It is going to be hard to gauge what level Aston Villa will be at come Kick Off at The Etihad on Wednesday but one thing for sure is we were due a break, and we are not going to get a break anytime soon. 5 games in 12 days as Aston Villa’s season really begins to get hectic.
After their COVID break this is possibly one of the worst games to be reintroduced with, with worries of fatigue after recovering from COVID-19, Aston Villa have no time for fatigue on Wednesday night if they are going to upset the odds and get something, this is probably the worst time to play in-form Man City, with them winning their last 8 in all competitions. City were rampant in their last game vs Crystal Palace and have finally seemed to sort that defence.
As for Team News, Wesley is still out, but as far as we know this is the only casualty, other players may not be risked due to COVID/fitness, but these have not been disclosed by the club.
Pep has confirmed that Sergio Aguero is not ready to return against Aston Villa, Laporte also ruled out. Pep when speaking about Villa stated “The quality they have shown this season has been incredible” Pep has always been a big admirer of Jack Grealish as he was previously quoted that “He would cost too much” for Manchester City.
Score Prediction for me:
I have to back the boys! We don’t really know who is available but I am hoping that the rest does the players good. I am going for 1-1.
I have also asked a Manchester City fan to give their side of things:
@RayCityFanTV1 - https://www.youtube.com/c/CityFanTVTheManCityFanChannel (Make sure to Follow them on Twitter and subscribe to their YT channel)
Early last season, I spoke with several Aston Villa fans about their team’s prospects on their return to the big time of the Premier League. After spending over £100M in the summer transfer window, what were the expectations of the Villains?
To a man they said they expected good things and their spending couldn’t be compared to that of Fulham (who had also spent over £100M after being promoted the previous season, only to sink back to the Championship after a disastrous campaign).
They were confidently telling me that they would come to Manchester and defeat the reigning champions and challenge for a top 6 position. They were in for a rude awakening as they avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth thanks, in no large part, to a goal line technology faux pas against Sheffield United.
Man City duly beat the ‘The Villa’ three times last season, comfortably at home 3-0, at Wembley in the league Cup final and a thrashing at Villa Park by six goals to one with Villa scoring their consolation goal in injury time, when half the City team had already disappeared down the tunnel.
Roll forward to this season and many pundits and opposition fans expected Villa to be flirting with relegation again. Much to everyone’s surprise, and to Dean Smith’s credit, Villa sit comfortably in tenth spot in the Premier League with three games in hand over most of their competitors.
In fact, they could jump to 2nd if they win those three games in hand and are certainly not a team to be taken lightly. Ask Liverpool about that. Villa spanked the self-proclaimed world champions 7-2 and not even the best defender in the history of the universe, Virgil van Dijk, could save the Scousers from a pumping of seismic proportions.
Man City go into this game on the back of five straight wins in the Premier League, scoring eleven goals and conceding just one. After a shaky start, City’s previously worrisome defence has been the cornerstone of their season, allowing City to score just one or two goals to guarantee victory in several matches this season. Villa are a dangerous animal this season averaging two goals per game and it should be an intriguing contest.
Villa will be hampered by having had their last two league matches postponed due to covid and their first team haven’t played since the New Year’s Day defeat to Man Utd.
How fit will the players be after such a long time out when they weren’t able to train together? How many will still be suffering the after effects of being cooped up at home for 10-14 days?
I see an exciting battle between Villa’s attack and City’s defence. I’m not expecting City to steamroller Villa and expect the Midlands club to give as good as they get. Grealish is an obvious threat as he auditions for a move to our City rivals in the summer.
I’m expecting a tight game with City relying on our rugged defence to keep Villa at bay and scoring a goal or two from our chances.
Score Predictions:
2-0 - @RayCityFanTV1
1-1 - The AVFC Faithful
2-2 - James Pearce-Smith
1-2 - Jordan Page
1-1 @pgr_analytics
1-1 Sam Walker
1-1 - Joey Millington
Predicted Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Luiz, McGinn, Barkley, Grealish, El Ghazi, Watkins
Predicted City XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Cancelo, Rodri, Gundogan, de Bruyne, Sterling, Foden, Jesus