Aston Villa v Manchester City Pre-Match Thread

[l_mckay]

A decent performance but a 2-1 defeat

[VicMackey]

Us 2 Them 1. The return to greatness begins. And Hutton absolutely clatters Delph late on.

Would be very amusing if Hutton was to manage that while Delph is still on the bench...

I expect we'll get battered.  But we live in hope and football is, after all, a funny old game...

[maigrait]

I'd say 1-3 to City... and thats with them taking it easy. I would have liked a home win (or draw) for Remi's first game in charge but just can't see it.

[Mortimer's Bear]

I expect we'll lose, but I want to see Gana, Veretout, Ayew, Amavi, Gil and probably Adama involved in some capacity.

What he said.

[Hookeysmith]

I expect we'll lose, but I want to see Gana, Veretout, Ayew, Amavi, Gil and probably Adama involved in some capacity.

What he said.

thirded

[Dr Butler]

AVFC 1-0 Man Ci££y (a snake og 88 )

UTV
The Doc

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

I predict a meltdown on here if Gabby, Westwood and Richardson take the field

and rightly so..

What a tough game for Remi to start his tenure. I already know we'll give them a few goals, I just hope we can bag a couple ourselves. I know I should be excited about a new manager on board but I've just really lost interest at the moment. 

As much as I don't want Gabby to play we have to trust the manager in the team he selects. These players will either start to play well and keep their places or eliminate themselves naturally. Gabby certainly didn't help himself yesterday, but that could be said of a few of them. I am hoping though that between Randy's comments about the large investments made in players over the summer, whatever discussion Garde has had with Randy and Tom Fox regarding objectives and what he has seen with his own eyes will lead to the correct team decisions. I certainly however would hope to see Ayew start over Gabby and Gil come in with Gana returning for starters.

I think Gabby will be "injured"...a bit like the kid who gets his mum to write a note because he doesn't want to do rugby in PE because it will be rough and a bit cold.
And he will be expected to run around and look interested.

[AVH87]

Well our last 2 managers have started with a defeat, could Remi make it third time lucky? If Burnley beat this lot last season, we've got a chance.

Get Gana and Sanchez protecting the back four, with Gil pulling strings infront of them. Ayew to start up front. Less fussed on the wingers, 2 from Grealish, Sinclair, Traore I guess.

[phantom limb]

I've gone for an overly optimistic draw. I'm really interested in Garde's first team selection, and will be both shocked and baffled if his starting eleven includes Gabby.

[LeeB]

I've gone for an overly optimistic draw. I'm really interested in Garde's first team selection, and will be both shocked and baffled if his starting eleven includes Gabby.

If Gabby starts, some of the alternatives must be terrible in training, and we really are fucked.

[AVH87]

Aguero definitely out and just seen that Silva didn't feature last night and is a doubt, nailed on home win then.

[tj66]

Let's hope Remi has been pointed in the direction of this site rather than Kmac's notes and analysis.  Almost everyone on here has the same basic 9 players with only a couple of variants and we almost all want at least 6 changes to Monday's starting line up, and some as many as 8 or 9.
Personally I'd only have Grealish and Traore on the bench as the lack of tracking back, if we include both, will put huge pressure on the back 6(?) and Gil and Ayew obviously have to start and we probably need Sanchez, Gueye and Veretout in front of the defence. Sinclair probably gets the nod to play alongside Ayew - will have something to prove and their pace is our best option with Gil threading the passes through.
Defence has to have Amavi, Richards and I suppose Hutton, after Monday's effort (though must run back not jog/walk) and then preferably Okore if match fit.

Subs - Bunn, Crespo, Clark, Grealish, Traore, Kozak, Bacuna
I fear though that it would be a very brave man (though that is what we need) to make 7 changes after 6 days and we'll all be a little disappointed - I expect Lescott, for one, will keep his place.
I do however expect to hear a lot of hissing if he, who shall not be named, is involved.

[oldtimernow]

AVFC 1-0 Man Ci££y (a snake og 88 )

UTV
The Doc

I like your optimism Doc....hope it becomes infectious

[Desi]

 .....allowing him to run the gauntlet against former club Aston Villa.

 See more at: http://www.sportinastorm.com/Premier-League/Manchester-City/Pellegrini-to-check-on-midfielder's-mindset/X1Y47Z2005261#sthash.qstdlkoV.dpuf

[Richard E]

.....allowing him to run the gauntlet against former club Aston Villa.

 See more at: http://www.sportinastorm.com/Premier-League/Manchester-City/Pellegrini-to-check-on-midfielder's-mindset/X1Y47Z2005261#sthash.qstdlkoV.dpuf

...leaving him on the bench or out of the squad, as with pretty much ever other game past, present or future in his Man City career.