Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Smirker on January 22, 2026, 11:14:01 PM
-
With Arsenal playing MU at home, a game they could easily lose, if we win this we're back in the title race imo.
Big if I know.
But I don't care.
Let's get back into the title race.
FTF 8)
-
Draw, 1-1.
-
A heavy defeat. As it always is up there.
12-1 on aggregate in the last 3 games at Sid James.
-
With Joelinton, Woltemade and Gordon they must have the worst hairstyles in the league. 2:1 Villa
-
A heavy defeat. As it always is up there.
12-1 on aggregate in the last 3 games at Sid James.
Yep. We do better at Old Trafford and Selhurst sodding Park than we do here.
-
Interesting team selection. I think Lindelof might get back in. Newcastle have been consistently inconsistent all season. Fear that effort tonight will have taken it out of our lads. Sounds like they had a bit of a handy win at home v PSG.
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen, Onana, Sancho, Tielemans, Buendia, Rogers, Ollie.
Bizot, Mings, Torres, Garcia, Digne, Bogarde, kids, Guessand
-
If we had proper time to rest and recover while they took it easy against an average PSV side a day earlier with no travel, I'd fancy us to finally fucking beat them up there. As it is, a draw would be impressive.
-
As good and solid as Lindelof has been, there isn’t a sceanroo when Unai doesnt pick Torres and Konsa as his first choice pair at the moment.
They have a really good home record, we have a terrible record up there, its in the stars obviously.
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Maatsen
Onana
Bogarde
Tielemans
Watkins
Rogers
Beundia
2-1 us (Watkins, Rogers)
-
Leon on the bench?
-
I am guessing they flew back last night to arrive early hours of this morning, off home for a few hours sleep. Back at BMH Saturday and fly to Newcastle Sunday morning?
It’s hell of a disadvantage.
-
If we managed to get a draw that would be terrific.
-
If he feels fit enough Mings plays alongside Konsa. Garcia starts on the right and Sancho comes on after 60 mins. Guessand doesn't get a look in.
A 2-0 loss sadly. We then regroup with a couple of good new signings, a top 2 finish on the Europa, and crack on from there
-
Just to add to the pessimism, Bruno Guimares come off injured on Wednesday. Since he joined Newcastle, apparently they haven’t won a game without him. So a great time for them to end this record!
-
Fener game has lifted my spirits and optimism for this so only a 3-0 loss.
-
Sounds like they had a bit of a handy win at home v PSG.
PSV. Which is still handy, but not quite as handy.
-
Yep slightly less. Two of the Newky goals came from mistakes from pressuring the PSV defence high up the pitch which sounds familiar.
-
I would be leaning towards Mings and Digne for this one - I think there physicality would be a struggle for us - partiuclarly given onana is unlikely to be able to play a full game.
Maybe even Guessard on the right to support Cash
I think getting anything here given our injuries should be seen as a good result.
-
They are unconvincing at the back, s we should be able to score, it’s a matter of can we compete with them in midfield.
If not we get over run.
-
I am guessing they flew back last night to arrive early hours of this morning, off home for a few hours sleep. Back at BMH Saturday and fly to Newcastle Sunday morning?
It’s hell of a disadvantage.
I assume they would travel up the night before. Its a 2pm kick-off Sunday, too early to be going up to Newcastle on the same day without proper pre-match routine.
Unai often talks about "rest and good food" between games with a short turn-around. And I think players are often given the tactics plan the morning of a game. So I guess today and tomorrow is about recovery and travelling again to another city.
-
I would be leaning towards Mings and Digne for this one - I think there physicality would be a struggle for us - partiuclarly given onana is unlikely to be able to play a full game.
Maybe even Guessard on the right to support Cash
I think getting anything here given our injuries should be seen as a good result.
Thankfully, they have more injuries than us.
Taken from some page on internet:
'Speaking after the match, Howe said initial signs point to an ankle issue but stressed the full extent of the injury is not yet clear. The head coach acknowledged particular concern given Guimaraes’ reluctance to leave the pitch, describing him as a player who “never wants to come off”.
The timing of the injury is far from ideal for Newcastle, who are already dealing with an extensive injury list. Fabian Schar, Tino Livramento, Jacob Murphy, Emil Krafth and Jamal Lascelles remain sidelined, while William Osula and Dan Burn have only recently returned to training and were not ready to face PSV.
-
Cue that Joelinton ****** to scythe down more of our midfielders. And, of course, not get carded.
-
We've won two Premier League games at their place since football started in 1992, the last time being the game where Bowyer and Dyer had their fight and Steven Taylor was hit by the sniper over twenty years ago.
Feels like that's been a bit too long.
Looks like they'll be carrying on their curious experiment of using Ramsey as a central midfielder to replace Guimares, so you'd think Emery will know how to target that.
-
We know they’ll high press, they always do against us, so hopefully Emery has a plan up his sleeve to counteract that.
-
F365's weekend preview:
Team to watch: Aston Villa
Let’s continue the theme of August reminiscences, because in few places would the contrast appear more initially stark than at Aston Villa.
They began the season with a grim goalless draw against the Newcastle side that had pipped them to Champions League football on the final day of 24/25 in a game that very much continued the trending themes at the time for two clubs who had endured awkward and unsatisfactory summers.
For Villa it would set a trend that would extend into September and a five-game winless run to start the season that didn’t even contain a goal until that fifth game.
Then they just won pretty much all the games for an extended period of time to become brief yet genuine title contenders.
But the reopening of the transfer window has brought back familiar doubts and truths, and despite Villa occupying an enviable position in the table and appearing certainties for Champions League football next season there is now once again a distinct sense of a buzz harshed.
Frustration at rules that bind them while being more easily navigated by the established big clubs, of simply not being allowed to compete on even terms with Newcastle, never mind the cosseted Big Six. Even the stupidest members of that group are annoying Villa. Especially the stupidest members.
A look at the table suggests this angst is misplaced; Villa remain closer to Arsenal than they do to fifth place, which will almost certainly be enough to achieve what Villa set out to achieve this season and which they looked a million miles away from doing back in August.
But time and results and other factors all have a funny way of shifting those sands beneath your feet. And with a slight dip in results and the return of the transfer window with its now familiar frustrations, there’s just a nagging sense that Villa are neither as happy as they should be, nor as they were just a few short weeks ago.
-
0-4
-
Tammy and Bailey back in the squad would be great. Both will come on if they are.
-
Tammy and Bailey back in the squad would be great. Both will come on if they are.
Pretty sure we'd have needed to register him by 12pm today for him to be eligible.
-
If he feels fit enough Mings plays alongside Konsa. Garcia starts on the right and Sancho comes on after 60 mins. Guessand doesn't get a look in.
A 2-0 loss sadly. We then regroup with a couple of good new signings, a top 2 finish on the Europa, and crack on from there
Mings wont start ahead of Torres and Garcia will in no way start in midfield. It will be the strongest side we can field. Mings and Lindelof did brilliantly yesterday, but there is a reason they played the whole game yesterday and its the same reason Rogers and Beundia came off relatively early. Mings and Lindelof wont be starting Sunday, Konsa, Torres, Rogers and Beundia will
-
3-1 to them. A draw would be a decent result.
-
More positive after last night’s result. We need Rogers on his A game and Ollie to have a renaissance in form. We need to keep a sharp eye on Hall who is a very good player. Hope for a win but would take the draw now.
-
Tammy and Bailey back in the squad would be great. Both will come on if they are.
Pretty sure we'd have needed to register him by 12pm today for him to be eligible.
Saturday is a working day in Newcastle 8)#TynesideToughened*
*Manufactures of bullet-proof glass and the double glazed panes on your National Express coach to Victoria
-
Martinez
Cash Konsa Pau Digne
Onana Tielemanns
Guessand Buendia Rogers
Watkins
Pau - To break their manic pressing game
Guessand - to deal with physical battle and height at set pieces
Bench
Bizot
Sancho - later in the game to stretch them
Bogarde - to replace Onana if / when he tires
Maatsen - bring pace when they tire
Mings - if we are holding on in last minutes when they will try and bombard us
Lindeloff - can be anywhere across back and even CDM if needed
Hemmings
Bailey
They have not won a single game when Bruno is out - so fingers crossed he is rested for their "Bigger" games to come
I actually fancy SUE to exorcise another ghost
-
I think we’re seeing a hyper focused Unai now, desperate to prove everybody wrong. Especially the corrupt Premier League and UEFA.
Hard fought one to Villa, none to the toon.
-
I'd go
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Pau
Maatsen
Onana
Bogarde
Buendia
Tielemans
Rogers
Watkins
-
I'd play Lindeloff rather than Pau. I think he'd handle that 80's German porn star they have up front better.
-
I'd play Lindeloff rather than Pau. I think he'd handle that 80's German porn star they have up front better.
As someone else said upthread though, Newcastle do well when they press their opponent's defence. And if they don't succeed at that, then you have four of our players running at their slow centre-backs, if you can just find the right pass through them.
So more important than winning headers is probably the thing that Pau can do.
-
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Maatsen
Onana
Tielemans
Sancho
Buendia
Rogers
Watkins
-
Is Bogarde suspended?
-
Is Bogarde suspended?
No, we're passed the time that five bookings is a ban - you need to get to ten now.
-
That's good as i think Rogers is on 4 currently
-
2-0 Newcastle, if we can get a draw we've done well.
-
I'd play Lindeloff rather than Pau. I think he'd handle that 80's German porn star they have up front better.
As someone else said upthread though, Newcastle do well when they press their opponent's defence. And if they don't succeed at that, then you have four of our players running at their slow centre-backs, if you can just find the right pass through them.
So more important than winning headers is probably the thing that Pau can do.
Torres finds Maatsen a lot easier down the left flank than Lindelof can. Lindelof has been playing well though.
-
We've only won there twice in the PL, and both times they had players sent off. Our last 3 visits has seen us concede 12.
Bet that's cheered you all up!
-
Immensely. Thank you
-
I hate this game more than manure. Would be wonderful if for once we could just not fall apart or better still - win?
-
We never win there, I’d be delighted with a draw.
-
Everton don’t usually win at Villa Park
-
I think we’ll win this one. I don’t usually think that about games up there.
-
I've gone for Newcastle to beat Villa this weekend in our latest round of last man standing - it's rare I go against Villa, but I don't fancy our chances. We're just a limp dick at St James.
-
I think we’ll win this one. I don’t usually think that about games up there.
I'm with you. I think we are going to win.
-
We've only won there twice in the PL, and both times they had players sent off. Our last 3 visits has seen us concede 12.
Bet that's cheered you all up!
A heavy defeat. As it always is up there.
12-1 on aggregate in the last 3 games at Sid James.
If they’d read the 3rd post of this thread, they’d already be cheery about some of it.
-
That lump Burn is probably out. Guimares is possibly out too. We rested our first choice back line (bar Cash) on Thursday. We have Bailey, Sancho is starting to play better and Watkins has a point to prove.
-
Thought Pau was really poor against Everton, partly as his first game back. Wonder if we'd chance starting Mings?
If they play Trippier, I'd like us to be playing Maatsen.
-
Thought Pau was really poor against Everton, partly as his first game back. Wonder if we'd chance starting Mings?
If they play Trippier, I'd like us to be playing Maatsen.
Can’t see Mings starting two games in a matter of days after his long time out. Maatsen seems to be first choice at the moment.
-
Newcastle are physical gurriers. Joe Linton will bully Torres so if Ty is up to it, put him in there.
-
Playing Mings twice in three days would be a massive mistake.
-
It's Mings or Lindelof for me. Physical sides, one of them. Non-physical sides, Torres. That's not a criticism of anyone, but horses for courses.
-
A view from the Tyne:
They’re a better footballing side than us but the overall level of quality of the players is very close. Reckon Eddie will have the team snarling and ready to kick them all over, force fuck ups and nick some goals.
They remind me a bit of De Zerbi’s Brighton/Marseille.
Set traps to commit two players towards the ball and aim to use spare man to advance. That and Watkins long out ball which he likes to pin the defender wide and draw players in before finding the spare man.
-
Yes they will, as always, try and kick us all over.
-
I would play Tyrone he was superb on Thursday, but I'm pretty sure Unai will go with Torres, gonna be a tough match, would be happy with a draw, but certainly would not rule out us getting 3 points.
-
A view from the Tyne:
They’re a better footballing side than us but the overall level of quality of the players is very close. Reckon Eddie will have the team snarling and ready to kick them all over, force fuck ups and nick some goals.
They remind me a bit of De Zerbi’s Brighton/Marseille.
Set traps to commit two players towards the ball and aim to use spare man to advance. That and Watkins long out ball which he likes to pin the defender wide and draw players in before finding the spare man.
Don’t really see the De Zerbi analogy. He’d far more dogmatic than Unai, and tactics are different.
-
Thing is their are some teams that just seem to go up a level when they play Villa, that could be just me focusing on Villa and a particular game but it does seem that way, the Newcastle games do seem like that, Newcastle form is not good at the moment, yet tomorrow whole new story.
-
Sounds like they had a bit of a handy win at home v PSG.
PSV. Which is still handy, but not quite as handy.
Yeah, it was the mighty Sporting who beat PSG.
I still fancy up there. As always a single goal difference should do the job. 1-2 Villa.
-
I'd go
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Pau
Maatsen
Onana
Bogarde
Buendia
Tielemans
Rogers
Watkins
Me too except I'd chuck Bailey straight in for Buendia (assuming he's fully fit), so Rogers left Tielemans middle Bailey right.
-
It’s going to be really hard even if they don’t have Guimares. Newcastle can go 4th with a win. After a good result vs PSV in the CL in midweek they will be up for it.
-
Their home league record is: W7 D2 L2
Losses to Liverpool snd Arsenal. Good record, but they haven’t really humped anyone, most wins by one goal, biggest wins are 2-0 over Forest and Palace.
Our away league record: W5 D3 L3
We haven’t humped anyone away either. I know our record is terrible up there, and we mostly get battered, but I don’t think so today.
-
I’m on board with that, too. But because today is one of those days where we win against all odds and expectations, I’m going to have to say we lose - otherwise it doesn’t work, right?
-
I’m on board with that, too. But because today is one of those days where we win against all odds and expectations, I’m going to have to say we lose - otherwise it doesn’t work, right?
The football Gods agree
-
Well I’ve got a treble on United, Chelsea and Newcastle. I can’t do any more than that.
-
Well I’ve got a treble on United, Chelsea and Newcastle. I can’t do any more than that.
You mentioned Newcastle twice. Or was it Leeds on Monday?
-
John Percy in the Sunday Telegraph is reporting that Elliot is in the squad.
It seems the 10 game issue was 5 in echo half of the season.
-
It’s going to be really hard even if they don’t have Guimares. Newcastle can go 4th with a win. After a good result vs PSV in the CL in midweek they will be up for it.
We can go joint second and we had a good win in midweek.
-
John Percy in the Sunday Telegraph is reporting that Elliot is in the squad.
It seems the 10 game issue was 5 in echo half of the season.
John Percy in the Sunday Telegraph is reporting that Elliot is in the squad.
It seems the 10 game issue was 5 in echo half of the season.
-
John Percy in the Sunday Telegraph is reporting that Elliot is in the squad.
It seems the 10 game issue was 5 in echo half of the season.
John Percy in the Sunday Telegraph is reporting that Elliot is in the squad.
It seems the 10 game issue was 5 in echo half of the season.
what does in echo mean?
-
I’m thinking a draw 2-2 it’s about time we got something up there
-
My first ever trip to St James. Hopefully I can break the curse!
Failing that, it’s all my fault! Sorry.
-
John Percy in the Sunday Telegraph is reporting that Elliot is in the squad.
It seems the 10 game issue was 5 in echo half of the season.
John Percy in the Sunday Telegraph is reporting that Elliot is in the squad.
It seems the 10 game issue was 5 in echo half of the season.
what does in echo mean?
Think it’s “second” that’s been autocorrected.
-
"Each half"
-
My first ever trip to St James. Hopefully I can break the curse!
Failing that, it’s all my fault! Sorry.
I got vertigo when I went. Good for cardio though.
-
Can we count Elliott's minutes on the pitch towards 5x90 total so that he can contribute to more than 5 games from the bench? A bit like when Greizman first went to Atletico?
-
I've completely lost track of where we are with the poor chap.
If he plays 5 times between now and the end of the season we have to buy him?
-
My first ever trip to St James. Hopefully I can break the curse!
Failing that, it’s all my fault! Sorry.
I got vertigo when I went. Good for cardio though.
I went there once. By the time i'd climbed up the stairs, the game had finished.
No. I've been a few times. Never seen us win there.
-
I find the place a bit disorientating, half a San Siro bolted onto half a Bescot.
-
Given our shocking record, a point and no injuries would be a good day. We know full well that they will be coming out to boot Onana off the pitch, assuming he starts.
It would keep them at arms length, gain a point on Liverpool, and hopefully Arse beat Man Utd later. That would be a decent weekend.
-
Nii Lamptey finally got to Newcastle. Big Ron would be proud.
-
Nii Lamptey finally got to Newcastle. Big Ron would be proud.
💪🏼🎉
-
Since we came back up its been:
1-1
1-1
0-4
1-5
0-3
At our place
2-0
2-0
3-0
1-3
4-1
Will pretty similar in terms of goals scored, points gained for the home side.
I think we might get something here today.
-
"Each half"
More like it, yes!
-
Some rumours via twitter that Rogers is injured. Please God no...
-
Oh that rumour can truly fuck off.
-
Bad rumours are always true with us.
-
Might explain why we suddenly want/need Elliot to play for us.
-
Unfortunately I came to the same conclusion..
-
Would be a massive disappointment if he was out for any period of time really.
-
Hopefully just a rumour..
-
Looks lim Bruno G is injured for them.
-
Looks lim Bruno G is injured for them.
"In Guimaraes' four years at the club, Newcastle have not won a Premier League game without him in the starting line-up.
The Magpies have played 10 top-flight games without the midfielder, drawing six and losing four"
From sky.
-
Rogers starting,
-
Elliot and Bailey on the bench.
-
Relieved at that selection
-
Looks lim Bruno G is injured for them.
"In Guimaraes' four years at the club, Newcastle have not won a Premier League game without him in the starting line-up.
The Magpies have played 10 top-flight games without the midfielder, drawing six and losing four"
From sky.
Pleeeeeeease.
-
Thank god for that.
-
Rogers starts
-
Sad Twitter twats then. Good
-
Christ, that looks like an actual team.
-
Looks lim Bruno G is injured for them.
"In Guimaraes' four years at the club, Newcastle have not won a Premier League game without him in the starting line-up.
The Magpies have played 10 top-flight games without the midfielder, drawing six and losing four"
From sky.
…and here come Villa.
-
Doc doc doc doc doctor Villa.
-
Barnes always bloody scores against us.
-
Can the ref please not let dickhead Joelinton smash everyone for 80 minutes before booking him.
-
Their captan out too. Feels like a good opportunity to beat this lot.
-
Doc doc doc doc doctor Villa.
There are an awful lot of teams this season who probably felt considerably worse after playing us.
-
Doc doc doc doc doctor Villa.
Considering we’ve beaten most teams this seadon, clearly not the case
-
Barnes always bloody scores against us.
Not today Kimasabi