Manchester City vs Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[VillaTim]

Ultimately we were way too open. Losing heavily like this is always upsetting and now it's all about a reaction Saturday . I hope we put up a better fight at Arsenal away.

[curiousorange]

The goal difference to Spuds is in their favour by one. It's not as if we're looking at a thirty goal swing.

[PeterWithesShin]

The contention seems to be that he started Lenglet, Zaniolo and Diaby. Even if we ignore any potential illness/fitness issues with anyone else, they are 3 full internationals that have started more than 40 league games this season between them for us, and more than 60 league appearances when you add in subs, it's not like we chucked in a load of untried youth players.

[RamboandBruno]

I agree. I thought it looked a bit that way at the start, but it's not that simple, having reflected on it.

He has to make a series of measured judgements across the full season about how to best use our squad to get the best result come the end of game 38 (plus whatever in Europe).

We can't just play our best XI week in, week out. Some games are more important than others, some games carry a much higher chance of winning than others, some are way more impactful in terms of where we are in the league.

You can't just look at this sort of thing and say "well, Bailey (random chosen player) hasn't played for a week, so he can't be tired". That's a 'micro' approach to things, Emery has to zoom out a bit and look at the wider picture and juggle all the parts.

If we'd gone all-out, playing players who are not totally fit, or who are ill, or who are just tired or out of form, tonight, in a 'let's throw everything at it' mindset, and went down heroically 3-4, then as a result looked jaded and knackered against Brentford, a real must and can win match at the weekend, then people would slaughter him. Then we've got the Conference League coming back.

He's got to balance things looking at the wider picture.

How did it work out for O'Neill after Moscow when he did the exactly the same thing? Not only did we get battered tonight, we've also fallen behind Spurs in terms of goal difference. How does that help us?

Probs best to wait to see what the Brentford and Lille games bring before making the judgement on this one, if indeed the benched players were just rested and not ill.
‘If’ we get a result against Brentford, 4th place is still just about in our own hands. Lille are a decent team and if we want to win something for first time in a generation, we’re going to have to be on it.
Course if we lose them both, seasons looking fooked….but we wont…

[Footy-Vill]

Man City are a despicable club.
It's always the same up there: defeat.

McGinn has a lot to answer for in terms of suspension, so he can first be in part blamed as he was absence in the midfield spaces where goals were conceded.
Diaby tackle with Rordi and losing out then goal scored we would have seen McGinn making that tackle

Olsen:
I believe Emi Martinez would have had a quicker reaction than Olsen and pushed over Rodri's shot for the first goal.
Olsen doesn't have the shot stopping ability world class ability and their first would have been prevented by Emi

Martinez would also ensure that the wall did not collapse in front of him, as Olsen lacked the leadership abilities of Martinez.

Douglas Luiz:
I was disappointed that Douglas committed fouls on the edge of the area. Doing one awful thing and then repeating it not only resulted in a dangerous attacking free kick but also his 9th yellow card and the second goal.

Zaniolo
Zaniolo should have prevented the goal, but he acted cowardly.

Equaliser by Duran
Duran's goal was fantastic, as Zanizi, Rogers, and Duran played beautiful football and for me we scored the best team goal of the night


Bailey did not start the game, which disappointed me, but I'm glad Iroegbunam gave a decent account of himself.

No penalty
Somewhat surprising Ezri Konza did not receive a penalty given Darren England's record.

[Brazilian Villain]

The only thing we have dodged so far this season is a plague of locusts!!

There’s still time!

They should all be gone by the time we play our pre-season friendly on July 27th. https://www.rte.ie/news/us/2024/0403/1441410-cicadas/

[pauliewalnuts]

I agree. I thought it looked a bit that way at the start, but it's not that simple, having reflected on it.

He has to make a series of measured judgements across the full season about how to best use our squad to get the best result come the end of game 38 (plus whatever in Europe).

We can't just play our best XI week in, week out. Some games are more important than others, some games carry a much higher chance of winning than others, some are way more impactful in terms of where we are in the league.

You can't just look at this sort of thing and say "well, Bailey (random chosen player) hasn't played for a week, so he can't be tired". That's a 'micro' approach to things, Emery has to zoom out a bit and look at the wider picture and juggle all the parts.

If we'd gone all-out, playing players who are not totally fit, or who are ill, or who are just tired or out of form, tonight, in a 'let's throw everything at it' mindset, and went down heroically 3-4, then as a result looked jaded and knackered against Brentford, a real must and can win match at the weekend, then people would slaughter him. Then we've got the Conference League coming back.

He's got to balance things looking at the wider picture.

How did it work out for O'Neill after Moscow when he did the exactly the same thing? Not only did we get battered tonight, we've also fallen behind Spurs in terms of goal difference. How does that help us?

You're just pulling one, notorious example out of the hat there, though, and it is notorious because it didn't work.

Managers have to make decisions like these week in, week out, yet they don't even get remembered if they pan out OK.

We lost at Man City and shipped -3 goals off the GD. Yeah, I'd rather win, but I'd definitely rather take the GD damage tonight and have a better chance of getting what we need at the weekend.

[aldridgeboy]

A frustrating night. It didn’t feel like a 4-1 performance , although no issue in that the better team won.

I understand the changes. I hope it’s not his MON Stoke moment, but with two big home games coming up , I get it ( that’s assuming it was a choice, not illness )

Similarly bringing Luiz off before a second yellow, we need to concentrate more on games that are winnable with our best 11 we can muster. We probably lose that game tonight even with what’s left of our full strength.

By my reckoning only 4 who beat City in December started ? That’s insane really. 

But week coming up. Two wins hugely needed. 

In Emery we trust.
Rest a couple , and go and win Saturday.

[olaftab]

I also notice that our opponents tonight didn't play their two best players, for similar reasons given. I guess two of the world's most successful coaches for over a decade could be wrong on the same day in exactly the same way. Who knows.

Errrr...NO. It wasn't the same. One Coach in this story has immense resource to select any XI from about 25  and not weaken his team's competitiveness. The other took a chance to forgo this match for the sake of a game where he thinks he has a better chance of winning.

[Monty]

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

[Ads]

I agree. I thought it looked a bit that way at the start, but it's not that simple, having reflected on it.

He has to make a series of measured judgements across the full season about how to best use our squad to get the best result come the end of game 38 (plus whatever in Europe).

We can't just play our best XI week in, week out. Some games are more important than others, some games carry a much higher chance of winning than others, some are way more impactful in terms of where we are in the league.

You can't just look at this sort of thing and say "well, Bailey (random chosen player) hasn't played for a week, so he can't be tired". That's a 'micro' approach to things, Emery has to zoom out a bit and look at the wider picture and juggle all the parts.

If we'd gone all-out, playing players who are not totally fit, or who are ill, or who are just tired or out of form, tonight, in a 'let's throw everything at it' mindset, and went down heroically 3-4, then as a result looked jaded and knackered against Brentford, a real must and can win match at the weekend, then people would slaughter him. Then we've got the Conference League coming back.

He's got to balance things looking at the wider picture.

How did it work out for O'Neill after Moscow when he did the exactly the same thing? Not only did we get battered tonight, we've also fallen behind Spurs in terms of goal difference. How does that help us?

When has 4th ever gone down to goal difference? How many times have you seen a full strength side battered there?

The Moscow comparison doesn't apply here.

[Risso]

I also notice that our opponents tonight didn't play their two best players, for similar reasons given. I guess two of the world's most successful coaches for over a decade could be wrong on the same day in exactly the same way. Who knows.

Wow.

[Monty]

I also notice that our opponents tonight didn't play their two best players, for similar reasons given. I guess two of the world's most successful coaches for over a decade could be wrong on the same day in exactly the same way. Who knows.

Wow.

Arteta did the same mate.

[curiousorange]

I don't even think it would be noticed by the wider sporting world if the 'decision' to prioritise the Brentford game backfired. I haven't seen any takes blaming the loss on Villa fielding a weakened side, only the brilliance of Foden besting a top four side.

[Risso]

I also notice that our opponents tonight didn't play their two best players, for similar reasons given. I guess two of the world's most successful coaches for over a decade could be wrong on the same day in exactly the same way. Who knows.

Wow.

Arteta did the same mate.

Double wow.