Rafa Benitez is no stranger to making big decisions, in fact, throughout his career it has been something that he has seemed to thrive on.
Benitez, being one of the top managers in the world, is used to making these decisions, and he is used to getting them right.
However, with the race for promotion beginning to come to the end, he needs to ensure that his team do not slip up in games like tomorrow night.
Villa come to St. James’ in very poor form, and despite being a huge club, there does seem to be a very real threat that they may be dragged into the relegation battle.
Simply put, this is a must win for both teams, but it is a game that we cannot afford to slip-up in.
With this in mind, just what are the biggest decisions that Rafa will have to make tomorrow?
The first, and arguably most important, is regarding his striking options. Aleksandar Mitrovic has missed a lot of chances of late, and with top scorer Dwight Gayle now seemingly fit, Mitrovic may well miss out.
Secondly, Rafa must decide whether to stick with Ayoze Perez or recall Mo Diame.
Diame is undoubtedly one of Newcastle’s best players, but then again, Ayoze is technically gifted and has an eye for goal, and after playing so well in the last game, Ayoze may well get the nod to start tomorrow.
Wow Bruce is making a right mess of this, good job he has a patient gazillionaire chairman !
Delusional Jawdee(Quote)
Hadn’t heard that Delusional mate. I think he’ll be a good player for them. We need quite a bit of reinforcement by the look of it. I would like to see Rafa given a free hand with a nice lump of money.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Everything looks good now. Ritchie playing very well. Shelvey has been good in the second half too.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Boring game but this is what I have learned from the commentator to keep me amused:
1. Villa spent 60 million in the summer and 23 in January
2. Bruce will now have 2 points from 30 (10 games)
3. This will be Villa’s 5th loss in a row for the 1st time since 1974. Yes, the didn’t even manage that last year with an absolutely **** team, probably worse than this one man for man.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Rafa lets the opponents huff and puff a bit, so that there fans can have a bit fun, then the toon pump up the volume, and game over.
Won’t work in the prem though..
Delusional Jawdee(Quote)
4. 8 goals in 17 away games for Villa this season
Eric Sykes(Quote)
More perspective on just how badly Villa are fcking this up: they have a net loss on transfers this season of 30 million pounds whereas we have a net profit if 30 mil.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Now it looks like Hogan is out for a while and their biggest transfer (McCormack)has been told to stay at home because he couldn’t make it to training because his 4 foot high electric gate was stuck and he couldn’t get his car out (taxi anyone?).
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Lee Ryder @lee_ryder · 1m1 minute ago
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#avfc fans reduced to singing: “Let’s pretend we’ve scored a goal” #nufc
kimtoon(Quote)
Again, I think a lot of Villa’s troubles stem from poor ownership. It’s a huge disadvantage as we well know.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
TOP 😎 🙂
Ugly at times but it’s a win
kimtoon(Quote)
and the Monday night hoodoo is over
kimtoon(Quote)
Somebody on here predicted a 2-0 win for us. I can’t remember who. It’s a relief to get it done.
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Well once again it wasn’t pretty, but I’ll take that… not good to see Hogan go off like that, bad news again for Villa who I think are in real trouble now.
Onwards and upwards folks and goodnight from me…!
Dubai Toon(Quote)
yeah it looked bad mate, Bruce had no luck tonight luckily for us
kimtoon(Quote)
Well, Colback didn’t do much but at least wasn’t a liability. Maybe we will have Anita back on Saturday? Also, I think I would go Mitro and Perez up front. Gayle was up front isolated until he went off. I know we are top of the league but we shouldn’t be playing one up front at home and letting the other team get a foothold in the game.
I mean, a Villa team in terrible form were better in the first half and we were very lucky to get a scrambled goal.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Too bloody true it was a right pain mate,we are going to miss Gayle in these few tough away games,just when we need him
Icedog(Quote)
Mitrovic was class tonight, we had no target when Gayle was on. In some games you need one. Mitro looked fitter, the lad just needed a run of games. Amazing the stick he gets at times. He was a real handful for their weedy defence. MoTM Clark. (I’ll give it to him because of his Villa connection) Yedlin and Mitro contenders.
DJG(Quote)
Brighton play Reading and then us, potential chance for us to pull away at the top coming up here.
DJG(Quote)
I don’t really count on Gayle much by now. He will miss the following 3 or 4 games (I guess), and when he is available, he needs some games to regain his form. By that time the season is almost over. Of course it is always better when he is fit and available, but other players have to step up. And I have confidence on them. We lost a star player, but hopefully other players will chip in to contribute on scoring.
funrafa(Quote)
John Ashdown Retweeted
Ed Aarons @ed_aarons · 22 Dec 2016
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Told that Alan Pardew payoff is in region of £5m #cpfc
Blimey it really pays to be a failure
kimtoon(Quote)
new thread
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2017/02/21/newcastle-united-2-0-aston-villa-how-the-pantomime-villain-became-the-toast-of-tyneside/
kimtoon(Quote)