be that was a factor however I am hurt that we are out of cup and it will hurt till the FA cup comes around and we make some progress there.

[damon loves JT]

cue ridiculous naked jumping up and down and delirious shouting and acting like a total loon,
 kids looking at me in a non plussed embarrassed sort of way,
 other bathers wondering shouting 'is everthing alright over there'

to right they are matey, we just did a Dyanmo the magician act on Man City, and we still don't know how we did it
 

That is so funny and so true.

Football is great sometimes.

How's the hangover Mr Green?

I feel absolutely brilliant. No idea how that works.

[Villafirst]

Just back to Manchester a short while ago. Its awfully quiet.......

Anyway not sure how we won but win we did.  I thought it was a very gutsy display and despite our frustrations as fans at the extremely limited set up Lambert put out I have to say the players delivered on it very well.  When we tried to pass the ball and players showed movement we put some nice little passing moves together but it was all too infrequent.

Guzan - 7 - Looked solid and for all Citehs possession didn't have a huge amount to do
Bacuna - 8 - Worked hard and put a shift in as he was often outnumbered 2 on 1. Sublime goal and assist
Vlaar - 7.5 - Much better.
Baker - 7 - Good interceptions and looked solid enough
Clark - 6 - Looked hesitant today and didn't step out enough to use his ability on the ball and create space for others.
Luna - 8.5 - My MOM, marked Milner out the game in my view and hardly gave Navas a kick.  It was his harassing and pressing that seemed to give the rest of the team a lift in the second half.
El Ahamadi - 8 -  Good goal and worked harder as the game progressed
Delph - 8 - this lad is coming of age and gave a very disciplined and committed performance in front of the back 3
Sylla - 7 - Incredible workrate but maybe not his best day on the ball
Weimann - 8 - Ran his nads off to little effect but then scored the vital goal
Kozak - 7 - Worked his balls off for the team and got precisely no service but his challenge from Brads long ball led to the winner

Bowery - 7 - Seems to have bulked up over the summer and did a job on that mouthy twonk Ya Ya Toure when he came on

Lambert - ? - I can't work out if that was a genius tactical set up to completely tie up the centre of the pitch so Citeh couldn't play through us and then rely on good defending to ensure their wide players  didn't capitalise or we were just plain lucky!

Us lot - 7 - Not bad when the team started playing

Right time for dinner.....

My ratings

Guzan 4 - threw in the first goal, rooted to his line for the second and his efforts with the ball at his feet left a lot to be desired.
Bacuna 6 - like many others very poor in the first half but a beautiful free kick. Aside from set pieces looks a limited player to me. Good to have someone who can take a decent set piece though.
Vlaar 6 - not too bad defensively and playing with three centre backs only highlights the lack of their collective ability on the ball. Solid though.
Baker 5 - very poor for the second goal and just the standard running around like a bull in a china shop. Hate the way he doesn't even attempt to block shots with his right foot. Sliding across on his left every time is asking for own goals.
Clark 6 - bit like Vlaar was solid defensively but offered nothing with the ball. Seems to be improving to be fair.
Luna 5 - thought he was atrocious up to the point Navas came on. Improved hugely thereafter. Think Bennett will get chances to get back in.
Sylla 4 - gave the ball away continuously and has a first touch that is up there with Holman's in its ineptitude. Shocking I thought and surely was going to be replaced before Bacuna scored.
El Ahmadi 6 -couldn't get near City in the first half but did improve after the break. A very average player though on all evidence to date in a Villa shirt.
Delph 7 - was disappointed with him in the first half as he should be better than the dross we were playing. Improved hugely after the interval, getting on the ball and creating things.
Weimann 5 - won the free kick and scored. He hardly got a kick in the first half and there seemed to be no understanding at all between our front two. Goal should be a big boost to him.
Kozak 5 - thought he was one of our better players in the first half but his lack of mobility is a real issue without Gabby in the side. Was blowing out his arse long before the end and should have been replaced I thought.

Bowery 6 - don't rate this lad in the slightest but he gave a decent account of himself when he came on.

I think I might have seen a different game to most on here but sure winning is all that matters

Totally wrong giving Sylla only a 4. He does a lot of tracking back/covering with some vital interceptions. Giives a physical presence in the middle. Admit he gave away possession at times but also some neat passing; don't forget it's his first 'proper' start this season, and as mentioned elsewhere, he's not fully up to speed yet in this campaign. I remember that last home game against Chelsea last season where he won the man-of-the match award and I thought then he's got huge potential. Just hope Lambo keeps him in the side. How do you accommodate Westwood now?

[picicata]

cue ridiculous naked jumping up and down and delirious shouting and acting like a total loon,
 kids looking at me in a non plussed embarrassed sort of way,
 other bathers wondering shouting 'is everthing alright over there'

to right they are matey, we just did a Dyanmo the magician act on Man City, and we still don't know how we did it
 

That is so funny and so true.

Football is great sometimes.

How's the hangover Mr Green?

I feel absolutely brilliant. No idea how that works.

Still drunk...

[Dave Clark Five]

The North Lower near the away fans went a bit mental after every goal, I noticed.

They always do.
I love the North (Witton End) Lower!
They give the oppo fans some stick - keep it up guys!

When that prat, who ran on, got taken out, they had to take him right through that snarling mob. Great to watch!

[Proposition Joe]

Thanks eastie. I try to be honest in every way and I must say up to that point I thought KEA (or as Motty calls him Kareem Al Athmadi) had been clueless.   What a difference a goal makes.   As though MOTD this morning was not exquisite enough the interviews proved that Andi is speaking English with a Brummie accent.   I am told that Peaky Blinders is already in the planning stage of its third series which has moved forward to war time Brum.   Andi should get a walk on part as a German spy embedded in the BSA.

We'd christened El Ahmadi "Rimmer" after the first half, as he had all the presence of a hologram in midfield.

He does the right things in terms of hassling and hounding, but needs to do more upper body work, as he gets shrugged off as if he wasn't there most the time and ends up just tugging at another player's arm.

Nice finish for his goal, and it seemed to me he deliberately ran straight to Matt Lowton to celebrate.

Liked Bacuna hugging PL when he scored too!

[dekko]

Running over to the bench to celebrate is a good sign imo, team spirit right there.