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

[paul power]

If Nico is ok, he should play

 

[.db.]

Big game for Reijnders this. He’s seemed to have less and less impact in each game. But he’s got to do a big job with BSilva in midfield today because Bernardo hasn’t got the legs he once had.

Reijnders did next to nothing against Everton but he mostly had a good rest midweek so hopefully is a bit more fresh and up for it today.

Need a big performance from him and see that he believes he’s a City player.

 

[super_city_si]

Lots of small players. Going to be a tough game. Not a strong line up.

 

[paulchapo]

Lightweight looking side that, hope for the best though I fear we'll get overpowered in midfield.

 

[VinceYoungisaBLUE]

Surprised and a bit disappointed no Nico, thought he’d played well in the Rodri role recently

 

[jimharri]

If that's true, has O'Reilly ran over Pep's cat?

 

[mdj0520]

Could be stones stepping up like in mid week with nunes, Dias, and gvardiol sitting. Id be ok with that

 

[cleavers]

Bernardo hasn’t got the legs he once had

Yet he runs the most.

 

[Ric]

Surprised and a bit disappointed no Nico, thought he’d played well in the Rodri role recently

If that's true, has O'Reilly ran over Pep's cat?

They’re both carrying knocks I think.

 

[eastmanc]

Not sure about that side. Anyway come on you Dolly Blues.

 

[johnny crossan]

Nico on the bench but Bobb & Savinho get the nod ahead of Doku - disappointing

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

Could be stones stepping up like in mid week with nunes, Dias, and gvardiol sitting. Id be ok with that

With no natural holding midfielder, this is exactly what it will be.

 

[ninjamonkey]

Worried about the midfield. That is bernardo on his own against a tough, hard pressing midfield, Reijnders offers nothing defensively, foden offers us more defensively than him.

Presumably Nico isnt fit enough to start but has to be available to do some minutes if he is on the bench. would have put kovacic in with bernardo instead of reijnders and nico to replace Kova once he has run his race for the day. could even have stuck stones in there and played o'reilly or ake. Hopefully it's not the glaring issue it seems. No qualms with the rest of the side.

 

[hoppy]

I just grabbed a handful of crisps from the kitchen (Tandoor Chilli) and said to myself 'if I can get back to the setee without dropping any, City will win today'.

It is my sad duty to inform you that I managed to drop no fewer than three.

Defeat today is inevitable.

 

[Nicholas van Whatsisface]

Josko at LB again?!?! Midfield looks a problem as well

Yeah - I don’t like the look of that midfield at all!

I get that Gonzalez is clearly not fully fit, but I’d rather have Kova in there alongside Bernardo if that’s our only option - and lose one of Foden/Reijnders.

Looks very lightweight as is!

 

[jimharri]

And neither Gundogan or KdB are now playing for City. Is this a posting from last season or are you fishing?

Malg? Fishing?

 

[Petetheblu]

That mid seems a bit light

Really worrying, we'll struggle getting the ball back and competeing for the second ball.

 

[.db.]

Yet he runs the most.

He does indeed but he’s the slowest player in the league so while he works his socks off he doesn’t cover the ground like he used to where he was like an annoying gnat for opposition players as he never left them alone on the ball.

 

[cleavers]

If that's true, has O'Reilly ran over Pep's cat?

Young, he needs to be used carefully for me, might have a knock who knows, but he keeps getting clattered.

 

[Alexia_Ko]

No one likes the team so hopefully we will win