Aston Villa (H) - Wed 3rd April, 20:15 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[ninjamonkey]

Grealish played this fixture last season and was fine, and we won it 3-1. There's absolutely no reason to think he shouldn't play because the Villa fans will "get to him". He gets booed by all fans when City play away anyway. He's used to it, old club or not.

And both he and the team were in good form, that's not the case now.

He's just said he notices when he's booed, he's a confidence player, we've seen players like Sterling and recently Nunes crumble against their old clubs when confidence is low, villa fans will give him shit every single time he touches the ball and theyll be right in his face for the first half too. we have foden, doku and Bobb who are all arguably better options at present anyway. Pep should keep him well away from the pitch except for the unlikely event where we happen to be cruising.

 

[pavelsrnicek]

It would be nice to see us rediscover our scoring touch. We have rarely been outplayed, Villa away being one of our worst performances, but we haven’t quite hit our ruthless best, we haven’t really crushed sides like last season. It would be great and well timed to find that sharpness for the run in.

 

[Chi-town blues]

Don't you have a cockpit to be bored in?

Aren’t you the hanger ?

 

[lasereyes]

And both he and the team were in good form, that's not the case now.

He's just said he notices when he's booed, he's a confidence player, we've seen players like Sterling and recently Nunes crumble against their old clubs when confidence is low, villa fans will give him shit every single time he touches the ball and theyll be right in his face for the first half too. we have foden, doku and Bobb who are all arguably better options at present anyway. Pep should keep him well away from the pitch except for the unlikely event where we happen to be cruising.

That's away. Not seen any of our players crumble at Etihad - in fact Sterling was crucial in that game vs Scousers in 2019 including the winning assist for Leroy

 

[Fordyboy46]

Come on City, just win the fucking game

 

[ysmsa]

Sorry is that TWENTY ONE year old Jeremy Doku, who has played the equivalent of 13 league games for us, and scored 2 and assisted 5 in that time? Fucking hell give the kid a fucking chance

I like him, just a bit raw but there is definitely a player in there.

 

[Tevez City]

_________________Ortega________________

Rico_________Dias______Gvardiol_______Gomez

_________________Rodri_________________

________Foden_______________Jack_____

Oscar__________Alvarez____________Doku

 

[Stelea]

Ortega
Rico
Gvardiol
Dias
Ananji
Rodri
Nunez
Foden
Alverez
Bernardo
Haaland

 

[Bay Area Blue 93]

Sorry is that TWENTY ONE year old Jeremy Doku, who has played the equivalent of 13 league games for us, and scored 2 and assisted 5 in that time? Fucking hell give the kid a fucking chance

Somehow Doku looks older and wiser than 21 so it is well worth the reminder that he's just a kid. He's got plenty of time to mature and learn more of Pep's ways.

 

[Keeper!]

And both he and the team were in good form, that's not the case now.

He's just said he notices when he's booed, he's a confidence player, we've seen players like Sterling and recently Nunes crumble against their old clubs when confidence is low, villa fans will give him shit every single time he touches the ball and theyll be right in his face for the first half too. we have foden, doku and Bobb who are all arguably better options at present anyway. Pep should keep him well away from the pitch except for the unlikely event where we happen to be cruising.

He needs to get back on track with US, forget his Villa connections, he has contributed little so far this season but could come into the side at the business end of the season and lead us to titles.

It's up to Jack, time to perform Jackie boy.

 

[eversince 76]

Teams set up similar at the Etihad due to the fact we have become a bit too predictable in our game. Nothing wrong with the fighting spirit and we still run more.

Let’s hope Haaland proves a few pundits (and fans on here) wrong, KdB rediscover his form and Foden a way to deal with being looked at differently since Pep named him the best in the PL.

We can only win our remaining games and in the end see where it takes us. Did it before; let’s do it again.

 

[bluebc]

 

[Blue Steel]

And both he and the team were in good form, that's not the case now.

He's just said he notices when he's booed, he's a confidence player, we've seen players like Sterling and recently Nunes crumble against their old clubs when confidence is low, villa fans will give him shit every single time he touches the ball and theyll be right in his face for the first half too. we have foden, doku and Bobb who are all arguably better options at present anyway. Pep should keep him well away from the pitch except for the unlikely event where we happen to be cruising.

The booing doesn’t damage his confidence, quite the opposite in fact…which you’d know if you’d watched any number of interviews with him where he talks about it.

He’s been gone from Villa nearly 3 years FFS.

 

[PragueBlue]

The booing doesn’t damage his confidence, quite the opposite in fact…which you’d know if you’d watched any number of interviews with him where he talks about it.

He’s been gone from Villa nearly 3 years FFS.

He has to start if fit IMO. The team plays better when he's in it, whatever you think of him as an individual.

 

[Gabriel]

He has to start if fit IMO. The team plays better when he's in it, whatever you think of him as an individual.

The fitness question is my only concern. I reckon he’ll start this evening but then be on the bench for the weekend game, which should give him sufficient time to recover for next Tuesday.

 

[Norbiton]

Tbf the Norwegian Bob Taylor couldn't be any worse .

How I miss Big Fat Bob and his fifty goals a season

 

[Fordyboy46]

Ortega
Rico
Gvardiol
Dias
Ananji
Rodri
Nunez
Foden
Alverez
Bernardo
Haaland

Not Alvarez in that attacking midfield position, never works pal

 

[supercity88]

We beat them 1:0 with a late Haaland penalty last season. And all the stars played. Now, given we play them 60 hours after Villa and 3 days before Real away, we'll have to use many squad players. I hope you are right but nothing suggests we are going to batter them with Lewis, Nunes, Doku and Bobb in the team. And I rate these players higher than many on here. Liverpool needed help from the referees to win 2:1.

They've won 4 games at home all season; Wolves 3-2, Brentford 3-1, Sheffield United 3-2 and Burnley 3-0. They've drawn at home with Fulham, Forest, Brighton and Luton and lost to Arsenal, Spurs, Everton, Bournemouth, Liverpool and Chelsea. They've been shocking this season and we should be beating them comfortably. Other than a home game, we couldn't have asked for much better in terms of a team to play away from home.

 

[Buckshaw Blue]

Need everyone to step up tonight. Won’t be an easy game. Gotta keep the faith!

3-1 City

 

[Crooked_rain]

I fancy Haaland to suddenly find top form again...

4-0 City

His form isn't even that poor. he hasn't scored in the last two, fair enough but they were very tight games too. Attacking players on all sides, us, dippers and arsenal were feeding on scraps. A clever corner and a penalty being the only goals in them.

Before that he scored 4 in the previous 5 league games. 5 in one FA cup game and one in a champions league game. All within a month of coming back from injury.


Given the fact his return from injury to the dippers was about 4-5 weeks, he scored 10 goals in about 5 weeks.

He's just held to a different standard if he doesn't score every game, even if we create little, or if he misses a chance.