Newcastle head into this game on the back of a narrow victory in the Europa league on Thursday night. Narrow it might have been, but ultimately it was enough to see us secure a passage through to the group stages of the competition, meaning we can look forward to more odd kick-off times as the season progresses.
I say odd kick-off times, because this one is odd. It’s a 4pm kick-off on a Sunday which usually means we are being shown on Sky, but not this time around. In fact we aren’t scheduled for any live TV broadcasting here in the UK today so you know what you have to do if you can’t actually get to the match…
As an interesting sub-plot today, there is a chance that we could see some history being made by witnessing our 1000th Premier League goal being scored. For that to happen we need to score two today, so the scorer of the second goal will be written into history basically.
As ever team news will be published below as and when it becomes available and if you haven’t already done so I would suggest reading Connor’s match preview which details injury news for both sides plus some other titbits such as previous history and likely team selections.
Which just about neatly wraps it up. We saw a largely second string side once more in midweek so I think it’s pretty safe to assume that we’ll see more of what are our “big hitters” for this match. Plus the transfer window is closed now so hopefully those players that do remain can get their heads in to gear, focus on the match, and send the fans into the international break on the back of a win.
Howay the lads!
Newcastle: Time Krul, Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Davide Santon, Hatem Ben Arfa, Vurnon Anita, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez, Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba
Subs: Steve Harper, Mike Williamson, Dan Gosling, Gael Bigirimana, Sylvain Marveaux, Romain Amalfitano, Gabriel Obertan
Aston Villa: Brad Guzan, Matt Lowton, Ron Vlaar, Ciaran Clark, Eric Lichaj, Brett Holman, Karim El Ahmadi, Stephen Ireland, Barry Bannan, Andreas Weimann, Darren Bent
Subs: Shay Given, Nathan Baker, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Charles N’Zogbia, Graham Burke, Jordan Bowery, Derrick Williams
Funky-He’s well old though, and a bit of a crock now isn’t he? Then again he shouldn’t want too much. I’ll take anyone going tbh 😕
Newkie(Quote)
ST-Exactly, some people seem to be pure number crunchers though and don’t seem to understand. Kind of like how much Best assisted Ba last season, despite the fact he may have only had two assits to his name and was called **** by many, we need players like that to replicate the 4-4-2 of last year. Without them we need to think of something fast.
Personally I thought Ba did alright in general. Greedy, but made chances. Would have expected Cisse to score from his half chance, but he’s a victim of his own success. He’s never had great link up play, the eye for a pass or the ability to execute it, we need to play to our strengths and quickly.
The change to 4-3-1-2 is encouraging, with a full team from the start and starting in that formation, i’d fancy our chances. Problem is our front three are all capable of wonder goals, and selfish (in a good sense) as all goal scorers have to be…
Newkie(Quote)
I knew for days we weren’t gonna get 3 points from today. People were cursing it saying Villa are going down etc. Please…..Stop. Look. Listen and Learn. Don’t ever tempt ****….thankyaou, much love.. 😉
DJG(Quote)
I actually think Villa have a squad capable of challenging for top 8 tbh
Newkie(Quote)
Villa will struggle against relegation
We’ll finish top half probably, early signs suggest lots of competition this year from positions 4 to 9 – Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool, Everton, the Mackems and ourselves, with Arsenal the favourites to get 4th
M(Quote)
The game wasn’t on telly. Internet links were unwatchable. Missed the replay on tv coz I had some business to attend to. I seem destined not to see this one – just as well, if reports are to be believed. I’ve seen Benny’s goal, though. A cracker!
So I can’t add any game comments to the chatter. It’d be interesting to know if we empoyed the 2512 system again.
brisvegas(Quote)
Just had a look at some average position stats. It looks like 4312-ish this time out – with HBA further forward than Ba. Ba being the link between midfild and attack. Bigi very much the defensive midfielder, almost a third centre back, and Santon playing further back than usul. Simpson/Anita playing as far forward as Jonas.
Informative, this average player position graphic.
brisvegas(Quote)
Bris
We did, it failed 🙁
Andymag(Quote)
Benny, like in the previous 2 Prem games, pretty much has a free role – wandering about picking up the ball wherever he pleases.
Yesterday was probably his quietest game of the 3. However, he’s pretty much our ONLY source of creativity at the moment (other than hoofs and hopeful crosses)
Ba and Cisse are both struggling in all aspects of their games, Cabaye is still searching for fitness and Anita looks too slight. At least Jonas showed signs of waking from his early season slumber with a bright(ish) 2nd half
Bigi outperformed Anita in centre-mid and Santon enjoyed one of his better displays since coming to the toon. His final ball/crossing/ cutbacks are still **** though.
M(Quote)
M
I thought Jonas was terrible for pretty much the entire game until he moved in the defensive midfield role.
He is a good outlet, but the second he gets into the final third, he is one of the worst around.
JJ(Quote)
Against all expectations, we got off to a great start last season. This season expectations are high, but we appear to have started the way most thought we would go last year. Unfortunately expectation allows Toon fans to be blinded to the fact that all teams including Aston Villa employ professional footballers, who with one or two exceptions [RvP, Ben Arfa to name just two] are around equal quality and capabilities to each other. The differences occur between the ears, and obviously Lambert at AV managed to get him average performers to ‘up a gear’ for yesterdays game [bit like what Pardew managed with us last year] Villa played really well!!!!…………………..It’s all in the mind!…and until Pards gets inside the heads of our lot, we’ll continue in the current vein, they’re good players capable of 5th or 6th and that doesn’t change over a couple of summer months. I was impressed with the new players Anita looks tidy if unspectacular, Bigi was excellent [some people need to remember he’s 18, and taking part in his first premiership game]….the main problem was the long balls up to Ba & Cisse……neither are Andy Carroll and Pardew should know this….it didn’t work last season and it won’t this. we need to play it on the floor and get either Ba or Cisse in the box to finish in the only way they know how.
JoeSoap(Quote)
(THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)
@Bumbling Boris
I’ve read thru your replies above and and I stand on my stool with jelly legs having been in a fit of laughter for 5 minutes.
Never in the history of collie dogs have so many wrong commands been given to bring in the sheep.
The above reminds me of the day Wor dad went to the trial drunk and set Mac away. He was that drunk he fell over at the post and forgot to stop Mac at the top next to the sheep. Mac being Mac loved to nibble the Sheeps legs and within 10 seconds, by the time Wor fatha recovered his stance , the sheep were under, over, in every car and truck in the car park.
Just like Mac. You stand proud as punch believing he had done a great job! Woo hoo hoo hoo 😛
That dollop of ***** and post you can’t find about premier survival and misunderstanding of the reality train will all be ridiculed tomorrow morning. I’ve got a 10 hour shift to go to but I will go laughing and skipping off the back of your feable attempt to justify yourself.
😳 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
What a material of un-ambiguity and preserveness of valuable knowledge on the topic of unpredicted
emotions.
Patty(Quote)