Manchester City v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[PaulWinch again]

I'd love him to get a chance tonight, I'm actually weirdly looking forward to this game. It's nice to have a game where there is no pressure on us at all.

[pauliewalnuts]

I'd love him to get a chance tonight, I'm actually weirdly looking forward to this game. It's nice to have a game where there is no pressure on us at all.

I am really looking forward to it, as well.

For the first time in ages, a match where there's no need to be worried about anything.

[olaftab]

Yes same here. It's a long time since I have looked forward to a game. It will be come on than city show us what you can do however I hope it's not over by minute 20!

[PaulWinch again]

I'd love him to get a chance tonight, I'm actually weirdly looking forward to this game. It's nice to have a game where there is no pressure on us at all.

I am really looking forward to it, as well.

For the first time in ages, a match where there's no need to be worried about anything.

Yeah it's a real rarity and it's also nice that the opposition have a lot riding on it as well, so it's a game with meaning.

[mallo]

As long as people don't level the 'you just lay down and let them win' one at us, I'll be happy with a decent performance.

It nearly goes without saying on current form we'll take a kicking. The only issue would be it might be difficult to draw a distinction between us really trying and 'laying down and letting them win'.

[olaftab]

Our chances are being played up a bit in the media

I'm expecting a bit of a trouncing on the back of that. We've not generally coped well with expectation this season

Over at Bluemoon they think we are Real Madrid!

[PaulWinch again]

Oh I want us to win very much, because I think there's been a general level of disrespect towards us since Monday. There's this general assumption(with the exception of Gary Neville) that City now have the title won and it's a formality.

[olaftab]

We don't need the ball to take part in a game of football as the team has proved on many occasions this season.

Well, taking that literally, we've proved that in every game this season, but I guess it depends what you mean by taking part.

If you mean competing, then I'd quibble with "many times" and suggest it's probably four or five times, that being the decent performances we've put in.

Yes agree with your last para. I meant it as taking part but not competing.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

Interesting stats from the BBC:

Aston Villa
Villa's win against Hull at the weekend was their first in seven games.
They have picked up just two points from their last seven away games, and have lost the last four. They last lost five away games in a row in the league from December 2006 to February 2007.
Only Chelsea (16 points) have a better record than Aston Villa (10 points) against the current top four in the Premier League this season (W3, D1).
They have won their last three league matches on a Wednesday.

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

Would love to do the double over em, but would hate to hand the title to the bin dippers.

In my opinion, LIverpool fans have been gobby enough for the last 3 decades - Don't think I could face them (or the media outpouring!) if they actually won the damn thing! Dunno why, but I think I actually despise Liverpool and their armchair supporting, YNWA singing, scarf waving 'fans' more than any other club.

Lack of class too - The Dalglish/Suarez racism stance as well as Rodgers mentioning trying to play in a sportsmanlike fashion after the Chelsea defeat... Short memory considering the buck toothed wonder diving against us, which had results gone against us, could have sent us down.

Hate em - And for that reason I'm going for an entertaining 2-2 draw. Level points with Liverpool, then City can go and smash the Hammers for 6 on Sunday and draw out the agony for the Scousers till the last day. 

But it would be funny to win and then remind Redscouse fans that we had to help them win the league 'cos they f^&ked it up.

Saying that, I think we will lose 4-1.

Would be even funnier if we won tonight, giving Liverpool hope and then they threw it away again at the weekend.

[Richard E]

Be even funnier if we won tonight, Liverpool won their remaining game and then got docked points because some bloke who'd played 1 game all season turned out to have been ineligible.

[Brend'Watkins]

I'd love him to get a chance tonight, I'm actually weirdly looking forward to this game. It's nice to have a game where there is no pressure on us at all.

I am really looking forward to it, as well.

For the first time in ages, a match where there's no need to be worried about anything.

This is my first televised Villa match since the Albion away.  I'll watch tonight because there is nothing at stake.  But really, watching us on TV is complete and utter torture hence my abstinence until tonight.

[Clampy]

I'd love him to get a chance tonight, I'm actually weirdly looking forward to this game. It's nice to have a game where there is no pressure on us at all.

I am really looking forward to it, as well.

For the first time in ages, a match where there's no need to be worried about anything.

This is my first televised Villa match since the Albion away.  I'll watch tonight because there is nothing at stake.  But really, watching us on TV is complete and utter torture hence my abstinence until tonight.

We're not going either and like you I hate watching us on the tellybox.

[Steve R]

Interesting stats from the BBC:

Aston Villa
Villa's win against Hull at the weekend was their first in seven games.
They have picked up just two points from their last seven away games, and have lost the last four. They last lost five away games in a row in the league from December 2006 to February 2007.
Only Chelsea (16 points) have a better record than Aston Villa (10 points) against the current top four in the Premier League this season (W3, D1).
They have won their last three league matches on a Wednesday.

That can't be true. This is the worst Villa team ever.

[Toronto Villa]

Tonight is a game where if we get battered then people will say we had nothing to play for anyway and Man City were going for the title. From our perspective, it only adds a bit more fuel to Lambert's fire but won't really make a difference either way to his future which has very likely been decided irrespective of what happens tonight or against Spurs. New owner, new manager, new start. Let's enjoy tonight and dream of an exciting summer and another new positive beginning.