After a restful couple of weeks for the lads, the games are coming thick and fast again.
Chelsea on Friday, the Barcodes tonight and Sheffield on Saturday. I love it, as much as we know it’s not great for the players.
So it’s as per the headline really and I have a feeling this game could define our season. Win it and the wagon keeps on rolling. Lose it and I think it might be fair to say it’s probably indicative that the wheels are in the process of falling off.
I’ve been reading around and I’ve just seen the dreaded “Newcastle haven’t won since mid December”. You can guess what my immediate thought was. But we’re not the same team that we have been over the last few years.
I really ought to move away from that negative thinking, but I don’t feel we’re quite in that position yet. The draws at home to Sheffield and Bournemouth have ensured that loss of 100% confidence.
Squad news then and there’s nothing new. Pau Torres, Lucas Digne and Jhon Duran are all out, the young striker possibly until April, having done his hamstring. Why was I under the impression that he’d only tweaked it and it wouldn’t be for long? Unai has said we’re okay, because we have Zaniolo as a back up striker should Watkins get injured. I wish I was equally as convinced.
Still, I’ve consistently said we can score from all over the pitch, yet we haven’t been doing lately. It seems like we could do with someone to take the lead in helping us get our shooting boots on again and if Ollie was to get injured, you wonder who that might be. Then again, he needs to get his on first.
I’ve seen talk that Jacob Ramsay (the 100% definite target for Newcastle until Eddie Howe told them they were miles off) might be involved but I don’t think they’ll risk him yet. I can see this being a bit of a tough game and we don’t want him to aggravate the injury, which has already happened once.
Traore is still at the Afcon, I believe. Oh and Olsen is fit. Not that that matters much, as he won’t be getting on unless Martinez is in serious trouble.
As for Newcastle, they have quite the injury list.
Pope, Wilson, Barnes, Willock, Anderson, Joelinton, and Targett are all out. There’s some very decent players there and looking at that I can see why they haven’t reached the heights of last season.
And then to cap it all, Trippier, Lascelles, Almiron are all doubtful and Tonali is suspended.
Oh dear, how sad, never mind, to coin a phrase.
In all seriousness though, that is some list and hopefully it will be good for us.
What do I think then?
Well, this might be a bit controversial, but I’d actually drop Matty Cash and put Konsa in at Right back.
There. I’ve said it.
It’s just that his one decent effort on goal apart, I thought he was poor against Chelsea, as much as I saw he’d got good ratings in a couple of papers I read after the game. That and I just think he’s been off it for a few months now. I suspect the manager thinks it too, which is why he’s rested him previously. Why we haven’t signed a new RB or at least given one of the kids a proper go is something I find perplexing.
Which all of course, means Diego Carlos comes back in. I think that’s not a bad idea for this game, as he’ll help cover the back, which should let Luiz maraud forward a bit more.
I’d also be inclined to drop Diaby too, but I think Emery is trying to play him back into form, so doubt that will happen. He should though, be hooked at half time if he’s proving ineffective again, to be replaced by Bailey, in my opinion.
But what do I know? Emery often does things that surprise me and I’m sure he’ll do similar tonight.
Right, I’m sticking my betting hat on, as much as I don’t really bet and am going for a 2-1 win.
Losing this is unthinkable and I’m not even sure I’ll be at all happy if we draw it either.
In fact, I know I won’t.
I know you can’t expect to just keep winning games, but it’s this sort of game that sorts the wheat from the chaff and if we want to stay with the big boys, well, we just need to get the result somehow, as much as I see it being a bit of a bruising game, which will be played out in the midfield.
2-1 it is then.
UTV!
Comments
146 responses to “Villa – Newcastle; Quite looking forward to this massive game”
Eventually the commentators manage to work a goal for Newcastle.
Having said that we’re crap
Gonna get stuffed at this rate
0-2 game over! They are the ones who want it more
Game over and I’m fucking fuming.
I’m close to turning it off.
What are we fucking doing!!!!!
We are strolling around!
We take too many touches!!
Watkins not offering anything!!!
Why is Diaby on over Bailey!
We look soft!!!
Mcginn ripped Burn to pieces last time at home, Diaby and Burm is a mismatch
Yep.
Turned it off – not prepared to watch Newcastle stuff us again
FFS!
We are not fluid as without Torres playing out from the back is not working effectively.
Watkins and Diaby might as well have stayed at home for their contributions
11 corpses in the Villa side this evening. Good to see. 👌
I cannot believe that Diarby gets the call over Bailey, I knew when the team was announced we would struggle. We have Watkins no service
Absolutely no service to our forwards Two Down and disgrace and we will not get back in this game .
Diaby has a severe alergic reaction when he shoots, Bill. Which is a shame considering he’s 50 million pounds worth of attacker. Having said that, after witnessing his shooting from a few yards away vs Burnley, it’s probably best he doesn’t bother. Put Bailey on please. Or Zaniolo to rough them up a bit. And why isn’t Duran on the bench?
Duran is injured. Maybe because it’s a waste of a sub 🤷♂️
🤣 surely can’t be worse than Diaby, DS?
Fair point
Diaby has been poor for weeks. Probably score now
Wheels are well falling off haven’t been the same since the arsenal game fucking typical
Absolutely true, Little8. And it was inevitable. When you reach peaks like that, the only logical trajectory is downwards.
Where are the decent balls into the box?
It is truly shocking and how is Watkins supposed to do anything with the utter shit service he’s getting?
Why is the ref constantly blocking Luiz when we attack??? Always in the bloody way…
John Brooks is a truly shockingly awful referee
Still not watching – would rather watch paint dry!
Can’t blame you, Hitch. Me neither, hence the flurry of posts.
We have no pace. I thought Diaby was supposed to be quick. Not compared to Gordon and Miley. I don’t know why Bailey hasn’t started. We don’t press well enough and it’s easy for them to counter. We need a plan B when plan A is failing.
Wake the f*** up would be my plan B, Holte. And A.
We really miss the injection of pace and intensity brings to the team.
We can’t collapse because of one missing player, surely!!!
* Ramsey brings to the team
Half time and utter garbage. Message to Chris Heck. Maybe putting everything on hold because it would affect our Champions League image is starting to look more and more ridiculous. I think maybe I was getting carried away with our top 4 challenger but tonight has brought me back down to planet earth.
It’s beginning to feel like that John Gregory season again!
How long before they put the nail in the coffin for 3-0? I’m going for before the hour…
Told ya.
Well, that was awful and sorry, but I’m blaming Emery.
There is no excuse for not playing the game at a decent pace, at least.
Tielemans and Diaby have been useless.
If Bailey doesn’t come on sharpish as maybe the only one who has offered anything lately, well.
I’m sure the commentator said they haven’t scored or won at VP since 2010 or something.
Fucking typical Villa and it does my head in. We’ll win nothing until that crap changes.
Haven’t scored a top flight league goal at VP since 2013 – they said it so many times it was bl**dy obvious they would score.
Clearly Pau is able to play out from the back better and drive into midfield and allowing players to move towards the opponent’s goal! Instead , we drag out midfield i towards our goal tighter and tighter, when the opposition stop us from moving up the pitch, they are winning!!! Granted sometimes it looks impressive but 90% of the time it looks risky! Our midfield has played with their backs to goal mostly.
But most of all, what is wrong with us, not a single player looks agressive, even while Isaak is receiving treatment the players group round Emery and all look like they are kicking their fucking heels!!! Who’s getting fucking angry down there?? Nobody!!!
Yep.
Bloody ‘ell. Gillette are still pounding out the same slogan after all these years. All together now: “Gillette! The best a man can ge,e,et!”
Here come the cavalry…
“Slightly sloppy” says Crouchy. Opportunity to bring Chesty Morgan back into the conversation with a witty simile. No, I’d better leave it…
Good job we can’t upload images!!! Bit more entertaining than this shite…Good ball in by Tiellmans though.
0-3.
Utter shite.
🤣🤣🤣
Ahhhhhhh
FFS!!
Just take a look at the start of second half we just giving the ball away every kick out from goal . Sorry lads this is the demise and top ten only this season. Caught again 3 -0 we are shit .
Can things get any worse. Looks like Moreno could be injured. Another thrashing by the barcodes!