MAN CITY v Aston Villa – THE PREVIEW: Teamnews and Prediction
27 Dec
Just two days after an impressive victory away at Newcastle, Man City return to Premier League action with a home match against struggling Aston Villa. The Blues will take confidence from the win in the North East but they must focus on this fixture, one which City have generally done well in.
Whilst we have been in a rich vein of form on the road, we have found it more difficult at Eastlands to break sides down. Teams have started to wise up to our deficiencies and put ten men behind the ball, defend narrowly and wait for us to struggle. But after watching Aston Villa against Spurs, we shouldn’t be too worried. They began brightly but faded miserably as the match went on and the scoreline, a 2-1 loss, flattered them.
Roberto Mancini will have to make a number of selection choices as he debates whether to rest a couple of first-choice stars. At this stage in the season, City’s large squad, with quality in depth, will come in handy, but it’s a tough balancing act that Mancini must juggle. Kolo Touré can expect to replace Joleon Lescott, who deputised well against Newcastle. Mario Balotelli can probably expect a recall but in place of whom, I don’t know.
This is the team Mancini may select:
Hart
Boateng K. Touré Kompany Kolarov
de Jong Barry
Milner Silva Balotelli
Tévez
Subs: Given, Richards, Zabaleta, Vieira, A. Johnson, Y. Touré, Jo
With regards to Villa’s team selection, former City captain Richard Dunne has been recently frozen out by Gérard Houllier, and will not feature. The same misfortune has fallen on Stephen Ireland, City’s player of the year two seasons ago, whilst Emile Heskey and Ashley Young are both sidelined with injury.
Prediction: MAN CITY 2 – 0 Aston Villa - May be tough to break them down early, but if we get the first goal, it shouldn’t be too much trouble. Goals to be scored by Carlos Tévez and Mario Balotelli.
I watched the Villa game and to say a 2-1 scoreline flattered Villa is nonsense. They started bright with Spurs, then Spurs scored, and dominated them in second half only to be hit on the break by a great counter.
It is a game we should win, but never write off Villa, they have had a poor season and getting a good result against us or there next game Chelsea is what they will really want to maybe turn their season. Gonna be hard for Villa, feel for them this season, especially because we have 2 of their best players.
Great picture of Balotelli and Bobby! Good preview too especially considering time contraints having reviewed and done rating for the Newcastle game. Good work. I think he will stick with the same side though. Dont see why he would bring Balotelli in? Maybe he will buckle and just play him because afterall, he is the Best European U21 Player? Jack who?!
I would like to think we could dismiss Villa as easily as you suggest, though it does not always work out like that as the game against Everton proved. Once we become as ruthless and efficient in the way we play our home games as we do in our away games I will be every bit as confident as you seem to be. Having said all that I do have tickets for the games against Villa and Blackpool and fully expect us to be playing Arsenal on the 4th having won our last three league games and quite possibly sitting on the top of the league. The Rags now have two games away and Arsenal and Chelsea play today that elusive top spot may just be ours for the start of 2011.
a good starting team for city but i wud have had johnson in the line up. Come on city you can beat villa im happy to see villa loose
Directed to ‘Colin Bell is my hero’- I assume that is you Matt, if not then the same applies. He is a Jew at Christmas, he is bound to have time on his hands.
Standard preview however a touch on the short side, unlike you Steven, I think it will be closer than you predict. Villa have been desperately inconsistent this season but they have both the squad and the capacity to spring a surprise against any team. It will be interesting to see how the lively Albrighton fares against City’s defence.
And as for Balotelli, what a *!^$.
He needs to be brought down a peg or two.
Mario clearly does talk some rubbish, but its nice to see a city player who can talk up a good game though. Would also love to see Johnson brought back in to the starting line up but Mancini seems to be favouring the medicore Milner instead. Shame!
Mediocre Milner? Are you barmy? He’s outshone Johnno in every game?