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Crossover - Thriller at Villa?
6 Plays2 days ago
Episode 61, Crossover Thursday, Daily Manchester City -
Jools and Lewis are in enemy territory today, being hosted by the Daily Aston Villa team. We get stuck into everything about Saturday's vital match, who needs it most and predict the tactics, line-ups, scoreline and more.
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Transcript
Introduction and Match Preview
00:00:05
Speaker
Sports Podcast Network. work
00:00:09
Speaker
Hello and welcome to today's episode of the Daily Villa podcast as part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Nyla and I'm delighted to be joined by Craig and Joe from our Daily Villa team, as well as Jules and Lewis from the GSPN Manchester City team. And we have a lot to talk about today as we preview the upcoming Aston Villa vs Manchester City match at Villa Park. How is everyone doing today? Craig and Joe? Doing very well, Nyla.
00:00:40
Speaker
Yeah, I'm very good. Looking forward to glad to hear that. And how are things with you, Jules and Lewis? Yeah, I'm good. I can't speak for Lewis, but I'm i'm feeling good. Yeah, I've certainly been better, but hopefully things can turn around this week. Yeah, fair
Significance of the Match for Both Teams
00:00:53
Speaker
enough. And this picture certainly shaping up to be a pivotal moment for both teams, depending on who will get the points.
00:01:02
Speaker
Both sides are facing an immense amount of pressure for a result. Would you agree that this game carries a lot more weight than just the three points? Craig, let's start with you. um I would for both teams because Villa, up until the defeat with Forest, looked like we turned things around. So it's a case of now, was it a blip? Like with Forest, obviously we conceded late. We could have at least got the draw.
00:01:30
Speaker
So can we shape up to make the best of this? And as for City, and we're sure Jules and Louis all will take over from there, but like, it seems like very critical for them to even think of a title challenge or Champions League football next season.
Manchester City's Challenges
00:01:46
Speaker
And Jules, what are your thoughts?
00:01:49
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. I think it's a huge game for both sides. I think we're kind of batting for similar-ish positions at the moment. And I think we really want to establish ourselves as a side that are looking for European football consistently and a win against Man City would would certainly put us in the running for that. I think on top of that, we have to we we have to bounce back from the the forest game, a really disappointing result. I think our Villa listeners will agree.
00:02:14
Speaker
what a better way to do it than taking on one of the the biggest and and best sides in World Football. Yeah, fair enough. And what would this match three points mean for Manchester City?
00:02:25
Speaker
Well, for me, I think it's a bit of both in the minute. I mean, if Villa win, they go above us, which I wouldn't have thought at the start of the season. that That's sadly the case. So it is obviously, it's important for us to pick up some form with one winning 11.
00:02:39
Speaker
It's our worst record, certainly in my lifetime. It's the worst record of any pet team. And yeah, it certainly wasn't what I was expecting, but I do look at it. I mean, Bernardo sent a post-match interview. They're taking it each game at a time is what we do need to look at. And I do think that that's ultimately more important at this point than than thinking about our fifth title in a row. Cause we did them four in a row if if you didn't forget. So yeah, i think I think that's what we need to focus on really.
00:03:10
Speaker
angels yeah yeah just off the back of what lewis said i think the the the big picture is quite far away at the moment so getting three points in the bag is the most important thing i think uh so it kind of A bit of fate ah ah but between this meet and between these two guys as you lost your momentum against Forest and it seemed like City had gained their momentum with a win against Forest. They're only winning 11 games. and But then the performances since against Palace and obviously losing. Similar to you guys ah ah late, Derby. Yeah, I think both teams are going to be absolutely itching to put this one right. and
00:03:53
Speaker
Hopefully City can do that. We'll have to see about that. i mean it's I never would have thought both teams would be going into this match like with the recent format they've had. So it'll definitely be an interesting match. And with that, you know eight losses in the last 11 matches for Manchester City. like What is going on there? Can you give us a bit of an insight?
00:04:17
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, sure. We've obviously been discussing this multiple times a week for the last couple of months at this point.
Aston Villa's Home vs. Away Form
00:04:25
Speaker
and And the most diplomatic answer I could give is it's a culmination of many factors. Starting with the fact that Pep likes a small squad and by choice. He squeezed every last drop out of the team. The same team that's won pretty much all the four in a row by the odd edition.
00:04:43
Speaker
No English team in history has ever done that, so I think it took a hell of a lot out of everyone doing it. Poor recruitment strategy over the last couple of years and the sporting director leaving alongside the small squad of mental injuries completely decimated the team this season.
00:04:58
Speaker
If any team loses their two best players in Rodry and Kev, like City have, it would affect anyone. So it could be self-inflicted by not having adequate adequate cover, yes, but without those two, the the way the team plays has completely changed. and That means that in in possession and the rest off defense,
00:05:15
Speaker
and is nowhere one near as structured and solid as this used to be and there's no creativity from the middle and so the subsequent supply to Holland has all been negatively impacted. The players have lost the confidence to get out of the situation as things stand and it seems Pep is reluctant to adapt which I'm sure we will get on to a little bit more later. Lewis anything to add? Yeah I think like you said the transfer window we weren't backed as much, Pep wasn't backed as much by the sporting director as much as he has in recent seasons. I mean, I think Birmingham City I heard spent more than us in there, couldn't leave league one. and But it's not just that obviously it's injuries, but we are Manchester City, you can't just complain about our injuries. I know Pep does like a thin squad, but for me we should have that quality in depth.
00:06:01
Speaker
throughout the field to to match other teams, especially the likes of United looking at their squad this season. I still think that some of our not starting players should be able to match a lot of United's first team players. And I do think for me as well, it's is quality in front of goal. We can't be relying on Guardiola and John Stones to be pulling us out of holes late on into games. I mean, Guardiola is our second top scorer in the prem.
00:06:26
Speaker
behind harland i mean harlands goals are obviously going to dry up at some point but you wouldn't think so based off recent scenes but unfortunately they have and we just need that play to step up but aside from that it's just silly mistakes at the back i mean i saw a start something about uh since the start of december city you have conceded the most goals out of all of Europe's top five leagues which start november so start november even yeah yeah even worse which is absolutely astounding to me and something that I could never even imagine would have happened come the start of the season so yeah I just think that it's confidence within our squad.
00:07:05
Speaker
Momentum needs to be picked back up and then, yeah, just just need to stay concentrated at the bottom. We can't be giving away one of the leaves in the 80s at the minute because it's happened on multiple occasions now. Yeah, I think i think as as Villa fans, we can relate to that definitely.
Tactical Concerns for Aston Villa
00:07:19
Speaker
But, you know, in a more recent note,
00:07:21
Speaker
Despite our struggles with League form, home record and and the return to Villa Park matches, they seem to have been able to make it sort of a fortress again. And Joe, what do you think has been the key to their consistency at home?
00:07:37
Speaker
Yeah, it's been really strange. Obviously, we're unbeaten in our last four at home in all competitions, two wins, two draws. But it's been our waveform. It's been our waveform that's really kind of dragged us down and and really made it difficult for us to kind of gain any momentum this season. But as you mentioned, Nyla, the home form has been largely OK. Obviously, we had back to back wins against Brentford and Southampton in the league recently.
00:08:02
Speaker
I think it was at the end of the day, we we couldn't keep kind of making the same mistakes and and falling victim to the same individual errors, especially at the back. So I think back to back league wins definitely did us good going into the Champions League where obviously we went away from home in Leipzig and then suffered a really disappointing defeat away in Nottingham. So hopefully we can continue this this decent run of home reform because I think ultimately the the atmosphere at Villa Park and the the the home form is what's going to drive us towards European qualification as it did for much of last season. Yeah, that's fair. And Craig, what are your thoughts? Do you agree with Joe? Were there any points you'd like to add?
00:08:43
Speaker
Yeah, for the most part, I agree with Joe. do feel that the issue with Villa this season is one, we've been kind of found out by opposition. We're struggling to maintain the sort of surprise element that we got last year and getting some big big wins against big teams, being consistent against those lower teams. And I think the fact is that we're conceding too many goals and not scoring you enough. That's why we're drawing a fair few games.
00:09:11
Speaker
Excuse me. And the difference with the home and the away effect is when you make these mistakes and the crowd get behind you and encourage you, then it's easier to rectify them. I think when you do make these mistakes away from home, the other crowd gets on your back and it's a lot harder to rectify it. So I think a lot of our success at home is down to our fan base.
00:09:32
Speaker
Yeah, that's a really good point. And we we do hear Emery talk about that a lot in the press. But this game will be a definitely a huge test for both sides. And it's really interesting to see how that will play out, considering both are struggling with some same issues in terms of play in the back, i'm struggling defensively, and and being able to get forward and score
Avoiding Late-Game Drop-offs
00:09:54
Speaker
goals as well. We'll be back briefly to discuss more after a short message from Zencaster.
00:10:02
Speaker
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00:10:21
Speaker
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00:10:39
Speaker
Welcome back. We are joined here by GSPN Daily Villas Joe and Craig, as well as GSPN Daily Manchester City's Jules and Lewis to talk about everything to do with our match this Saturday. Now, as we mentioned before, I believe it was Jules, both sides are coming off of some tough 2-1 defeats.
00:11:01
Speaker
And for Villa, I would say Unai Emery has some big decisions to make. Who do you think in this match against City will be crucial for a Villa success? Craig, let's start with you. I think it's figuring out our right hand side is the biggest issue for Emery. Cash obviously had a struggle against Forest but played well the previous game. We also have that Do we play catch as a right back? Do we play catch as right midfield? Do we bring Filijin in? Is Filijin ready yet? He had a great game against Bayern Munich, but let's be honest, he's gone quiet since then. So it's a case of figuring out that right hand side because that's going to be extremely dangerous by the way that City play, the likes of Dooku going in there, Foden, Harland. If we push too many players forward, they can really damage us in that half space in between the right and right back and the right centre back.
00:11:57
Speaker
And as I've said, if we go with cancer as a right back, I do think we're weaker in the center and I think Harlan will punish us there for it. So the biggest questions is how are we going to fix that right hand side? Yeah, I do agree. I think kind of looking at that back line specifically, I think that's going to be kind of our biggest area of of concern for me going into this one, because I think it's going to be so important that we get that the kind of not only the I suppose the height of the backline, right? Whether they're stepping up as high as we tend to see with an emery backline because City have ultimately, despite their poor form, got dangerous players that can hurt you. So I think it's whether it's Mings, Torres, Carlos, Konza, whoever kind of goes into those central defensive roles, they're going to have to be really kind of focused on leading that backline in terms of when to step up and when to drop off. and
00:12:47
Speaker
how to kind of find the balance between those those kind of those tactics in in aligning with what Emory wants to do pushing forward. so So I think they're going to be really, really important. I think as Craig mentioned there, that right hand side, whether it's cash or cons are or whether a different right back, one of the younger guys is is trusted with the responsibility. I think that that's going to be a definitely a side that's been a cause for concern in in recent weeks for Villa. So again, against Man City, it's it's something that we have to make sure we we kind of sort out because again, they've got players, especially in those wide attacking areas that that can hurt you.
00:13:23
Speaker
absolutely absolutely will punish any mistake that Villa make in the back as well. And I fully believe that this is going to be a match where every minute counts from the start of the first whistle to the last whistle. And how my question is, how do we avoid repeating what happened with Nottingham Forest where we have the lead and in the last 20 minutes or so, the play drops off and then we can see too late goals to ultimately lose. How would you go about addressing that drop off and you know what is your insight or kind of advice to the players or the staff that you would say to help fix that and make sure that it's not repeated? I think for me it's got to be in mind the
00:14:11
Speaker
strong will and a strong focus has got to be hammered home towards the end because, and the City guys will get into this as well. But when you, when you defend deep against City, they punish you. If you look to take the game to them, they punish you. You know what I mean? There's no, there's no blueprint, uh, for taking on a Guardiola team, because up until recently, he always finds a solution for how to break down the problem. Obviously they're going through a tough time at the moment. He's going through a tough time at the moment.
00:14:42
Speaker
But it's for me, it's all that about that mental focus. And I do think against Forrest, we took our foot off the pedal. We didn't go for it and they punished us. And if we do that again, the city is even more likely to punish us. Yeah, I completely agree. I think it's about being kind of focused and having that concentration for 90 minutes rather than becoming complacent and and dropping off and you like to think against the team like City that's not something that we're going to be at at risk of doing but we saw it in the forest game and we know how good they've been for large parts of the season we you know we have to ensure that we play to our kind of maximum quality for 90 minutes because again a kind of lapse in concentration or ah any player any individual switching off and and you will be punished against City so
00:15:28
Speaker
I think it's definitely something Emery will be kind of driving home in the lead up to this game because this is a huge fixture for us and I think for both teams it's going to be ah ah a telling kind of it's going to be one we look back on at the end of the season and go well that's a game that we we needed to win hence why we are where we are so I think Emery will want to kind of drive home the significance of this game both tactically and in terms of results at the end of it.
Pep Guardiola's Tactical Approach
00:15:53
Speaker
Definitely. I think game management will be crucial to this knowing when to slow things down or to speed it up depending on we're sitting in terms of the score line. But that's something that was really disappointing, I think, with the forest fixture. Just the clearances. We weren't clearing the ball when we needed to in our defensive third and then just poor execution of passes, I think, came back to bite us in the end. But let's move over to the city side. We've seen some squad rotation in terms of perhaps decisions for the lineup. um And it's it's ranged from you know lack of player a ability availability to some under-performance.
00:16:34
Speaker
How do you think Pep will address or you know head into this match against Villa? Do you expect him to stick with ah ah tactical his usual tactical approach? Do you expect that you know some squad rotation? are you thinking there, Jules?
00:16:49
Speaker
Yes, so following on from what I said before, I think um lot of the frustration with City at the moment is the lack of adaptability, where a lot of us can see where the problems are, see how much the midfield is struggling, but it feels like eat pa either doesn't have the solutions or doesn't know the solutions, but either way, the result's been the same at the moment. There's been s slight slight tweaks here and there, but the high line and pretty passive passing And lackluster pressing has been evident in pretty much every game this season, never mind on this run, even earlier in the season when City were winning, and they weren't dominating the way that.
00:17:28
Speaker
and that we've all become accustomed to. And with the quality littered throughout the Premier League, if if you're passive and you're pressing isn't right, then teams can just tear you apart. Pretty much every team has got quality or players that can hurt you, and especially a team like you. I think with your great striker options and danger players out wide, you could could be a very high scoring match. So in terms of personnel, it'll it's basically just being who's fully fit at the moment. I don't think there's been too many tactical droppings, let's say, other than Edison being out of the team for for for a week or two.
00:18:06
Speaker
But yes, be it'll be whoever's available. And we don't really know who that is, especially in the defense at the moment. The Kanji, Aka, Stones, they're all in and out of the team on a biweekly basis. So your guess is as good as mine, Lewis. Yeah. Well, I think that I think for me, I would start Stones. He came in against United. I mean, he's a professional football. bowler I don't know how obviously he's had knocks, but I don't know how unfit you can be to to start a game when we are in need. I mean, against United, we had three starting defenders.
00:18:36
Speaker
first team players, which for me is it's not good enough. Obviously, Simpson Puce has filled in in previous weeks and he he's not up to the standard of the Premier League, especially a big game away at Villa Park. Rico Lewis was suspended against United. I want to see him and back in the team. I want Kyle Walker as far away from our back line as possible. He can stay at home for all I care because ah ah games like like dual set against your attacking options. Karl Walker's positional awareness at the minute, he's just gone completely. Obviously we can see he's lost his speed, that it's obvious that, but it's just his game management and is ah ah seems to be his game sense is almost is almost lost and he seems to be concentrated on little petty arguments on Twitter more than
00:19:25
Speaker
sorting the situation out at the club, which for me is is not professional. But in terms of midfield, like Jules said, and I'm sure the rest of the City team will agree, is a problem. Obviously De Bruyne's back now, but for me I would possibly push Foden out wide and start De Bruyne alone in the 10. I don't think they both work in the 10 like it was against United.
00:19:45
Speaker
I would, there's been a lot of um a lot of talk about Jack Grealish obviously being one of our worst signings of all time but I'd probably just give him a go. Daku for me wasn't good enough at all against United, he's a one-trick pony and he just...
00:19:59
Speaker
Yeah, he does that a little shimmy and and it's it's too easy to read, although he's short. So yeah, I'd probably just change things up if I was Pep, but like you said, it's your guess is as good as mine. and I don't know what he's got in mind, what he's got in store, but hopefully it can be a positive change wherever he's thinking.
00:20:16
Speaker
And do you think, you know, players aside, tactically, we're going to expect the same Man City style of play that, you know, peps known for? Do you expect them to maybe switch things up? And as Craig mentioned before, you know, we struggle sometimes with our our right hand side. Do you expect them to try and attack through the wits on your left hand attacking side? Or what are your thoughts with that?
00:20:41
Speaker
It will normally, and normally we lose a lot of games on the wings, but also, especially like you said with Villa's Highline, we can maybe use that to our advantage and getting behind out why we have got pace.
00:20:53
Speaker
especially if Savino were to start, obviously not with Bernardo at wide, he's been playing him high and wide, but I don't think that's where he's best, he's better in the middle. So there is options there, although our squad is thinning, but I do think that the tactics are just going to be the same. we've Although we have been losing games, we've drew a couple, all we still we still look for a period that we are going to win the game, and then like I said before, it's just laps of concentration, it's laps of Just and consistency throughout the squad that that's making us lose games is just a little thing, so I don't think that it's a total calamity, although the results would say so, but I do think that you can't just change it up completely, especially again in is such a big game against Villa. Jules, anything to add?
00:21:41
Speaker
Yeah, um it's a bit of a catch-22 for Papi at the moment because The whole world is clowning on him, clowning on City for what is a very unprecedented, well, it's never he's never experienced a run this bad before. So the results and the performances scream that yes, there should be a a change.
00:22:02
Speaker
an overhaul even but i think if you've won six out of the last seven premier leagues you're entitled to be entrenched in your opinions and he's always tweaked it incrementally over time and each game there is a different sort of plan in terms of where city attack but it's how they get there how they get through the thirds how they get through the the lines that hasn't changed and it's like the The solutions that City always had to break teams down just don't seem to be there at the moment. So I hope there is something up his sleeve, but and we've yet to see it in the last six or seven weeks.
Match Predictions and Tactical Battles
00:22:38
Speaker
Well, there has definitely been a lot to unpack there with lots of insightful points to consider. But we'll take a short break to hear this message from the Global Sports Podcast Network, and then we'll be right back into it with some match predictions.
00:22:54
Speaker
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00:23:21
Speaker
Welcome back. We've been talking about Aston Villa's up and coming match against Manchester city. And now is the time where we say things and hope they don't come back to bite us or jinx anything. Let's start with the GSPN Manchester city team. How do you think the guy how do you think the game will play out?
00:23:42
Speaker
Let's start with Louis. Okay. I think. I think that it's just going to be a cagey affair. I think in terms of score predictions,
00:23:54
Speaker
I just can't see us winning. I don't think many people can. probably We'd probably be lucky to get a draw. We're never good at Villa Park as it is. I think I'd probably go with a 2-1 Villa win, to be honest. Although, yeah, I would like to bat the boys, but I just don't i don't see it. and In terms of how I think the game's going to play out,
00:24:13
Speaker
I think, like like I said before, has been the case in recent games, it's going to be won and lost on the wings of our centre-backs pushing out. I know Conza likes to push out, so it's kind of the same situation with Guardiola and National centre-back pushing out, but yeah, I do think that that's that's the way it's going to go in my opinion. and you you
00:24:32
Speaker
Well, I was hoping Lewis would be in a positive one today because i've i've been I've been back in City to get out of this slump pretty much every game, right? Just keep saying they've got too many good players to not turn it round and then they don't turn it round.
00:24:47
Speaker
i I think City are better at Villa Park than what what you what you remember in Lewis. City have won 15 of the last 17 against Villa in all competitions and most half of them were at Villa Park. Scoring 39 and only conceding 12 in those, so if if there was a team that City could turn it around against, it should be Villa.
00:25:08
Speaker
Second, ah ah second highest amount of wins in the Premier League. at Only Newcastle City have beaten more often. So, yeah, I i would be confident that City have drained that confidence from me over the last month or so. I think and the midfield battle is going to be key. I think Tillemans could end up running the game if he's not pressed properly. I've been so impressed with him this season. I think he's been vital to everything good that you guys have done.
00:25:37
Speaker
So if he if he starts getting a hold of the ball and finding any of the wide the fast wide players you've got in behind in space, then it could be dangerous. But if Lewis is saying the Villa are going to win, then I'm going to say 2-2 draw. This is a both teams to score absolute banker if you're a betting man or woman. All right. And Craig and Joe, do you agree with this? Do you have a different take? What's your thoughts?
00:26:04
Speaker
Before we get into talking about the villa, I just want to mention that we'll make sure we put a self-help line for all Manchester City Funds at the Parliament event, our podcast description. I really feel for you guys at the moment. On a serious note, I think that the issue that will come down is on both right-hand sides. I think villa could really exploit. I agree with what you guys said about Kyle Walker earlier.
00:26:32
Speaker
I think the guys lost his legs, but I don't think they have much of an alternative to put out there. So I think the fact that Olly Watkins likes to drift out to the left. And I like like the idea of Morgan Rogers running at him. I think if we can isolate their right-hand side, I think we could stand a real good strength real good chance of beating them this Saturday. I too am a bit sceptical though, and I'm extremely nervous at the fact that this week was the anniversary of Jack Grellish's last goal. So, and then of course he's coming to Villa Park. So yes, that does give me some fear. So I'm going to actually go for a 1-1 draw.
00:27:10
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's going to be a really interesting tactical game. I think it's going to be two teams that are looking to play quite expansive football and we tend to play better against teams that look to kind of play football against us rather than kind of sit deep and we have to break them down. We're not as good at doing that.
00:27:27
Speaker
think there's some really interesting points made about the different types of wingers. We have quick wingers in Philogene and Bailey, but they're not the most consistent. they they' kind of their output hasn't been as good this season as we'd maybe liked it to be. So hopefully, I think it's going to be very dependent on what Emery chooses to kind of look to in those wide areas. We've seen McGinn play there, who isn't the quickest, likes to sit a bit deep. So if he's playing on that left side,
00:27:54
Speaker
maybe drawing kind of Karl Walker out of position. Obviously, the city guys highlighted his positional sense probably isn't the most reliable. So maybe that's a kind of something that Emery could be looking to exploit there. Craig mentioned, Watkins running splitting defenses is kind of what we know him to be good at. And it'll be interesting to see whether it is Watkins or Duran playing. I think there's a fairly good argument for both of them. So be interested to see who Emery goes with there. In terms of score predictions,
00:28:22
Speaker
i It's a really tough one to call because it's two teams on really poor form, but with very dangerous players. So I'm going to go two all. I think, again, as as it's been mentioned, I think both teams will score. I think it'll be a very exciting game for the neutral, and I'll go two all.
00:28:38
Speaker
That's, yeah, you make some really good points there and I have absolutely no idea how this is going to turn out. I think both teams have are quality goalkeepers, but again are struggling defensively. I want to say it'll be a low scoring match, maybe lots of chances, so I'll go with a 1-1 result.
Midfield and Defense Key to Victory
00:29:01
Speaker
But just a quick one before we wrap up the episode, I'm wondering what everyone everyone's thoughts are and you can jump in whenever. Is this a match that's going to be won predominantly in the midfield? Is it going to come down to Villa's front line versus City's back line or City's front line versus Villa back line? Where do we think going to be the make or break aspects of the match?
00:29:28
Speaker
Well, I think they're all connected, right? I think the that the team that wins in midfield will create more chances with their wide players. And then the wide players are probably going to be the ones to do the damage, especially the way that a city's full backs have been playing. And you say that you you have issues on the right as well, which is city play mainly on the left. So both teams will probably be looking to exploit each other's weaknesses full back areas.
00:29:55
Speaker
But yeah, the defences of both teams have been really poor this year. Only six teams have conceded more than Villa and only seven teams have conceded more than City. So I think there will be there will be goals. There'll be lots of chances, like you say, but I think more of them will be taken than this fixture last year, where, well, basically you had all the chances, but only scored once. That was that was a phenomenal performance last season, by the way. I think that was the game that really yeah solidified your status as one of the top teams in the country in most people's eyes.
00:30:23
Speaker
that 1-0 win that Leon Bailey's got the goal in there. and So yeah, I think the midfield will be predominantly where the game is won, if I had to pinpoint it, but the wide players are going to be the ones creating the danger for both teams, I'm sure that. Anyone else to jump in?
00:30:41
Speaker
Yeah, I agree that the midfield is going to be a big option because it's going to be very congested. City in particular like to play with inverted fallback to like to squeeze the middle or like to make sure it's pressed inside. Villa naturally with Kanza plays on the as a right back will play more as an inverted fallback.
00:31:00
Speaker
you'll have McGinn playing out on the left most likely who's essentially a center midfield that's been transist to a left side of midfield. So he'll naturally tuck in. it'll be a case of when the ball gets out of that middle, it's who's going to be able to benefit the most. As we mentioned, the, the, the troubles that both teams have had down there right hand side.
00:31:21
Speaker
If Luca Dean isn't caught in possession and Luca Dean Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins can isolate Carl Walker, I think that's our best opportunity to get success. And then also along our right hand side, we, as we mentioned, we don't know who's even going to play there. It's going to be a tough situation.
00:31:40
Speaker
and you're looking at the likes of Harlan, Foden, Dooku, maybe even Jack, trying to isolate us on the right hand side. So I think once the ball gets out of that middle, you will see then which team is going to be more dominant.
00:31:53
Speaker
Yeah, exactly. I completely agree. I think, as I said earlier, in terms of the way that our back line are going to look to play, I think that's going to be where the game's won and lost for us in terms of making sure that that back line is kind of all on the same page and they're they're solid and they push up together and they drop off together. And I think that's definitely something Emery will be looking to to kind of drill into them because, as we've said before, one laps in concentration from any member of that back line, whoever it is that features in it on the day.
00:32:20
Speaker
um we could see ourselves punished so I think that's the kind of the main area for me that I think we we should be focusing on. Lewis any final thoughts? Yeah I think it's yeah think it's possibly yours that could.
00:32:33
Speaker
It could be more susceptible to a mistake at the back at the minute, but yeah, like, I mean, all the points have been covered. It's going to be an open game. I think there's going to be a lot of chances on the counter attack and, and whether that's down Carl Walker's side, I'm sure it will be getting caught too out of the pitch. But yeah, it's going to be, it's going to be a good affair. We'll have to see how it goes. Hopefully the city come away and take three points back to the area, but we'll have to wait and Please leave Duran at home.
00:33:01
Speaker
Yeah, we're very pleased to have him and he's too un good. That's what he does. It's, it's great to watch.
Conclusion and Engagement
00:33:06
Speaker
Well, that's all for this episode of the daily Villa podcast. There's a lot to be excited about. Thank you so much to Joe and Craig for joining us, as well as the GSPN Manchester city. Team Jules and Louis best of luck to you both this weekend. Be sure to get in touch across all of our social medias. Those are listed in the podcast description.
00:33:29
Speaker
This has been a global sports podcast production. Thank you for listening. Up the villa.