***Official: Villa v City Match Thread***

[Hazy2]

The Lino and Ref did a quick reshuffle of the pack. Sorry Dad reffing his lads team, piss take.

[patrickblue]

5th stone wall peno not given

Not for me. A flick on the toe ffs, that's ashley young bad mate

There was more contact than Otamendi just got booked for.

That don't make it a penalty. We used to be better than the shitty "but there was contact" brigade. Sadly we appear to be losing that side of us.

Sterling has dived twice. Whether he took a flick, scrape or a bloody gust of wind is irrelevant to me, it makes him a cheat. Anyone who has said as much about ronaldo, young, Nani etc is a hypocrite to say otherwise now.

Totally agree with you PBL. Sterling really pisses me off with his constant diving, and he's not even got the much overused excuse of being a continental import.

[iwasthere2012]

5th stone wall peno not given

Not for me. A flick on the toe ffs, that's ashley young bad mate

There was more contact than Otamendi just got booked for.

That don't make it a penalty. We used to be better than the shitty "but there was contact" brigade. Sadly we appear to be losing that side of us.

Sterling has dived twice. Whether he took a flick, scrape or a bloody gust of wind is irrelevant to me, it makes him a cheat. Anyone who has said as much about ronaldo, young, Nani etc is a hypocrite to say otherwise now.

Totally agree with you PBL. Sterling really pisses me off with his constant diving, and he's not even got the much overused excuse of being a continental import.

He hits the ground embarrassingly easy.
If he had a left foot, he wouldn't have had to cut back inside. Clear through on goal, yet again.

[Beefymcfc]

"Without Bony and without Sergio Aguero we don't have a player who plays inside the box. We have to try and work without them."

[dazby]

I thought Pellers threw away two points today. At the 60 minute mark we were on top and it was going to be a matter of time.

Then Delph comes on.

They mentioned in the commentary that If VK was in charge he would have left him on the bus. Too right.

The moment he came on the crowd fired up and Villa got their second wind. Just plain stupid. If you're going to make such a defensive move bring on Demi.

It was turn the screw time and he bottled it.

[london blue 2]

I thought Pellers threw away two points today. At the 60 minute mark we were on top and it was going to be a matter of time.

Then Delph comes on.

They mentioned in the commentary that If VK was in charge he would have left him on the bus. Too right.

The moment he came on the crowd fired up and Villa got their second wind. Just plain stupid. If you're going to make such a defensive move bring on Demi.

It was turn the screw time and he bottled it.

That move was a bollock indeed. But it was 78 mins in. His main flaw was putting that ginger twat up top. Got a classy hungry striker on the bench raring to go.

Also. I love de bruyne it's just that he's run down. Should have left him out.

[nottsblue]

In the grand scheme of things a point away with a clean sheet against a side fighting for their lives with a new manager to impress is not a bad thing. Yes, it's a game on paper we should win, but football isn't played on paper and a hundred extenuating circumstances can dictate a match result.

There were a few positives. A clean sheet for starters. Navas had another good game and on a different day might have had two or three assists. But for a very lucky Guzan save where Sterlings header hit his face or the bar late on we would have won. Or if the penalty was awarded in the first half which on a different day might well have been.

Going into the International break we are still top of the league. Would prefer to be there than anywhere else in the league

[Im_Spartacus]

I thought Pellers threw away two points today. At the 60 minute mark we were on top and it was going to be a matter of time.

Then Delph comes on.

They mentioned in the commentary that If VK was in charge he would have left him on the bus. Too right.

The moment he came on the crowd fired up and Villa got their second wind. Just plain stupid. If you're going to make such a defensive move bring on Demi.

It was turn the screw time and he bottled it.

I believe the actual quote was that if he didn't think Delph could handle that reception, he would have left him on the bus. In other words he was supporting Delph's strength of character to play well regardless of the reception from the villa fans

[gillie]

Can someone at City please pay the ransom fee so we can get our players back from Sevilla.Well yesterday was like after the Lord's Mayor show was'nt it.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

I thought Pellers threw away two points today. At the 60 minute mark we were on top and it was going to be a matter of time.

Then Delph comes on.

They mentioned in the commentary that If VK was in charge he would have left him on the bus. Too right.

The moment he came on the crowd fired up and Villa got their second wind. Just plain stupid. If you're going to make such a defensive move bring on Demi.

It was turn the screw time and he bottled it.

Defensive move?

[City64]

Miss of the season by KDB ! No damage done though as Arsenal were utter shite !

[sheblue]

"Without Bony and without Sergio Aguero we don't have a player who plays inside the box. We have to try and work without them."

What sort of shite statement is that? what is he on about, he has a player who can play in the box but he was sitting on the bench for 85 odd mins yesterday.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Miss of the season by KDB ! No damage done though as Arsenal were utter shite !

That's debatable, there was Bony's that Fernando put on a plate for him, there was also Aguero and Navas' missing having rounded the keeper.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

"Without Bony and without Sergio Aguero we don't have a player who plays inside the box. We have to try and work without them."

What sort of shite statement is that? what is he on about, he has a player who can play in the box but he was sitting on the bench for 85 odd mins yesterday.

He obviously sees him as more of a second striker, a number ten if you prefer. Perhaps feels he will get swallowed up trying to mix it with experienced PL centre backs. Not saying it's right or wrong but that's what I read from that comment.

[sheblue]

"Without Bony and without Sergio Aguero we don't have a player who plays inside the box. We have to try and work without them."

What sort of shite statement is that? what is he on about, he has a player who can play in the box but he was sitting on the bench for 85 odd mins yesterday.

He obviously sees him as more of a second striker, a number ten if you prefer. Perhaps feels he will get swallowed up trying to mix it with experienced PL centre backs. Not saying it's right or wrong but that's what I read from that comment.

Yea I know what your saying but he looks good enough to play anywhere up there, and looks good enough to compete with the best of the centre backs in the league, especially villas. He wont get much experience playing against them on the bench.
If he is good enough play him, yesterday was the ideal opportunity.

[Douglas Higginbottom]

Overall I think we just have to view yesterday as one of those days when yiu just don't score but dominate the game.We were not really at it in the first half and I think losing Bony was a blow even though Navas came on and was our best player.

The chances we created were high quality and took some missing but that can happen.So often the Sterling header would go in even after hitting the keeper on the bonce,KDB trying to be fancy,Fern hitting the bar and even the dribbler from Delph was so so close at the end. It did feel like one of those games where you really feel the loss of Silva and Kun.

As for Pellers changes I was one clamouring for Kelechi to coome on to keep the shape we started with.I can accept he isn't maybe an out and out striker but he can play that role especially with the quality around him.He has a great touch and good eye for goal and the strength and confidence to play up top and I do think we might well have won with him on earlier.That chip for the Fern header was sublime.

Delph coming on I didn't see as a problem.Yaya was shot and if he had scored as he nearly did Pellers would have been hailed. Only one point and as long as we beat the dippers all will be well.

[dazby]

I thought Pellers threw away two points today. At the 60 minute mark we were on top and it was going to be a matter of time.

Then Delph comes on.

They mentioned in the commentary that If VK was in charge he would have left him on the bus. Too right.

The moment he came on the crowd fired up and Villa got their second wind. Just plain stupid. If you're going to make such a defensive move bring on Demi.

It was turn the screw time and he bottled it.

Defensive move?

Yeah. Nacho man was the one to bring on.

[getdressedmctavish]

Don't often disagree with Doug. Same as my analysis except I said to the tele when Bony got injured "get Navas out wide and let de Bruyne and sterling interchanging across the front, then Iheanacho on at 70 mins for Ya Ya" So I think Pellers did okish and 0-1 he would have been hailed a genius on here. Very interesting Jesus' massive leap in form....delighted for him.Footy's a funny game. Bony looked like he was playing in waders before he went off but he would have snaffled those two chances. And where was man of the match Micah when our attackers were missing from 3 feet?

[london blue 2]

Don't often disagree with Doug. Same as my analysis except I said to the tele when Bony got injured "get Navas out wide and let de Bruyne and sterling interchanging across the front, then Iheanacho on at 70 mins for Ya Ya" So I think Pellers did okish and 0-1 he would have been hailed a genius on here. Very interesting Jesus' massive leap in form....delighted for him.Footy's a funny game. Bony looked like he was playing in waders before he went off but he would have snaffled those two chances. And where was man of the match Micah when our attackers were missing from 3 feet?

I like how pellers did okish as his selection was similar to what you'd have wanted. Except it didn't work so okish is incorrect. We were crying out for a striker. Brown is not a striker.

[getdressedmctavish]

I don't think "brown is not a striker" is the greatest point I have ever heard. I thought he did OK, Pellers because we created great chances. I thought he left Ya Ya on too long and should have introduced Iheanacho earlier.But we are dominating teams, making chances and not conceding. I don't buy this Iheanacho the saviour, he was poor when he started v Norwich. do you really think bringing Navas on for Bony was a bad move?Really?I've only got one beef with Pellers since he paired the Ferns and Komps and Otomendi and that is the continued deference to Ya Ya. He has been lethargic for several games but still looks like the first name on the sheet. He is slowing us down badly