Villarreal (A) - Tue 21st Oct, 20:00 | CL | Pre-Match Thread

[aka blue jambo]

Yep - wankers - just arrived in Valencia (lovely city) and it's 10pm and most folks seem to be just turning up for dinner - so how public transport stops at 10pm is lunacy. Anyway - trying to scramble to pre-book a taxi for the 150 Euro fucking trip back to Valencia...

Did anything in the thread in Ticket and Travel help you?

 

[aka blue jambo]

Up at stoopid o'clock for 6.30am flight to Valencia
Train to Castellon dump stuff in hotel a few beers then taxi to Villarreal
Cannot wait

 

[Sebi]

Villareal's recent relative success has come on the back of home form, they haven't lost at home yet this season and it was a rarity last season.

Obviously I hope we have too much for them, but i wouldn't overly surprised at a frustrating night, 1-1 for instance, especially as we continue to find our feet this season.

They were 7th at home last season, also second best away (behind Barcelona).

 

[alexmcity]

I’d be interested in the points totals since 2020 and also curious to learn the same stats for Ake who for me is the best defender we have

In terms of appearances (easier to calculate than starts) since 20/21:

with Ake: 2,18 ppg , without Ake: 2,32 ppg

with Stones: 2,36 ppg, without Stones 2,17 ppg

with Dias: 2,35 ppg, without Dias: 1,93 ppg

So, ppg differences:

with Ake: - 0,14 ppg, Stones: + 0,19 ppg, Dias: + 0,42 ppg

From 22/23 to 24/25:

with Akanji: 2,33 ppg, without Akanji:1,83 ppg.

Akanji was underrated.

Edit: Rodri since 20/21: with Rodri: 2,4 ppg, without Rodri: 1,8 ppg. Over 38 games the difference is 22,8 pts...

 

[Georgian Maestro]

Dias is our best defender, that's why he gets picked

I also think he has stepped up a level since Donnarumma arrived. They seem to feed off each other.

 

[richards30]

Donnarumma
Nunes
Dias
Gvardiol
Ait Nouri
Nico Gonzalez
Reijnders
Foden
Marmoush
Bobb
Haaland

 

[Sky Blue Thinking]

Now I'm not going so it doesn't impact me but this seems absolutely ridiculous. Imagine an evening game at the Etihad with absolutely no public transport at all back afterwards (yes, yes I know, we wouldn't be able to tell the difference, very funny) but that still seems a very odd situation to me.

Safe travels to all blues.
I dont know where the stadium is in relation to the city but surely it cant be that hard to put some shuttle buses on. Cant imagine too many blues will be driving to the game tonight.

 

[.db.]

Donna

Nunes Dias Gvardiol Oreilly

Nico Bernardo

Cherki Foden Savinho

Haaland

That’s the team I’d pick n’all

 

[mancboy]

That’s the team I’d pick n’all

They said that o'reilly is carrying a knock so they might rest him for ait-nouri although i hope they dont

 

[Dialog]

Shoutout to Villarreal for showing real class and giving Rodri his flowers and showing love — pure respect. Top club, and I’m sure Rodders feels honoured to be one of their academy graduates.

 

[supercity88]

Pep has got to make the changes in this to keep players fresh and spread the minutes. Im not sure he will though, I think after last seasons shit show he is going to want to go as strong as possible every game, even when it isnt neccesary.

They've had a good start, currently 3rd but had a 2 goal lead today and ended up drawing, with the £90m rag Antony getting a brace.

Donnarumma
Nunes
Stones
Ake
Lewis
Nico
Bernardo
Foden
Bobb
Savinho
Marmoush

Give Haaland a much deserved rest, he can't play every single game, this is as good of a time to give him a little breather and we've got an unbelievable weapon off the bench if needs be. Rest here and a full rest in the league cup next week gives him a fairly light month and should keep him fresh.

If we finish in the top 8 then there's a couple of games less for the players. Haaland skipped the second International game last week, he won't skip a CL game at this stage of the campaign.

Having failed to take the 3pts we deserved from Monaco this is a game we need to win to make ourselves more comfortable and keep building the confidence.

I think they'll give us a good game but we'll get the job done.

 

[brian the blue]

Can see another draw here.

Would be nice if we could get someone other than Haaland and Foden to score though.

 

[.db.]

They said that o'reilly is carrying a knock so they might rest him for ait-nouri although i hope they dont

Oh aye, I forgot he came off on Saturday didn’t he?

 

[mrtwiceaseason]

There is ghost towns and there is Villarreal,we are staying in a hotel at some retail park ,might pop out to watch the traffic lights change or make some cars stop unnecessary on the zebra crossings for something to do .:+)

 

[Xhavenjoe]

If we finish in the top 8 then there's a couple of games less for the players.

Pep and the club hierarchy will be pushing for a top 8 finish.
We may not be enamoured with it but the CWC is high on the clubs priorities and we are currently way behind arsenal and liverpool in the qualification table.

 

[Buckshaw Blue]

Looks like it’s the green 4th kit tonight

 

[mancboy]

Oh aye, I forgot he came off on Saturday didn’t he?

yeah although he has travelled so im assuming fit to play if needed

 

[Axel Freed]

In terms of appearances (easier to calculate than starts) since 20/21:

with Ake: 2,18 ppg , without Ake: 2,32 ppg

with Stones: 2,36 ppg, without Stones 2,17 ppg

with Dias: 2,35 ppg, without Dias: 1,93 ppg

So, ppg differences:

with Ake: - 0,14 ppg, Stones: + 0,19 ppg, Dias: + 0,42 ppg

From 22/23 to 24/25:

with Akanji: 2,33 ppg, without Akanji:1,83 ppg.

Akanji was underrated.

Edit: Rodri since 20/21: with Rodri: 2,4 ppg, without Rodri: 1,8 ppg. Over 38 games the difference is 22,8 pts...

Cheers Alex, good info

 

[.db.]

In terms of appearances (easier to calculate than starts) since 20/21:

with Ake: 2,18 ppg , without Ake: 2,32 ppg

with Stones: 2,36 ppg, without Stones 2,17 ppg

with Dias: 2,35 ppg, without Dias: 1,93 ppg

So, ppg differences:

with Ake: - 0,14 ppg, Stones: + 0,19 ppg, Dias: + 0,42 ppg

From 22/23 to 24/25:

with Akanji: 2,33 ppg, without Akanji:1,83 ppg.

Akanji was underrated.

Edit: Rodri since 20/21: with Rodri: 2,4 ppg, without Rodri: 1,8 ppg. Over 38 games the difference is 22,8 pts...

Interesting.

Although it doesn’t show who the games were against (for example, Aké might have played a higher average quality of teams across that time than, say, Akanji so will inevitably have a lower PPG), it’s not like it’s a small sample size and does take into account a number of season.

 

[JD_619]