Ok ok I’m really bad at poetry but I’m just trying to get into the festive spirit of things so forgive me.
One thing however that would help keep the festive mood ticking along nicely would indeed be another win and another three points to extend our winning run to a third game.
But, as always seems to be the case, you can never feel assured of anything when United are involved.
The last two games have come when nobody expected us to get anything. The pressure was off if you like and, credit to everyone at the club, they responded.
But this one is different. Villa will look to make us break them down and try to frustrate us while the impetus will be on us to attack which in turn will potentially open up space on the counter.
Those are just my thoughts anyway…
Early team news, injury updates for both sides, a look at the history of the fixture and some fun facts and stats can be perused over in my match preview which went live yesterday and can be viewed here.
For the actual team news you’ll have to take a look below about an hour before kick-off where I will add it as soon as I physically can. For streaming links take a look in the ‘comments’ section below.
There’s been a lot of talk of mentality this week and how it has changed at St James’ Park. We shall soon see if those are words of meaning or words of emptiness.
Howay the lads!
Newcastle: Rob Elliot; Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini, Paul Dummett; Moussa Sissoko, Vurnon Anita, Jack Colback, Georginio Wijnaldum; Siem de Jong; Papiss Cisse
Subs: Karl Darlow, Kevin Mbabu, Cheick Tiote, Yoan Gouffran, Florian Thauvin, Ayoze Perez, Aleksandar Mitrovic
Aston Villa: Brad Guzan; Alan Hutton, Jores Okore, Joleon Lescott, Leandro Bacuna; Ashley Westwood, Carlos Sanchez, Idrissa Gueye; Jordan Veretout, Scott Sinclair, Jordan Ayew
Subs: Mark Bunn, Ciaran Clark, Kieran Richardson, Carles Gil, Jack Grealish, Adama Traore, Rudy Gestede
So Gashley will give SM until the end of the season. Let’s see if he changes his mind when his **** gans when we are languishing near the bottom with games running out. 🙄 frightening opinion really. 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
It’s great to see Man Utd looking so ordinary.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@troy
I would never of hired him. We’ll never get a decent manager under Fatty so whats the point of sacking him now. Unlike you, I wasnt taken in by Ashleys promises regarding horses and carts 🙄
If we are in the bottom 3 again and face relegation, fine. Another Ashley mess. more the pressure the more he’ll revise his position here. Win, Win 🙁
gashley(Quote)
Gashley
Very poor judgement again. (Incidently Stoke just scored). I don’t want us to get relegated. Do you?
If you do then I understand your view. I just don’t agree as it could backfire big time.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Has Ryan Giggs got a pulse? He just sits and says nowt.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
He had his injuries last season but to be fair he played in 37 & 41 in the two seasons before and 21 so far this one. Apparently he’s been a revelation playing in the middle like Dembele when he first dropped back which sounds encouraging
However I still would A. Look closer to home B. Sign a left back as the world and his wife can see Dummetts as much a premier league player as Ramage/Chopra were…
CC(Quote)
Looks like Man U might have a new manager when we play them soon.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The club are determined to fill the seats. My 13yr old son has just bought a half season ticket along with 5 of his mates at £25 for 10 games.
£2.50 a game. The kids are benefitting from the lack of interest.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Ryan Giggs role seems to have come about because of ye old English theory that it’s more important to know about a club/region; than actually showing actual competence.
IE Terry Mac/Carver at our place
CC(Quote)
@troy. No I would hate relegation. hence the sad face after my win-win comment. Obviously if it ended Ashleys interest in us I’d take the chance…
£2.50 is great, full stadium and loads of noise from the crowd. just shows Ashley is keen to show all is rosey.@the toon
gashley(Quote)
blaydon races being pumped out by a bunch of pre-pubescent 13 year olds being lead in level 7 by Troys young un. If that doesn’t get the toon motivated then nowt will 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Gashley
So my point about you sticking with SM until the end of the season shows your poor judgement. I ask again, with 6 games to go and in the bottom 3 would you not make a change?
I just want to be clear where you stand.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
with Troy sitting in the middle in his shorts and school cap.
sing in the cheap seats 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM: he can borrow his Dad’s fancy dress outfit for the match. Probably about the right size for a 13 year old.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
MM
His voice is broke. He sounds like an exhaust without baffles. 😀
Troy Stavers(Quote)
He reckons my old bucket seat is still in level 7. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
with 6 games to go?? 😯 lol we’re hard pushed to attract a decent manager under our current standings. who the hell would manage us whilst in a relegation spot with 6 games to go?? 🙄
which manager would you like to see us hire with 6 games to go (be realistic)
gashley(Quote)
troy@465, a wee bit of chanting for the toon today will do wonders for his new husky voice then…inherited from is dad :-)…..the lasses love it apparently ☺
Munich Mag(Quote)
eric@464 ya cheeky monkey !
Munich Mag(Quote)
has the toon game been called off yet, wor lass wants to gan ti the beach instead 😕
Munich Mag(Quote)
the Chron reckon the game isnt in doubt..rains a little lighter nu
gashley(Quote)
Gashley
With 6 games to go and in a relegation position, a temp manager would do. You can’t stick with a captain of a sinking ship when he’s steering it away from land.
My point is, you sack him and try anything. Sticking with him would not be a choice in my opinion.
Even an internal appointment. A new face can bring a temporary recovery.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
i’d say stick with him as we’ll not get a temp manager of worth to keep us afloat.
What temp manager are you thinking of, who isnt already in work and player would listen to? Arry, El Tel? Hoddle?
…go down and let Ashley face the flack.
gashley(Quote)
It is really hard to believe how much some of these Man U players cost: Mata 45 mil, Herrera 29, Martial 50+, Fellaini 28, Young 26, Memphis 26.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Gashley
So you would rather we went down than risk trying a change for 6 games to see if it worked. Dear me. 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Jonjo Shelvey on the bench for Swansea today. If he’s out of favour there we should be spending money bringing that lad in in Jan IMO.
Him, Townsend, Austin and Sam Byram would be a very English window but those 4 players would be excellent additions IMO.
Sharpy17(Quote)
yes, thats right. WHO WITH 6 GAMES COULD YOU SEE JOINING??
youre dreaming mate thinking we could be saved. nobody decent would tarnish their reputation working a full season under Ashley never mind 6 games.
I can see why you liked Pardew. taking the safe option. I’d take the chance of getting something out of relegation if it meant Ashley was under pressure..
gashley(Quote)
Sharpy
The obsession with ligue 1 is becoming farcical. Jack Butland, Nathan Redmond, Eric Dyer and Jonjo Shelvey combined cost their current clubs the same amount we paid for Thauvin
There is value in the British market if our club looked in the right places and stopped being blinded by the Carroll, Downing, Henderson type inflated deals
CC(Quote)
CC – for me Sam Byram could be an absolute steal as he could leave for a free in the summer and there would be no compo to pay due to his age. I reckon he could be picked up for £3-4m as Leeds know they would get nothing for him if they wait.
With regards to Austin & Townsend, I wouldn’t **** about – offer £7-8m for each of them & get the deals tied up.
As for Shelvey, I’d offer £10m but would pay as much as £15m. I reckon he could be a big player for us and his arrival would allow Anita to return to Holland for me.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Scum 3-0 down already
Sharpy17(Quote)
Indeed but Swansea winning is less positive
CC(Quote)
Getting proper peed off with all the French player tunnel vision we seem to have, do they learn nothing 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Scum really are awful
kimtoon(Quote)
CC, Norwich losing though
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim
There could be 6 points separating teams in the top half and the relegation zone by the end of today
Tis a mad league
CC(Quote)
Ouch! Gashley is shouting. That’s a sign he’s struggling. 😉 I’ll take that 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Gashley
It sometimes doesn’t need a top manager to get a few results. It just needs a change of voice. Ho eymoon periods are not a new phenomenom for managers. Even **** managers can turn things round for a short period. I’m surprised you’re so blinkered. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
lol me struggling. no, just wanting a name..
we waited years to buy a centerhalf, ages for a decent forward and havent yet replaced our attacking playmaker.. yet you think mike can swiftly get a manager if needs must 😳 it took 80 applicants and a canny few months to get the reject we have now.. and yes, we certainly enjoyed a decent honeymoon period under SM.. 😛
So you’ll get rid of SM just for a change of voice. 😯 why not try Brian Blessed, he should get them motived 😛
get real mate, If we could attract a saviour with 6 games to go i’ll grant you freedom of westerhope 😆
gashley(Quote)
Kim – I don’t mind what nationality the player is providing they are right for the team – ie had we brought Cabaye back and brought in Payet through the summer, no issues.
They still seem to be looking for ‘the deal’ rather than paying out for quality.
Sharpy17(Quote)
well the rain had upped a few notches. 😯 the players are going to need studded waders…
gashley(Quote)
Pissing down. Will it be a leveller?
Anyway were in the bottom three… 🙁
Stuart79(Quote)
Bottom three then, oh dear, better put a shift in lads, rain or no rain.
kimtoon(Quote)
Right then HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
How is this acceptable?! We’re are just completely outplayed in almost all the games we play!
Same shitty team, playing deep and not being able to string two passes together.
Stuart79(Quote)
Well done Elliot
kimtoon(Quote)
Do we have any body capable of running at a defender and taking them on?
Stuart79(Quote)
Great block Janmaat
kimtoon(Quote)
Stones awful tackle
kimtoon(Quote)
how did he not get booked for that 😯
kimtoon(Quote)
Rob Elliott playing for his starting slot for Ireland in the Euros next year.
We dont deserve to get anything from this match yet again.
so 3 points in the bag 😉
seriously, we are utterly shyte 👿
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Another game relying on the keeper for MOTM
Stuart79(Quote)
lots of tasty challenges today, proper English game
kimtoon(Quote)
There’s two players that make the toon tick. Sissoko and Winny.
So far they’ve been quiet.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Troy I thought Gini has been pretty good but he can’t do it all alone.
kimtoon(Quote)
ffs, Mitro, you will not get a better chance 👿 terrible miss
kimtoon(Quote)
another miss by Mitro. 🙁
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Another chance goes a begging 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
******
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
free header wtf is the defence ❓
same **** over and over again
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Elliott. Dark horse or what?! We have much better energy now. Anita and Colback both ticking nicely and defense not resorting to hoof ball.
Shamrock(Quote)
Why on earth haven’t we made a change? Fresh legs?
Stuart79(Quote)
Cilback getting booked like that is stupid.
Shamrock(Quote)
Darlow must be gutted. Can’t see him getting a look in once Krul is fit. Elliott is a firm #2 now, arguably genuine competition for #1.
Shamrock(Quote)
ffs typical
kimtoon(Quote)
oh deary me
thats what happens when you dont take your chances
shyte
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
D’oh.
Shamrock(Quote)
gutted
kimtoon(Quote)
Cruel game! That’s how we got relegated last time v Wigan and Stoke 😥
georgio(Quote)
Yep. If you want points, you got a score goals. Simples. Nice header mind and Gini was unlucky. Mitro f###ed up with his chance.
Shamrock(Quote)
So how many times can we be unlucky? We’re heading to the Championship playing like this!
We just cannot break any team down! The chances we create we miss and we consistently give every single team we play the vast majority of the ball. how can we really expect to get to 40 points?
Stuart79(Quote)
Very cruel
kimtoon(Quote)
Quality strikers score vital goals when they get the chance.
reap what you sow, yet again.
Poor quality players = relegation zone football all season long.
no sympathy
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
The table doesn’t lie. The difference in class was incredibly disappointed and Ashley MUST make a change.
Stuart79(Quote)
Gashley
Sack him now or stick?
I will say, I don’t rate the team at all and I believe you could get a top coach in and couldn’t get us out of this mess without big investment in January. I really believe McLaren hasn’t got a chance to succeed. The players aren’t good enough.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Why didn’t they try and clear it?
The both just watched it go in
CC(Quote)