Remi Garde summed up this game in his post-match interview. “If you are too open and optimistic it would be like suicide.” Villa spent the game aiming not to concede and to grind out a point. How that policy would help a club that are 9 points adrift at the bottom of the league is beyond any bodies comprehension.
Doug Ellis the previous Villa owner was in the crowd at the Etihad, and the effort it takes a 92year old to travel from the Midlands to Manchester surpassed any effort the Villa players put in to that 90 minutes. Like John Moores at Liverpool when he sold to Hicks and Gillett, it must be painful for Ellis to see his life’s work in such disarray and such an abject, poor playing squad, and the calamity that is Aston Villa.
Randy Lerner was a billionaire founder of the MBNA credit card company and for all intents and purposes a good custodian as far as Doug Ellis was concerned, the demise however has been catastrophic.
The first half Villa were organised but posed zero threat. City seem to get enthused when they are playing weaker opposition. Wilfried Bony missed a superb chance and Aguero forced a great save from Brad Guzan in the first half but Villa retained the clean sheet up to half time.
Pellegrini must have rattled a few cages at half time as City came out with more vim and vigour. It didn’t take long for Silva to feed Yaya Toure and for him to slot in a shot in the 48th minute. Aguero quickly followed up with no2 on 50 minutes with a rifled shot. The match had the feel of a first eleven playing a reserve team.
One would expect seasoned veterans like Micah Richards, Joleon Lescott and Gabby Agbonlahor, 800 Premier League games between them, to play for some pride. Non of that was forthcoming, and City scored their third on 60 minutes, Aguero once again fed by Silva.
Aston Villa as winners of the European Cup in 1982, will arguably be the biggest team to ever get relegated from the Premier League. The fear fans have that they could rapidly free fall to League One is well founded. The Championship is a tough league and they will struggle with this squad in that physical league.
Sterling fed by Navas scored the fourth on 66 minutes and Aguero hit the post from his penalty saving Villa from the rout their performance deserved.
Remi Garde came with a strong coaching reputation from Ligue One in France, but he must rue his decision to take this Villa job. Derby County have the worst record of Premier League points ever with 11, but this Villa team will arguably go down with a worse reputation for their lack of fight and absolute poverty of motivation to retain their Premier League status.
The omens are not good for Aston Villa, the club have been up for sale for 18 months with no takers. They are directionless, and one cannot help but feel for their fans, and their potential plight in the Championship.
Motm : David Silva
