Aston Villa vs Man City pre match thread

[pauliewalnuts]

Someone on that twitter thread told them they need to "learn how to read the room", which is absolutely spot on.

[chrisw1]

I'm more relaxed about Jack than a lot on here, but I still think the social media posts are a big mistake.  Talk about not reading the room.  They've made us look small time and I'm not surprised about the reaction they're getting tbh. 

I don't mind giving the lad an off the cuff clap of appreciation if the mood feels right, but I don't want my club fawning over him on the morning of a big game.  Idiots.

[LeeB]

It has certainly stirred things up for tonight, probably the opposite of their intention.

Too right, I may have been ambivalent before but his puff piece and the forelock tugging from some of our fans and the bloody club have got me right wound up.

[RichardBatchelor]

This one? https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/december/01/welcome-back--jack/

This is wrong in my opinion, as he's here in the capacity of a player (putting aside fitness doubts) who will be trying to score against us. It's also out of touch with the fans.

[Hookeysmith]

I'd have had more respect if the tweet said something like

"Hoping the Villa park crowd roar us on tonight to a victory and Jack hears / sees what he is missing"  *

*As he will never get an atmosphere like it where he is at

[DerbyVillian]

Whoever posted that shite on the AVFC website needs the fucking sack, pronto.

I am truly surprised that was posted.

Think nothing should have been posted

[Legion]

The Grealish saga is now overshadowing the match itself.

[Drummond]

[boozey182]

I wasn't that fussed about him coming back until I saw that post.

It's unbelievably patronising. It's annoying enough when you see the wider media hoping "the fans show him respect", but when our club is doing the same it starts to create an internal 'us vs them' attitude, which is not healthy for a football club.

The club (Purslow?*) and Jack we so keen to push the 'one of us' message - it was meticulously cultivated by them both for their benefit. We went along with it, well, because which fan base wouldn't?! One of you leading the team is what football is all about.

But you can't have it both ways. You can't be 'one of us' if you are one of them - whoever 'them' is. You were one of us, and now you're not. And we will react however we see fit, thank you very much - no halfwit pundit, shitty montage or Telegraph interview is going to make us welcome him with open arms. In fact, that seems to have the exact opposite effect on me. He can get fucked.

*I worry about Purslow's fascination with 'big names'. Interviewing Henry when we got Dean, appointing Terry as part of that team, now hiring Gerrard and inviting Jack to matches. There seems to be a theme with his decision making - this may not be a huge problem if Gerrard works out, but having a fanboy for a CEO is a little disconcerting.

[ChicagoLion]

Absolute PR shambles. They obviously have no idea. Fucking Idiots.

[Villan82]

Well said. I have been a massive chearleader for the current regime based on the crap that went before but the last few weeks have been concerning. I hope the owners are watching Purslow closely.

[Beard82]

I wasn't that fussed about him coming back until I saw that post.

It's unbelievably patronising. It's annoying enough when you see the wider media hoping "the fans show him respect", but when our club is doing the same it starts to create an internal 'us vs them' attitude, which is not healthy for a football club.

The club (Purslow?*) and Jack we so keen to push the 'one of us' message - it was meticulously cultivated by them both for their benefit. We went along with it, well, because which fan base wouldn't?! One of you leading the team is what football is all about.

But you can't have it both ways. You can't be 'one of us' if you are one of them - whoever 'them' is. You were one of us, and now you're not. And we will react however we see fit, thank you very much - no halfwit pundit, shitty montage or Telegraph interview is going to make us welcome him with open arms. In fact, that seems to have the exact opposite effect on me. He can get fucked.

*I worry about Purslow's fascination with 'big names'. Interviewing Henry when we got Dean, appointing Terry as part of that team, now hiring Gerrard and inviting Jack to matches. There seems to be a theme with his decision making - this may not be a huge problem if Gerrard works out, but having a fanboy for a CEO is a little disconcerting.

This 100%

I have a growing mistrust of him.  He speaks well, but it feels too much about his ego and the people he can rub shoulders with. The second Dean went I knew we would get Gerrard, like you say its fine if it works - but if not this ones on CP

[Meanwood Villa]

The Grealish saga is now overshadowing the match itself.

It was always going to. Man Citeh are a hugely efficient but very dull winning machine so any hype that can be generated off the pitch will be.

[villadelph]

He was happy to leave and we're making it easy on him for his return. I hope the crowd eviscerates him and Matty crumples him.

No love lost from me.

[Legion]

I hope he gets booked for simulation then dismissed for dissent.