Aston Villa (A) - Sun 26th Oct, 14:00 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

Match Result Prediction?

  • Total voters
    392
  • Poll closed .
Status
Not open for further replies.
Pep press conference highlights:
- Everyone who was unavailable in Villarreal are still unavailable. Khusanov and Rodri.
- Admiration of Emery, admits they've battered us in the last 2 visits. Dangerous from set pieces and have improved their build up play. Quick in transitions.
- Nico Gonzalez, still don't know if he'll be available, late fitness call. Problem with foot, will check with doctors today and tomorrow.
- Question about 1v1 dribbling, asked who is the best, mentions wingers but pointless question.
- Title race question, Pep mentions pointless speculating as it's already changed 2 or 3 times, says the pundits decided after 5 games and now it's changed. Hopes we will be there, expects Liverpool and Arsenal to be there.
- Asked where we're at. Says good momentum but still a bit more to go. Mentality and body language better.
- Wants to see more consistency across the full 95mins.
- Hasn't watched Haaland's new Youtube channel, hasn't spoke to them about social media.
- Asked about set pieces and throw ins, jokes about needing a strong player to launch the ball in, says we don't have one, Kyle maybe could have done it, doesn't sound like he plans to do it. References how strong Brentford and Arsenal are at it. Indifferent to it as a tactic but says it's something to prepare against.
- Asked about Nunes as the home game last year he contributed and almost started a bit of a turnaround. Says he can become an incredible right back, he can become one of the best. References how his development in midfield might help him become a great right back.
- Asked about Khusanov, says he's close but injury in dangerous position in his body (probably means higher chance of reoccurrence).
 
Final nudge for all you budding Peps...The guess the team compy starts a new session with this game.

forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk

Guess The Team/Score Compy Session 2 Game 1 Aston Villa (A)PL. Entries By ****10.00AM**** On 26/10/25 Please.

Never in doubt from early on tonight. Well that's the end of session 1. Congratulations to @kbb with the full 10 points in a tight last game for finishing first. Off we go again with session 2 at Villa Park. Final Table Session 1 Game 12 kbb 292+31=323..............................10...
forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk forums.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk

Rules & Regs in the pinned part of the Matchday forum.
 
MCFC1993 said:
Pep press conference highlights:
- Everyone who was unavailable in Villarreal are still unavailable. Khusanov and Rodri.
- Admiration of Emery, admits they've battered us in the last 2 visits. Dangerous from set pieces and have improved their build up play. Quick in transitions.
- Nico Gonzalez, still don't know if he'll be available, late fitness call. Problem with foot, will check with doctors tomorrow.
- Question about 1v1 dribbling, asked who is the best, mentions wingers but pointless question.
- Title race question, Pep mentions pointless speculating as it's already changed 2 or 3 times. Hopes we will be there, expects Liverpool and Arsenal to be there.
- Asked where we're at. Says good momentum but still a bit more to go. Mentality and body language better.
- Wants to see more consistency across the full 95mins.
- Hasn't watched Haaland's new Youtube channel, hasn't spoke to them about social media.
- Asked about set pieces and throw ins, jokes about need a strong player to launch the ball, says we don't have one, Kyle maybe could have done it, doesn't sound like he plans to do it. References how strong Brentford and Arsenal are at it. Indifferent to it as a tactic but says it's something to prepare against.
- Asked about Nunes as the home game last year he contributed and almost started a bit of a turnaround. Says he can become an incredible right back, he can become one of the best. References how his development in midfield might help him become a great right back.
- Asked about Khusanov, says he's close but injury in dangerous position in his body (probably means higher chance of reoccurance).
Click to expand...
15 mins in

 
Last edited:
Think Bernardo has to play centre mid if Rodri and Gonzalez are unavilable.

Bernardo---Reijnders/MK
--------Foden
or
Bernardo--Kovacic
-----Reijnders
and you stick Foden out on the right.

Tough call.
 
Think Pep will go double pivot without Nico G, or if he doesn't do that Bernardo will play RW for stability.

Don
Nunes Dias Gvardiol O Reilly
Reijnders Kovacic Foden
Bernardo Haaland Doku

The alternative is perhaps Bernardo in CM next to Kova and Foden playing on the right for a game.
 
I don’t know what to make of this. Villa, after a terrible start to the season, have hit top form and yet they lost to a European minnow.
They are a good side and our injuries are worrying: possibly no Rodri or Nico G and Khusanov out. Midfield defensively looks weak.
Looks like a need to battle, a draw would be ok.
Villa 1 City 1.
 
I think Nico G will be fine.

Donnarumma
Nunes
Stones
Gvardiol
O`Reilly
Nico G
Reijnders
Foden
Marmoush
Doku
Haaland
 
Nervous for this one, tricky place to go and they're doing well again in the league. Hope we put up a better fight than we did last season!


The Don

Nunes
Dias/Stones
Gvardiol
O'Reilly

Foden
Nico G
Reijnders

Bobb
Haaland
Marmoush


Leaves out Savinho and Doku but think Marmoush would be handy in a game like this where we might rely on transitions.

If there's no Nico G then I'd go with Bernie and Kovacic in there and push Foden to right wing instead of Bobb.
 
===============Donnarumma================
==Nunes=====Dias========Gvardiol====O'Reilly==
============Gonzalez===Bernardo=============
==Cherki==========Foden=============Savinho==
==================Haaland=================

If Gonzalez is out, Kova comes in.
 
Perhaps this is a stupid comment but I would like to know if O'Reilly can play in midfield. He has played very well at left back. He's powerful and able to carry the ball, hence I wonder whether he might strengthen our midfield. With Rodri injured, and Gonzalez struggling, it makes me think about our options. I am not expecting City to experiment away at Villa.
 
Marvin. said:
Perhaps this is a stupid comment but I would like to know if O'Reilly can play in midfield. He has played very well at left back. He's powerful and able to carry the ball, hence I wonder whether he might strengthen our midfield. With Rodri injured, and Gonzalez struggling, it makes me think about our options. I am not expecting City to experiment away at Villa.
Click to expand...
O’Reilly is a no. 10 by training and inclination. He can certainly play in midfield. Given the injuries we have, he is certainly an option for midfield with Ait Nouri coming in at Left Back.
Perhaps only Pep can take a young midfielder and successfully put him at Left Back; how does he do it? Nunes another midfielder at right back as well! Genius.
 
Last edited:
Marvin. said:
Perhaps this is a stupid comment but I would like to know if O'Reilly can play in midfield. He has played very well at left back. He's powerful and able to carry the ball, hence I wonder whether he might strengthen our midfield. With Rodri injured, and Gonzalez struggling, it makes me think about our options. I am not expecting City to experiment away at Villa.
Click to expand...
I’m not sure his close control and passing is quick enough and accurate enough consistently, under the kind of pressure which can occur in those CM positions, but it would be interesting to see .. maybe in the upcoming league cup tie?
 
oldius said:
===============Donnarumma================
==Nunes=====Dias========Gvardiol====O'Reilly==
============Gonzalez===Bernardo=============
==Cherki==========Foden=============Savinho==
==================Haaland=================

If Gonzalez is out, Kova comes in.
Click to expand...
How many of these = == are there.
I'm suspecting there are 115.
Another subtle soft signal?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top