1 hour ago, The Don Antonio said:

City have had an extra 10 days to plot our downfall.

That's our biggest bet! 🥳

Jokes aside, I don't think Pep's going to do anything different like he did the other times. And the tight schedule still didn't leave that much time to train patterns and whatnot anyway. He'll know that Tuchel won't change formation either so it's not like he needs weeks to decipher us. Biggest advantage was imo that they can/could rest players if it seemed neccessary. But that coin too got two sides.

But I prefer seeing the positive: we stayed in our rhythm and can go into it without having to change gears all of a sudden. Sure, if we miss out on forth place on Sunday and after losing the FA Cup it'd be a miracle if we'd win the CL.

Edited May 20, 20215 yr by weetee

1 hour ago, Strider6003 said:

I've noticed in the past that when you have too much time to prepare after a busy period you often don't start well in the next match.

It might work to our favour if City come in feeling too relaxed.

You are correct about us having more rythm to start the game . My issue is the accumulation of fatigue and injuries. 

We could have protected Kante against Villa but I am sure he will play if he can walk

12 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

You are correct about us having more rythm to start the game . My issue is the accumulation of fatigue and injuries. 

We could have protected Kante against Villa but I am sure he will play if he can walk

I'm rather glad it's on Sunday instead of one day earlier. I'm not so sure about Kanté being a certified starter. If Kova is more or less completely risk-free re: injury I can totally imagine him starting. Heck, I wouldn't even rule out Gilmore to start over Kanté in that game (rest of the squad will be more or less be the best possible). Tuchel will definitely want to field the best in the CL to win that thing. The major task against Villa imo is to keep the focus strictly onto those 90mins and give everything without being afraid to miss the final due injury or else..then I have little doubt about us securing 3rd spot. Whether we play Kanté or not isn't the main question imo.

I'm more worried about Jorginho, he's rather patchy lately and I'd have loved him to sit Villa out. But then again, I don't really know him, his game isn't really THAT physical he mostly just has to keep his focus sharp and stay concentrated the whole time - which isn't that easy if you play each and every game. But it's only two more games: tunnel vision, roll the dice, lift the trophy!

Edited May 20, 20215 yr by weetee

I just hope in the last two games we stop being generous and gifting goals on the plate. 

- Manchester City -  Gift from Christensen
- Arsenal  - Gift from Jorgi
- Leicester - bad pass from  Reece + handball 
- Leicester - gift from Kova

I think we need to give Kante the day off.  Hope Kova plays well enough with Jorgie what we win comfortably, but not so incredible that TT over-thinks playing anything but Jorgie/Kante in the middle for the final.  It would be nice to give Dave and Mount a rest also, but I personally wouldn't chance it.  Hope JT lets us get 3 quick ones so we can at least get those 2 off at halftime.

Well if skysports Jones Lnows really does know he has predicted we are the odd team out and miss out on top 4.

Just looking on youtube at Villa's goals re Spurs.

Looks like they closed down Spurs defensively, hope Tommy has them prepared for this. 

3 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

Just looking on youtube at Villa's goals re Spurs.

Looks like they closed down Spurs defensively, hope Tommy has them prepared for this. 

Both Villa goals were comical,  catastrophic defensive errors by Spuds. But generally Villa looked good, so I doubt TT will be underestimating them. He'd better not be, after all the games when we've failed to turn up in the past few weeks.

16 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

I've noticed in the past that when you have too much time to prepare after a busy period you often don't start well in the next match.

It might work to our favour if City come in feeling too relaxed.

Absolutely, i really don't understand why people think this period of basically playing friendlies is an advantage to City.

We will have the superior competitive sharpness which we need to take advantage of. If you want an example of just how much an advantage it can be if utilized correctly, look at how Spurs were playing in the opening stages of the season (with the Europa qualifying games on top of their league one's), they were that one step sharper than everyone else.

Guess that this picture was taken recently. JT knows where his heart is. Need Agent JT to spike the food of the Aston Villa players meals on Sunday.

I think the lads will be up for this one, I would argue as big of a game the UCL final is this game is bigger in the context of this specific season and next season. Win this last game, the whole season can be viewed despite the heartbreak and controversy as a success. 

Mission Tuchel succeeds despite the odds, people mention there was only a 5 point gap between 4th when he took over but pretty much 3 teams ahead of us had a game in hand. There were so many teams competing for 1st place before December come January there were many teams competing for Europe.

The Team and TT would have done a phenomenal job of winning out and their reward would be a bonus game to be recognised as the best team this season.

Win this game and then we can look forward to the finals with a much more calmer outlook (it will still be super stressful).

Edited May 21, 20215 yr by LongtimerLurker

37 minutes ago, Boyne said:

Guess that this picture was taken recently. JT knows where his heart is. Need Agent JT to spike the food of the Aston Villa players meals on Sunday.

lol - he better doesn't do that by showing off with his CL trophy.. 😄

I would go 

                        Mendy

           Christensen Silva Rudiger

James   Jorginho Kovacic    Chilwell

         Havertz         Mount

                   Werner

Noticed Traore closing down Reguillon at Spurs so would expect Villa to target a weak spot, hence no Azpi.

16 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Well if skysports Jones Lnows really does know he has predicted we are the odd team out and miss out on top 4.

Im sure that guy has predicted us to win less than 10 games this season.   I may be exaggerating, but if you worked out our league position based on his predictions, we'd be well in bottom half

 

Mind you, if CFCDaily on twitter is anything to go by, we are doomed.  Absolutely insufferable, miserable, negative f**ker

Edited May 21, 20215 yr by RickUK

Villa need to be clever about this game, they must know if we don't make top 4 we won't be able to replace Tammy next season, and he'll have to stay at the club.

2 hours ago, Boyne said:

Guess that this picture was taken recently. JT knows where his heart is. Need Agent JT to spike the food of the Aston Villa players meals on Sunday.

2 photos 9 years apart, he certainly hasn't aged much

If we had not drawn 0-0 with Brighton at home and lost 2-5 to West Brom at home, well... doesn't really matter now does it. What ifs help nobody. It is just disappointing we put ourselves in this position by not picking up points against teams we should have beaten. Brighton, Wolves (both home and away), West Brom, Southampton. Very disappointing. 

@enigma

a lot of ifs TT would say 😁

Mendy 

Dave Christiansen zouma

james billy kova emerson

Ziyech  Giroud Callum 

 

should still be good enough to get what we need and keep Silva,Mason, Rudi ,jorg and timo for the final. 

                                 Mendy

           Christensen    Silva       Rudiger

James          Kova         Jorginho             Chilwell

                              Mount

                Havertz               Werner

 

No point risking Kante here he shouldn't even travel . I think Billy can take his place on the bench... Lets take the game early to Villa and quieten their fans 

 

5 hours ago, RickUK said:

Im sure that guy has predicted us to win less than 10 games this season.   I may be exaggerating, but if you worked out our league position based on his predictions, we'd be well in bottom half

 

Mind you, if CFCDaily on twitter is anything to go by, we are doomed.  Absolutely insufferable, miserable, negative f**ker

And that is just for Villa. Soon as the league season is over we will have media, pundits and the random internet fans all on agreement that it is Peps destiny to guide city to their first CL, that they are the best side in the world and we are there just to make up the numbers and take a heavy beating while City stroll around lapping up the applause. 

2 hours ago, The Don Antonio said:

                                 Mendy

           Christensen    Silva       Rudiger

James          Kova         Jorginho             Chilwell

                              Mount

                Havertz               Werner

 

No point risking Kante here he shouldn't even travel . I think Billy can take his place on the bench... Lets take the game early to Villa and quieten their fans 

 

Yes I would go with that too. TT confirmed Christensen and Havertz are in the squad and the former desperately needs the minutes and a good show ahead of the final.

It allows Dave a breather as he does not need the minutes and got a knock in the last game.

Finally it would be pointless to risk Kante,  leave him home and take Gilmour. I would not mind at all of he started in place of Jorgi.

23 hours ago, rocker_joker said:

I just hope in the last two games we stop being generous and gifting goals on the plate. 

- Manchester City -  Gift from Christensen
- Arsenal  - Gift from Jorgi
- Leicester - bad pass from  Reece + handball 
- Leicester - gift from Kova

This is a really good point, defensively we have been awesome under TT however the goals we have given away have been mistakes directly from playing out from the back,

Playing out from the back and in youth football (which I am involved in) the FA are banging on about playing out from the back all the time , Southgate does the same for England.

Frankly it gives me palpitations,  I think it is right but then there is a place for foot through the ball - tricky one really as passages of play are so quick so there is a lot on player instinct

Anyway nervous about Sunday.  no matter which way you look at it, it only takes one dodgy red card for example and the the match is against us. We can only do our best. Not sure if I can watch 

    

51 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

And that is just for Villa. Soon as the league season is over we will have media, pundits and the random internet fans all on agreement that it is Peps destiny to guide city to their first CL, that they are the best side in the world and we are there just to make up the numbers and take a heavy beating while City stroll around lapping up the applause. 

Oh without doubt.  I had to unfollow that CFCDaily guy as everytime we won, within 15mins of full time he was being overly pessimistic and negative about the next game,  the guy needs to go outdoors more.   He overthinks to a dramatic level.  If he found out the grass in Porto is longer than at the Bridge, he'd find a way to make a big deal out of it.  Or if Mount played in boots with longer laces than he usually does!  Good account for news, f**king awfully negative though lol

 

But i think we will beat Villa, and not only that, I think Leicester will fail to beat Spurs in which case a draw suits us.   But my feeling is this, f**k Leicester, f**k Liverpool, focus on us and what we have to do.  Be positive!

Edited May 21, 20215 yr by RickUK

Kante is out likely, hasn't trained so cant see him being risked

Means Kova & Jorginho in double pivot and Billy on bench. Eee Aww (KH) & AC fit again which is good news for the 29th.

On paper Bin dippers & Foxes have easier home games, i'll have all 3 games on (2 tellies & I pad), squeeky bum time on Sunday!