Aston Villa (H) - Post-Match Thread

[blue b4 the moon]

Grealish has to start. Definitely before Phil

I think the big tell in who plays from Jack, Riyad & Phil out wide was when Phil & Riyad changed sides.

 

[Hoghead]

And that vicious cross along the ground that he had to cut out, otherwise it was a certain goal. That also came from a brilliant through ball by Coutinho. Irritates me how that guy saves his best performances for us.

And loses every time, except when we drew :)

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Was the outrage of villa singing during the minutes applause when it was obviously a respectful moment castigated on tv like we were at the Wembley one we didn't know about?

 

[dadnlad]

Looks onside to PGMOL

subjective

 

[dadnlad]

Was the outrage of villa singing during the minutes applause when it was obviously a respectful moment castigated on tv like we were at the Wembley one we didn't know about?

swept under carpet it wasnt us

 

[Mike N]

Always good to beat the most fickle fans in the country. If they were facing the allegations we are, they’d be off on their toes. The ‘Holt Enders in the sky’ certainly know how to abandon ship.

 

[Gray]

Walker has definitely lost a yard this season, some players are getting by him now who he would have burned off even last year. Still a great player but may need to think about replacing him sooner rather than later. And with a proper defensive, pacy, recovery full back, not a teenager who can play in CM

Worth the entrance fee for his marauding surge forward in the second half with Villa players bouncing off him and going down like skittles, brilliant.

 

[CC1]

He oozes class and was our only player to come down to the SS/110 corner to clap fans of both teams, he did clap what was left of the villa ones nut they just boo'd again. Fucking peasants.

Hope he now puts his “support” for his boyhood club into perspective. He almost put his career on hold for them - for what??

 

[CC1]

Was the outrage of villa singing during the minutes applause when it was obviously a respectful moment castigated on tv like we were at the Wembley one we didn't know about?

All sound was turned down so they couldn’t hear us booing the PL - or the fantastic atmosphere

 

[feedmpenzaandhewillscore]

I’d be ok with this even if it meant KDB left out.

Mahrez rarely picked for the big games in the PL away from home over the last few seasons. I don’t trust him away from the Etihad. Grealish / Mahrez in those wide areas aren’t enough of a goal threat compared to what we’ve had there in recent seasons with Jesus/Sterling/Sane/Foden.

I just wonder if Pep might use the Haaland knock to bench him & go with the false 9 (also leaving Alvarez out). That will enable him to get all his midfielders in & say Foden up top with KDB a bit wide right.

Our away form is a little worrying for me, just doesn’t seem as fluid & lack of goal threat in recent games away from home, especially against better opposition.

We need a 1-0, stuff of champions performance.

Our away form used to be better than our home form. It’s slightly gone to pot since January, you win the league by going to the big six grounds and not losing. So far we’ve only beat a very poor Chelsea and lost at Anfield, Old Trafford and Spurs.

Need to get a settled back four in place and stop all the chopping and changing. We carry the defensive woes into the Champions league we could be out very early.

 

[Keeper!]

Walker has definitely lost a yard this season, some players are getting by him now who he would have burned off even last year. Still a great player but may need to think about replacing him sooner rather than later. And with a proper defensive, pacy, recovery full back, not a teenager who can play in CM

He has but I thought yesterday he was quality, motivated, authoritative and arrogant but in a class way.

But agreed we need to bring in a long term replacement this summer.

 

[LongsightM13]

He has but I thought yesterday he was quality, motivated, authoritative and arrogant but in a class way.

But agreed we need to bring in a long term replacement this summer.

Could actually be a really difficult player to replace

 

[Keeper!]

Akanji really is the £16m defender he is.

Doesn't get touch tight, Pep screaming at him repeatedly to do so.

Can't win shit in the air and positionally weak.

The drop off is huge which is a shame, because he looked composed on the ball when he first arrived.

Walker has defo peaked and, dare I say it, losing a bit of pace.

De Bruyne continues to frustrate and be careless, while Mahrez played for himself.

Decent first half from Bernie, Gundo and Rodders, and job done by then.

A second half to forget, such was the boredom.

I personally thought our big players looked more themselves yesterday, KDB looked a player again, Bernie ran his heart out, Laporte , Dias and Walker top quality.

I would pay the the admission just to watch Mahrez alone, his touch and natural ability is incredible and I have to say I disagree on he plays for himself.

The PL have done us a huge favour in terms of motivation, the difference in 7 days was night and day.

 

[Keeper!]

I’d be ok with this even if it meant KDB left out.

Mahrez rarely picked for the big games in the PL away from home over the last few seasons. I don’t trust him away from the Etihad. Grealish / Mahrez in those wide areas aren’t enough of a goal threat compared to what we’ve had there in recent seasons with Jesus/Sterling/Sane/Foden.

I just wonder if Pep might use the Haaland knock to bench him & go with the false 9 (also leaving Alvarez out). That will enable him to get all his midfielders in & say Foden up top with KDB a bit wide right.

Our away form is a little worrying for me, just doesn’t seem as fluid & lack of goal threat in recent games away from home, especially against better opposition.

We need a 1-0, stuff of champions performance.

Keep it tight for the first 20 minutes and I think we would go on to win.

Ake at LB, Walker RB, Dias and Laporte.

 

[jamesha]

Could actually be a really difficult player to replace

Agree - I think we always want a clone of a great player whom time catches up with but that is difficult to achieve. I think we all were anxious about replacing Yaya but KdB arrived and then formed probably the best midfield combo the club has ever had with Fern and Merlin.
We definitely need some speed at the back though.

 

[Keeper!]

Could actually be a really difficult player to replace

Incredibly difficult, 50m at the time looked crazy but he was proved to be a bargain.

Top class, consistent and the longer he has stayed the more of a leader he has become.

Reece James would be the one, but zero chance sadly.

 

[Ancient Citizen]

What a reaction to the shite thrown at us, Rodri looked like he was prepared to kill someone
to get to that outstanding header, the determination, and his defiant stance after it was a joy
to behold. City basically blew them away immediately, they were on fire, and they appear
to not be able to wait to get at the Prem's FFP instigators on Wednesday.

 

[imrebanana]

All sound was turned down so they couldn’t hear us booing the PL - or the fantastic atmosphere

That was certainly the case on Sky. Just after half time they had it on normal level for about 10 seconds, realised their “mistake” and immediately turned it down to barely audible.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

I've just seen the highlights. The corner from Kev which Jack smashed goalwards hit a Villa player on the elbow, arm crooked out. Was that the VAR look for that pen that lasted five or ten seconds? Well, it was a pen. Clear as fuckin' day!

 

[blue_hawk]

De Bruyne continues to frustrate and be careless

Surprised by this. Thought KDB played really well yesterday. Looked quicker and sharper than he has done for months.