leffe186

Bellamy

Mascherano would start for all of them. So would Reina. Not for Chelsea, Essien surely.

Carew is brilliant when fit. Gabby does fairly well as a lone striker too. So we're agreed then! Reckon Man U would be better with Reina.

Milner will be in trouble when Downing gets fit that's for sure. Unless MON decides to play Downing through the middle alongside Petrov, which he might do I guess. More likely to play Milner in the middle tbh, he's tried it already. The other major possibility is a reversion to 4-5-1 with Ashley Young creating in the middle and Milner and Downing on the wings - if he had a better striker that could be a really good team. I don't see why Villa should do all of this to accomodate Milner, who is arguably one of the worst players in their starting 11. Neither does anyone else, including me and many Villa fans, but MON has previous.

He's someone I'd have expected to pile on a few pounds since retiring.

Milner will be in trouble when Downing gets fit that's for sure. Unless MON decides to play Downing through the middle alongside Petrov, which he might do I guess. More likely to play Milner in the middle tbh, he's tried it already. The other major possibility is a reversion to 4-5-1 with Ashley Young creating in the middle and Milner and Downing on the wings - if he had a better striker that could be a really good team.

Can play RB and CB. Not sure what other option there are TBH.

I didn't think Santa Cruz was that bad - isn't this his first game back? Nothing Tevz did worked and he barely won a ball - at least Santa Cruz won it in the air a few times.

Agbonahor can be very frustrating, agreed. There was a lovely moment near the end when he lost the ball and the commentator said he "doesn't do well in those situations" - i.e. when he has to think.

Thought both teams looked decent, Man City need someone to direct their defence a bit (like, say, Dunne instead of Toure) but had loads of possession and eventually broke them down, Villa looked better than I've seen them this season. They're not the prettiest side in the world, but got players behind the ball and pressed quite well. Their defence looks solid, but I can wind my Villa wife up by asking her which set-piece they're going to rely on for goals in any given game. Still pretty one-dimensional. Tevez just didn't work for City, but Bellamy looked canny, as did both left-backs. Dunne and Collins did well, and I thought Milner was fine, he knows his limitations and just gets on with it. Agbonlahor is still the thickest player I have ever seen.

Here comes Martins.....

Great goal. I wish Berbatov was still at Spurs.

Don't want to jinx anything so I'll keep my mouth shut. He's quick I suppose. No, fabulous skills but a selfish bastard. Should be miles better than he is.

Martins warming up.

Man U doesn't feel like a big game at all, atmosphere sounds very subdued.

The atmosphere sounds weird at Old Trafford, but it's all Man U now.

Had this open ready for the goal. Giggs deflected free=kick.

GOal Wolfsburg. FIrst thing they've done for a while too.

FYP

Berbatov just brilliant. That's the end of Owen as a starter. Man U waking up.

Valencia should have buried that. I love Berbatov.

Penalty there tbf.

If they keep him on. Off before 20 mins

Absolutely brilliant touch there from Evra. Almost pointless, but nice.

Still think they'll start to put it together. Berbatov coming on for Owen will make a huge difference.