Aston Villa (A) | PL | Post Match Thread

We shouldn’t be lacking personality though…
Stones, Dias, Bernado, Foden, Haaland all treble winners and even the younger amongst them are seasoned professionals

Lacking physicality a major problem though. As is lacking any creativity, energy and visible motivation

Most frustrating thing of all today was it was a chance to make a statement and fire a warning shot at Arsenal. They must be laughing tonight, will win the league at a canter at this rate

And don’t get me started on us being in the same points as the rags, way too depressing
I agree we shouldn’t but when we go behind especially away I don’t always get the vibe that the team truly believes.

That’s maybe indicative of me not having the belief that Doku, Bobb or Savinho are going to come up with a goal or piece of magic that a KDB, Gundogan, Sterling or Mahrez would regularly come up with.

For the tougher away fixtures I don’t think we can get away with the 5 really attack minded players / formation that we saw today - would have preferred Bernie sitting deeper with Reijnders rather than the 4-1-4-1 that we saw.
 
Donna; Khuzanov, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-N; Rodri, Reinders; Foden; Marmoush, Haaland, Cherki
A fully fit side that has loads of goals in it so we shouldn’t be TOO worried about the current situation. We’ve just got to get them all fit, and then get Pep to pick them. For me that’s as good as any team in the league.
 
As some have already said, the starting lineup did not get me an erection. I don't understand why we meet Aston Villa, who have three straight wins, and we don't start with the best 11?

There is no CL this week, only EFL and Swansea away. Why not start this 11 in that game?

This was a tough game and Aston Villa defended really well, got a goal on a corner and they could have got another on their corner setups I think they had good corners, it seems that many teams are really dangerous on that besides us ours really sucks.
 
Lol, just got an email from City with the players ratings.....the worst performers with only 4/10 were Bobb and Gvardiol .... most of our players players were on 5/10 ..... and only three players got the top mark of 6/10, Foden, Haaland and Donnarumma ...... says it all really!
Those figures are fair.
 
Go and have a look at the last 3 midfield selections we’ve picked away to them. The choices are worlds away from what was required - they run hard, our lot jogged and/or get brushed off the ball and ran past easily
True, but what I was describing is not just in the midfield. It was happening across the pitch. We do seem to lack a degree of physicality against such sides and nous, too.
 
Genuine question. How many of our players would be starting for Madrid, Bayern, Barca, and PSG? That's before we look at Arsenal and Liverpool. Haaland would start up front for three of the aforementioned European teams. Gigi probably starts for all four.

Beyond that, I'm struggling. And therein lies the problem; we just don't have the same number of world class players that we used to have. And it shows on the pitch.
 
True, but what I was describing is not just in the midfield. It was happening across the pitch. We do seem to lack a degree of physicality against such sides and nous, too.

100%. They got a corner early and it was clear that we were vulnerable to their size and athleticism(probably application as well)

That’s not a problem when you’re David Silva. But it’s a big problem when your Bobb, Savio etc
 
Think the frustrating thing is we all knew today was a proper test of whether we are up for the title challenge after the last 5/6 games or are we still a fair bit off. I thought we would be, but we aren’t and still a long way to go.
 
I’m saying that what happens on the pitch isnt the full picture. They weren’t fit enough or they would’ve played.

Nobody talks about square pegs in round holes when Pep transforms players and positions with his magic wand yet when we lose the forum is awash with people making the most blindingly obvious points and insisting on a formulaic approach that won nobody nothing ever.
you are ignoring my point both were fit enough to be on the bench so no reason to be able to mange both their minutes and have the cdm position covered

from day one i have said josko at left back is wrong, nunes at right back is wrong both are wasted playing out of position and no amount of " magic wand" will make me think any different

and yes we get away with it sometimes because they are very good players in their own right
imagine how good they would be in their right postions
 
Maybe it’s just Villa, but unlike other teams, their players continually seem to get goal side of our players across the pitch. Deeply frustrating watching players get turned and outmanoeuvred so easily.

It's not just Villa. Our midfield, particularly the wingers, seem to be constantly trying to win tackles from behind their man (as in, the upfield side) and either failing or giving away a free-kick. It means a) there is little chance of winning the tackle and b) it makes it easier for their player to skip the tackle and bear down on our goal. It's most strange.
 
Genuine question. How many of our players would be starting for Madrid, Bayern, Barca, and PSG? That's before we look at Arsenal and Liverpool. Haaland would start up front for three of the aforementioned European teams. Gigi probably starts for all four.

Beyond that, I'm struggling. And therein lies the problem; we just don't have the same number of world class players that we used to have. And it shows on the pitch.

5.
Donnarumma
Dias
An on form Gvardiol
Silva, maybe
Haaland

Also Marmoush and Kusanov would be in with a shout

But I agree with the point. Go back to the treble squad - how many of our lot could get on the bench never mint start regularly
 

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