Aston Villa vs Manchester City Post-Keeping the Score Down Thread

[Rudy65]

What an utterly stupid challenge from Cash for the red card. Unbelievable.

He always dives in. when he gets the ball it looks good, but when he doesn’t....

[AlwaysVilla]

I think the one thing that stands out compared to say Leeds who I think are at our level is our total inability to even compete and show desire. Its been that way for weeks. Any gulf In class in the opposition doesn't stop you doing that,and in my opinion that's a serious problem that stems from the manager. I cannot see our owners keep providing 70 to 100 million each year without  European football being forthcoming.  I fear for Dean if we don't qualify next season

[Villa Lew]

Great first 20 seconds, then it rapidly went downhill after that. Only good news was we weren't hammered, thanks again to Konsa and Mings and apart from their 2nd goal Martinez.

[SoccerHQ]

It’s really sad that what was a superb start to the season is ending like this. We should have finished comfortably in the top half and that is now very much in doubt. It’s more than just Jack missing. We just seem a little lost as a team and coaching staff. And it’s not about today. It’s about the sides not called Man City that we have failed to beat in recent months. We’ve not looked like winning any of them really.

It's a real Villa trait in last 20 years for seasons to just fizzle out from promising positions after 20-25 games. The infamous collapse under MON and a couple of seasons under Gregory when we lost form completely from Feb onwards.

Be interesting what we do next January if we have another strong first 3-4 months start.

As much as covid is being blamed on the other page we need to remember most of our 11 have played the most minutes in their positions in probably the whole league as likes of McGinn and Watkins never get subbed if they're on the pitch so that's going to have an impact in final few months as other teams are simply fresher with rotation.

[D.boy]

The season up to January was good. Jan onwards has been relegation form.

[TonyD]

I have been one our harshest critics on here for many years but losing to City by one goal when they are trying to seal the title is no great shame. 

One goal. 

[Risso]

I have been one our harshest critics on here for many years but losing to City by one goal when they are trying to seal the title is no great shame. 

One goal. 

It's not the one goal loss to City by itself though, it's the 16 points from the last 16 games, which is exactly the same return West Brom have got in that time.

[Allan C]

Wasn't expecting anything different but if we are going to realise our ambitions of competing for European places any time soon then we cannot continue with midfielders who cannot retain possession and wingers who are peripheral week after week.

Dean and the coaches have got to reassess this because we are going backwards. Tactics, formation, personnel. All needs to be looked at.

Bang on mate

[Matt C]

The way City pass and keep the ball is the benchmark to aspire for, quite remarkable at times.

As for us, we’ll not get many better chances to get something from them but the senseless red card ended that hope. We look flat and as much as we all hoped it wouldn’t, season is fizzling out. Shame.

[Rory]

I have been one our harshest critics on here for many years but losing to City by one goal when they are trying to seal the title is no great shame. 

One goal. 

It's not the one goal loss to City by itself though, it's the 16 points from the last 16 games, which is exactly the same return West Brom have got in that time.

If we're keeping pace with Fat, Crooked Sam we must be doing something right!

I would like to see us buck our ideas up, but our remaining fixtures look tricky, to say the least. I still trust that we'll recruit well in the summer, but if we don't get to 55 points it'll have been a disappointing second half to the season for me.

[cdbearsfan]

I don't think the one goal defeat really tells the story. We were outclassed, and gave the performance of a team that just wanted to avoid being humiliated. Lesser teams than us have put up a far greater fight against them than we did this evening. I don't think any of us expected a win, but would have hoped their goalkeeper might see the ball without using binoculars at some point in the last 89 minutes.

[Risso]

55? Not sure we'll get to 45!

[stubbsyandy]

55? Not sure we'll get to 45!

🥱

[Rory]

55? Not sure we'll get to 45!

See, you're being too positive again 😉

[Legion]

55? Not sure we'll get to 45!

🥱

He's joking.