Apologies for the late post – any earlier and it would probably have been one long rant anyway.
I do have concerns tonight.
Is Targett available after going off injured on Wednesday? He put in an exceptional performance in defence and it showed just how well he had played when Taylor came on. In fact Targett has consistently defended well in recent games.
McGinn will be missing having picked up his 5th red card and a mandatory one match ban but Trezeguet comes back into the squad which is good news.
There have been a lot of calls for Barry to be included on the bench and if we’re not going to acquire a striker in this window, then it might not be a bad call, if only for experience. The issue I feel though is that he’s not currently training with the first team squad so it seems unlikely.
So, assuming Targett is fit, I can’t see Smith fiddling with the team too much. Trezeguet may come in for Traore or even for McGinn although I suspect Smith might keep faith with Ramsey.
Smith will be watching from the stands having picked up a one match touchline ban for telling Moss what a crap ref he is. Strange world when you get punished for telling the truth. I loved Smith’s comment – I’ve heard him (Moss) called a lot worse!
So prediction – Newcastle are on a terrible run of form but have been missing two of their key players through Long Covid although Saint-Maxim could be back and will add an attacking threat. Villa have only one one of the last 14 meetings with Newcastle and that in the same fixture last year.
Newcastle will be cautious as is Bruce’s want and look to counter attack on the break – something we seem peculiarly vulnerable to at home.
If we’re on our game and not too badly affected after Wednesday night, fitness wise, then it’s a game we should be looking to win.
I’m going to be a coward and call this as a draw 1-1
I would be very disappointed to not get 3 points tonight. We need to win this type of game as it’s certainly one of our “easier” fixtures. I would have preferred Ramsey to Nakamba but hey ho.
Newcastle’s side looks stronger than it has been for a number of games.
We under estimate them at our peril.
Well it is Nakamba and that surprise me. We need to win this lads we really do.
No one saying Ollie scored? Come on lads 1-0 Villa.
Ollie scores. Ironic isn’t it that Watkins goal was the correct interpretation of the ‘played on’ law
3-0 Villa
Newcastle are led by the cabbage.
We have to win this as a statement of our ambition to play i Europe next season.
Traore scores a screamer with his right foot
HT now, 2-0 would have been 3 but Ollie had one ruled offside by mm again .
Playing well lads.
Every single player contributing. Just need to keep it up in second half.
Well to mention Mings, he playing a blinder so far heading ball out every time, we are worth them two goals and I’m thinking I should ring Badger up and invite him back as Villa are now 8 th in the league uptill now and we could get Euro games next season.
Konsa – absolutely brilliant defending
Gayle on – always scores against us
It looked like we were playing against our 2016 team. BRUCE OUT !!!
Well done lads!!! Still games in hand too!!!
Excellent performance. A special word for Nakamba – no greater praise in that we didn’t miss McGinn with Nakamba sitting deep and Luis pushed forward.
Very impressive
Come on Hitch. Why the negative outlook before the game? That was a stroll. We are way better than them.
Nakamba probably had his best game for Villa today so agree with you there.
We could have properly spanked them today. Barkley tries too many flicks (I think he is trying to not be overshadowed by Grealish). If we can curb that he is an excellent player. That makes us so dangerous….Grealish, Barkley, Traore, Watkins. That sets a lot of questions for opposition teams.
Defensively, two good fullbacks, Konsa is awesome and Mings is good most of the time. Martinez is outstanding and must give real confidence to our back four.
Sanson to come. We may not get a striker this window but I have a real feeling that we will do something major in the summer. A proper statement.
I am absolutely buzzing.
Not negative DS just scared I’d jinx the side and too many years watching a poor side so it’s hard sometimes to believe how good we actually are. Maybe I shills have more faith.
The performance tonight was outstanding; you could pick out any number of players tonight for praise. Konsa, Nakamba and Traore absolutely outstanding but every player tonight contributed.
Maybe our squad is not as shallow in quality as we thought,
Finally though, praise for Smith and the coaching side. Yes we’ve added some quality signings Martinez, Cash, Barkley and Traore but they’ve also taken raw Championship players and turned them into quality EPL players.
The future looks really bright.
Very good team performance.
Now here is a question.
If Kinda keeps up his current trajectory and stays many years with us – will he be comparable to Paul McGrath? I Iove his development since initial lockdown was listed.
I guess that’s Konsa? He reminds me more of Southgate in his prime. Reads the game well, very tidy, never stretched. Cool customer.
As comfortable a win as we will get all season. Watkins, Nakamba and Konsa were the stand out players for me although they were all at least 7/10. It was funny to see Jack grumpy for being subbed with a few minutes to go.
easy win for villa, we strolled second half as i predicted. nothing much to say we were dominate and newcastle were poor, 2 0 back in top 10 and another back back in the legs, i thought a few players looked leggy grealish included. he didnt like being subbed did he lol
one incident when target did a solid tackle the ball goes to grealish who gets clattered by shelvy. grealish was very angry and he was thinking about hitting shelvy as he got back to his feet, then once he was up he hit shelvy with a forearm smash slash elbow smash, wasn’t WWF style grealish wanted too but he pulled back but he did connect slightly and shelvy tried to complain about it but ref didnt take him on. and replays stopped before the incident as it showed only the tackles
That was the only blemish Nath – JG just has to reign in that aggressive side of his reactions.
Redknapp and Bent gushing praise for Villa – both saying top 6 but not only that, that Villa are a joy to watch – and we do play football with a refreshing joy. Hope that’s not too old an expression.
It’s hard sometimes to believe how good we are playing after so many years of heart ache.
Well done to Smith, our owners and our team.
UTV
TBH Grealish has a great temper. He gets kicked week in week out. He had a bit of a dig but didn’t overdo it. He has really matured on the field.
Nice to hear us getting praise from the pundits and Redknapp is bang on – we really are that good.
Such a nice feeling.
In all fairness Grealish looked tired and according to Smith spoke about a tightness in training also has 4 Brookings so safty was involved. Barkley lacking playing time and tiredness was also a factor. All in all a win and a entertaining game that was spoken by two channels showing the game saying Villa are a game to watch and Sky are pleased to have booked the games.
did anybody see grealish lay one on shelvy ( thought about and kindof land one ) ???????????
i am just glad the replay cut as grelish got to his feet. he kind of hit him as he got to his feet. mr angry grealish tonight.
I did. I think he was sorely tempted to do it properly but resisted. Could have been sent off but would have been harsh. Glad that it was either ignored or if not treated as it should have been.
he was kicked 3 or 4 times tonight so late that it could have been after the final whistle. all should have been bookings as they were just defenders pissed off that they couldn’t get the ball off him. He is so talented.
We are beginning to look like a really good team
cheers i thought i was seeing things. like you said he wanted and was tempted and kindof did it lol i noticed when he got to his feet he had his fist already then he went around shelvy to the blind side of ref but he has to rememeber that var will always spot that sort of thing. iam with you iam glad they didnt pick up on this and shevly tried to grass him but being a wannabe hard man himself he didnt make a meal of it
I did see it Nath, he used his elbow on Shelby head and walk away, he was on 4 bookings and I think that was on Smith’s mind to pull him off. Yes he was angry but we all know Grealish loves football it’s his life. Think about it over past few months he’s lost control on what’s right and wrong, Smith was protecting him and rightly so. My thoughts was Nakamba how hard he worked and Mings again saved us in the game with his head,, but twice almost got caught out again, all in all entertaining game I thought.
yeah makes a refreshing change pundits talking us up. but rightly so we are a very good side, second half we cruised it and newcastle were unable to force us to get back on it
After cutting the Barcodes apart in the first half I thought we were sloppy in the second half. Another Mings “look I can dribble round a forward” gaffe. Villa don’t do cruise control very well. I doubt they get the chance to cruise against Saints, and therefore they will probably finish as they did at Old Trafford – looking the stronger team.