Aston Villa (A) - Sat 21st Dec, 12:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

Match Result Prediction?

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mick10 said:
I’m getting down selecting a loss and it happening.
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I optimistically call a draw. I notice the win percentage as it often does is creeping upwards. Clearly optimism is alive and well at least within part of the fan base. What gives me hope for this fixture is the relative poor league form of the opposition added to the fact that the venue is not one traditionally feared by us. Also I think Pep realises that he has to stop the rot and quick. Relegation form inevitably gets any manager, even one as revered as him, the chop. I think he would like to attempt a rebuild but knows doubts are starting to grow that he may not be the man for the job. This is a vital fixture within the context of what happens in 2025. A draw will suffice.
 
Axel Freed said:
If you think he was doing a good job maybe your IQ barometer is faulty. He was awful - casual misplaced passes, easily brushed off the ball, turning into trouble, lack of awareness - generally out of his depth. And that’s just critiquing his tactical and technical performance - discussing his lack of steel and grit is a thread in itself
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He played 40 odd games for Wolves, scored 1 goal, and City decided to pay £53M for him.
We thought we paid Wolves too much for Steve Daly - they must f'kin love us.
 
Father Paul said:
I optimistically call a draw. I notice the win percentage as it often does is creeping upwards. Clearly optimism is alive and well at least within part of the fan base. What gives me hope for this fixture is the relative poor league form of the opposition added to the fact that the venue is not one traditionally feared by us. Also I think Pep realises that he has to stop the rot and quick. Relegation form inevitably gets any manager, even one as revered as him, the chop. I think he would like to attempt a rebuild but knows doubts are starting to grow that he may not be the man for the job. This is a vital fixture within the context of what happens in 2025. A draw will suffice.
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I optimistically went for a draw too, as I did last week. After voting, about 5 mins later, realism set in and changed my vote to a loss. I really dislike voting that way but Villa are a different kettle of fish to the lot we lost too last week.
 
Just going for few beers and a laugh with the lads and if we get any kind of result then even better
COME ON CITY
 
Huge game this & it will be interesting who pep plays & which system.

Plays the same midfield & a high line it will be a real concern.

I’m hoping we sit back & make it hard for them. It will show we are learning & ready to adjust

A draw would be a great result
 
Blu1 said:
Huge game this & it will be interesting who pep plays & which system.

Plays the same midfield & a high line it will be a real concern.

I’m hoping we sit back & make it hard for them. It will show we are learning & ready to adjust

A draw would be a great result
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I don't ever want to see a City side defending the penalty area and stringing 5 men across the back as Man Utd did. That was the biggest reason why the Derby was dull. Man Utd's tactics. It has been forgotten but we were in control of that game, as much as you can be at 1-0. It was daylight robbery.

I do agree that it is very difficult to imagine what a City side looks like now as so many players have been playing out of position such as Gundogan and Nunes that we don't really know what Pep's City now is. Does KDB feature?

I am hugely relieved that Kovacic and Foden are now available. They are top class players.
 
Blu1 said:
Huge game this & it will be interesting who pep plays & which system.

Plays the same midfield & a high line it will be a real concern.

I’m hoping we sit back & make it hard for them. It will show we are learning & ready to adjust

A draw would be a great result
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I think we sat back a bit too much against the scum in that 2nd half at times but if we do our defending will have to be tip top. If we push up we'll have to convert the chances we hopefully create. Interesting game ahead.
 
Blu1 said:
Huge game this & it will be interesting who pep plays & which system.

Plays the same midfield & a high line it will be a real concern.

I’m hoping we sit back & make it hard for them. It will show we are learning & ready to adjust

A draw would be a great result
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Agree mate, but we also need an attacking threat on the right hand side. Large parts of the derby followed the same pattern as the previous FA Cup final, Doku was basically our only outlet.

I love Bernardo, but like most of our wide players, he isn't prolific. I would have him in the middle for his work rate and ball retention. I know Foden prefers to be central, but I think him cutting in from that position offers more of a goal threat and that's what we need at the moment. We're too predictable going forward and easy to counter. Not a good combination.
 
This fixture last season was our nadir before we started to dig out some form. It was our worst performance of the season and we were well beaten. I could see us getting beaten again purely because Villa are a decent well coached side and we’re fairly fragile at the moment. Hopefully we have a few more back and start to show some signs of improvement. A draw would be a decent result.
 
recent run showed opponents dont need huge tactical tweaks and magic performances to beat us. if they hold tight at the back and do commit runners forward in a quick way we will fold easily. Ederson wont stop a shot if on target.

also we fold once anything goes against us. concede a goal and another goal is likely due to the scared and panic defence which is getting zero help from midfield.

I mean a midfield where Gundogan sits the deepest and he is usually on the opposite half when we concede a goal at the back.

I do hope the team worked on this at trainings this week, but hoped they did all previous weeks and we didnt. enough of the talk after games how we need to pull ourselves, time to act rather than talk. hard work, hard running, pressing, tracking back, working as a unit, attack with speed and drive, only this will get us out of the hole we dug ourselves into. current squad imo is a bit too comfortable, also bit old, thats why it was hugely important to refresh it in the summer but a veteran Gundogan and a bench player Savinho aint much of a new blood to this squad. maybe in January we fix the mistakes we did earlier, even though it will be harder and more expensive.
 
Just been informed our coach been brought forward 2 hours as villa police closing road off 90 mins before kick off. Any away boozers around grund?? The 1 we got in last Yr turfed us out after 10 mins??
 
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