Aston Villa 2-0 Newcastle: Terrible NUFC toothless & totally outclassed

Newcastle United’s dismal Monday night record continues, with Aston Villa outclassing us in all areas in a terrible display from all involved in black and white.

We’d shown real spirit and cohesion at both ends of the pitch in recent wins over West Ham and Bournemouth, but tonight we looked like a team of individuals – and not very good ones at that.

We were woeful in attack, with it looking as though the front three had never played together in their life, we were second to most balls and overrun in midfield and we made basic errors at the back.

Villa started with a high tempo and plenty of the ball as you would expect, with us sitting deep and looking to absorb any pressure they put on us.

We had the odd chance to hurt them on the counter, but our lack of attacking punch was summed up by an awful touch from Almiron after some great work from Saint-Maximin.

Hayden was snapping into tackles as usual but we were sloppy during the odd occasion we had possession, while Villa were neat and tidy and first to all the second balls.

There were too many long balls to Joelinton then not enough support to him when he actually got a hold of them.

It was uninspiring stuff, but our game plan was working to an extent…until a stupid and needless push from Yedlin gave them a free kick on the edge of the area, which Hourihane converted cleverly to make it 1-0:

Villa smelled blood and promptly added a second from set piece, and it came from another silly foul on Grealish, this time from Fernandez.

Hourihane put another great ball into the box and El Ghazi just strolled in unmarked and fired home, with Dummett guilty of ball watching as he beat the offside trap.

It really was starting to look desperate with every pass going astray.

We very nearly clawed one back on the stroke of half time when Heston made a great save from Fernandez but at half time it was looking hopeless.

The second half started a little better and Joelinton had a half chance as we pressed a little higher, but normal service quickly resumed and we were back to dreadful defending from set pieces, getting overrun in midfield and making Jack Grealish look like Zidane every time he got the ball.

62 minutes brought Bruce’s go-to substitution whatever the game, score or situation. On came Carroll – this time for Dummett and a change to 4-4-2.

Shortly after Gayle came on for Joelinton, who frankly had had an absolute shocker.

There were fleeting moments when you thought we could nick one. Carroll took a ball down on his chest but then struck his right foot volley straight at Heaton. There were also several moments when we had men forward and players in good positions but the final ball was awful – and that summed us up tonight. We didn’t get into good positions often, and even when we did our final product was woeful and erratic.

Villa were always dangerous though and Wesley missed a sitter from close range after another great ball in from the excellent Hourihane.

The last 20 mins or so became nondescript as the game just played out. Atsu came on for the woeful Almiron and that was that, with any small hopes of a comeback quickly fizzling out as we resorted to desperate long-ball tactics.

It felt like a massive opportunity to get ahead of steam and really push up the league was just thrown away tonight to be honest.

There was a feel good factor going into the international break which definitely came at the wrong time and killed our momentum.

Villa are a tidy side who will stay up comfortably, but we made them look far better than they are. Considering we were supposed to be the form team coming into this one, the lack of tempo, cohesion and quality was concerning to say the least.

With games coming up against Manchester City and Sheffield United in the next 10 days, Bruce and the players need a reaction, because another performance anywhere near like tonight and we’ll get beaten very easily in both games.

I’ve been very staunch in my defence of Almiron recently but not tonight, as that was possibly his worst game for us. Also, I’ve seen some fans on social media saying it will be a blessing in disguise that Lascelles is injured, well frankly that is beyond absurd. We really missed our skipper tonight.

Hopefully Schar and Lejeune will come back into the team very soon, as a lack of quality on the ball at the back was so apparent. Having players who can get on the ball and play out from the back is crucial to getting us on the front foot.

Man City next……

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42 thoughts on “Aston Villa 2-0 Newcastle: Terrible NUFC toothless & totally outclassed

  1. Long time follower, first time poster. That was a terrible watch tonight, definitely missing Lascelles leadership and organisational at the back, Shelvey Hollywood style balls just don’t suit our style of play.

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  2. Well. how about this then Kimtoon? Dennis and Margaret Thatcher having sex. Did they ever? They had 2 children so they must have.

    If you could possibly conceive of the 2 ugliest people on the planet it would be Den and Marg. Or Barney Rubble and Fred Flintstone. But that is the new homosapien sort of sex!

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  3. Many calling for Atsu to replace Almiron. I can see where they are coming from but what has Atsu achieved in his time with us? How many goals has he scored? I wonder if the team on the way to Villa stopped off for a big slap up meal. Certainly they were moving as fast as I do after a good Sunday lunch.

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  4. Groucho – it’s a fair question mate. So I’d put the same one back to you – what’s Almiron achieved with us?.

    I’ll offer you their comparison for just this season alone (as Atsu didn’t really get a chance under Rafa).

    Almiron has appeared in 12 games so far being on the pitch 86% of those games – he has no goals and no assists.

    Atsu has appeared in 10 games so far being on the pitch only 39% of those games – he has no goals, but has 2 assists.

    I can guarantee that if Atsu or Murphy or Aaron’s had Almirons stats the majority would call for them to be dropped – so why does Almiron get a free pass?.

    I’m not saying bin the lad, just drop him to the bench and have him as an impact sub til he finds his way.

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  5. Further to that, Almiron has had 41 shots in a Black and White shirt – 41 and converted zero!!!.
    That’s shot – that doesn’t include the likes of last night when the ball was passed to him in a great position on the edge of the box and he tripped over it trying to control it.

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  6. Sharpy17:
    Further to that, Almiron has had 41 shots in a Black and White shirt – 41 and converted zero!!!.
    That’s shot – that doesn’t include the likes of last night when the ball was passed to him in a great position on the edge of the box and he tripped over it trying to control it.

    Sharpy I don’t disagree with what you say about Almiron and perhaps Atsu might have been given more time by Rafa if he had not persisted with that waste of space Kenedy although I was not in favour of signing Atsu in the first place. We are not blessed with many good wingers and I was was surprised we let Callum Roberts go. I am not saying he would be the answer but again he was not given a fair chance by Rafa. One appearance for the first team and one goal. Scoring well for Blyth in what I know is a much lower division, but I think that if he had not come from us in the first place, we would now be scouting him.

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  7. I only say Atsu coz he’s the obvious choice from what we have available – I’m certainly not saying he is the answer, coz only 2 assists and no goals is nowt to write home about either.
    I’m not sure on Roberts either. I had hopes for Aaron’s, but he seems hell bent on wasting his talent and career.

    I have seen Jarod Bowen a few times now and really rate him. I hope we get him.

    What about Ritchie when he’s fit again – would you stick him up there?

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  8. Sharpy17:
    I only say Atsu coz he’s the obvious choice from what we have available – I’m certainly not saying he is the answer, coz only 2 assists and no goals is nowt to write home about either.
    I’m not sure on Roberts either.I had hopes for Aaron’s, but he seems hell bent on wasting his talent and career.

    I have seen Jarod Bowen a few times now and really rate him.I hope we get him.

    What about Ritchie when he’s fit again – would you stick him up there?

    Sharpy Bowen seems much better than what we have. Ritchie has trouble beating a man but he crosses well and gives 100 % and we could have done with him last night. My biggest concern at the moment is Bruce. He doesn’t fill me with confidence that he knows what to do and I wonder if that transmits to the players. How he kept Shelvey on beats me. Shelvey didn’t even deliver a decent corner. Shelvey would be an excellent player if he had nine top players round him. Unfortunately we don’t have 9 top players.

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  9. That’s where we lost the game. Shelvey is just too slow for central midfield and neither him or Hayden can run with the ball. Villa just danced around them all night. Sean back in on Sat I hope.
    As for that rabble up front – I’m lost for words. If Gayle, Carroll and Atsu come in we might just be 10% better. Dreadful game.

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  10. Yeah I was very impressed with Villas midfield last night – guess who it was that brought Hourihane, McGinn and Ghazi to Villa? – Bruce.

    His hands have been tied a bit with our midfield thanks to suspensions and injury – likewise his defence to be fair. But points wise we have still done ok.

    We have also created chances for our forwards, no disputing that. I’m not sure what Bruce does to get them to convert those chances – how to do fix a players composure in front of goal?! Do you get a head doctor in to work with them?.

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  11. From the other article – despite only scoring 1 so far, Joelinton has created 14 chances so far this season – I feel like he is doing his part – but I’d expect more for £40m.

    Sorry Rafa fans but I’m gonna rake over old ground here. I wish we still had Mitrovic to lead our line.
    To have got rid of him and bring in Joselu & Muto instead still baffles me.

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  12. georgio:
    13 goals for Mitro already!

    Georgio – yeah. He was said to be a limited centre forward – but if those limitations include goal scoring, he was well worth keeping imo.

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  13. Sharpy: Mitro just didn’t fit with a control freak like Rafa. He was a nutter and Rafa didn’t want to deal with him, whatever footballing talent he has.

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  14. Eric Sykes:
    Sharpy: Mitro just didn’t fit with a control freak like Rafa. He was a nutter and Rafa didn’t want to deal with him, whatever footballing talent he has.

    Eric – surely a truly world class manager could have got round that. But that aside, to bring in Joselu and Muto instead ??‍♂️.
    God I wish we sold Gayle and loaned Mitrovic out instead back then.

    I think Bruceys man management skills would have been great for Mitro.

    I know we can’t go back but who would swap Joelinton for Mitrovic?

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  15. icedog: did he not get two again mate,good player

    He did mate, I posted before he got his 2nd.
    He’s got around 50 goals in just over 100 games now – and he’s only 22 – and playing for Hull.

    He’s worth every bit as much as Almiron or ASM.

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  16. Sharpy17: He did mate, I posted before he got his 2nd.
    He’s got around 50 goals in just over 100 games now – and he’s only 22 – and playing for Hull.

    He’s worth every bit as much as Almiron or ASM.

    100% agree maybe a bit better the way those two are NOT scoring

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  17. Mitrovic played in two PL teams and got relegated in them both. That suggests he ain’t the answer.

    Anyway, we have what we have and that is being made worse in my opinion by our lack of attacking threat. We always seem to attack in singles and not as a team. Why is that? Even the chances we create all seem to be one on one ie individual attacks. We also need a midfielder who can get forward and get on the end of things. We don’t have that kind of midfielder.

    Almiron needs a rest. I still believe any of our attacking players will look useless as they are basically always isolated when they get the ball. That’s not good for an attacking player who usually gets the ball in their own half.

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  18. Thanksgiving today. It is the weirdest holyday. I have lived in the US for 30 years and still don’t understand why they haven’t abolished it?

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  19. The pilgrims were starving and the red Indians helped them out and gave them a slap up turkey dinner. And were repaid with taking of their good land, slaughter of their best food Buffalo and sent on the Trail of Tears.

    I am not really feeling that thankful today.

    And turkey is dry anyway unless you know exactly how to cook it.

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  20. Also Clive James died. I always liked him but the US media described him as a journalist and poet. POET?

    I read his poetry once. It went. I was standing next to a tree and the tree farted but it could have been me…

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  21. They have given 6 gifts to the world and 4 were cricketers. The others were Clive James and Barry Humphries.

    The cricketers were Ritchie Benaud (for his gift to commentary) Don Bradman, Ricky Ponting, Shane Warne and Brett Lee for trying to maim Piers Morgan. So, that’s 7.

    If you asked my brother it would be Kylie Monogue as well but I don’t agree. Them Teeth!!!!!

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  22. Eric – you might want to add Rafa to your list mate. Just smashed 5-1, one win in nine games and sat 10th in the league – no, that’s not Bruce. That’s Rafa out in China – not great for 12m a year like.
    I expect he will return to the PL – but not with a top 6 side. Possibly Everton, but most likely WHU for me.

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  23. I have no idea about the Man City game. That was really the turning point of our season last year. I think we were bottom 3 and I was shocked that we won.

    How can Emery and Poch get sacked and OGS still have a job? I am not saying they were great but one got to the Champions League final and Arsenal are above Man U even though they don’t have any defenders.

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  24. Well the sackings are in full swing now, OGS must surely be next.
    Can’t see anything but a loss today sadly, City are weak defensively but i’m not confident we can exploit that with our attack. If the longstaffs are back in i suppose we might get a long range effort go in.
    Hmm, more likely get stuffed.

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  25. Hard work watching that first half, dull as ditch water really from both sides.

    Sharpy, you have to amend your stats, miggy has his first assist.

    Willems has impressed so far this season, pity it’s only a loan.

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