Aston Villa vs. Man City Match Thread

[DB]

Very Impressed. We might well lose but we know there are the makings of a very decent team on the pitch. Is it International Friendles next week? giving more time to work with them in training.

Exactly.

[mikeb1982]

It feels so much better to be stood here at half time, not feeling pissed off. Vive le Villa!

[1_Pablo_Angel]

We have to stay patient here. City are getting 10 men behind the ball quickly whenever we have it so they're not going to be easy to break down.

[Deano's Mullet]

Seen the type of game far too often. Huff and puff but no threat, they up it second half and win comfortbly. Can't see us scoring. Shame because we look OK. Amavi looks class and veretout is tidy but clark and Richards look bit vulnerable. Still at least we have a shape now. Come on Villa!

[letsshakehands]

Very encouraging so far, but still struggling to see where the goals will come from.  Has Ayew touched the ball yet?

No doubt the British press will conveniently overlook a blatant dive from Sterling.

I think it's just a tight game. You could say the same about Bony until he went off, and De Bruyne since he moved up top.

[charleeco7]

Well at least he has them playing with a bit of a structure. Long way to go min and we look lightweight up front but at least we are keeping th ball. Gil is a bloody good player.

[asgpaul]

Very pleased with that first half performance - a lot more movement - a lot of positives to be had.

[Boz]

Bit fed up with the commentary team, saying that should have been a penalyy for a foul on Sterling, when he basically messed up a chance by being totally one footed and then blatantly dived when he knew the chance had gone.

Absolutely, cheating little cnut

[supertom]

Well I'm very pleased with that first half. Given neither side has had a shot on target of note, it's actually not been too bad a game.
As far as we go, I think we've moved the ball well and kept it quite intelligently at times. All that's lacking is a bit of a spark and a bit of daring in the final third. Amavi has been a little reluctant to whip the ball in when he's had good positions.
I think the midfield 3 has looked good. There's some balance there. Sanchez is doing well just sitting and holding and is shifting the ball well. When he doesn't get unnecessarily tired and makes mistakes, he's a quality player. I think it seems to me like Garde has identified that if you put a couple of energetic playes like Garde and Veretout there, then Sanchez doesn't have to run himself into the ground. Particularly if Carlos has had to play in a two with Westwood. It does him in.

Gil has been lively. I like the way he players, we just need to pick him out in some more dangerous areas. Ayew hasn't had much of the ball but looks sharp. Sinclair needs to do more. He's had a few chances to go on the outside but has cut in instead. He should be using his pace when he gets the chance.

All in all that's a solid display for me. Very pleasing. The most pleasing aspect is you can actually see there's a gameplan and that so far, it's been working. City have opened us up only once (Sterling should have been booked for that dive).
We're not pressing too much much. We're staying disciplined, but at the same time we're not camping on our own box and inviting pressure. I think defensively we've got the balance about right. I'll snatch your arm off for a 0-0, but who knows, we could nick something. I'll be interested to see what changes Garde might make and whether (and how) he'll utilise Gestede in the latter stages.

[PaulWinch again]

I think whatever happens this puts to bed the idea that the players we signed in the summer are terrible. It was all bad management.

[taylorsworkrate]

reasonably encouraging

[Toronto Villa]

I'm not overly concerned about creating chances but today. We need to prove we can disciplined and resolute defensively. And there is no bigger test than against the side that will likely be champions or very close to it.

[taylorsworkrate]

I'm not overly concerned about the creati chances but today. We need to prove we can disciplined and resolute defensively. And there is no bigger test than against the side that will likely be champions or very close to it.

I think Citeh are easily the best team in the league in all fairness

[ACVilla]

Bit fed up with the commentary team, saying that should have been a penalyy for a foul on Sterling, when he basically messed up a chance by being totally one footed and then blatantly dived when he knew the chance had gone.

Absolutely, cheating little cnut

You could easily argue Gil's dive was worse to win the free kick outside their box as he wasn't even touched.

But he's Villa, so we won't eh.

[Monty]

We shouldn't play down how well City have defended. They track our runners from midfield, they've organised positionally, they've balanced sitting in with pressing. If we're going to look toothless, some of it will be to do with City.