Manchester City v Aston Villa Match Thread

[PeterWithesShin]

Maybe there's a minor knock or two. I bet the makeshift Man City defence aren't looking forward to facing that lot. It's either going to be beautiful chaos or disasterous chaos. Forza chaos!

[Nev]

It's not just Sat, we play in Europe next week and I'm sure he has an eye on that. Woolwich are doing the same but then they are up against Luton.

Missing my gig in London because of the shit at Euston so I shall watch it all unfold....

[Skerra]

Points to 5 at the back. Wrong tactics in my view. Let’s hope we don’t go down by more than 2 goals. Citeh need to stop their run of not winning against the other top 5 teams….ladies and gentlemen..  I give you Aston Villa!!

[Matt C]

And now Emi is out too…

[Sexual Ealing]

Three games in seven days folks.

I wouldn't want to be in the trenches with some here FFS

Can I be excused from the trenches altogether? I've got asthma and I'm not much use with a shovel.

[PeterWithesShin]

Update: Robin Olsen will start in goal for Aston Villa. Emi Martínez misses out through illness.

[AV84]

I wonder if it's a case of Emery knowing Duran can't play the way Watkins does, so he's made wholesale changes to try to better suit his style of play? Zaniolo and Duran are quite physical players, maybe we're just going to bash them off the ball for 90 minutes.

[PeterWithesShin]

Ok, now i'm less confident.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

FFS.

[PaulWinch again]

Update: Robin Olsen will start in goal for Aston Villa. Emi Martínez misses out through illness.

This is going to be a loooooong night.

[Astnor]

Emi out, thats it then

[Sexual Ealing]

This is going to be biblical.

[trinityoap]

We would be saying that was a decent line up if we were at home to Aldershot in the cup.

[Dave]

I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't start v Man City as much as he could start as he's not the only option, because it all rests on Emery's tactics as much as confidence in having an inexperienced , temperamental but brilliant striker occupying their defence. Zaniolo, Rogers, and Diaby might all be ahead of him in the Watkins position and would suit the game plan of counter attack and transition. It's two of the four plus Bailey. If Bailey does not start while the other four do, I am not pleased.

I nearly replied to this post along the lines of "that would be nuts, there is literally no chance that those four start and Bailey be the one to miss out. Don't be so silly".

But, "insight" I guess.

[Nev]

Oh good God almighty.....