Manchester City vs Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[eamonn]

We are but some of those goals were consolations (like Foden's at VP). They'd be better off showing the stat for late goals leading to dropped points. I mean we're probably near the top on that too...I think we're also decent at grabbing late goals ourselves but again not sure how many have been decisive (VP against Chelsea sticks-out).

[brontebilly]

Asensio is a game maker not game changer. Subbing him on at 60 plus has not worked that well.

Worked perfectly vs BHA

Brugge too. Watkins had a huge impact off the bench v Soton recently. McGinn played well on the left v Brighton too. I'm sure Emery could point to his unbreakable faith in Rogers, even in that position, being vindicated of late too. So Disasi aside, criticising the others he brought on is after timing really.

My issue was replacing Ramsey which was ridiculous when clearly McGinn should have replaced Rogers on the right. Disasi coming on just gave the impression we were sitting in for the point. You know we can't build any patterns of play with him at RB, he struggled even with the throw ins! McGinn to protect Cash and then bring on Garcia if you must a bit later would have been better (why else have him on bench??)

To be honest I would have hooked Onana at half time for McGinn, pushed Rogers into the middle and Tielemans dropping back. There was a chance to really go at Citeh last night, even at half time

[London Villan]

Digne - normally reliable, gets caught too.

[eye digress]

Disappointing in the end, of course.

Bit of Torres bashing going on, but I thought he played well in the first half in particular, and didn’t think he was more or less to blame for their winner than any one of 4 or 5 players in the box.

Disasi put in a crunching tackle on Doku on 90 minutes, so was still feeling self-congratulatory when he got skinned a few minutes later. He doesn’t have Konza’s poise one on one with the attacker facing him (but seems fine when the attacker has his back to goal).

Poor mistake by Emi on the first goal. Whisper it, but that’s three in the space of a week.

Like others, not sure Unai got it all right last night in either setup or overall approach. We were a touch too negative, especially as the game wound down.

So that’s it, two avoidable mistakes from Emi and Disasi cost us, really.

All is still to play for, although the CL looks a little further away on the horizon than it did.

We’ll owe City for the Cup final, mind.

[Bosco81]

Doku's touch wasn't great to start with, which might have tempted Disasi in a bit, but once he's beat, there are still a few of his mates who could have bailed him out.

[RamboandBruno]

Ok... so...

We now have (pretty much) just one game a week until the end of the season, so there is no reason not to play our best defence (injuries permitting) and that is Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne.

We also perform better, unsurprisingly, when we have time to prepare for games - the lower intensity schedule will help that...

After a bright start, our Jan signings have all taken a bit of a dip or disappeared totally - while they have served a purpose, I  don't think I would be starting any of them in the coming games.

5 (hopefully 6) winnable games. We need to be on the front foot in all of them.

And please, please Unai - never play Desasi at right-back again.

I don’t think the point about the January signings is accurate. Asensio was very good against Newcastle on Saturday, he hasn’t scored for a few games, but his movement on and off the ball is excellent. Rashford scored last night, hit the post and was unlucky not to score from a tight angle after rounding the keeper. He was also excellent against PSG last week. Malen has 3 goals in the last few league games and has started to look a player.
All of them have an important contribution to make in the 5, hopefully 6 games we have left this season.

[Clampy]

Yeah, I thought the january signings comment was a bit harsh as well. Rashford, Malen and Ascensio have scored  13 between them. They're not going to do it every game.

[London Villan]

If Watkins had missed those chances last night I can imagine the grief he would be getting.

Asensio has been great when we are on top - not when trying to dig out a result.

Malen, I'll give you - I'd have started him last night instead of Rogers, who looks knackered and was getting nowhere trying to buy free kicks - some should have been given too, but he let the game get the better of him and could have been sent off as his frustration grew.

[rob_bridge]

They were 2 poor goals to concede collectively from the defensive point of view. All 5 + Emi could have done better for either.

[RamboandBruno]

If Watkins had missed those chances last night I can imagine the grief he would be getting.

Asensio has been great when we are on top - not when trying to dig out a result.

Malen, I'll give you - I'd have started him last night instead of Rogers, who looks knackered and was getting nowhere trying to buy free kicks - some should have been given too, but he let the game get the better of him and could have been sent off as his frustration grew.

We were losing 1-0 to Chelsea when Asensio scored two. We were 0-0 vrs Cardiff when Asensio scored two.  We were 1-1 away to Brugge when he scored a pen. He arguably altered the course of the home leg against Brugge.
I don’t think they were glaring misses for Rashford last night, he was unlucky.

Anyway, the point is they will all have a role to play in the next few weeks.

[Meanwood Villa]

We are but some of those goals were consolations (like Foden's at VP). They'd be better off showing the stat for late goals leading to dropped points. I mean we're probably near the top on that too...I think we're also decent at grabbing late goals ourselves but again not sure how many have been decisive (VP against Chelsea sticks-out).

I was thinking last night that most of those injury time goals can't have cost us points. The ones I remember costing us are Bournemouth, Forest, now last night. PSG first leg one too but not sure if it was league games only.

[AV82EC]

If Bailey had turned in the performance Roger’s did last night he’d have been getting all sorts of pelters as well. He didn’t look happy being taken off but he was lucky not to get hooked earlier. I’m sure Unai will have a word.

[Drummond]

That ball from Doku was perfect and it split the Goalie and defence. He mis-controlled it, which gave Disasi a chance to win it, but Doku was too quick.

Mings wouldn't have let it past, whether that was a risk of an own goal or not.

[VillaTim]

Need to win all 4 league games now . ManUre away you just know how that one will end

[Chris Smith]

That ball from Doku was perfect and it split the Goalie and defence. He mis-controlled it, which gave Disasi a chance to win it, but Doku was too quick.

Mings wouldn't have let it past, whether that was a risk of an own goal or not.

As much as Disasi could have done better there was a massive space behind him which one of his teammates should have been covering. Up to that point we’d done that well.

I think more disappointing than the dropped point is Man City getting all 3 as it gives them a bit of breathing space.