Aston Villa (A): Pre-match thoughts, team news & predicted line ups

Olly Hawkins

The dreaded international break is finally over, but we must wait until Monday night in our bid to make it three wins on the spin.

Bruce returns to Villa Park with a point to prove just one year on from his sacking. He’ll be in a confident mood based on the form table, with us taking 7 points from a possible 9 just as Villa have lost three on the spin, however I fully expect this to be a very tough game.

We were all over a West Ham side who played into our hands in our last away game, but I expect Villa to be much more competitive, energetic and organised.

They’ve have Jack Grealish back – their talisman and key creator in midfield – and look set to field a full strength side for the first time in weeks, so they’ll be up for this one in a bid to get back on track under the lights at Villa Park.

Predicted XI

There’s been some mixed injury news over the international break, but we still look set to field a strong side come Monday night.

Jamaal Lascelles is out and Clark may join him on the sidelines if he fails to recover from a hamstring issue over the weekend, but with Schar and Lejeune back in contention and the reliable Fernandez and Dummett on hand, Bruce will still have at least FOUR capable centre-backs to choose from.

I personally can’t see him risking Clark and think it would be unnecessary to throw Lejeune straight back in after 7 months out, especially when Dummett is more than capable of coming in at the left-side of a back three. Elsewhere, I’d expect Schar to come back in, with the brilliant Fernandez a ready-made replacement for Lascelles in the middle.

In midfield, with Sean Longstaff suspended and Shelvey in good form, I’d expect the latter to partner Isaac Hayden once again.

As for the front three, we’ve seen positive signs from them all in recent weeks. They’re starting to combine well on the counter and carry a consistent threat, but all are in desperate need of a goal. Let’s hope that arrives for at least one of them on Monday night!

Preferred NUFC XI – (5-2-2-1) – Dubravka – Yedlin, Schar, Fernandez, Dummett, Willems – Hayden, Shelvey – Almiron, Saint-Maximin – Joelinton.

The Opposition

Here’s a few ‘ones to watch’ in Dean Smith’s Villa side:

John McGinn – The Scottish international looks capable of playing in a top six side for me, being tenacious off the ball but both creative and capable of scoring on it. Few players have had more shots outside the box than him this season, so Shelvey can’t afford a lax performance here.

Wesley Moraes – The big Brazilian was a target of Rafa Benitez’s before he completed a £20m move to Villa, but he’s been a bit of an enigma so far this season. At times he’s looked unplayable, with his hold up play, power and work ethic outstanding in their Monday night win over Everton earlier in the season and 5-1 win over Norwich, yet he’s then looked sluggish and sloppy (and lacking a footballing brain) the other times we’ve seen him.

Jack Grealish – They’ve missed him badly over the past few weeks, losing three on the spin in his absence, so his return will be a huge boost. He’s been their talisman over the past 18 months and has started this season with 2 goals and 3 assists, creating more chances per 90 minutes than any other player outside the top six.

Predicted Villa XI (4-3-3): Heaton – Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Targett – Douglas Luiz, Nakamba, McGinn – El Ghazi, Wesley, Grealish.

Team news

Jamaal Lascelles has been ruled out with a knee fracture, Matt Ritchie is still not read, Sean Longstaff is suspended for the final time and Ciaran Clark may be touch or go after picking up a hamstring issue with Ireland.

On the plus side, Fabian Schar and Florian Lejeune have been declared fit to return.

For the home side, captain Jack Grealish looks set to return after a month on the sidelines, while first team regulars Tom Heaton (GK), Bjorn Engels (CB) and Matt Targett (LB) have also been declared fit to start.

Prediction

I’m wary of this game.

We have the form and the momentum, but Villa have been competitive against Man City and Liverpool in two of their last three and are welcoming back several key player ahead of a game they’ll be desperate to win after slipping to 17th.

We’ll be confident and motivated to keep the good run going, but Villa will almost certainly make us work for it MUCH more than a woeful West Ham did in our last away outing.

I think they’ll beat us if we’re not ‘at it’, but I have faith in our defence and believe we’ll cause them real problems out wide.

Prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle

Howay the lads!

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

View all posts by Olly Hawkins →

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105 thoughts on “Aston Villa (A): Pre-match thoughts, team news & predicted line ups”

  7. Yup, I hate West Ham more than Spurs. Only began hating Spurs since the tabloid and Sky love of their Stadium.

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  10. I hated A level maths. More specifically, I hated the teachers. I sat at the back and went to sleep. I wish I had taken history instead.

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  11. Mr Keir – c@nt. Mrs Kirton – giant nosed fat *****. Jonny Tw@t-Face substitute teacher. W2nker. Cant even remember his name he was so bad.

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  12. So pissed off that, after a 2 week international break, we then have to wait til Monday for our team. I think we can beat Villa. I hope we can beat Villa.

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  14. Got the best seat on the plane both ways to England and back. bulk head window. Didn’t even pay! I think the booking Agents fancied me. From EastEnders, Coronation Street or Emerdale? He didn’t try to kiss me though.

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  15. That’s what I noticed when I was back. Every soap has a Gay couple and they all kiss each other all of the time. The straight couples never kiss each other.

    And Ken Barlow is still alive.

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  26. I’m in Dubai for the week and delighted to find out that a bar in the hotel is actually showing the match on Monday. The draw back is that it’s Keys and Gray…

    Where does Dubai Toon watch the matches?

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  27. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Lightyear (Aldren) said the only manmade structures you can see from the moon are Keys and Gray;s bellies.

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  28. Stuart mate, their show is so bad. It really is terrible. You might even have Pards as their special guest. You certainly will have John Cross from the Daily Mirror with his laptop camera pointed up his nose. Britain’s best columnist as Keysey and Graysey call him.

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  29. If you gave me the choice of seeing Keys and Gray naked or Piers Morgan naked I think I might choose Piers Morgan. They are that bad.

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  30. I watched 5 minutes of Good Morning Britain or whatever it is called before throwing up. What a w@nker that piers Morgan is. I learnt he has 7 million twitter followers. Are there really 7 million total tossers in Britain? CNN over here sent him home and I live in the land of Donald Trump.

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  31. Seriously though. I don’t think I have seen anybody as arrogant as Lord Piers of Piersland. Maybe Sir Alan of Pardsland?

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  32. When I was in Newcastle I was using the Ameican voiced GPS. It was really funny that their guy was saying Pontey-land rather than Ponteland. It is hard to describe how funny it sounded. In 500 feet turn left on Pontey-land road.

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  33. Stuart79:
    I’m in Dubai for the week and delighted to find out that a bar in the hotel is actually showing the match on Monday. The draw back is that it’s Keys and Gray…

    Where does Dubai Toon watch the matches?

    I watch at home usually mate, I have Bein Sports at home. Which hotel you at?

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  39. Dubai Toon:
    It’s a good time to be in Dubai Stuart, great temperatures now.

    Tell me about it! Lovely, 27 degrees.

    Staying at Rixos. Thankfully they have it in one of the bars.

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  47. Stuart79: Tell me about it! Lovely, 27 degrees.

    Staying at Rixos. Thankfully they have it in one of the bars.

    Rixos on the Palm? There are a few Rixos hotels here i think… Is this business or pleasure mate? The only issue now is the 12 midnight kick off, which really buggers me up for work the next day, but it has to be done! I just hope it’s worth staying up for. A win can take us to 9th!! 😯

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  48. I watched the Hull v Boro match yesterday and for about 70 mins that Jarrod Bowen barely kicked the ball.
    Then Hull switched to a 3 at the back formation which moved him from right wing to right inside forward – and the lad was a different player – he was different class.

    He’s a player we have been quite heavily linked with – and I really hope it comes off. I think he could be as able as Maddison or Mount in stepping up from the Championship to the PL.

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  49. On the palm, Dubai. Was originally here for a friends wedding but decided to stay for another week.

    I’m starting to drink at 4ish which should see me through till kick off.

    It certainly a huge chance to get up the table. That’s basically why we will probably lose… 😯

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  50. Stuart79:
    On the palm, Dubai. Was originally here for a friends wedding but decided to stay for another week.

    Enjoy Stuart! I’ll need to watch at home for this one as I’m back in the office before 8am the next day! Hey ho, sacrifices…
    I’m starting to drink at 4ish which should see me through till kick off.

    It certainly a huge chance to get up the table. That’s basically why we will probably lose…

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  51. That’s odd, my comment disappeared…

    Enjoy Stuart! I’ll have to watch this one at home as i have to be in the office before 8am the next day… Hope it’s worth staying up late for!

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  52. Sorry to keep going on about Man U but it has got to the point of being a comedy now. I always thought their fans acted entitled but now it is even worse. Reading the comments on The Manchester Guardian, Football365 and the like and they appear to have gone up another level and act like entitled spoilt children. Like Boris Johnson at his time of the month.

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  54. Olly asked me to be guest interviewer and contact a Villa fan on this edition of “View from the other side”. I talked to Villa fan Bill from Kensington Palace.

    Me: How long have you been a Villa Fan?

    Bill: since me Gran told me the 2nd City needed a Royal. Give it a boost like.

    Me: have you passed on your love for the Villa to your daughter? Jemima Harlequin-Toast or whatever her name is?

    Bill: she’s a big fan of Jack Grealish. Likes his hair.

    Me: what colour is their strip?

    Bill: Claret, which is what uncle Andy was drinking before that interview. 2 bottles I think.

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  56. Me: which Quality Street sweet is your least favourite? I don’t like coconut cream meself.

    Bill: Bertie Basset?

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  58. Me: who are you voting for in the election?

    Bill: there’s an election? Next you will be telling me we are leaving the European Union and that property developer with the Nazi dad in New York is American President.

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  59. Donald something I think. He is giving me advice on comb-overs. You would think that if Rooney and Andros Townsend can afford a transplant then me and Don can.

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  60. One day I will be King and all of you peasants will regret making fun of my Villa association. Dad, I will be King right? Gran won’t live forever, right? Her mother was 101 and Boris promises a better health service. BUPA I think he called it. That’s the one he’s got anyway.

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  62. Nowt wrong with BUPA, Eric.

    If I was a politician these days I’d tell everyone the truth. We have three options when it comes to public services and in particular health. 1) Everyone pays more tax and we improve the services a la Scandinavian standards. 2) We go to a US system where we pay for health care. 3) Everyone stops fucking moaning about the services we have and in particular the health service u less they’re prepared to pay more tax.

    Personally I would plump for option 1 – it’s a no brainier to me.

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  63. Because you can afford it Stuart 🙂 The US health system costs 3 times more than New Zealand’s. I sold insurance and investments to Drs over here and saw what they earned . One surgeon got 20 million a year. I didn’t see any dr making less than $400k. You write your own ticket to wealth when you become a dr over here.

    And BUPA and the like take the rich and powerful out of the system so they do not force change for the better for the regular health care.

    It is strange in the US that the wealthy do not push for lower rates. They don’t seem to care that drs are paid stupid money and take every Wednesday off to play golf at their country club with their Trophy Wife.

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  65. Then we should all pay more tax in the UK and get a better service. Either that or we accept we can’t have everything we want while paying relatively low taxes.

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  66. Drs don’t even get into it to help people over here anymore. They get into it to get rich and spend Wednesdays at the country club. Big houses have taken over from a calling. Which is what it used to be.

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  67. Taxing people more is not the answer. Becoming more efficient is. I am sure you will agree with that. Low taxes, efficiency. That’s what Thatcher wanted. She was a total beitch though.

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  69. Yep I have been on the phone with Prince William and he advised me that Villa have quite a good midfield so I changed my prediction.

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  71. Wrong. American hospitals are. They pay administrators 1 million a year and Drs the same. I know because I have seen their tax returns.

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  72. They’re not one organisation are they? I thought they were made up of many private organisations?

    Anyway, it doesn’t really matter. Health around the world isn’t perfect and the sooner people realise that the better.

    It’s also a good idea that citizens take self responsibility. Stop going to A+E with a stubbed toe. Stop booking GP appointments with a sore neck or headache and stop failing to turn up to appointments. It would also help if the gvt gave better advice on what to eat. Prevention is better than cure. Funnily enough it will probably get better naturally over the next years as less are smoking.

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  73. No, the US healthcare system is not a homogenous group but they act like they are. They are The Borg from Star Trek.

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  75. Stewart – being in the EU costs our NHS £billions each year. David Cameron wanted to stop our NHS being bankrupted by the EU but he was told by the EU that they wanted to sell our NHS in exchange for a trade deal with the USA.
    This was one of the reasons why Cameron gave us the referendum.
    If we leave the EU there will be no need for extra taxation to fund the NHS.

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