ASTON VILLA -v- MANCHESTER CITY
Arrived at Birmingham and my aunt Margaret met me at the train station from the airport. We walked back to her house, and I kept a close eye on the streets & the directions working out in reverse how I was going to go back in the evening.
Got back to her house and had a great fry up, sausages, bacon & fried egg with lots of brown sauce and a strong hot cup of tea. We chatted for a good two hours and then got ready to head to the Stadium. My aunt Margaret proceeded to give me a Villa scarf. Had a matching woolly hat with me. Couldn’t be walking into the Villa not looking like a supporter. Here I am well wrapped up for the night ahead.
I left Margaret’s house and retraced my steps back to the train station with my closely held pre-paid train ticket that was taking me three stops down the line to the train station called Aston.
Got on the train and recognized a few of the Villa supporters by the scarves that they were wearing. There are no T-shirts. There is no sun. They are not here for a good time. Everybody is wrapped up. Wearing wooly hats and gloves and Parker jackets. This is serious football. These people are here to see war. It brings me back to an image of Mel Gibson standing in front of a line of the Scottish nationalists facing the English in the movie Braveheart and the Scots are all in their traditional colors just like here with the Villa supporters decked out in their blue and burgundy and ready to go to war.
Stepping off the train and I texted my cousin Martin and I said to him “just arrived at the station. I am following the colors.” That’s exactly what I did. I just followed the burgundy and blue colors of the Villa and like a river flowing in one direction, I headed to Villa Park.
On my way I found myself walking past the Manchester city bus.
This was the first bus and as I turned around, I saw Pep Guardiola sitting at the front of the second bus. Don’t think he was too fussed with me taking a picture of him, as he didn’t smile!
It’s unbelievable as it is actually him sitting in the front of the bus. Incredible timing. I really can’t get over the coincidence of walking to the Villa and walking past the main city bus and actually seeing Guardiola in the front seat.
I continued following the crowd and finally found myself at Villa Park.
There is a really good atmosphere here. Very chill and very family friendly and really looking forward to the game. Very cold too! I am in full Winter gear. I have a feeling that the Villa are going to win tonight. City are struggling with injuries. Guardiola said in the paper today that he has only 14 or 15 fit players which might actually mean that Jack Grealish is going to be playing. Can you imagine if he does! This is a big test for the Villa under the new manager Steven Gerard.
Expect City to have an onslaught of possession and domination but Villa might hold out, score a goal on the counter and win the game 1:0.
I’m standing here waiting for Martin.
I realize that here in Britain and Ireland for well over 12 months, there was a whole generation of kids who were not playing soccer because of Covid. So sad and glad to know the kids are back playing at all levels. My cousin’s son is a ball boy tonight at the Villa. He will see the action up close and maybe get to hear what the coaches are saying.
So met up with Martin and his daughter Katie. We went for a walk and did a tour of the stadium and talked about the history of the club. It’s incredible that for £550, Martin is a season ticket holder here at the Villa. That is 19 home games paying an average 29.00 pounds. Such incredible value. Will meet up with them after the game.
As I walk to the stand where I am, it is hard to describe the smell associated with sports in Britain and Ireland. I just walked past several people eating burgers, drinking coffee and smoking which is the same smell whether you are a football game, horse racing or any other sporting activity in this country.
Entering the stadium.
Here is the “Stadium of Dreams”. I’ve never seen so many LED lights. So ecofriendly, only using 40 watts for the entire night. Absolutely not. These lights are bright.
Close up view
It’s incredible to think of the games played in such a soulless stadium for a year without any fans. It is the fans that make the game what it is.
So, the big news is that homeboy, Jack Grealish is fit to play but is starting on the Manchester city subs bench tonight.
Incredible…City are doing a 4v4+3 positional game, same as you boys have been doing for years. Guess who is overseeing it. Guardiola. It is incredible to watch. The back four for City are now doing a warm-up activation exercise working together as a unit where one defender steps out to cover the danger man, the other three defenders squeeze in to cover. These boys don’t play off the cuff. Everything is coordinated and well coached and all of it is rehearsed. This is proper football.
20 minutes to the start of the game. What an unbelievable atmosphere!
Game starts
10.21: First time Villa have possession of the ball in City’s half. And City play so simple. City go man to man when out of possession. So simple. They only play 10 yard passes. 30 yards max is the distance from defender to center forward. City when in possession actually play a 2:4:4! In defense they play with a 4:3:3 but the midfielder pushes up to play a 4:2:4 and they go man to man on the Villa back 4. When City are under pressure they don’t mess about. Sometimes they just boot it long. Clear your lines.
Score 2:0
Watch City’s second goal. Genius. Incredible. Vision, passing and finishing.
2nd half
What a start! 2:1. Score from a corner. Finally seeing a couple of tackles from the Villa. Sometimes you just have to put the boot in and tackle.
The referee has a rather strange name. All the Villa supporters are calling him “Fucking Wanker”. The herd mentality is incredible. By the way, the referee’s middle name is “Shit” 😂😂
Ex Villa player Jack Grealish is coming on. He got some boos, but majority clapped him. He’s appreciated here at the Villa.
City managed the game nicely to a win. Villa had one great chance to score but you need a cool head to “pass” the ball past the keeper. No cool heads tonight.
Game over. 2:1.
Jack Grealish does a small lap and gets a great reception from the home fans. He’s a Birmingham boy and a Villa supporter.
Goodnight, Villa Park. It is freezing. Going to get a bite to eat.
