Wit Newcastle you never know what your are going to get. They are to the Premier League what a box of chocolates is to Forrest Gump.
Few can deny that these past two victories have been a massively pleasant surprise give that prior to that it was virtually impossible to see where our next points were going to come from. Those wins came in games where nothing was expected from us but this match against Aston Villa is a completely different kettle of fish.
We are the home side for this one which adds an element of expectancy as it will be up to us to push the game, but the two wins mean that the pressure is on us to show that we are getting better and that these victories weren’t just flukes.
On the other hand you have Aston Villa who are in a perilous position but will have looked at our back-to-back wins and seen what a difference they can make – and where better to start the ball rolling than against a side who realistically aren’t too far ahead of them?
Newcastle:
A rare boost on the injury front for Steve McClaren as Cheik Tiote returns to the squad having missed the last three matches with a groin injury.
However the treatment room is still almost full with Tim Krul, Steven Taylor, Gabriel Obertan, Massadio Haidara, Jamaal Lascelles, Mike Williamson and Rolando Aarons all taking up spaces on the sidelines. Emmanuel Riviere and Sylvain Marveaux seem to have just vapourised into thin air.
Aston Villa:
Micah Richards has missed the two previous games for Villa but will undergo a fitness test prior to the game to assess his ability to return to the side. Remi Garde’s only other injury concern is Gary Gardner who is sidelined with a knee injury.
Previously…
Newcastle have much the better historical record in meetings between the two sides, especially at St James’ Park where there have been 77 matches played with United winning 48 of those. Villa have won on just 14 visits to Tyneside with their last victory coming over a decade ago in that now infamous Dyer/Bowyer game.
Overall it is United who still hold the advantage but the record is quite obviously closer when you include meetings at Villa Park. The 154 matches have yielded 68 wins for United and 52 for Aston Villa.
Stats and facts:
Newcastle are looking for consecutive home victories for the first time in this calendar year.
All of United’s victories this season have been in matches broadcast live on television.
Both Villa and United have lost ten points from winning positions so far this season.
Aston Villa have not won a league game in 15 attempts – their worst league run ever.
No team with the same amount of points as Villa (six) at this stage of the season has ever stayed in the Premier League.
Villa have kept just two clean sheets this term.
Final thought…
I’ve said many times now that it’s games like this that worry me. They are potential banana skins. Everyone seems to be looking at this like it a home banker but I can’t see where that logic is coming from.
Yes we’ve won two games but that doesn’t mean that we’re all of a sudden out of the mess because quite frankly we aren’t. What I do know is that if we match the effort and commitment of the last two games then we are giving ourselves the best chance of adding more points to our tally and taking them away from a team that is currently below us which simply has to be the aim.
Howay the lads!
Date: Saturday, 19th December, 2015
Time: 5:30pm
Venue: St James’ Park
Wahahahahaha. A game where we’ll be favourites to win! Considering the last two games, this is bound to be the one where our players will crumble and we’ll see a resurgent Villa take 3 points!
Or am I just an old cynic?
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
No doubt if we put the effort in that we have the last 2 games and we retain the confidence and commitment levels, then we’ll dominate against Villa and should win comfortably. Now can the players deliver when they are actually expected to???
ToonDarnSarf(Quote)
This will be a tight game. We seem to struggle against teams who force us to break them down. I can’t see Villa over committing players for us to hit them on the counter so I reckon we could be in for a 1-0 or 1-1 scoreline. Maybe 2-1 at a push.
Stuart79(Quote)
This will be a very different game compared to the last 2, in the sense that I think WE will have the majority possession and Villa will sit back and probably look to play on the counter attack – they will not want to loose this game.
We had afew games before the international break where we dominated, but couldn’t make it count.
I personally think this would be a good game to try out that diamond formation. Play De Jong in behind Perez and Mitrovic and and have a midfield with Sissoko right, Gini left and either Tiote or Colback in the holding role.
I don’t think it’s a nailed on 3 pts, but we have to go for it and build on the confidence of the last 2 wins.
Sharpy17(Quote)
We are on TV again so we’ll win. We’ve gone from a team that had a run of always losing when televised to a team that can only win when televised.
funkyjesus(Quote)
i see the chelsea players kicked off in training and started brawling,scum will be happy
icedog(Quote)
Player power Ice. They did Mourinho I reckon. Getting out of hand. In any other job if you played your manager up you’d expect a bollocking. Then again just shows how far football is from the real world.
Where’s Big Dave abd Richie these days???
toonsy(Quote)
Toonsy/Ice – there can’t be a coincidence that Jose doesn’t last more than a few seasons at each club he’s been at though.
Can’t knock the blokes success, his record speaks for itself – but he’s an arsehole IMO. I can’t stand the *****.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yeah but I think a few seasons if really the life span of a manager these days tbh mate. It’s only very rare cases that differ from it like Wenger and Fergie
toonsy(Quote)
Ancelotti only manged a short time at Chelsea and Real Madrid. Guardiola had 3 years at Barca and there is talk of him going to Man City now after a few years at Bayern. Ferguson was the exception. They recycled Mancini to Inter and he is doing well now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Chelsea are even recyling Hiddink.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I could see Jose at Man utd actually. I agree Toonsy the players did for Jose. Plenty of Chelsea fans saying they think certain players think they are too big for Chelsea too.
How I hope we win tomorrow, can’t abide Villa fans for obvious reasons and a win puts us on 19 and all of a sudden it looks much healthier .
kimtoon(Quote)
Guess who are on national TV in the US tomorrow? I am not really sure why this would be the game of the week and broadcast to 320 million people, but it is (the games are usually only on cable). Perhaps Sissoko will show up for the first half this week.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
3 v 0 Toon 😉
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
Well for the first time in a long time I feel confident we can win a game.
We’ve had luck on our side in the last two games but we’ve rode it and shown a bit of steel and dare I say, moments of quality.
We need this win because I don’t expect us to get many more this season.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Divvent jinx it Troysta.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Can’t wait to see the line up.
Does he go with the same that won the last 2 matches ?
I would like to see Cisse and Colback binned and Mitro and Ayoze starting. Get the goals early, job done. Happy xmas and all that.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
I’d like De Jong and Perez. I think both are intelligent footballers and would work well together.
But if you do that assuming we keep one up front then you lose Mitrovic and his presence because even when he’s not doing a great deal he’s still keeps defenders on their toes.
Assuming Richards isnt fit for Villa I’d also try and make sure that Mitro finds himself with Okore more than Lescott as I don’t think a makeshift centre back could handle him.
toonsy(Quote)
dejong and cisse will start save the power and the pace for later in the game 😉
TOONARMYELITE(Quote)
TOONSY big Dave is OK got Xmas cards cards from him the other day he’s just tied up with things at the mo
icedog(Quote)
Well I think SM will go with the same team,I think you try to win the game first and go with mito/Perez,Richards isn’t playing so I don’t think a stand in c/h could handle mito,imo not a good idea to keep those two for the last twenty min,win the bloody game first
icedog(Quote)
I hate feeling confident for a toon win as we’ve been beaten by ***** but took points for Euro contenders 😯
We are definately mixing better play with results. Hats off to SM and the lads.
Troy would you still sack SM??
Gashley(Quote)
2-1 Perez and Sissoko scoring
Gashley(Quote)
We HAVE to win today…. and we will…
Cisse and De Jong to start, Mitro and Perez to batter the Villa defence in the second half… 2-0 Toon… Cisse 2 goals…
Munich Mag(Quote)
Jose Mourinho has been invited to Selhurst Park by Alan Pardew to study his training methods….
Munich Mag(Quote)
Its borderline racism the patronising anti foreign drivel spouted by soccer Saturday’s “expert panel”
CC(Quote)
Cottee: What does this Bielsa guy know about Swansea or football over ere
Stelling: What makes Bielsa better than a homegrown manager like Shaun Dych or Mark Warburton
Merson: Foreign managers don’t understand how hard it’s going to be over here. people have to learn that the premier league is nothing like the Bundesliga. It’s not like some bottom club in Germany going to Dortmund losing 4-0, Getting on the bus and saying ah it’s Dortmund who cares…
CC(Quote)
Boro looking a class above brighton
Gashley(Quote)
So troy. Do you think you jumped the gun a little (after 4 games) will you admit you may have been wrong on insisting SM should be sacked… Considering we’ll only hire from the same **** pool
I don’t expect a straight answer. There’ll be some diversionary response. Or no answer at all. So predictable. 🙄 🙂 😛
Gashley(Quote)
So it’s that time of year again… We go out and get pissed then watch NUFC ultimately not live up to the expectations against a **** side.
Stuart79(Quote)
Perez needs to start, was baffled why he was dropped but we won so what do I know 😆 . Wasn’t that impressed with Cisse last week. And I’m not buying that SDJ was decent over the two games.. Sloppy passing and slow as a slug
Mitro and Perez for me. if only one, it has to be Perez
Gashley(Quote)
Reckon the only change McClaren will go for is Perez for De Jong. I’d be maybe looking at getting Thauvin in the side along with De Jong, Perez and Mitrovic. Don’t need two holding midfielders against this shower of *****.
Stuart79(Quote)
There’s not much chance of us breaking up our (technically) 6 man defence. Although in saying that, Anita’s drive and desire has been impressive recently. He probably deserves to start
Gashley(Quote)
1-0 Chelsea 😆
Gashley(Quote)
2-0
Gashley(Quote)