Villarreal (A) - Tue 21st Oct, 20:00 | CL | Pre-Match Thread

[blue61]

Why no Dias?

For me Dias lacks speed and he also seems to wait a lot for balls to bounce,rather than challenging for them in the air

Stones when fit is much better on the ball as is Gvardiol and both have more speed

 

[Penders1957]

We literally own them,
View attachment 172557No1 boys name in Villarreal is not Pep or Pedro, it’s Tyler

We literally own them,
View attachment 172557No1 boys name in Villarreal is not Pep or Pedro, it’s Tyler

Joking aside they are owned by a ceramics billionaire but it’s a competitor of porcelanosa who also owns the mercadona supermarket chain

 

[Kippax Kidd]

Did any journo ask about khusanov?

 

[MCFC1993]

 

[Kippax Street 1880]

Donnarumma

Nunes
Stones
Gvardiol
O'Reilly

Gonzo
Bernardo

Cherki
Foden
Doku

Haaland

Dias and Reijnders have played a lot so I'd use this game to rotate them out. Also make sure Marmoush, Ait-Nouri, Kovacic and Rico get minutes off the bench.

 

[Bluemoon dan]

Now I'm not going so it doesn't impact me but this seems absolutely ridiculous. Imagine an evening game at the Etihad with absolutely no public transport at all back afterwards (yes, yes I know, we wouldn't be able to tell the difference, very funny) but that still seems a very odd situation to me.

 

[Ken92]

For me Dias lacks speed and he also seems to wait a lot for balls to bounce,rather than challenging for them in the air

Stones when fit is much better on the ball as is Gvardiol and both have more speed

Dias has been pretty average for a long time now.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Feed the Viking and he will score.
Cleansheet again please. CTID

Nooooooo! I've awarded Villarreal a goal in the City App predictor. I need the points.

 

[Gray]

Now I'm not going so it doesn't impact me but this seems absolutely ridiculous. Imagine an evening game at the Etihad with absolutely no public transport at all back afterwards (yes, yes I know, we wouldn't be able to tell the difference, very funny) but that still seems a very odd situation to me.

I bet UEFA don't give a fuck.

 

[BringBackSwales]

I bet UEFA don't give a fuck.

More than likely it was a uefa request to cancel the buses!

 

[Gingers Dad]

Dias has been pretty average for a long time now.

Dias is our best defender, that's why he gets picked

 

[dadnlad]

Dias is our best defender, that's why he gets picked

give undeserved new contract ........................................bm at its finest

 

[alexmcity]

Dias is our best defender, that's why he gets picked

Given the whole package Dias offers, including his leadership qualities, he has been the best defender we have had since 2020, and it's not close. In terms of pure talent, Gvardiol and Stones are superior, but Dias has been a proper leader, they haven't been (although I think Josko can become one, he's pretty young for a CB).

Our points per game with and without Dias in the first XI since the start of last season (before Everton):

with Dias: 2,23 ppg
without Dias: 1,07 ppg.

We've been a mess at the back without him.

 

[GrumpyLegacyFan]

Now I'm not going so it doesn't impact me but this seems absolutely ridiculous. Imagine an evening game at the Etihad with absolutely no public transport at all back afterwards (yes, yes I know, we wouldn't be able to tell the difference, very funny) but that still seems a very odd situation to me.

Yep - wankers - just arrived in Valencia (lovely city) and it's 10pm and most folks seem to be just turning up for dinner - so how public transport stops at 10pm is lunacy. Anyway - trying to scramble to pre-book a taxi for the 150 Euro fucking trip back to Valencia...

 

[Half Time Draw]

Yep - wankers - just arrived in Valencia (lovely city) and it's 10pm and most folks seem to be just turning up for dinner - so how public transport stops at 10pm is lunacy. Anyway - trying to scramble to pre-book a taxi for the 150 Euro fucking trip back to Valencia...

Feel for you mate.

That’s beyond a piss take to hold a champions league game where there isnt any public transport. Should be a requirement for all champions league fixtures. City should be stepping in and putting on some buses for the away fans. I know this isn’t their fault but even so would have been a great gesture to look after their own.

Have a good trip pal, hope you get sorted

 

[Oyster28catcher]

I bet UEFA don't give a fuck.

Monaco away's facilities, Villareal away's lack of transport, Real's seats in the Gods... all part of the premium Champions League experience.

 

[Gray]

Feel for you mate.

That’s beyond a piss take to hold a champions league game where there isnt any public transport. Should be a requirement for all champions league fixtures. City should be stepping in and putting on some buses for the away fans. I know this isn’t their fault but even so would have been a great gesture to look after their own.

Have a good trip pal, hope you get sorted

My son and his mates are hiring a car in Valencia and driving to Villareal.

 

[Gingers Dad]

Given the whole package Dias offers, including his leadership qualities, he has been the best defender we have had since 2020, and it's not close. In terms of pure talent, Gvardiol and Stones are superior, but Dias has been a proper leader, they haven't been (although I think Josko can become one, he's pretty young for a CB).

Our points per game with and without Dias in the first XI since the start of last season (before Everton):

with Dias: 2,23 ppg
without Dias: 1,07 ppg.

We've been a mess at the back without him.

You didn't even need the stats to back up your argument. It's patently obvious that Dias is the main defender. I also agree with what you said about Gvardiol and Stones. They are better footballers than Dias but the team is better with Dias in it.

 

[Axel Freed]

Given the whole package Dias offers, including his leadership qualities, he has been the best defender we have had since 2020, and it's not close. In terms of pure talent, Gvardiol and Stones are superior, but Dias has been a proper leader, they haven't been (although I think Josko can become one, he's pretty young for a CB).

Our points per game with and without Dias in the first XI since the start of last season (before Everton):

with Dias: 2,23 ppg
without Dias: 1,07 ppg.

We've been a mess at the back without him.

I’d be interested in the points totals since 2020 and also curious to learn the same stats for Ake who for me is the best defender we have

 

[chaddblue]

Not gonna be easy this

They’re third in La Liga, unbeaten at home in all competitions this season and haven’t lost at home in the last 10 European games