Aston Villa v Manchester City post match thread

[ktvillan]

I'm not buying this "look at the run of fixtures" defence.  These teams may have cost 10 times the value of ours but they are only human, and they aren't invincible.  Leicester managed a draw at home to Arsenal, possibly because they gave them a bit more to think about than how to get past a parked bus.  And Stoke beat Man City away, possibly because they tried to.   Even Chelsea had to work a lot harder to beat Swansea and Leicester than they did against us, because the latter two tried and succeeded in getting some goals themselves.   It's that sense of "beaten before you've started" and damage limitation that I can't stand.  It's pure McLeish and I thought/hoped we'd seen the back of that.
 

[leylandalbion]

Don't get the negativity.  We tried to play today against the champions.  Hoof ball seems to have gone away and we even have 3 midfielders who look for the ball.  Sure we lacked creativity, but please someone tell me how many teams will out play city this year...Chelsea maybe Arsenal. 

[supertom]

Losing yet another player in the warm up was a blow.

I know a lot of people prefer Weimann playing through the middle and maybe just he's the better man to be there if the ball's bobbling around the box as we saw at Stoke but Gabby can stretch and move around defences in a way Andi simplay can't for all his effort.

Gabby's absence was I think a blow in us actually attempting to cross the halfway line tonight with Benteke not ready to start.

I like Andi's work ethic but honestly he's becoming a figurehead for where we are at the moment. He's not good enough to be playing week in, week out at this level. A squaddie at best. I don't think he's got the technical ability required at this level, nor any outstanding attribute, whereas you can say Gabby has outstanding pace.

I'm hoping Benteke is fit and raring to go in a couple of weeks. We've missed him. Playing 2 up front seems to be coming back into fashion a little more these days, so I'd like to see that. Gabby up top with Benteke. Zog to play a free role in midfield, or we go with a diamond. In defence Gabby can drop back into midfield.

[PeterWithesShin]

Having one fit striker (that we know was effected by the virus 2 weeks ago) probably didn't help today. And before anyone mentions fat Daz, I did say fit!

[supertom]

Having one fit striker (that we know was effected by the virus 2 weeks ago) probably didn't help today. And before anyone mentions fat Daz, I did say fit!

I'd love to see us turn up in two weeks with a streamlined looking Bent, because actually, he could have a field day playing with Benteke. At least the fit and buzzing Bent of 2-3 years ago could. He looks absolutely done in though and as if he can't even be arsed to try and turn his career around. Its a shame. He's only 30, he should still be banging in 15-20 goals a season.

[Louzie0]

I'm not buying this "look at the run of fixtures" defence.  These teams may have cost 10 times the value of ours but they are only human, and they aren't invincible.  Leicester managed a draw at home to Arsenal, possibly because they gave them a bit more to think about than how to get past a parked bus.  And Stoke beat Man City away, possibly because they tried to.   Even Chelsea had to work a lot harder to beat Swansea and Leicester than they did against us, because the latter two tried and succeeded in getting some goals themselves.   It's that sense of "beaten before you've started" and damage limitation that I can't stand.  It's pure McLeish and I thought/hoped we'd seen the back of that.
 

Maybe the players had a rocket put up em following those results and reacted accordingly.

More inclined to believe that we were undone today by a lack of striker power but heartened by the team defence and grit.

[pauliewalnuts]

We beat in 45 minutes and say back. It was as easier game as we will have all season.

Assuming you're talking about Hull, that's not how I remember it. We looked like we were happy to see the final whistle.

But, even if you leave that to one side, here are some statistics from that game.

Pass success: Villa 76% Hull 86%
Possession: Villa 45% Hull 55%
Passes completed: Villa 342 Hull 463


Why is it that we never pass the ball more than the opposition? Why is it that we never seem to have more than 50% possession? We were playing at home to Hull. Yes, we won the game, but if you spend every match not having as much of the ball as your opponent, or failing to pass it properly, you are not going to achieve a great deal.

More stats, from the match against Newcastle.

Possession: Villa 40% Newcastle 60%
Pass success: Villa 77% Newcastle 83%
Shots on target: Villa 0 Newcastle 4.
Passes completed: Villa 266 Newcastle 439

It just looks as poor as last year and the year before that to me.

[Lky]

Typically outclassed. Could have been 4 against easily. We had one chance wasted by Richardson. Seen Cleverley now play 4 (?) games and haven't seen anything to suggest he's a player that we should sign - even if it was a free transfer let alone £8m.

This was the first match in a very long time that I didn't attend when I could have. Watched in on TV - how sad. My 10 year old having seen virtually every home game for 6 years simply doesn't want to go to watch The Villa anymore and I cant blame him. I cant put forward a single argument to persuade him to go - can anybody help ?

Our home form is truly abysmal and doesn't look like improving. Is that 2 goals at home in 5 matches ? Wow -why are the attendances so high ?

[ciggiesnbeer]

Having one fit striker (that we know was effected by the virus 2 weeks ago) probably didn't help today. And before anyone mentions fat Daz, I did say fit!

I'd love to see us turn up in two weeks with a streamlined looking Bent, because actually, he could have a field day playing with Benteke. At least the fit and buzzing Bent of 2-3 years ago could. He looks absolutely done in though and as if he can't even be arsed to try and turn his career around. Its a shame. He's only 30, he should still be banging in 15-20 goals a season.

Agreed. It makes me sad seeing him like this. I would love it if he could turn himself around.

Hutton reacted the right way to being bombed out, Darren has taken the easier path

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

Why didn't we provide Benteke any support? We can't just sit back and gamble on world class players not being able to find a way through us.

[pauliewalnuts]

Having one fit striker (that we know was effected by the virus 2 weeks ago) probably didn't help today. And before anyone mentions fat Daz, I did say fit!

I'd love to see us turn up in two weeks with a streamlined looking Bent, because actually, he could have a field day playing with Benteke. At least the fit and buzzing Bent of 2-3 years ago could. He looks absolutely done in though and as if he can't even be arsed to try and turn his career around. Its a shame. He's only 30, he should still be banging in 15-20 goals a season.

Agreed. It makes me sad seeing him like this. I would love it if he could turn himself around.

Hutton reacted the right way to being bombed out, Darren has taken the easier path

Bent looks finished.

[supertom]

Why didn't we provide Benteke any support? We can't just sit back and gamble on world class players not being able to find a way through us.

We'd probably had our best period of the game just before he came on. It was what bugged me more than anything actually, is that we brought on Benteke and then gave up trying to push forward. When we tried to pass it and push up to gain some forward territory we looked okay, without having any cutting edge or focal point in attack. To then finally bring on the one player we have who could offer us that, and then just fall back onto our own penalty box waiting for the inevitable was utterly pathetic.
We might as well not bother turning up if we do that.

[claret and blue blood]

Countless times today we gave the ball away ending promising moves or positions and handing posession straight back to the likes if Silva,very frustrating.
One positive today was how well we got behind the team, it made we think just what it would be like if we were the team with the most posession ,shots on goal and even goals!
I haven't seen us score a goal at the Holte end so far this season.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Lambert took off the one player who had looked anything like scoring ( Zog) and at the same time took off Richardson who was doing a steady job on the left,then City did exactly what Leyton fucking Orient did and scored later in the game.This recurring theme of getting beat at home helped by our manager's tactics is very frustrating.I don't agree that we should accept defeat because it's one of the Sky 5,I didn't think City were that great ,yes Toure is class Nd basically win it for them,but our negative tactics helped them,Lambert worries the shit out of me.
A word on the most classless and obnoxious bunch of fans who were not heard at all till they scored,the only fans who piss me off more with their arrogance bear the name of the same city,what a horrible bunch.

Touré was having a nightmare game until he scored. He's been pretty poor so far this season, good job we were on hand to give him the lift he needed.

Toure was having a nightmare until we decided to step back about 10 yards and give their midfield loads of time and space...after about 60 minutes. Until then I thought Tubby Yaya was a bit shit. Why do we insist on defending so deeply for so long in games? By letting the opposition come at us almost unchallenged until 25 yards out we are inviting them to play through us and have shots at will.
After about 81 minutes was actually thinking we'd get a point today!
Bollux! 

[frank black]

Ultimately, we were indecisive in attack.

Wouldn't shell out 7.5mil on cleverley.