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
ok you’re spot on this time Troy @524.
This group of players quite simply aren’t good enough for Premier League football. I honestly believe they would struggle in the championship too.
SMac needs 4 quality additions in January. (LB, CB, creative MF, experienced striker).
If the board doesn’t back him with these players, he should walk away.
He is doomed anyway.
Of course he wont, as he is as spineless as patsy pardew was.
Its going to be a very long and tedious 2nd half to the season.
As predicted.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Kim – you’re right that’s cruel, but they had the better of the game so we can’t say we were robbed. We had chances too but were wasteful again.
Games like that you pick up a point of nick a win if you’re staying up.
We need to be wise in our recruitment next month to stand a chance of surviving IMO
Sharpy17(Quote)
@troy
I’ve never rated SM
If we could get a better manager in now I’d happily see him go.
The question is Who would work under Ashley?
Gashley(Quote)
bringing in more shyte from the french leagues wont cut the mustard in another relegation battle. They dont have the stomach for a fight when the chips are down.
Its time for experienced EPL players
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
We could of lost heavily. Mitro missed two great chances. No complaints but it was harsh to lose in the dying seconds
Will Mike spend soon?? Not so sure myself
Gashley(Quote)
1 shot on target 😳
Spend spend spent fatty
Gashley(Quote)
Excuse the pun but we weather the storm for most of the game today, but still created good chances to win the game – we nicked 3pts at Bmouth and could have and maybe should have last week & today.
We need more clinical finishing, we need offensive players in in Jan or we go down – simple as that. Ashley not only has to invest, but we need to bring in players with PL experience and who can score and create goals in the PL.
Sharpy17(Quote)
That’s why I’m disappointed we’re supposedly heading back to the French league again. Our situation warrants PL experience, I don’t care what nationality the player is but he MUST have PL experience if we are gonna get out this situation.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I’m writing that off as paper talk for now as we have been linked with all kinds of players so far. But if that’s what happens I too won’t be impressed at all like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Gashley
It didn’t stop you shouting for pards to be sacked despite me claiming we couldn’t get anyone better. Now you got your way and got Pardew sacked, you ate saying the same about McLaren, a man you claim you would never appoint. YCMIU 😆
Do you understand why I rate you one rung above Bootsy who hasn’t stepped on the ladder. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Just to clarify. Psychs is on rung 2 and he is clueless. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
And just to clarify further, I’m at the top of the ladder with my hose, damping out the fire of bullshit. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Well, halfway through the season and we are bottom 3.
Clubs like Norwich, Swansea, West Bromwich, Watford, Bournemouth, leceister, Southampton, all considered smaller clubs are above us.
Forget about McLaren. One man is to blame. I’ve said it since 2010.
I’m not blaming McLaren, I’m blaming Mike Ashley. Lack of investment! Full stop!
I’m sure those who criticised me in the early days when I started the Reality Train campaigning against Ashley, then latterly my support for Pardew, will try and find some way to try and knock me down but I stand here saying to you all, “I TOLD YOU SO”
XMAS MESSAGE OVER. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Well just back from the match. Gutted. To lose like that in the dying seconds is cruel. We had a lot of chances but wasted them all. Couple of dodgy decisions from the ref I thought but hard to see clearly from my position. Chances both ends and point apiece would’ve been fair but gutted to lose. Had a mate with me from St Helens who’s an Everton fan and he also thought a draw would’ve been fair.
I thought Anita played well and Elliott had another good game with some critical saves. Oh well, bottom 3 again.
Dubai Toon(Quote)
😆 thanks, I’ll take that as a compliment 😛
Pards had to go, his record was abysmal. I did hope, when others managers were available we’d sign better than SM.
We obviously need good investment in Jan.. We’re not too far away from being safe. 4 points off mid table.
If we could get a better manager in (which I think we can’t) I’d sack him. Otherwise, there’s no point. We need changes bigger than the manager
Gashley(Quote)
Says a lot when we didn’t have a single player on the bench to change things and make an impact. Only 1 sub and that at 85 mins or so… What’s the point of that? No depth at all….
Dubai Toon(Quote)
Pards record was abysmal 😆
Wow! 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Our venture in Europe was brief but abysmal we got there? Quarter finals? Hmm? I’ll let you decide folks. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Finished 5th. And he left us in 7th place in his 4th season. Wow! Abysmal? All that and he had his best players sold. Look at Pardew now. 😉
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Well you obviously wouldn’t agree. You only stopped going once Alan left. I can imagine you sitting for 90 mins just staring at Pards, blushing like a 12yr old girl at a 1D concert 🙂
Gashley(Quote)
Of course, I shouldn’t listen really. Gashley, then known as Mark, couldn’t see I was right about Ashley back in 20q0 and there onwards. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Lol touched a nerve calling Alan, that’ll do me 😛
Gashley(Quote)
He left Troy, not sacked.
kimtoon(Quote)
What next Mashly ? (Mark & Gashly) No change. Let us go down. That will show Ashley up. Great plan. 🙄
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Kim
He wouldn’t have left if he wasn’t hated by the Clueless.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I never mentioned he was sacked by the way.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@kim. Pardew borrowed Troy’s crystal ball after troy left it under his pillow during a night of foul play. 😯 He must of, how else could he know some on this blog had called for his head…
Gashley(Quote)
What next? Investment hopefully. If not, like you said SM or a decent manger will have no chance
Gashley(Quote)
The hate campaign from a once patient crowd against Pardew was embarrassing. Banners at the ground and the abuse on social media including this blog was enough to drive any sane man out when an old sweetheart comes calling. . Do you disagree. ?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
It didn’t stop you shouting for pards to be sacked despite me claiming we couldn’t get anyone better. Now you got your way and got Pardew sacked
U did say he got sacked
Gashley(Quote)
@554
My heart bleeds poor bloke. 😆
He must of been devastated playing the patsy for all to see. To toe the line for that long, bullshitting his way to hearts. Playing weakened teams in the cups and blaming injuries. Head butting players etc. And most probably not earning the national minimum wage.. Poor poor bloke 😀
Gashley(Quote)
Why did it not click on earlier that I was right about Ashley when I had everyone, or almost everyone slating me and then when I saw the virtue of sticking with Pardew and explained he was doing a decent job with the players he had been given. ?
I can see McLaren is not as good as Pardew but he has a squad of poor players that are where they are, partly, early doors down to McLaren not being able to motivate the team, but now, they are motivated, it’s evident they are are poor in quality.
The reaction from the players will largely be the ability of McLaren.
I saw similar situations with pards. I realised his ability to get the players fighting time and tie again after slumps when the Clueless Crew couldn’t.
I want to see how McLaren responds.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Wow! Mashley is fizzin! 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
What people forget is, a good manager is 90% a motivator. Check out Mourinho this season. Think of Keegan. First time round.
Forget about tactics, the most important thing a Manager needs to master is the ability to motivate.
Pardew had the ability to have repeated coebacks after slumps with average players.
This for me is McLarens biggest test for me. They grafted today but got beat. I want to see how hard they fight on Monday.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Tory Boy says we couldn’t get better than Percy.
Actually, we could, but there was no desire from the Board.
Therefore we are where we are now due to failings of said board, not the fans who want better.
Nobody wants relegation, but survival will only mean more of the same.
The fat ******* needs to feel some pain and humiliation to his ego and relegation is the only answer.
Beardsleys Boots(Quote)
Beardsley boots totally agree. There are better managers than Pardew out there but the board wont sign them. Maybe because they cost to much money. Maybe because they have no say in transfers and so on. We could stay up and let fatty be happy and watch a football club be run by amateurs. Or we can get relegated and be in the wilderness hoping someone better comes along. You can’t win.
Terry(Quote)
@bb agree completely.
I’m going to let self-righteous troyboy enjoy his night of smugness, curled up with his co-co, nightie on holding his heart-shaped frame of Alan..
😆
You are always right mate, we all know it
Gashley(Quote)
Wow! Are there better managers out there than Pardew? Really? You are preaching to man that has maintained Pardew is an average premier league manager that was doing a decent job with the players he had! 😉
Just to remind everyone that at the time I was making this point, Bootsy ranted he was out of his depth as a premier league manager. 😆
It’s only out of courtesy I respond because many others in my position wouldn’t give you the time of day. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Why did it not click on earlier that I was right about Ashley when I had everyone, or almost everyone slating me and then when I saw the virtue of sticking with Pardew and explained he was doing a decent job with the players he had been given. ? 😯 😳 😛
We are not like you Troy, isn’t it obvious we’re all on another ladder. You are held aloft on a shiney fireman’s ladder like a beacon of blo- hope whilst us plebeians fight for 1 rotten wooden rung.. 😀
Gashley(Quote)
You’ve got to read Troy’s last comment in the voice of violet Elizabeth 😛 ycmiu
Gashley(Quote)
Hahaha. 😆
I’m surprised your still bluffing Mashley! 😆
I know you’re fizzin 😉
Bootsy is just dying of embarrassment. 😳
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Anyway, another defeat. A cruel one at that.
At least we filled the stadium at £2.50 a ticket. 😯
That’s great actually. The sad thing is, if we were in a CL position, they could charge £25 and people wouldn’t complain.
We are turning into the company’s blueprint. Cheap chat with poorly paid staff that, I hate to say it, but in the main, they are young fat lasses.
Good on them for working but they mirror the club now.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Mashley
Careful. I used to call Psychs, Violet Elizabeth. He’ll gan off it if you call anyone else it. He has bought a curly ginger wig and a white dress and wears lipstick. ! 😆
Got to love Eric for his effort to dress up in the style of his character doppelganger. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
😆
Gashley(Quote)
Gashley
If we get beat off WBA on Monday, you will be happy to stick by SM with 19 games left? Hmm?
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Don’t tell me! 19 games left! Who is ganna come with 19 games left. 😆
YCMIU
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Unless a better manager is hired, yes. You said it yourself, its not SM’s fault, it deeper than that.
Ive been against SM from the start, arguing he wasn’t an upgrade on Pards.
I’d get a interim manager if possible but I doubt MA and Charnley have it in them to make it work
Unless money is available for players a new manager now or with 6games to go won’t make much difference
Gashley(Quote)
Lol 😉 maybe we need to review the 80 applications Paul jewel sent in
Gashley(Quote)
I see you haven’t supplied a name yet 😉 possibilities
Gashley(Quote)
You sat on the fence too long regarding Ashley, I ended up nicknaming you the butterfly and then you did the same with Pards. I am the master and you are grasshopper.
“Grashopper Gashley, do you hear the noise of the heartbeat of the cricket?
“No master Troy! Where is it?”
” it is in the field beyond your sight grasshopper Gashley”
“One dat you will see it with your ears like me, until then, observe and do as I do. “.
😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Reet off to bed. Footy in morning.
I’m dying for Mashley, Bootsy and Pychs! The others realise they are beat so daresnt say owt. 😆
Dying for them. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
😉 its ironic I gave him the benefit of the doubt while you were being a doom monger. That was years ago. Only this season you said Ashley might’ve changed his ways after he sucked youvin with his tv tears and 50 mil 😳 lol
Gashley(Quote)
This is the worst Newcastle side of the Prem Lge era (relative to the rest of the league). Dominated over 90mins by almost every other team. Only picking up points through randomness and luck and the occasional spell of non-**** play. They are a bunch of losers and are utterly depressing.They thoroughly deserve to be at the bottom of the table and are 100% not in a false position
We sign some fucking decent players in Jan, or we go down with between 25-30 points. This ***** could conceivably finish above the mackems and Villa, but a 3rd team? No fucking way
M(Quote)
I was very excited until the game started. Then I got a bit concerned when they had 74% possession in the first half and we had no shots on goal. 😯
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Is there any way we can avoid actually playing the matches and just have the opposition over for tea?
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Second half was decent but that first half? They just toyed with us. You can’t play like that at home and hope for miracles. This is ridiculous. Sack McLaren and get rid of Carr and Charnley. Bring in a proper DOF and start over again.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
We need 3 points against WBA coz I don’t see many in Jan, and Feb doesn’t look too promising either
Sharpy17(Quote)
Table doesn’t lie and were in trouble. Big money needed in January while our “big money signings” settle.
Stuart79(Quote)
Troy: please be quiet about Pardew. You are like a broken record playing a very, very boring tune.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Cisse likely out for January:
http://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/newcastle-united/latest-nufc-news/injured-papiss-cisse-facing-weeks-on-sidelines-at-newcastle-1-7643936?
It was obvious when they sent him for the second scan that it was worse than they had let on.
If it wasn’t obvious before it is obvious now that we need a goalscorer. Fat Man’s plan of selling Cisse before buying is now not an option but we need to buy anyway.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Psychs
I just enjoy reminding you how bad your judgement is. 😆
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Mashley
Are you ok fella? You took a hiding yesterday from me. 😆
I like G2 suggestion of inviting the opposition round for tea instead of playing them. 💡
Troy Stavers(Quote)
That’s typical of a relegation side. Fighting for a victory with effort only to give a late goal away. The signs of relegation are increasing week by week.
The squad is simply not good enough.
Mitrovic is poor for me. Another dud.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
I’m sorry but McClaren has lost it. Playing at home he does not play a high line surrendering the pitch to the opposition. Everton were able to play ten of their team in our half. In the first half we played with three defensive midfield players Wini, Colback & Anita. A waste of Wini’s talent. Don’t mention subs. 85 minutes before he makes a change. Worse than Pardew’s 70 minute changes.
Groucho(Quote)
Stuart
Our big money signings have all looked poor haven’t they!?
Cabella £12m dud 😯
Thauvin £13m dud 😯
Mitrovic £15m dud 😯
£30m of dudness.
Dudness gracious me. 😯
Troy Stavers(Quote)
@troy
The only hiding you’re capable of is your own in a laundry basket 😛
Still no name, so predictable 🙄
Gashley(Quote)
1 chance and people are saying we played well. Decent effort but not enough creativity or goal scorers
Our whole setup with Carr supplying the players is flawed.
The team needs a shake-up without disrupting our defensive structure.
Defence is weak so we rely on 2defensive midfielders, sacrificing a play-maker.
No natural width so we rely on a number 10 and Sissoko on the wing.
It’s a big mess which will require some decent signings & tinkering, not sure if SM has it in him or the squad is good enough
We could try Perez on the wing, swapping for Wijnaldum and dropping colback for Sissoko. Also dummett for Mbabu.
Desperate measures but I’d also be tempted to add Toney for some pace
Gashley(Quote)
Mashley
Thanks for your moment of managerial expertise. That’s why you aren’t paid to manage a premier league club. Know your place. Get in your laundry basket. 😆
You named them for me anyway. For 6 games hoddle, venners, any ex manager. It’s an option better than sticking with a Manager who has got them in the mire in the first place.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Well, I woke up in the washing machine this morning. I had that much drink yesterday my heed is spinning. I’m clean like. Off to play footy.
Troy Stavers(Quote)
😆
I thought you said it wasn’t SM’s fault but Ashley’s?
So would you get QPR failure Arry, or ancient Hoddle in now or 6 games to go?
Very predictable list for a 40 odd year old 😛
You need to get out of the basket more and see the real world 😉
Gashley(Quote)
We should get Shane Diesel as manager with the threat he bangs the players’ wives if they lose. #ruined
funkyjesus(Quote)
Doesn’t matter how good your players are, if they’re being coached by an expert in faliure they’ll always struggle. What game plan do we have? It looks to me that our only game plan was and is in every game to contain the opposition regardless of who it is and try and hit them on the break. We don’t pass the ball and we don’t have fast enough players. It’s a joke!
Why wait until 86th Min to make a change? What was all that about?
Stuart79(Quote)
its obvious that MCClaren doesnt rate his team to retain the ball so has decided to cede posession to the opposition, whoever that opposition may be. a really bizarre and somewhat cowardly tactic, because has anyone EVER seen that tactic before EVER ? i reckon mcclaren is just being too smart for his own good, and the is noone with football nous at the club to question it.
we have a team filled with internationals, yet employ dreadful tactics plaYing constantly on the back foot. our midfield play like strangers, and we have a couple of 15 million signings who the game quite simply passes them by. are they suddenly poor players or are the tactics just all wrong ?
fortunately we have an easier run in to the end of the season, because this really is going to go down to the wire. villa and sunderland will soon be dead and buried, with the toon, norwich, west brom and perhaps swansea fighting it out for the last relegation spot.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Munich – If you look at our games in Jan and Feb we might be dead and buried with Sunderland and Villa by then too. I don’t know where the goals are going to come from on a consistent basis and with our best central midfielders playing on the wing our midfield looks a complete joke.
Stuart79(Quote)
Stoke and in particular Crystal Palace are showing what can be achieved when you don’t have such a rigid transfer policy. when will we ever learn.
Stuart79(Quote)