Man City predictions

By: Martini Extra Dry | August 16th, 2008

The big day is upon us. The Premier League season kicks off today, after the summer months and agonisingly watching the European Championships and not being involved. Well, unless you support Aston Villa, Man City, Chelsea, Pompey, Man Utd or Newcastle that is, who all start their campaigns tomorrow.
Here at The Villa Offside, we are concentrating on the game taking place at 3pm tomorrow in Birmingham; Aston Villa vs Manchester City.

Villa have bombarded the transfer market this summer, bringing in seven new players (albeit Davies was already with us on loan). Of the seven, we have two new goalkeepers, four defenders and a midfielder. This makes sense when you look at last seasons final statistics; Villa scored 71 goals, 2nd highest tally in the Premiership but conceded 51 goals. Tightening up at the back could’ve shifted us into the top four. That sounds pretty unrealistic, but thats what the statistics show. But football isn’t a game of numbers, and is lovable for it’s unpredictability.

Up in Manchester, Man City have been having a more rollercoaster ride of a pre-season. They brought in Mark Hughes as manager, which created buzz and hype of a successful oncoming campaign, but then controversy hit with the goings on of their owner. As for buying and selling, other than the big signing of Jo, the transfers at Man City have mainly been fringe players in and out.

Villa have the home advantage in this meeting, on top of the great morale at the club, thanks to UEFA Cup success and promising new boys arriving.

My prediction for the game is that Villa will start off the strongest and dominate the first half of the first half, going a goal up, before Man City come at us and go into half time the stronger team, but still trailing. The second half will see them equalise before Villa finally take the three points with a 2-1 or 3-1 victory.

Ashley Young to get on the scoresheet is another prediction I’m making ahead of tomorrow’s clash.

What do you think? Click ‘Comment’ and leave your predictions, then tomorrow we’ll see who’s the most like Mystic Meg.