Aston Villa vs. Man City Post-Match Thread

[Gareth]

Couple of things to add;
The Gestede incident, was above it & Hart was telling Rudy that he wanted it on his chest, Rudy was telling him he'd throw it out for goal kick....when Rudy threw it all Hart had to do was sidestep it....his lack of control caused the row & in no way did he have to throw it into his chest.

Pre-match warm up, what a pleasure to see them warming up as units, passing and moving with the coach urging more and more intensity...I was smiling before kick off & it kept going :-)

From resignation to hope without complacency in a week!

[SashasGrandad]

I actually saw passing AND movement off the ball at times. It scared me.

That little spell in the first half when we kept the ball and they kept passing it to each other - I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

You could feel all the home crowd around you were feeling the same way and that moment everybody was thinking if they can do that, they might just stand a chance. The rest of the season might not be the nightmare we all fear.

[Dave Pountney]

Both sets of Manc fans appear to have the same twat gene. Just that the blue one has been hidden for much longer...

They're effectively supporting global franchises that have the wealth to regularly hoover up the best players in the world. The fact that they carry the name of Manchester, play in the city and wear the colours of the previous authentic versions on their respective clubs, matters for little in the great scheme of things. The two clubs might as well tour the world and play their 19 "home" games in 19 foreign capitals. The owners need the loyal domestic fanbase to populate the stadiums but their eyes scan much further afield, forever looking for different and more lucrative revenue streams. They grow ever more rootless and character-less, drifting remorselessly away from the communities that gave them birth.

In this sense, I have some sympathy for the long-standing United and City fans who must wince at what their clubs have become. Hollow shells of their former selves, the two clubs gorge themselves on perma-success and ludicrous wealth, their essential character and identity melting away before the eyes of their fans.

If you supported footballing monstrosities like these then its very easy to lose all sense of proportion and self-awareness.

[four fornicholl]

we love you villa we do

[SW9-VILLA]

I think Pellegrini made a mistake bringing Delph on. It provoked a reaction from the fans and brought the crowd back into the game. It seemed to fire the team up for the last 15 mins as well.

[SashasGrandad]

According to the Manchester Evening News' website, Delph is quoted as saying that the support from the €iteh fans was so noisy he couldn't hear any hissing.

I guess it's a case of once a liar, always a liar...

Snakes don't have ears do they? Or very small ones anyway.

I couldn't hear the hissing - over the boos, cries of wanker, one greedy bastard, death threats, etc.

Oh and "Villa till I die"

[adrenachrome]

I think Pellegrini made a mistake bringing Delph on. It provoked a reaction from the fans and brought the crowd back into the game. It seemed to fire the team up for the last 15 mins as well.

I believe he knew very well what the crowd reaction would be and thought it would make us go all out and lose our shape. Our players had been told in clear terms what was required of them, and they executed the instructions perfectly.

A most auspicious start for our new manager in extremely difficult circumstances.

 

[brian green]

Elegantly put Dave. Even more painfully the hollow heart of club support is being filled world wide by couch potato targets for the beer and cars being sold by the television channel owners. The sport element is increasingly irrelevant.

[ROBBO]

While we celebrate the way we played i think its easy to underestimate how important it was not losing and getting that point. To have played your hearts out and still to lose would have taken its toll on the players but now it will be in their mindset that they can match it with the best and get a result.
Amavi was playing to instructions in not crossing the ball of that i'm convinced, it will be different against weaker apponents, i stayed up to watch the game til 2.30am and for the first time in a very long time it was worth it.

[peter w]

Oh and I thought Hutton was our best player today.

So did I.

Really? he lost sterling for the header and allowed De Bruyne to run past him for his chance. I thought he was woeful.

[peter w]

Both sets of Manc fans appear to have the same twat gene. Just that the blue one has been hidden for much longer...

A Manc is a Manc is a Manc.

[joe_c]

I thought Gil was very good today.

It's amazing how much picking your best players and getting them playing to a system can improve you.

As Drummond said above, seeing those players not starting the match lifted my spirits from the off.

Indeed. It was nice to see to see the starting XI and think "Ooh!" instead of "WTF?"

[The Edge]

Both sets of Manc fans appear to have the same twat gene. Just that the blue one has been hidden for much longer...

They're effectively supporting global franchises that have the wealth to regularly hoover up the best players in the world. The fact that they carry the name of Manchester, play in the city and wear the colours of the previous authentic versions on their respective clubs, matters for little in the great scheme of things. The two clubs might as well tour the world and play their 19 "home" games in 19 foreign capitals. The owners need the loyal domestic fanbase to populate the stadiums but their eyes scan much further afield, forever looking for different and more lucrative revenue streams. They grow ever more rootless and character-less, drifting remorselessly away from the communities that gave them birth.

In this sense, I have some sympathy for the long-standing United and City fans who must wince at what their clubs have become. Hollow shells of their former selves, the two clubs gorge themselves on perma-success and ludicrous wealth, their essential character and identity melting away before the eyes of their fans.

If you supported footballing monstrosities like these then its very easy to lose all sense of proportion and self-awareness.

wow that's a deep analysis that gets right to the bone . Nice one mate. I'm not so eloquent I just hate gobby manc twat! 

[Steve67]

Oh and I thought Hutton was our best player today.

So did I.

Really? he lost sterling for the header and allowed De Bruyne to run past him for his chance. I thought he was woeful.

I think woeful is strong Peter. I did post earlier that both he and Richards have to stop their men running off them, particularly in the box. Twice today Richards stood with his hands in the air having allowed his man to get in behind him, remonstrating with Hutton, when he was equally at fault. It's very picky as I thought we defended far better as a team today, but, learn from this Villa. Personally, Guzan or Sanchez motm for me.

[The Edge]

I think Pellegrini made a mistake bringing Delph on. It provoked a reaction from the fans and brought the crowd back into the game. It seemed to fire the team up for the last 15 mins as well.

yep. Well fucking done Manuel we needed that