Apologies for not having been here for over a week, but I’ve been heavily involved in a job in South Wales that had to be finished asap. Hence I’ve been working long hours and frankly, couldn’t be bothered in what’s been another daft international footy period.
I see England beat another no-hoper team in Kosovo and are apparently now ranked as one of the favourites to win the Euros.
What an absolute joke.
We will of course, fail as soon as we meet anyone decent and this gifting us an easy route, the same as the WC just insults my intelligence, as I’m sure it does yours.
Whatever.
So the proper footy restarts and it’s the Barcodes at home.
The press are doing their usual thing and trying to make something out of the Steve Bruce thing, with perhaps some players having issues, where they’d seriously like to get one over the ex-manager.
No doubt Bruce might want to get one over us too, particularly after the cabbage incident.
I’m sure he saw that as a major insult, but I doubt he’d hold it against the club or the fans, as he’s surely long in the tooth enough to know it comes with the territory.
However, while I think the background stuff won’t matter too much, I still see this as a very important game.
It’s one that we really, really ought to win and while if we don’t, it won’t be the end of the world (no single game is), it would be a major setback, confidence-wise, especially for us fans.
Squad news is that Jed Steer is out for a conservative 3-4 months.
Jack Grealish should be fit, although I note that Dean Smith said he thought that he was ready a couple of weeks ago, yet didn’t make it.
Strange, that, but perhaps suggests that Grealish is just itching to play and tries to underplay things.
Which is good, I suppose.
Jota and Kienan Davis are still out.
As for Newcastle, a certain Cieran Clark is touch and go, after a knock suffered playing for Ireland.
Lascelles is out until the new year.
Lejeune and Schar are back in training, but Matt Ritchie is definitely out.
I’ve never heard of any of those three and don’t give a toss either.
So what to think?
Well, surprisngly for Steve Bruce, Newcastle can hit you with a fast counter, but can also maintain it too, as witnessed by when they beat West Ham. They only had 31% possession, yet still managed 9 shots on goal.
Fortunately, I don’t think overall that we’re a team that are particularly vulnerable to the counter.
I might appear daft in saying that, but certainly it seems to me that we’re more vulnerable to sustained pressure on the defence.
It’s certainly what cost us the Liverpool game, for example.
Indeed, I’d say that us sitting back more and more as the game goes on, seems our biggest problem.
And that’s regardless of if the scientists say we aren’t overly-tired.
If that’s the case, we need to attack more, later in the game!
It seems we’re slight favourites and I think the best call is possibly a draw. I don’t think for one minute it’ll be a 0-0 or a 1-1 though.
In fact, I’m not going for a draw at all.
It wouldn’t be good enough.
We need to win this one and I’m going for a 3-1 win.
Because I think we’re capable of it.
UTV!
Comments
66 responses to “Villa – Newcastle; this one’s important”
Wor Jackie! (Grealish)
EDIT:
That’s a hat-tip to Jackie Milburn, who I knew as a Newcastle great, when I was a kid.
“He went on to be employed as a Fitter repairing heavy machinery.”
Similar game to me then and I like him even more.
How times have changed.
It will be a battle. Shelvey is unplayable when he’s in the mood, while Saint Maximin looks frightening when he runs at defences. We can’t let the Bruce emotional stuff affect it. It must be a professional, 100% from everyone performance if we’re to win. Like it or not, Bruce has got them looking like a decent outfit in the past few weeks. It’s a must win though. Aren’t they all?
I’ve given up trying to forecast a Villa score.
It seems that the bottom of the table battle is beginning to take shape – Norwich, Watford, Southampton, Everton, West Ham and us, so a point will do although a win would ease the pressure.
Whilst any loss, in itself, is not a disaster, in the context of our next four games to lose at home to Newcastle would leave us in a dire position – putting immense pressure on the team to win the following three against the teams (currently) below us!
All quiet on the footballing front!!
Birmingham mail ……
44 minutes ago · Aston Villa have been tipped to look at signing Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic in the January transfer window. Villa are scouring the market for a new forward to support Wesley Moraes as January draws nearer and Darren Bent thinks Mitrovic could be the answer, now why would he be the answer?. If he gets the ball he doesn’t hold it, we need player like Antonio runs his socks off, we have statues in our side, come on lads liven up with answers…..
What about that Darren Bent fella????
Bill, as we approach the silly season (and I don’t mean Christmas 🙂 ), we’re going to be linked with every man and his dog (and cat as well!).
What sort of striker do we want? Is it to support or replace Wesley? Do we want a big target man, a fox in the box (which I think Wesley is) or a target man that can hold also up the ball and bring Wesley into play – bit like Davis – all on the basis that we’re not about to dump Wesley!
Personally, I think we need the latter. Someone that can play as a lone striker (away and against the top six at home) but could also play as a second front man alongside Wesley. Does such an animal actually exist or am I talking complete bo**ocks.
Answers on a post card with a list of potential culprits to Badger 🙂
UTV
Gabby Agbonlahor 🤔
Morelos from Rangers looks a good bet to me, if the rumours are to be believed.
More ambitiously, how much would Wilson from Bournmouth set us back? Would 30 XL do it?
*Bournemouth. They’d want at least 40 mil, wouldn’t they?
Yes, but why would they sell and why would he come to us given the ‘big boys’ have already shown interest?
Maybe Morelos but I suspect it will someone from Europe.
Big club and more wages, Hitch. And lashings of ambition, I would hope and expect. I want to get back to the days when signing the likes of Collymore, Merson, and Dublin was no big deal for the Villa. Not to mention smashing records with Angel and Bent. Wilson is in that mould – a prolific PL striker and England international. I don’t see why not. We have to act like a big club if we want to get back to being one.
On a separate note, how about Shaqiri on loan from the Scousers?
Hitch, i put that up for the very same reason, i know we will be signing every Tom Dick, and Harry, its media talk , agree that we need a player like Antonio that runs and runs and never stops. I’m kicking the cat on how much we spent on Wesley for return of a Fox in the hole as you say , and to fire up the site as it was at a stop of information as it were. Utv.
12 months today this happened ,
https://www.facebook.com/147550179155356/posts/373698663207172/
Heaton
24Guilbert
15Konsa
40Mings
18Targett
7McGinn
6Douglas Luiz
14Hourihane
21El Ghazi
9Wesley
10Grealish
Wesley please prove me wrong tonight.
Don’t hold your breath Bill! Maybe Wesley can prove the doubters (me included) wrong. Shame Engels is still out but another opportunity for Konsa.
So Trezeguet misses out.
Just as I thought he was coming good too.
Nice impact sub though.
Probably rested after playing for Egypt and like you said Badger, a good impact substitute.
Here’s subs
Substitutes
8Lansbury
11Nakamba
17Trézéguet
25Nyland
26Kodjia
27El Mohamady
30Hause
Grealish crocked already.
Kick on the shin/calf 🙁
Hopefully he’s ok.
He is.
Targett put a lovely ball in, but the comment was that El Ghazi reacted too late.
To my mind, Wesley was the one who should be on the end of it.
It’s why I have serious doubts about him.
Jesus, their strikers are quick.
We’re looking ok though.
Targett puked on the pitch.
Hmm.
Have to keep on an eye on him with concussion protocols
That should be well over by now Hitch?
What a crap ref!
Two poor decisions in a minute.
Have that!
Hourihane free kick.
1-0
I’ve never had a problem with Newcastle, but I’ve been on one of their sites over the last couple of days and their opinions of us are piss-poor.
I really want us to win this one.
Grealish taken out again for a free just outside the box.
Surprise, surprise.
Yes, El Ghazi from a Hourihane ball.
Lovely.
2-0
Frightened of us Badger, what a free kick from Hourhane. I have to say Wesley moving better for the team , free kick just outside the box again , goal yippeeee
Great reaction save by Heaton from a Newc corner.
El Ghazi nets after a great through ball from Jack.
It’s off.
Yes.
Good first half and Newcastle are shit.