Here we go again then and it’s another game on a stupid Monday night in front of the Sky cameras.
Seeing how we’ve gone around fourteen live games without a single win, that’s a bad omen in itself, but all runs have to come to an end don’t they?
Hmm.
As much as I try to retain any optimism (as much as some others think I don’t), I think this particular match couldn’t have come at a worse time. More so when you consider we’ve played “lesser” teams at home and lost.
We’ve played Brighton away, so this is probably the toughest fixture we have left this season…
I’m sorry. As much as I try to look on the bright side and recall that Blues and Wolves have turned Newcastle over on their own turf, combined with the fact that the Barcodes have the second worst record for individual errors (after us), so I think I’m clutching at straws.
The truth is I don’t think we’ve got a hope in hell of taking anything away tonight, as much as it might leave me open to abuse.
Let’s face it, we’ve won two away games all season haven’t we?
So why should we expect to get anything from this one, in front of a big crowd that are constantly being wound up by Mick Quinn and a media trying to create a rivalry that really isn’t there?
I was supposed to be doing a Q&A with a Newcastle blog, mainly to see what their thoughts were on that latter point, but sadly I’ve just been too busy and it didn’t happen. I’m pretty sure they’d have agreed there isn’t really a problem between the two sets of fans, but I digress.
So what’s been going on recently then?
Bruce says he had a message from Xia saying his job’s safe.
Xia has got the hump over some site saying he’s gambling with the Villa re; parachute money.
Players have been coming out and saying it’s not been good enough and we’ll be better.
And we’re already being linked with players for the summer.
Yawn.
None of it’s of any consequence and all that matters is we start putting points on the board.
So what do we know about the game?
Both our new full backs, Taylor and Bree are doubtful, but the good news is Mile Jedinak might be back after a groin injury. And how we could do with him being fit. It’s been no co-incidence that we’ve looked worse at the back without him, in my opinion.
There have been calls for Sam Johnstone to be dropped and while I’m not sure what it would do for his confidence, so it might be better to get him out of the spotlight. Frankly, he’s been poor for us, hasn’t he?
Bruce has talked about putting Kodjia back on the left, as he thinks he’ll be more dangerous there and that’s something I think the manager will definitely do.
Will Grealish get the spot in the hole? Possibly, but I’d be tempted to save him for later as he sums up the team, in not being a 90 minute player.
Otherwise, the rest of the team pretty much picks itself and whatever eleven starts, it probably won’t be far off what we think is our best eleven on paper.
As for Newcastle, they might have Dwight Gayle back. Great and that’s all we need.
I can actually see us getting a goal tonight, as Newcastle won’t feel any need to sit back against us, which might see us get opportunities, but we’re struggling to convert chances.
Newcastle, on the other hand will also create and with our defence conceding from pretty much any mistake, it doesn’t bode well.
I’m going to go for a 3-1 loss then and it’s more about the performance, I feel.
The last time we beat Newcastle away was the infamous punch up game which we won 3-0 and I attended.
How I’d love to see a similar result tonight.
Comments
195 responses to “Newcastle – Villa:”
All too familiar this….same old same old….really, really fed up
Looks like their heads have dropped now.
Same old shit…. every week with Bruce in charge is a wasted week. The board and Dr Tony are making a major mistake backing this dinosaur manager
May as well get rid nothing to lose now we are out of top 6 and will prob go down
I can see this finishing up 4 – 0
Im sorry to say, this is going to be the first step of us dropping down again. Bruce will never get these to play , That change was Calderwoods suggestion, what good is he.
No subs again? And why the hell are we still playing Hogan on his own upfront! Were losing 2-0!!
Dosnt matter now career prob finished
Bruce looked real panicky in that shot then.
As if to say “what do we do?”
Worrying.
What an embarrassing performance, I don’t see a team here at all.
They are only in first gear as well
And now we know why Kodjia doesnt pass…he cant!!!!
Playing blind now, just look at Bruce with Calderwod, it’s him making the decisions Bruce doesn’t know what to do, you can see it now.
Agreed Bill.
That’s a real, real bad sign
I find it unbelievable this is acceptable for a load of you!!!!
Newcastle, at their worst contained us with ease and now, playing better (only very slightly) are making us look so crap!!!
Please wake up. Steve Bruce will not take us anywhere with his defensive negative football approach. The game adapts over the years, he hasn’t!!!
About time we played a formation, with players in their best positions and stopped tinkering to fit them in!! Yes that means some new players will get dropped… GOOD. Lansbury and the Viking been crap.
Hourihane is a fantastic player and Bruce has no idea how to utilise him and Kodjia IS NOT A WINGER!!!
Spot on. Around Villa Park nowadays you’d be forgiven for thinking we’re Steve Bruce FC not Aston Villa FC. The man is completely lost, he’s winging it and hasn’t got a clue how to solve this. You don’t need to know anything about body language to tell that. I’m astonished and deeply concerned Dr Xia is standing for this, and its a very worrying sign going forward that the owner has some very poor advisors around him who are influenced by Bruce’s pals in the media.
I agree.
This is RELEGATION form. We have 2 games at home. He needs 6 points or he is gone.
Have to agree with you fir once may as well go for Rowett if he can keep that shower of shite up he can keep us up
Hear hear
Bruce get you’re monkey wrench out.
Ok Newcastle scored from set pieces when they had several men in our 6 yard box. Big surprise. When do we get any numbers in their box? Lacking ambition. Poor manager. Don’t worry. Keep backing him. Come back on here in 6 games and see what you think. By that time it will be too late.
1 point in 8 games. Back the manager. Don’t make me laugh. He looks like a rabbit in the headlights.
Hourinane has been disappointing in a villa shirt up to now.
Because when he gets the ball, he only has 1 player in front of him.
Fucking hell, how I yearn for the counter attacking days of Martin o’Neill.
Get rid of this idiot now.
I hate to say it, but Gary Rowett is now our only hope.
If we let this idiot stay in charge, we will be in div 1 next season.
Why play 1 upfront and your most dangerous attacker left wing. I just dont get it. Absolutely no attacking threat at all.
Looks like Hogan seriously injured plus if Kodjia out as well – we really are cursed. This has all the hallmarks of a team getting relegated
Hogan knee f##ked by the look of him, a pity for the player but £12 mil for a player that’s had serious cruciate problems? Come on.
Ankle I think BWS – not that the detail really matters.
I hope you’re right h60.
We knew he had a bad injury record but still wasted £12m on him ffs
I’m not giving him my support anymore, he’s had his chances, I’ve seen the other side of him looking like a lost child, Calderwood has the ear of Bruce and it showing now. Sorry he’s got to go and quickly.
Welcome on board Bill, no idea route 1 football and as made little to know impact and for all the deniers out there one name – ‘Neil Warnock’.
Just look at that last 6 minutes of the game, tip tap to each player ,no creative idea or knowing how to open up the defence, players lofting balls to the opposition , can anyone see we are going nowhere, again he will say not acceptable., he’s not acceptable if you ask me.
No urgency
I intended on giving him five games to see if there was any signs of improvement. This was game 3. I’m almost ready to agree with you. I don’t think these players are too bad but the coaching and tactics are not working. Calderwood is a fucking knob head. We’ve went backwards since he came in. The curse of the Scottish ! Relegation looms
But it’s Bruce’s fault for appointing him!
If indeed he did.
I’m not at all convinced, fwiw.
To cap it all, I lost the stream and it seems Hogan has seriously done his ankle?
Unbelievable!
No write up from me tonight.
I need to mull things over.
Looks like his cruciate AGAIN.
Cruciate?
Bloody hell 🙁
I don’t believe our luck.
Although we weren’t playing to his skills anyway.
it’s worrying BWS, I tell you straight.
We are cursed Badger in convinced
Certainly seems like it 🙁
Mate I posted before we bought him he looked like he wasn’t moving property but hey ho what do us mere mortals know?
To pay £12m is a disgrace. He will never be the same again that’s assuming he ever plays again. Going to be touch and go
Oohah his knee (possibly both) have gone I looked at him on YouTube and posted (look it up) his running action didn’t look right and he was a risky signing.
Bruce just said it might not be as bad as they think. But if what u say is true the medical should of picked up on that
It was his ankle i’m sure? looks like a break to me.
That’s what I’m hearing Guest.
With some suggesting they heard a snap????
How, fuck knows? up in the Gods.
Bruce just been interviewed says hogan didn’t think it was as bad as he thought. But won’t know till xray
Could be Achilles tendon, bad enough around 12 months out.
No its as clear as day on sky, his foot pretty much bent under his leg, if it isn’t a broken ankle i’ll be amazed.
Mate you’d be surprised, playing once and one of the lads did his ankle, it was horrible, leg facing one way, foot the other. But it was just dislocated, he was back within three months or so.
My point is it may not be as bad as it looks.
There are so many things wrong with Bruce its just not worth writing down. Most influencial players tonight were Bacuna and Gardner ffs!
Players heads have dropped but worse still Bruce’s head has dropped – maybe waiting to be put out of his misery. Need a manager to complement players – don’t think Rowett would.
Appoint me I’d compliment them “you look nice today” followed by now empty your locker and f##koff.
I’m waiting for Bruce to come on and explain that game.
“We stay strong and go again at the weekend”
No Lambert’s not back, Brucie actually just said that
Ha ha just heard it thought the sane
Bruce has to go, enough is enough.
Agree
bruce out said before xmas he was shite manager say it again spud out
Count me in, where do I sign?
League points 1st January 2016 – 20th February 2016 = 8 points (Premier league)
League points 1st January 2017 – 20th February 2017 = 1 points (Championship)
Bruce is not working and another managerial gamble that has not paid off so far. The hope was he could inject something into the team to push for playoff places. We all felt the initial confidence and excitement that it was still possible. Now we are in another relegation battle having invested £75m in the squad. Most of the deadwood have been moved on and replaced. But the same old villa remains. As much as Bruce is loosing my support I see no alternative and have resigned myself to the fact that we are now a fallen giant and will remain so for a long long time. The doc gambled on instant promotion and I fear for the future and feel we will become the new Leeds in chopping and changing manager every year in the hope that we find the new messiah.
Have to agree Doc gambled on instant promotion the way Lerner gambled top four! We could be on the wilderness for years I’m afraid. We may need another 2-3 seasons holding our own in this division before we can challenge for top 6
We havent played well once under Bruce. Not fucking once.
First half Newcastle were not at the races and instead of taking the game to them, we decided to play negatively, time waste and be happy not to be losing. Then the inevitable happens and we concede. Elphick beaten twice by Lascelles for their 2 goals, that wouldnt have happened against Baker.
The setup is all wrong. Hogan completely isolated again. Kodjia looks lost out wide. Bjarnason isnt good enough, a complete mess.
Not only that, our passing was poor and even our effort levels werent that great when we gave it away.
I saw one positive tonight and that was Taylor. Actually played well at LB.
Im sick to death of watching this crap week in week out. First time we have lost 5 games in a row since the 70s…and we’re not even in the top flight.
Bang on Plan A – Put 11 behind the ball don’t concede…
Concede.
Plan B ??????????????????
Elphick has been the biggest disappointment for me I really thought he’d be one of our best players this season but he is woeful. He should never be picked over Baker. Though I do think this Taylor looks good and was our Motm imo