Aston Villa Silhouettes vs Manchester City Post-Match Thrashing

[Rudy Can't Fail]

One of my biggest bugbears this season has been our meekness. Compare how Sheffield United consistently snarl and snap at top teams and give them nothing for free. Every player knows exactly what their role is and, just as importantly, they know the roles of their teammates and where they will be. We simply accept that our opponents are better than us and accept our fate.

We haven’t been able to bloody the nose of the best teams since MON left. Even last season we didn’t beat any of the top 4 in our 8 games against  them.

I honestly believe most teams in the lower leagues nevermind the Championship would have given Man City more of a game than we did today. 'Meekness' summed us up perfectly.

[Richard]

Really pissed off with that shambles still.

Why no Freddie ?
Why play the wing backs so far back that we surrendered midfield ?
Why play Jack as a wasted second striker in the first half ? Much better to have him drop deeper to support our piss poor CM.
Smith is so stubborn. He even refused to accept that having no forward on the pitch was hindering us.

[aj2k77]

''we were playing Man City, It doesn't take a betting expert to predict we'd be in the bottom 3 today''

Shit attitude to take.

[PeterWithe]

Hmmm, he’s got to have the players thinking they can beat anyone not defeated before they've laced their boots. Even if he’s telling the truth.

[Flin5tone]

''we were playing Man City, It doesn't take a betting expert to predict we'd be in the bottom 3 today''

Shit attitude to take.

Did Smith say that?

on top of the nonsense he said on the MOTD this is shocking and worrying , what sort of attitude is that? he needs to go before Brighton

[PeterWithesShin]

Aguero's reaction to AEG scoring the penalty was quite amusing.

[Flin5tone]

Aguero's reaction to AEG scoring the penalty was quite amusing.

It was but also shows just how much it means to them and the sort of mentality Pep has installed in them,gutted about conceding when 6 up!

[Hockley Lion]

I didn't get to see the game as I was out and I'm not sure I want to after reading this thread.

It must have been really bad!! 13 or so pages and no one's blamed the ref or VAR for anything yet!!!

Hopefully we can bounce back.

Utv.

[LukeJames]

I didn't get to see the game

FFS some people get all the fucking luck!

[Matt C]

I can accept the difference in ability. They have better footballers than we do. No shame in that. They are very, very good. As well they should be having spent a decent-sized country’s GDP assembling a team. What I struggle with is the meek surrender. The beaten before we even start, not laying a glove on them, talking ourselves into submission nonsense. Surely there’s more to it than this? 

[ChicagoLion]

If any one has any idea what the game plan was yesterday please let us know.
What an absolute shambles again and that tackle count is a disgrace.

[frank black]

If any one has any idea what the game plan was yesterday please let us know.
What an absolute shambles again and that tackle count is a disgrace.

Same as Leicester but without the saves and committed tackling.

[PaulWinch again]

I can accept the difference in ability. They have better footballers than we do. No shame in that. They are very, very good. As well they should be having spent a decent-sized country’s GDP assembling a team. What I struggle with is the meek surrender. The beaten before we even start, not laying a glove on them, talking ourselves into submission nonsense. Surely there’s more to it than this? 

Yes this is it. There’s losing and there’s losing. Dean’s comment along the lines of ‘two in the bottom three were playing and we were playing Manchester City. It doesn’t take a betting man to think we’d be in the bottom 3 after today.’ Whilst there’s obviously truth to that it’s a bloody defeatist attitude. It’s hardly surprising we’re meek and pathetic if the manager thinks like that.

[Villafirst]

Pathetic display.  No physicality and easily brushed off the ball. As for the standard of 'passing' that was an all time low yesterday. The ball retention is shockingly bad and has been for most games lately. Players confidence is shot. And who's stupid idea was it to give Smith a new 4 year deal??

[alanclare]

I can accept the difference in ability. They have better footballers than we do. No shame in that. They are very, very good. As well they should be having spent a decent-sized country’s GDP assembling a team. What I struggle with is the meek surrender. The beaten before we even start, not laying a glove on them, talking ourselves into submission nonsense. Surely there’s more to it than this? 

Absolutely. That was the general feeling where I was. Villa came on the pitch expecting to be overpowered - and they were, with the commendable exception of Grealish who must have covered more yards than the rest of that supine bunch put together.