Aston Villa vs. City Pre-Match Discussion Thread

[Jumanji]

Christian Benteke will miss this weekend's game against City after being ruled out for 4-6 weeks with an injury.

Being dismantled 4-0 at home to Spurs should probably further hurt their morale in addition to losing their main goal getter.

That said, it won't be easy and these away games will be the litmus test for how our season will pan; 3 points is a must.

I'd like to see Jovetic and Dzeko play again, resting Negredo for the Bayern game. I hope Nasri will continue his good form.

My team (one eye on the Bayern game):

Richards---Kompany---Nastasić---Kolarov
----------------Touré-----Fernandinho------------
----------Milner--------Nasri-------Jovetić---------
---------------------------Džeko-------------------------

 

[MaineBlue88]

I don't think they really gave a shite about the League Cup look at the weak team they put out against Spurs, they didn't even play Guzan, Lambert insinuated in his interview he winged it, as soon as Spurs got the first goal he took off Kozak and El Ahmadi. Benteke many people would say is their best player, but I don't think he would of gotten a lot of the goals he has without Agbonlahor or to a lesser extent Weimann (neither of them played against Spurs) so with the form Agbonlahor is in, keep him quiet, because Kozak will thrive off him as Norwich found out

However they are shite at home and do much better away and I think we'll have too much for them, 1-3 City.

 

[stony]

I'm glad Benteke is out, but I haven't really watched Villa this season so I don't really know what to expect. I'd presume we would have too much quality for them, and if we carry on in our current form then we definitely have too much for them.
We usually do well against them so I'm going for a win, especially with them losing their best player.

 

[sam-caddick]

I think Villa are one of the best counter attacking teams in the league at the moment so we must be wary of losing any possession in areas Villa can expose.

For me this is the first test under Pellegrini to see if we can start being more consistent following three very good performances against Plzen, United and Wigan, plus to see if we can put in a good shift away from home, something we have struggled with overall in the past few seasons in my opinion.

Hopefully the lads are all motivated to be at their best and to carry on improving as a team, we don't want to be on a downer going into the Bayern game.

--------------------Negredo-----------------------
Nasri--------------Sergio----------------Navas
-------------Yaya--Fernandinho---------------
Kolarov--Nastasic--Kompany--Zabaleta
-----------------------Hart--------------------------

Pellgrini seems to rotate considerably so I don't know what team he will play, but I would go with something on the lines of that.

 

[NoahCity]

Hope we can keep the momentum up for this. Fernandinho needs a rest ahead of Bayern Munich.
------------------------Hart---------------------
Zabaleta-Kompany-Lescott------Kolarov
------------------Yaya--Rodwell---------------
------Milner---------Nasri----------Jovetic
-------------------Negredo-----------------------

 

[Mr Ed (The Stables)]

A bit old school here, but surely the team that started against the rags, will start again?

 

[MC ID]

We are 12-1 in our last three matches, lets see how mad we can make that number ;)

I wonder if we will come up against the usual mass of defenders especially as their goal source has gone and if Pellegrini and the team has figured out a way to dismantle it, if we figure out how to convincingly beat these walls of defense I think we'll win the league. Such things will inevitably take time though so I while I hope we'll crush them I wouldn't be surprised for the usual hard match.

 

[BlueMoonoverUS]

Dzeko will be saved for Bayern being that he played against them more than Negredo who will probably start agains Villa. But who knows and I'm fine with either one.

 

[Ducado]

I am interested to see if we can keep this level up, especially away from home it was a tough game there last season if I remember right. Win this with style and this place will explode with joy

 

[Lomas has a lob on]

A bit old school here, but surely the team that started against the rags, will start again?

Normally yes.

But with the Bayern game in mid week after it may mean a few "tweaks" here and there.

...............................................Hart

Richards.........Kompany...................Nastasic................Kolarov

.......................Toure.....................Garcia/Rodwell

Milner................................Silva..........................Jovetic

.......................................Dzeko.

^ Against Villa.

.........................................Hart

Zabaleta..........Kompany........Nastasic...................Clichy

........................Toure................Fernandinho

Navas..........................Aguero............................Nasri

.................................Negredo.

^ Against Bayern