Aston Villa (H) | PL | Post-match Thread

[SamBlue]

So are we really a better team with Alvarez upfront instead of Haaland or we shouldn't look too much into this ?

In my opinion, yes we are. Some of the best football this season we played when he went out injured. Uncomfortable truth, maybe?

 

[alexmcity]

Key...John Stones definitely....Gvardiol stepping right up - I hope he has a Laporte and Dias type second season next year

Dias had a better 1st than 2nd season...

Gvardiol is having a good season that can become a great season. Nobody is benching him now.

 

[madloaf]

Ok performance but ....

Of the 3 challengers for the title I think we seem the weakest, the least likely, the most distracted, the least exciting, the least interested, the laziest, .... and yet if we keep getting boring wins we could just do it. In the meantime maybe the cup games will inject some inspiration.

I'm not biting. Nope. Not doing it. Nope.

 

[Cityfan]

Bit weird that post when we are coming off the best performance in ages.

I assumed it was fishing

 

[nellyonthewing]

The game showed the dilemma of having a fairly static blunt goal scoring instrument upfront or having the movement and surgical skill of the flair players operating in that area.

 

[Tolmie scores]

So are we really a better team with Alvarez upfront instead of Haaland or we shouldn't look too much into this ?

We are just a better team with deep lying midfielders running onto to cut backs - classic City the first goal. This can only happen with cyclical movement up front, which separate's their Centre Backs and Full backs - slide ball through..David Silva style..cut back...and any number of players to finish off. So much better - no VAR Haaland is great at what he does - BUT - we don't play quick counter attacking through balls so we are always going to look better as a team with our tried and tested pattern of play. Has to be said that was much much weaker Villa out there tonight

 

[uwerosler28]

How does Pep justify moving phil out wide next time to accommodate de bruyne?

 

[Big Jonjo]

We really do look a more fluid team without Haaland in it. Also Phil plays better in the central role that KDB usually plays. I'm not in anyway writing these 2 great players off, as they are both our best match winners, however it is a conundrum for Pep to get the best out of the team.

 

[IrishBlueSince92]

Very good performance, played on the front foot from the off and really went after them.
Thank God for Rodri and Foden this season, our two best players by a country mile.
Gvardiol was decent again, its not happening for Silva at the minute.
Hopefully the night off can reinvigorate KDB and Haaland

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

Regs ain’t going to be happy with Wio there.

 

[mike1923]

i believe there’s a reset after the palace game and rodri’s yellow cards count is 8 so congrats to rodri for avoiding a 2 games suspension.

statement win, keep them coming.

Is it not after 32 games?

 

[mccity]

It feels like it's been a while since we battered a side in the league. Hopefully it'll raise confidence in the dressing room

 

[svennis pennis]

Great result without 5/6 of our regular first team on the pitch.

Enjoyed watching us move through the gears and Phil was just magnificent.

Great to see Villa at least make an attempt of a football match instead of parking the bus.

 

[madloaf]

It feels like it's been a while since we battered a side in the league. Hopefully it'll raise confidence in the dressing room

When did we play united last?

 

[manimanc]

Ok performance but ....

Of the 3 challengers for the title I think we seem the weakest, the least likely, the most distracted, the least exciting, the least interested, the laziest, .... and yet if we keep getting boring wins we could just do it. In the meantime maybe the cup games will inject some inspiration.

Go to bed.

 

[Scottish Cityzen]

Just what we needed, 3 points and an excellent performance alongside letting a few big hitters charge their batteries.

Confidence booster for a lot of players such as Doku and Rico, Gvardiol putting in another quality performance. Jack being fully hit will be a big boost for the run in.

Go into the Palace game on a high and probably able to rotate another couple of guys who can do with a rest.

Pep may well have had a plan to rest Phil on Saturday but not sure if he can after that!

 

[Tolmie scores]

Dias had a better 1st than 2nd season...

Gvardiol is having a good season that can become a great season. Nobody is benching him now.

Dias looked very ponderous when he started with us...looked a liability at first when you think of his first 4 x months - then came into his own and became immense

 

[theres only one carlito]

So are we really a better team with Alvarez upfront instead of Haaland or we shouldn't look too much into this ?

were better to watch. the way we play is totally different with Haaland. too static for me across the front. we should play to our strengths as team, like tonight, moving around, moving the oppo around, fluid. I don't see that when we have Haaland playing. I'm sure we could though that's the frustrating part. you do have to take into account the way the opposition play but playing two holding mids in Rodri and Kova inhibits us as team.

 

[Blue Maverick]

I’ve said it before, we play much better fluid football with that setup, just like the two months Erling was injured was some if our best football. I do think with the way Villa were open tonight he would’ve got a couple of goals on the break but then they may have set up different if he did play.
Thought Doku had his best game in a while and for me MoM was Lewis he had an amazing game. Jack seems afraid to shoot, needs to sort that out to push on but he holds and draws fouls so much.

 

[Tricky_Trev]

If we can only unleash Phil in those central zones when KDB doesn’t play, we really have a decision to make. Could be time to hand over the baton Kev.