Aston Villa (H) - Tue 22nd April, 20:00 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[Axel Freed]

good point. As City and Villa are at similar level and going toe to toe in both PL and FA, I don’t fancy City d dispatch Villa in both competition. I would happily take it if City get CL and Villa get FA cup.

Soriano and his boys would of course agree with you but for me an FA Cup triumph is infinitely preferable to CL qualification.

What do you remember most fondly from 2011 ? The seminal SF win against the rags and the glorious sunny cup final day when we won our first trophy in decades against Stoke ? Or beating Bolton to finish 3rd in the league ?

 

[Yue Wollongong]

I reckon we have to think about it the other way around. Which one is more affordable for city to lose?

 

[Withnail]

Soriano and his boys would of course agree with you but for me an FA Cup triumph is infinitely preferable to CL qualification.

What do you remember most fondly from 2011 ? The seminal SF win against the rags and the glorious sunny cup final day when we won our first trophy in decades against Stoke ? Or beating Bolton to finish 3rd in the league ?

I think qualifying for the CL is more important in terms of attracting top quality players we need in order to challenge for the PL title which will be the aim next season.

 

[Inter Me Nan]

I reckon we have to think about it the other way around. Which one is more affordable for city to lose?

What are you waffling about?
Go out to win both!

 

[blueparrot]

What are you waffling about?
Go out to win both!

Besides which tomorrow there is no both

 

[Gundoggin]

Some people going on as if Villa are prime Real Madrid in there pomp ! Ffs they are below us in the league they must be fucking shit !!!

 

[oldius]

Tough game.
Ortega
Nunes.....Dias....Gvardiol....O'Reilly
Gundogan...Gonzalez....Grealish
Bobb........Marmoush......Doku

 

[ysmsa]

Older players are healthy

Not having that,

He's gone from playing every game to not even featuring,

It's not as if he played badly.

 

[ysmsa]

good point. As City and Villa are at similar level and going toe to toe in both PL and FA, I don’t fancy City d dispatch Villa in both competition. I would happily take it if City get CL and Villa get FA cup.

Which is why we beat then tmrw and want Palace to knock them out of the cup.

 

[spacecadet]

When was the last time City played well in both halves? We are going to have to start with this fucking lot imho.

 

[marco]

I think qualifying for the CL is more important in terms of attracting top quality players we need in order to challenge for the PL title which will be the aim next season.

correct,,qualifying for CL is far more important

 

[Dipsis_LTU_MC]

It looks like Forest will miss out on Europe completely or Villa. It will be decided on the final matchday of the season I reckon. But I hope it's gonna be Chelsea.

Edit: I forgot about the FA Cup.

 

[OntarioBlue]

Looks like the Club are struggling to sell tickets for the game which is a bit surprising given its importance. Just had an email saying I can buy three more tickets if I want them.

 

[mexico1970]

I have just been informed that I will be attending the match tomorrow thanks to a very kind benefactor (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE !!!) :)

That said making some noise is my first objective after which size coat to wear.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Huge match, win it and we're big favourites for CL, lose and it's looking really iffy.

Expecting a similar performance to the title winning match, what, 3 seasons ago.

Rolling back the years, 3-2 city, Mr Whippy with the winner though this time.

 

[noseve]

Soriano and his boys would of course agree with you but for me an FA Cup triumph is infinitely preferable to CL qualification.

What do you remember most fondly from 2011 ? The seminal SF win against the rags and the glorious sunny cup final day when we won our first trophy in decades against Stoke ? Or beating Bolton to finish 3rd in the league ?

I can see both sides, but just projecting forward a year - would you rather have:

1) Another FA Cup in the cupboard, but none of the top players that CL might have attracted, so possibly looking forward to a second consecutive season without CL and still needing to rebuild, or

2) No FA Cup, but a genuinely high quality nucleus of players and City still being regarded as a top European team?

2 looks good to me, but neither as good as...

3) Win the Cup AND finish 3rd/4th/5th (don't care which) - get in!

C'mon City!

 

[117 M34]

Looks like the Club are struggling to sell tickets for the game which is a bit surprising given its importance. Just had an email saying I can buy three more tickets if I want them.

That's because the cheapest ticket is £71

 

[Jesus2020]

That's because the cheapest ticket is £71

That's priced me out. Years ago I'd go to almost every home game, prem and all cups and any away I could get too. But I can't/won't pay that. Shame too because I'm off all week and a Tuesday evening game would usually be perfect type of game for me.

 

[OntarioBlue]

That's because the cheapest ticket is £71

That’s bloody ridiculous. I definitely wouldn’t pay that much to watch the dross we’ve had to endure recently. My old fart season ticket works out to about £23 a game and sometimes that feels too much.

 

[Dax777]

Not having that,

He's gone from playing every game to not even featuring,

It's not as if he played badly.

Yes, when everyone was injured and before Pep realized NOR could actually play left back. His defensive prowess was a net positive.

Now that most of the players are healthy and NOR has been great at LB its harder to get him on because Its either him or Dias. And Dias will get the nod in that scenario.

The only way he gets to play is if Pep rests O'Reilly, and moves Josko back out to LB making room fo him to partner Dias.

I think we are much more fluid passing out of the back without him, and now that Eddy is not starting, i really don't think we can afford him and Ortega together in the back 5.

Love the guy but i understand why he isn't playing.