I’m a lot more upbeat than I have been for a while when it comes to the Villa, for obvious reasons and I expect us to play better, particularly as it looks like the players will be allowed to play in a style that suits them.
Does my new optimism lead to me expecting to beat Newcastle then?
Squad news first and the big news is that Boubacar Kamara is back on the grass and is expected to start proper training this week. That’s great news as he will give us more options.
Lucas Digne is back in contention after recovering from his heel problem. Should he come straight back in? Not for me.
Otherwise, it’s no change with Diego Carlos, Ludwig Augustinsson and Jed Steer still out, but Danks has talked about niggles and knocks.
As for Newcastle, Allan Saint-Maximin could play and he’s a player I really like to watch. My boss at work is a Geordie and he tells me he often makes poor choices, but every time I’ve seen him he looks really threatening. I hope he doesn’t make it.
Elliot Anderson is fit again, but Alexander Isak probably won’t make it.
The question is how will we line up? and you’d have to expect that Danks will pick an unchanged side from last weekend, while also retaining the same 4-2-3-1 setup that just looks a lot more balanced.
I think we could offer some decent resistance today, but I don’t see us getting anything ultimately. Newcastle are going really well and are currently 4th and looking pretty good value for it.
We haven’t beaten them on their turf since the infamous Bowyer and Dyer punch up game where we beat them 3-0. I attended that game and was shocked to read that it happened in 2005! That game is easily in my top five for most memorable attended and it was a good time to be a Villa fan.
What about today then?
Unai Emery will apparently be watching, before he officially starts as our manager. I’m not sure if he’ll actually be at the game, but either way, I’d expect the players to be giving 100% effort.
I can see us maybe getting a goal, but I can see Newcastle getting more. Almiron and Wilson are playing well and it wouldn’t surprise me if they get one each.
So a 2-1 defeat then, although you never know, the new manager thing might just work in our favour.
UTV!
Its going to be tough for Emery to get a system…. confidence and fitness going while actually trying to not get hammered every match. The Prem is so unforgiving…
What a load of shit . Well lads we should be first on match of the day if that helps. Sell th f:;king lot I say disgraceful to the name of Aston Villa.
total rubbish!
out muscled
out passed
out pressed
if emery does improve this team, i guarantee at least 5 or 6 of todays team will be gone this time next year.
watkins and ings cant win a header between them, cant hold up the ball, cant control the ball half of the time.
midfield far to lightweight, we were over run today
cash and young were both terrible today
i could go on, emery has a huge job on his hands and he will need the rest of the season just getting us doing the basics correctly
On the bright side the world cup gives him time to take stock & then the transfer window opens.
Danks for the memory. Emery will have to be abrasive on Tuesday.
That’s the puns done: Now for the head to heads: Wilson gave Ings an object lesson in being a centre forward. I hope he goes to Quatar.
Almiron gave Watkins an object lesson in being the fast frontman. Olsen v either Pope or Martinez – He is not up to standard. Cannot smother a shot he could get both palms on to parry. Does not have the vital anticipation: being able to read the body language before the shot which shows it can only go to one side of the goal and be moving that way.
Coaching staff shown up so badly by Newcastle’s staff – time to bin all those still at BMH. Reluctance to shoot first time and inability to shoot on target returned to top the failings. Another failing is the attempt to beat 2 men and the touchline: trying that loses the ball 9 times in 10.
I thought Buendia was out of it after taking the knock and should have gone off then. Only creative player we had.