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S1 E54 Clash with the Champions
0 Playsin 16 hours
On today's show Joe and Dan look ahead to the Man City game analysing tactics and previous encounters.
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Transcript
Introduction to the Daily Villa Podcast
00:00:10
Speaker
Hello and welcome back to another episode of the Daily Villa Podcast as brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Joe Boone and I'm delighted as ever to be joined by Dan to talk all things Villa. Before we get started, how are you mate?
00:00:27
Speaker
Oh, I'm fine, Joe. Thank you. It's been ages since I've spoken to you on the Daily Villa of podcast, so really looking forward to it. um I've just done the last of my Christmas shopping, so I think I'm all there. It has been a while, yes, since we've recorded together. i I'm not quite as organised with the Christmas shop as you seem to be, but we ah that's something we'll we'll get sorted later on, hopefully. Keep keep putting that off.
Aston Villa's Crucial Match Against Man City
00:00:52
Speaker
But we're here to talk about a huge game ah for for both sides involved as we're looking ahead at the the clash with the champions, ah the current Premier League champions that is in Manchester City. In a game that means a lot for both clubs, we spoke about the form in our crossover episode with the guys from the Daily Manchester City podcast. With Villa's recent results, Dan, how important is this game for us?
00:01:18
Speaker
Well, I'm not sure if I want to call it a winner takes all game, but I really do think it is important that we try and get a positive result if we if we possibly can. um this This game really, I think, is going to set both teams up for the remainder of the season.
00:01:39
Speaker
if I'm being honest. And you know if ah if we do get a positive result, it allows us to climb back up the table to where we are hoping to be. um If not, I think it starts to get a little bit worrying about how we might catch up and lose a bit of pace. So, you know yeah, I would agree. It it really is an important game.
00:02:02
Speaker
Yeah, it certainly feels like that. It's going to be a really tough game. And, you know, ultimately, I think it's one of those that we'll look back on at the end of the season and go, you know, man city was sort of in and around where we want to be. They are at the moment. If we win this game, we leapfrog them. So I think it's a really important game, not only just for points, but I think also for confidence coming off the back of earth.
00:02:21
Speaker
a really disappointing result against Forrest. I think it's what a way to bounce back than the beating Man City who themselves have been in poor form. But but we we know the quality that they have and I don't think that can be underestimated despite the kind of poor form they've had in recent weeks. They've got some of the best players in the world and they were kind of champions for a reason. so It's going to be a huge game, and I think it's going to be a game that kind of we look back on, as I say, and and go, all that was the moment where we either propelled ourselves into into top four or ultimately fell away. With that in mind, Dan, how would you like to see Emery kind of line up for a crucial game
Predicted Starting Lineup for Aston Villa
00:03:00
Speaker
against City? Well, i I mean, the goalkeeper speaks for themselves, so Martinez, obviously, and let's hope he can continue his glorious antics.
00:03:10
Speaker
and Along the back, I've gone Conza Carlos Dina, and if he's fit, I would go for mings for this one to help shore up that defence and give a little bit of leadership and give us a little bit more solidity in the air.
00:03:31
Speaker
um I've then gone for Kamara Tillamans with Cash. i Although Cash had what seemed a bit of a wobble against City, I'm looking past that and how he performed at Leipzig. So hoping he's going to have a good game. um I then go for Rodgers McGinn and Watkins. That would be my squad.
00:03:57
Speaker
Sounds good, mate, sounds good. Do you think that the inclusion of Ming's in there will kind of help deal with with Erling Harland's physicality? Do you think Ming's is slightly better suited to deal with that than ah a Torres would be?
00:04:11
Speaker
I mean, no disrespect to Torres, because Torres has been a mainstay and is a fantastic defender. i I'm really glad he's certainly playing for us rather than against us. But I think Ming is a physical player. He enjoys a bit of a rough and game. And I think if we're pairing him with Carlos,
00:04:34
Speaker
Carlos also likes the physical game so you've got two lads that are against that Norwegian beast quite frankly. um I think Ming is a lot better in the air than Torres and I see Ming as a natural leader, someone that hopefully is going to get the best out of Carlos because we know Carlos has a good game in him He just needs to concentrate for the full 90 minutes and I think we're going to be OK. But that that's really why I would prefer to see Ming's in there in this instance rather than Torres.
00:05:12
Speaker
Yeah, I actually completely agree. I think that Mings is probably physically better suited to dealing with Harland. I think, you know, there there were kind of worries potentially over his match sharpness and I think he kind of put those to bed in the, particularly the Brentford game where I thought he was excellent, really marshalled the back line, dealt with a lot of their attacking quality, especially in those wide areas, really well held his position.
00:05:33
Speaker
um One of the things I spoke about, Dan, in the crossover episode was the importance of having and making sure that our backline are on the same page when they step up and they play that high line that we're kind of accustomed to under Emery, but then also when to kind of drop off a little bit, sit a little bit deep, maybe kind of close out some of the space in behind. How important do you think that kind of tactical aspect will be coming up against this city side?
00:05:57
Speaker
I think that's a really interesting point and Villa seems to have real problems at the moment with seeing a game out. You know, we we go 1-0 up and we sort of look at each other and go, all right, well, it's about 60 minutes. Let's start to park the bus a little bit, close the game down. But we don't seem to be able to do that. So we seem to have to score two or three if we're going to win a game.
00:06:23
Speaker
Now, I don't think that's going to be the case against City. So our defence has to be rock solid throughout. They're going to have to have the game that they haven't shown us over the last couple of weeks, quite frankly. And I think dropping off has to be used sparingly. But we do know that we can't leave space behind for Erling Haaland to find.
00:06:51
Speaker
um I don't see him as a great runner of defenders. So I'm not too worried about keeping space like that, but there's so much talent in the Man City team that we can't afford to give them space just to play with. We certainly need to be good also with our pressing game and closing them down when they've got the ball. But I think this will be a bit of a tactical challenge for Unai Emery.
00:07:17
Speaker
Yeah, I completely agree. I think in terms of what you're saying there about Harland is is exactly right. He's not exactly ah sort of ah one of those shy because he's going to look to be constantly getting in behind the defence. But we've seen and in ah in recent weeks, especially I think back to the Liverpool game, being really vulnerable on the counter and being kind of yeah a bit lazy in transition in terms of stepping up and then getting back.
00:07:39
Speaker
If you look at some of the attacking talent in that city team, whether it's De Bruyne, Grealish, Doku, Bernardo Silva, Haaland, the list goes on in terms of quality that they have in those areas. How do you think, if at all, Emery will be looking to kind of nullify some of City's attacking threats?
Tactical Strategy Against Man City
00:07:57
Speaker
Well, I think that actually starts further up the pitch in my eyes. When Harlan burst onto the scene, I have a Man City fan at work, and I remember him lording it up over him. And he's a fantastic talent, he truly is. But strikers can't score if they don't have the ball. So it's all about nullifying that delivery to their attacking third. If we can keep a good press, keep our heads,
00:08:27
Speaker
and close down the space so that they don't have room to operate, which we've all seen Villa do in the past. you know We're totally capable of doing it. I think we should have some success, but if we give them space and give them time, they will punish them.
00:08:44
Speaker
that I see them as like a wounded beast at the moment and they, like us, are going to really want to sort their form out and get out of this dip that they're in. They're not used to it. That's not something that they regularly go through. um And you don't win four Premier Leagues back to back if you haven't got the talent in there. they They may be aging a little bit, but, you know, I think we have to give them the utmost respect as well.
00:09:16
Speaker
Yeah, i think I think that's exactly right. And I think you know what you say there about the the quality that they have being champions as many times as they have been, they've got serial winners in that squad. And I think in terms of the the way that we should kind of look to play, I think you're exactly right in that press that we we haven't necessarily seen in kind of recent weeks and months, maybe the same way we did at the start of or in moments of last season in terms of putting them on the back foot. But I think The way that I would look to kind of play this city side is, as you say, just make it as uncomfortable as possible for them, giving them no time on the ball, no space closing down, um doubling up in the wide areas when you've got, for whether it's Doku or Grealish or Silva, whoever it may be, the quality that they have and the depth is is pretty strong. So I think that is how Emory should be looking to kind of nullify those attacking talents. Before we go to the break, the final question of this segment, going from their attacking talent to us,
00:10:08
Speaker
we One of the things that was mentioned in the crossover episode by the City guys is our kind of quality ah in that that striking area. They're kind of leading the line. We've got both Olly Watkins and Duran as really dangerous attacking options. Do you feel that one of those suits the game slightly better than the other?
00:10:25
Speaker
um I do. um Having watched Man United vs City's last game, um they they seem to play with quite a high line and Ollie is good at turning a defender and running into space. And with the pace that we have up front, I think that it is ideally suited for Ollie Watkins. He's good at turning defenders and he does run into space. So I think it will be a great game for him. Of course, if they have looked at that and think, right, we're going to keep it nice and tight at the back and not play such a high line, then we do have that Colombian chaos creator.
00:11:10
Speaker
that um can come on and almost shoot on sight which will be another unsettling thing for that defence to cope with so at this point in time Villa seem to be blessed with their attacking talent and we just need to get Bailey back on side and I think we're we're all good but yeah I'd go for Watkins with this one I think this game suits him.
00:11:34
Speaker
Yeah, I completely agree. I think that this is a game that, as you mentioned in there, Watkins' willingness to run into space, to create space, to drag centre backs around i is kind of Will pretty much. I think Will will hopefully disjoint that city backline, you know, we've kind of seen in recent weeks, whether it's Karl Walker at right back for them, his positional sense isn't the strongest. If he's getting dragged about, leaving room for Rodgers and begin to kind of exploit, I think that could be definitely something that Emery looks to use in this one.
00:12:02
Speaker
We're going to be back to discuss some of the previous encounters between the two sides after a short message courtesy of Zencaster. Do you have a story to tell that the world needs to hear? Have you struggled with reaching new audiences who are engaged with your story? It might be time for you to start a podcast. Let me tell you about a platform we use here at the Global Sports Podcast Network. Zencaster makes it easy to start a high quality podcast built for growth from day one.
00:12:31
Speaker
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Historical Performance Review Against Man City
00:12:51
Speaker
Welcome back and Villa's record against Man City hasn't exactly been sparkling over the the kind of past few years. We've played them 48 times in the Premier League, winning 8, drawing 10 and losing 30 according to the the official Premier League app. The most recent of those being a 4-1 loss last season at the Etihad. How did he turn that round on Saturday?
00:13:15
Speaker
Well, I think we've we've already we've already mentioned this really. It's about keeping solid at the back for me. um And don't let Man City play. you know We don't have to give them total respect. you know We are also a good side. And they will become it they won't necessarily want to be playing us either. and you know we We seem to have that Euro hangover, if we call it that, which was the game against Forrest.
00:13:44
Speaker
But traditionally, the game after that, we go and put three past somebody. So, you know, fingers crossed that that's the repeat. um But, you know, keeping solid at the back, not being afraid to take them on. I think if we can start strongly, then that will put us in good stead for the rest of the game. Let's go and shake them up a little bit. They're not high on confidence. And if we can get an early goal,
00:14:14
Speaker
Now that doesn't mean parking the bus after that early goal. I think we need to stay on the front foot for as long as we can, and that will stand us in good stead. think that's a really important point you make there in terms of if we do go a goal up which is obviously the ideal scenario it it's not a case of sitting deep and letting them kind of come at us because I think with the quality that they've got they will they will punish you I think it's a we want to see a similar performance to that from last season which we're going to talk about in a minute in where we we show exactly what this side is about possession football dominating the ball you know exploiting the cracks that city have shown in the past kind of eight to nine games where there have been sort of
00:14:53
Speaker
ah issues and problems that have arisen in Pep's tactical kind of system with that city side. And speaking of that game from from last season, it was obviously a ah brilliant occasion, one little win with a a Leon Bailey goal after a really sensational team performance in which we were probably one of the first and only sides up to that point to really look like we dominated Man City. What are your memories of that game then?
00:15:20
Speaker
Well, I think you've you've almost taken the words out of my mouth there. I remember that we dominated the game in a way that I haven't seen Villa play for a long time. We were so strong. And one of the things I do remember is a fantastic double save by Emmy Martinez from Earl in Harland, which really set the tone for me. i I almost see it as Man City players looked at that and went, today's not going to be our day.
00:15:49
Speaker
I mean, the limbs when that goal from Bayley went in were amazing. ah A true, wondrous moment at Villa Park. And when, you know, we've we've seen Villa play like that, and we know that they can, and I just hope it is a repeat performance, you know. i Yeah, what an amazing time to have been a Villa fan.
00:16:15
Speaker
Absolutely. And you look at the, so I've got some of the stats up here from, from that game. We had 22 shots with seven on target city only able to take two shots in the the entire game. And I think you look at the the team that we played in that game and obviously it's a sort of similar system with Kamara being in there. Kondra actually played a right back, which is something that's kind of been hit or miss for us so far. the date And then it was Carlos and Torres in there. So It's a really interesting kind of, I suppose a really nice problem for Emory in terms of having so many defenders that can kind of fill in and out and that have proven that they they can do the job in there.
00:16:52
Speaker
In terms of city, they obviously they kind of set up in that similar style with the the kind of wide men pushing out really wide having two defenders. I think it was a kanji and stones that sat just in front of those, those kind of more traditional defenders. In terms of the way that city play, it's obviously peps kind of made a name of playing this really ah I suppose forward-thinking tactical approach of having kind of fallbacks that sit in front of the defence and things like that. In terms of how that has been shown to kind of break down in recent weeks, particularly in the the Manchester Derby,
00:17:28
Speaker
We spoke about the importance of the defence being solid and kind of knowing when to step up and down. For those players like McGinn, Rogers, whether it is Bailey or whether we see Philogene, it's got to be quite an exciting opportunity to have ah so much space seemingly in those wide areas.
00:17:44
Speaker
Absolutely. and I mean, that's why I certainly pick Watkins over Duran and, you know, being able to exploit that space. I haven't seen Man City play like this. Well, none of us have seen Man City play like this in years, you know, and this is an opportunity for teams to really go and attack them. And I think if we're if we're brave and people like Rogers looks at running with the ball at defenders, it's going to scare people. And ah i I'm really looking forward to the game. I think it's going to be a really interesting tactical battle.
00:18:23
Speaker
Yeah, that's exactly right. I think Morgan Rogers is scared. The majority of the league with his ability to kind of pick them all up and and drive at people. And I think if there are any kind of issues or problems in that city backline, he's certainly somebody who will look to exploit them.
Jack Grealish's Role and Return to Villa Park
00:18:37
Speaker
One one man that we could see make a return ah is is is Jack Grealish. After his 100 million pound move to city that that hasn't really worked out, I'm sure as he would have hoped that as many city fans would have hoped,
00:18:50
Speaker
ah the The crossover man city guys said he was one of their worst signings in recent history So that's a you know, quite a bold statement for a hundred million pounds, man We know as Villa fans how dangerous he can be. We know what his skill set is We know what his kind of abilities are I suppose a two-parter here for you Dan Do you think it will be a good reception for him upon his return and what kind of dangers does he bring?
00:19:15
Speaker
Well, I'm in a ah real conundrum about Jack. you know i I've now got over that he left left us. i've I've coped with that. And I remember the good times that he played for us. you know And when he played for Villa, he was a real flair player.
00:19:36
Speaker
I almost um have him a little bit like um Paul Gascoigne, where Gazza never seemed to know what he was going to do. He just did it in the moment and it was wonderful. And I see Jack Grealish sort of that sort of player. But Man City seemed to have coached that all out of him. And that's really sad.
00:20:01
Speaker
For me as a fan of Jack watching him go and lose what he was so wonderful at. But you know we've seen him when he plays for England still having that flair and being told to go up and just play football, mate. Not you've then got to knock it back or you've you've got to play within a certain tactical framework.
00:20:23
Speaker
um you know He obviously moved to Man City for trophies and and he's done that and I wish him every every respect and he's always been respectful when he's come back to Villa Park. I certainly don't think if he's going to score he's going to run up to the whole tent with his hands in the air.
00:20:42
Speaker
um saying that I'm not suggesting he's going to be totally silent either, but I do remember the occasion, the first time he came back, where he gave his boots to a Villa fan. So, you know, he's but he's behaved honourably towards us. Regarding what he can bring, if he turns his season around, then he could have a fantastic game and is an incredible threat. The thing i I'd sort of say to the villa lads is, look, half of you guys have played with him. You know what he's about. Don't ah be um ill-disciplined. Don't go lunging in.
00:21:22
Speaker
you know, but if John McGinn is going to slide in and say, pick your teeth out of that mate, you know, such such is life. um i I hope he does well, but not at our expense. Let's put it that way.
00:21:36
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. I think that's there's some really sort of insightful points there. I think that the idea of the the dangers that we bring in drawing files is something that's kind of really significant, it especially if we look at that back line in terms of there their um communication and ability to defend in the air. I think Grealish will certainly look to be kind of, um I suppose,
00:21:58
Speaker
lingering around the box looking to draw fouls and we know too well how good he is at that in terms of the kind of reception obviously we know that he he loves the club and he captained the club and we've all got amazing memories of him in a villa shirt whether that's in the championship or indeed in the Premier League but I think it's exactly right what you said. and I think a lot of the qualities that he has and that we've seen have sort of been kind of coached out of him. And he's got a bit lost in the Pep Guardiola system, which is, as you say, a real shame, but hopefully um a positive thing going into the game on Saturday. But I suppose the final question in regards to Grealish is, if the opportunity arose, would you have him back? And what is the most kind of money that you would pay for him at this point?
00:22:42
Speaker
wow ah wow yeah Yes, we didn't talk about that before we joined the podcast. but sorry um I'm a believer in that you don't go back. um thats Now, that's not to say that he is not an extraordinary talent, but when Philip sold him,
00:23:04
Speaker
We went a little bit backwards. It all went horrible with that Scouse Manager that I can't name names. But we we had to do that to get to where we are.
00:23:19
Speaker
And we have now progressed past Jack. Not in his talent, but Villa have evolved past that era of all saviour Jack. Because at some points when he played for us, if Jack had a bad game, we were awful. Where now there are multiple talents at Villa that can pull us out of the doldrums. We're not all just looking at one person. I mean,
00:23:49
Speaker
I wouldn't have him back, but... I would wish him well in everything that he does and I think deep down there's still a little bit of me that thinks there should be a bit of a statue for him at Villa Park. I think he was a tremendous servant and when I think back to the way that he left, he left honourably, he didn't rub it in our face and you know he's been a fantastic servant so I i wish him well but I wouldn't have him back.
00:24:20
Speaker
Yeah, considering ah that's a question I sprung up on you, mate. I thought you answered that brilliantly. um I think for somebody like, you know, somebody kind of familiar, you know, a 21 year old Villa fan, he is the closest thing to kind of a modern legend of the club in my lifetime. I wasn't lucky enough to see some of the amazing players that the club have had in kind of years gone by. But for me, sort of a symbol of, you know, growing up with Ilafani lived the dreams that we all kind of wanted to ah to have in in later life. But
00:24:51
Speaker
um I'm really torn as to whether I'd have him back. i think I don't necessarily think he works in the Emory system. I think we've got players that are probably a little bit similar to him. I think Rodgers is kind of what Grealish was at Villa and now isn't at City. So I think, yeah, I'm kind of in agreement in the sense that at this current point in time, I don't think he would ah work necessarily in this ah this Villa system. We're going to be back after a very, very short message from the Global Sports Podcast Network.
00:25:22
Speaker
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00:25:52
Speaker
Welcome back and to kind of round the episode up, a win for Villa would take them above City, would leapfrog them in the league and into fifth place until obviously those three o'clock games have been played at least. A loss could see us fall back into the kind of mid-table wasteland if some of the results go against us.
Significance of the Match in Villa's Season
00:26:11
Speaker
On the face of it, I know we've mentioned it kind of already earlier in the episode, but this is a ah really important game for us, isn't it?
00:26:18
Speaker
it It is, and like when I was talking with um Craig, sort of ah reviewing the forest game, but looking slightly ahead to this, um this is such a crucial point in Villa's season. you know I'm not saying this is be all and end all, but it does feel like it.
00:26:38
Speaker
and you know What a fantastic opportunity to take on Man City when they are low on confidence. It's the perfect time to do that. Saying that, Villa have always been fairly generous when teams have been low on confidence. Your striker hasn't scored for six games, come play us. It'll bag a brace. haven't won in 10 games, don't worry, you can turn it round.
00:27:05
Speaker
but We don't seem to be that style of villa anymore. Hopefully we can really, I don't want to say stick the knife in, but we can add to their woes and we can um make sure our second half of the season is starting off in the way that we want it to be.
00:27:24
Speaker
Yeah, I completely agree. I think, you know, as you said there, we've been a little bit generous in the past, but we seem to kind of be shaking that that reputation a little bit now. I don't think that's something Emery, that's not a reputation Emery will look to. all And finally, mate, what are your score predictions and who are getting the goals for Villa if there are any?
Score Predictions and Final Thoughts
00:27:46
Speaker
Well, I mean, there's two sort of thoughts that I have. I mean, you know, my heart is that we're happily going to go and win. um My head also says we're going to win so you know keeping the confidence but i think we're going to go a goal behind first i think it's all going to look doom and gloom after about 20 minutes i think we're going to be really upset and we're all going to go oh classic villa here we go and i reckon then our
00:28:21
Speaker
our star man Watkins is going to find his shooting boots just before halftime send us back in at 1-1 and then I'm going for that chaos creator John Duran to totally pull something out of the out of his you know out of the air there's something totally unexpected almost a a Bayern Munich type goal, a proper shoot on site, didn't even look at the goal, didn't even see what anybody was but just knew that that's what he had to do. And I'm going for a Villa 2-1 win. A lot of brilliant script that is. I love the confidence there and hopefully I'd send a lot of Villa fans home very, very happy.
00:29:02
Speaker
I am slightly less ah confident, I suppose. I said on the crossover a two-wall draw. I think I'm going to probably stick by it. I see it being a really open game. I think there's going to be lots of chances for both sides, a lot of attacking talent on the pitch.
00:29:18
Speaker
um I do agree that I think Duran will get a goal. I think you'll get the second goal coming on the bench. I'm going to go Rodgers for the first goal. I think he seems to have a bit of kind of a bit of shooting form and a little bit of end product in kind of recent weeks. So I'll go, yeah, Rodgers and then Duran to come on and do another thing that we nobody thinks he can, whether it's from 30 yards or you know he flicks it past ah the city. keep there'll be something There'll be something crazy with John Duran, there always is. And that is all we have time for on today's episode of the Daily Villa Podcast. Thank you to Dan for joining me. Be sure to get in touch across all the socials that you can find in the podcast description. This has been a global sports podcast production. Thank you for listening and as always of the Villa.
00:30:08
Speaker
I love that laugh.