Manchester City vs Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Small Rodent]

We were doing just fine until Zaniolo jumped out of the way of the free kick.

Also we were doing fine until Luiz couldn’t help but put his arms all over a player, lucky not to get a second yellow. Things don’t happen in a vacuum.

Although, I think the referee realised how soft the first yellow and, indeed, the first free kick was.

[Gareth]

We were doing just fine until Zaniolo jumped out of the way of the free kick.

Also we were doing fine until Luiz couldn’t help but put his arms all over a player, lucky not to get a second yellow. Things don’t happen in a vacuum.

Although, I think the referee realised how soft the first yellow and, indeed, the first free kick was.

Indeed…the ref could easily have given the 2nd yellow

[Villan82]

If people can't enjoy these times and trust Unai Emery then I don't think they will ever be happy. We have endured some right shit - we are now 4th in April with a European quarter final on the horizon.

I trust Emery all the way. He will have had reasons for his selection tonight - fitness, illness, managing his squad - whatever.

[coreyfeldman]

I seem to remember us conceding from a free kick a while back when doug turned his back/moved out of the way, and it went straight through the wall. Am I making this up or going mad?

[Drummond]

Well that was a pisser.

Annoying but the team gavea good account of themselves I thought. Gave silly goals away again but it's incredibly hard to have total concentration against this lot.

Special mention to the thick ManC fans next to the away, some proper idiots in there.

So many day trippers, half and half scarfs too.

The whole experience is one giant advert for Abu Dhabi. Huge flag  on the pitch before KO was an advert, their im house TV stuff was just adverts and prizes to go to Abu Dhabi with interviews about how lovely it is.

Football sanitised and dull

[tomd2103]

If people can't enjoy these times and trust Unai Emery then I don't think they will ever be happy. We have endured some right shit - we are now 4th in April with a European quarter final on the horizon.

I trust Emery all the way. He will have had reasons for his selection tonight - fitness, illness, managing his squad - whatever.

It also has to be remembered that he's not even 18 months into the job yet as well. 

[Paul.S]

If people can't enjoy these times and trust Unai Emery then I don't think they will ever be happy. We have endured some right shit - we are now 4th in April with a European quarter final on the horizon.

I trust Emery all the way. He will have had reasons for his selection tonight - fitness, illness, managing his squad - whatever.

Absolutely spot on.

UTV

[trinityoap]

Not a profound observation ,but I suspect that if we had drawn both games against them most people would have been happy to take two points. We have got three.

[adrenachrome]

I seem to remember us conceding from a free kick a while back when doug turned his back/moved out of the way, and it went straight through the wall. Am I making this up or going mad?

No, I remember that as well.

Also, if the wall is going to jump, it is current practice to have someone lying down behind them. In our case, this is usually John Mcginn.  And he'd be saying don't turn your back ya radge fuckers.

[Olneythelonely]

Thought we competed well for about an hour. Had some really good moments on the break. Diaby played really well, Zaniolo was good (other than being a pussy in the wall) and Duran was decent in patches. But it was a makeshift team and it showed.

Need to make sure the rest was worth it in the next couple of games.

[BC54 VFC]

If people can't enjoy these times and trust Unai Emery then I don't think they will ever be happy. We have endured some right shit - we are now 4th in April with a European quarter final on the horizon.

I trust Emery all the way. He will have had reasons for his selection tonight - fitness, illness, managing his squad - whatever.

You've nailed it there!

[brontebilly]

I do think we missed Tielemans' strength in defensive midfield.

Tielemans strength in defensive midfield? He can't run or tackle

[edgysatsuma89]

I do think we missed Tielemans' strength in defensive midfield.

Tielemans strength in defensive midfield? He can't run or tackle

Yeah, I've agreed with most of what Monty has said about the game but I was a bit confused by that comment. Of all of Emery's decisions today, I was glad Tim started.

[Percy McCarthy]

I commented ‘we’ve thrown this game’ in the match thread. I only thought that because of the subs after their third goal though. I’m right behind Emery trusting the squad, they need to see that if we’re to rely on them at all. IMO, It was a calculated gamble to rest certain players in the hope that it pays off over the next two games. And it would also have been a gamble to go as strong as we could in this game and maybe risk more players missing at the weekend and on Thursday. Just swings and roundabouts really.

[PaulWinch again]

I think it is quite possible to both love what Unai has done and is doing at the club, but also not take a great deal of joy from the fact we competed for a half against Citeh. It was said, by some, that we need to change our mentality a bit before the game and that’s probably right. Our last couple of games against the teams we’re directly competing against we’ve been thumped, conceding 4 on both occasions. It’s great that we’re where we are, but we need to be better, particularly defensively, in these games.