Aston Villa v Manchester City Pre-Match Thread

[simon ward 50]

Aston Villa 3-0 Manchester City.

I'll have what you're drinking!

[aj2k77]

Aston Villa 3-0 Manchester City.

I'll have what you're drinking!

Anti freeze.

[in exile]

At the risk of being breath/drug tested, I've gone for a draw

[Marlon's Hairy Wood]

--------------------Guzan

Richards ---- Okore ----- Clark ---- Amavi

------------ Sanchez --- Gana

----------------- Veretout

Traore ----------------------------- Gil

------------------ Ayew

Subs: Bunn, Hutton, Ilori, Gardner, Grealish, Sinclair, Kozak.

Aston Villa 4 - 0 Manchester City

Substitutions: Gardner ON Sanchez OFF 60. Kozak ON Ayew OFF 65. Ilori ON Traore OFF 75.

Goals: Veretout 10, 67. Okore 22. Gardner 84.

A famous victory and celebratory pints all round in the Aston Tavern.

[Richard E]

--------------------Guzan

Richards ---- Okore ----- Clark ---- Amavi

------------ Sanchez --- Gana

----------------- Veretout

Traore ----------------------------- Gil

------------------ Ayew

Subs: Bunn, Hutton, Ilori, Gardner, Grealish, Sinclair, Kozak.

Aston Villa 4 - 0 Manchester City

Substitutions: Gardner ON Sanchez OFF 60. Kozak ON Ayew OFF 65. Ilori ON Traore OFF 75.

Goals: Veretout 10, 67. Okore 22. Gardner 84.

A famous victory and celebratory pints all round in the Aston Tavern.

What a ridiculous prediction.

It'll clearly be the 63rd minute when Gardner comes on for Sanchez.

[Hookeysmith]

I do however expect to hear a lot of hissing if he, who shall not be named, is involved.

You mean Gabby right?

[Toronto Villa]

I do however expect to hear a lot of hissing if he, who shall not be named, is involved.

You mean Gabby right?

That would be the sound of air being let out of the tire above his hips.

[Risso]

I'm afraid that we're likely to get battered.  The defence will still be shit, the midfield pedestrian and the attack laughably bad.  However, I'd like to at least the emblance of a plan, a shape to the team and at least a hint that tactics are being worked on.

I'd go:

Hutton Richards Lescott Amavi
Gana Sanchez Veretout
Gil Ayew Grealish

That front three could really cause them problems, and with Gana (if he's fit) and Sanchez keeping things solid in the middle.  Gil and Grealish would be expected o put in a shift as well though.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

Win or Draw for Villa is 2/1. As far as I'm concerned that's money in the bank.

[Monty]

I'm afraid that we're likely to get battered.  The defence will still be shit, the midfield pedestrian and the attack laughably bad.  However, I'd like to at least the emblance of a plan, a shape to the team and at least a hint that tactics are being worked on.

I'd go:

Hutton Richards Lescott Amavi
Gana Sanchez Veretout
Gil Ayew Grealish

That front three could really cause them problems, and with Gana (if he's fit) and Sanchez keeping things solid in the middle.  Gil and Grealish would be expected o put in a shift as well though.

Okore instead of Lescott if possible, but otherwise I agree with this team.

[tomd2103]

--------------------Guzan

Richards ---- Okore ----- Clark ---- Amavi

------------ Sanchez --- Gana

----------------- Veretout

Traore ----------------------------- Gil

------------------ Ayew

I would personally "reverse the midfield triangle" and have Sanchez sitting in front of the back four with Veretout and Gana a bit more advanced.  I don't see Ayew as an out-and-out front man, so in lieu of any other candidates (and seeing as Kozak has seemingly disappeared off the face of the Earth) I think we'll have to persist with Gestede.   

[Monty]

Ayew might not be as used to playing up front on his own as Gestede is, but surely it's worth seeing if he'd be better at it? Gestede is just a waste of a shirt at the moment.

[Marlon's Hairy Wood]

Ayew might not be as used to playing up front on his own as Gestede is, but surely it's worth seeing if he'd be better at it? Gestede is just a waste of a shirt at the moment.

The problem at the moment is the style of players we use

Gestede wants the Downing and Young style players behind him who will simply take on a man and cross it in

where as Gil, Grealish and perhaps Traore want an Aguero style striker who only wants the ball played to feet in front of them

and because Gestede is utterly useless on the ground, thats why we've had trouble keeping the ball in the final third. At least with Ayew he can pass and move on a similar wavelength to Gil and Grealish

[Clampy]

I might be wrong but I think Ayew played most of his football out wide for his previous club and it's where he looks most effective. Same goes for Sinclair really.

[Monty]

I might be wrong but I think Ayew played most of his football out wide for his previous club and it's where he looks most effective. Same goes for Sinclair really.

Sure, but the point is about our alternatives - would he look more or less effective than Gabby, Sinclair or Gestede through the middle? I think he's our best bet.