Aston Villa v Manchester City Pre-Match Thread

[Phil from the upper holte]

Oh and we're going to win 2-1

[QuintonVilla]

The 7/2 for Man City to win by 3 or more is more appealing.

[PaulWinch again]

I'll say one thing I hope Remi doesn't come up with a MacDonald selection today!

[four fornicholl]

as much as I want him to do the business all this talk of needing coaches doesn't instill me with much confidence

[mr underhill]

No one gives us a prayer to get anything out of this so I'm hoping for a bold adventurous team selection Remi. Just go for it. No Richardson no Mr Blobby.

[clash city rocker]

We need 3 points Remi so just fuckin go for it...

[saint13]

Although they are without there 2 best players I suspect Man City will play within themselves & beat us 2-0. What is of greater significance is the team he picks and the way they set up. Surely our overweight centre forward will be nowhere near the team or bench, (selling programmes, maybe?).

Hopefully we can generate a cracking atmosphere & at least start to build something with a decent performance. Good Luck Remi!

[PeterWithesShin]

It would be nice to see a starting line-up and see what he's trying to do rather than thinking "what the fuck is that?!!".

[Holtemeister]

Response vital ... Result not so

If we dont respond the "bounce factor" of the new manager will be lost and we will have to rely on genuine long term improvement which i fear will come too late to save us.

[Russ aka Big Nose]

Really interesting/important team selection - I know that is a statement of the obvious.

Many (most?) will hope that Gabby, Lescott, and others will be nowhere near the team, but they are senior players and he has to, to an extent, get all of the playing squad to buy in to what he wants to do and his approach.

If he 'bombs' too many out they could undermine what he seeks to do - if performances and results improve their ability to rock the boat will be limited but if there is not an early improvement there will be plenty in the media happy to write up rumours of discontent and that our French gamble is not working.

I hope for some bold selection decisions but recognise he will have to temper that.

You could make a case for saying Citah is a free hit as we are not expected to get anything, but if we lose by 3 or 4 then that will offer the pundits all the ammunition they might want.

Having said that, I think (hope?) Garde will opt for a freshened line-up and a deserved point. UTV

[Ron Manager]

It would be nice to see a starting line-up and see what he's trying to do rather than thinking "what the fuck is that?!!".

If I see a midfield of Sanchez, Gueye and Veretout  I will be very impressed with Remi Garde. However if I see the name Agbonlahor in the starting line up I will be very far from happy as will most around me I should imagine.

[saunders_heroes]

Response vital ... Result not so

If we dont respond the "bounce factor" of the new manager will be lost and we will have to rely on genuine long term improvement which i fear will come too late to save us.

Result is just as important as the response. We don't want to find ourselves 6 points adrift with an international break coming up.
Even a draw would be a great result. Come on Villa!

[Monty]

The result is considerably more important than the response, but some fight and some semblance of a plan would be a bit of consolation if (when) we lose.

[SoccerHQ]

The results are very important in the Everton, Watford, Southampton, Newcastle, West Ham, Sunderland, Norwich and Palace games.

Not so much today.

[olaftab]

I will mulch over how we have, incredibly, won this  whilst clearing the leaves later this afternoon.