Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Risso on November 21, 2019, 10:10:11 AM
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Monday 25 November, 8pm
"Welcome" back Potato Features. Getting into "must win" territory now. A clean sheet and a straightforward win would be nice, 2-0 Villa.
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I'll have to watch the second half on my phone on a packed morning train to work. A win would set up a great day. 2-1. Kodjia to come off the bench to hit the winner.
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It's not even close to a 'must-win' in my view.
However, a win would be extremely acceptable, for many, many reasons, not the least of which would be to shut potato up.
I've no doubt he'll talk about never being accepted here because of his past and similarly up there too.
He must have baked in the oven for an awfully long time to have skin so fucking thick.
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Might not be a "must win" but its certainly a big game, and I really hope we do win
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Could be without Heaton again...2-1 Villa win
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A win would hopefully lead to a bit of confidence going into a tough run of fixtures. I'd like to think we're in the group of 'just above relegation' cluster with these and Brighton, so home wins against these are needed otherwise we'll drop into the mix with Norwich..etc.
Newcastle have had impressive results but been crap against Bottom 6 type teams. Could be tight so let's go 1-0 (Wesley to score)
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It's not even close to a 'must-win' in my view.
However, a win would be extremely acceptable, for many, many reasons, not the least of which would be to shut potato up.
I've no doubt he'll talk about never being accepted here because of his past and similarly up there too.
He must have baked in the oven for an awfully long time to have skin so fucking thick.
Maybe not a 'must win' but certainly an 'important to win'.
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It's not even close to a 'must-win' in my view.
However, a win would be extremely acceptable, for many, many reasons, not the least of which would be to shut potato up.
I've no doubt he'll talk about never being accepted here because of his past and similarly up there too.
He must have baked in the oven for an awfully long time to have skin so fucking thick.
Maybe not a 'must win' but certainly an 'important to win'.
I think that goes for most games.
It's not a wrist-slitter if we don't, unless we lose 8-0 and look horrific.
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Always a bogey team in the days of BFR and Sir Brian, we generally dont do too well against these barring the odd win here and there. I would like to think our expressive play will beat the well organised line up Bruce will put out but I honestly haven't got a clue. 1-1 draw.
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Best fixture out of our next 5 before Southampton at home on 21st December.
Can't see us winning the 4 after this so by the law of averages we should win this one.
2-1 to us. Wesley & McGinn.
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Won 0 of the last 12 against this lot, about time we changed that. 3-1.
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Lose, and we could be level on points with the relegation teams, 3 or 4 points from the teams above us. That would be an especially dispiriting position to be in I reckon. Especially with our next three games being away to Man U, away to Chelsea, and home to Leicester. Not many points on offer there I reckon.
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Just seen Bruce interviewed on SSN...he said nice things about the club and his time at Villa but it’s clear from the look in his eyes that he’s taking this one personally and desperately wants to win. Dean and all the players need to be well up for this one for the full 90+ minutes.
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Bruce? Take something personally?
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I'm missing the game to see Fontaines DC in Digbeth. I hope the outcome of the match is as good as I believe the gig will be.
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Not sure of the overall Smith vs Bruce record but I imagine this is in our favour
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Not winning will leave us in a very uncomfortable situation.
We do not look like a team that has the necessary wherewithal to win at the moment.
Draw.
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Heart says 2-1 win, head says 1-1 draw.
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It reeks of 1-1 but after seeing below I'm swaying towards another narrow defeat.
Both after the international break:
"Mon 26 Nov 2018, 8PM - Newcastle secured their third successive Premier League victory away at Burney"
"Mon 25 Nov 2019, 8PM - Newcastle are hoping to secure their third successive Premier League victory away at Villa"
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Won 0 of the last 12 against this lot, about time we changed that. 3-1.
That's a really interesting stat because Dean Smith never seems to lose against Steve Bruce sides, certainly not when Bruce was at Villa anyway. I hope we score early. Break this three game losing streak.
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Dangerous game really, most will expect us to win but we'll be facing motivated ex manager coming back and Newcastle are actually in the best form of the season, 7 points from their last 3 games and scored 3 at West Ham in their last away game (we couldn't score v their ten men for 30 minutes).
Have to say I was hoping that quick French guy and Almiron would've scored for them by now, you know what we're like facing strikers who haven't scored in ages. Add in Dwight Gayle off the bench who does usually score past us.
Will have to see if we get anything like our first choice team out there. If it's similar to what we put out v Wolves I can see it being a similar type of game to what we had v Burnley so will go for frustrating but entertaining 2-2.
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It reeks of 1-1 but after seeing below I'm swaying towards another narrow defeat.
There's a shock.
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I don’t think this is a “must win” either but I want to win it cos Steve Bruce is their manager and hopefully it will shut up his mates on Talksport for a while 2-0 to Villa
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3-1 win.
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I don’t think this is a “must win” either but I want to win it cos Steve Bruce is their manager and hopefully it will shut up his mates on Talksport for a while 2-0 to Villa
Depends on who scores. He'll take and get credit if it's anyone he got to the Villa. And I'll include Jack in that, given his limited appearances beforehand. And absolutely no mention will be made of how we now use these players in a method befitting of their dynamism and talents, whereas watching them under Bruce made me question just how much did I really need my eyes. Could I get by with poking them out there and then?
Ftf. All of them. 4-0 McGinn, Grealish, Hourihane, El Ghazi.
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I want this to be our most blistering performance of the season so far. I want Newcastle and Bruce to be swept aside with ease with little to no reply. I want us to be in total control across every section of the park from start to finish. I hope this post ages well and doesn't bite me in the arse.
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Happy birthday Lastfootstamper, looks like we're sharing it. Drinks are on you.
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I use the mobile version almost exclusively. I never knew there was cake! Thanks, and the same to you.
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After our performance against Liverpool I would have put us odds on to win this match but after Wolves, I think we may struggle.
Maybe 1-1 or possibly lose it in the last 10 minutes when we stop concentrating.
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The good thing is we've mostly played well at home, and should arguably have more points than we have from the home games. I'm just not sure we'll do well against Newcastle if they come and park the bus.
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You get a bit fed up of saying it, but it's a must win.
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Maybe not a must win but Ill be over the moon If we win it as we should be beating the lieks of Noocastle at home.
1-0 Id take now.
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D 1-1.
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We need a win. So it'll probably be a draw.
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Will Jack be back?
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Hopefully we're about to find out on the live press conf.
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Digbeth Dining Club are doing a street food event at the game on monday night starting at 6pm. Including live music and bars. Should be great im a big fan of the DDC guys. Hope it's a big success and we get a win to top it off. 2-0 Villa. El-Ghazi & McGinn.
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Digbeth Dining Club are doing a street food event at the game on monday night starting at 6pm. Including live music and bars. Should be great im a big fan of the DDC guys. Hope it's a big success and we get a win to top it off. 2-0 Villa. El-Ghazi & McGinn.
Fantastic idea.
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draw 1-1 - the good news is we wont concede in the last 10 minutes as they will have 11 on the goalline
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1-0 win
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Won 0 of the last 12 against this lot, about time we changed that. 3-1.
Really? - that's a ridiculous stat!!
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We really need to win this game it is that important so I will say 2-1 Villa win.
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Won 0 of the last 12 against this lot, about time we changed that. 3-1.
Really? - that's a ridiculous stat!!
Last time we beat them was April 2011, Collins scored the only goal. Since then 6 draws and 6 defeats.
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I don't care the what the score is as long as we win.
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Won 0 of the last 12 against this lot, about time we changed that. 3-1.
Really? - that's a ridiculous stat!!
It is, certainly when you think that we've managed to send them down in that run!
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Going to be a very difficult game to pick a team for with so many having played midweek. In McGinns case, he has played two competitive games and looked to be in need of a break at Wolves.
Presume Heaton, Engels, Grealish are all fit? I'm proposing Konsa retains his spot though. Lansbury may get a go, Luiz deserves dropping anyway but Hourihane would bring more goal threat. Tactically Smith certainly needs to set us up differently than the first half shambles at Wolves. Newcastle play with three centre backs but not the same quality as Wolves.
----------------Heaton
Guilbert, Konsa, Mings, Targett
-------Nakamba, Hourihane
AEG,McGinn, Grealish
---------------Wes
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If Jack plays we'll win, if not, a nervy draw
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It reeks of 1-1 but after seeing below I'm swaying towards another narrow defeat.
Both after the international break:
"Mon 26 Nov 2018, 8PM - Newcastle secured their third successive Premier League victory away at Burney"
"Mon 25 Nov 2019, 8PM - Newcastle are hoping to secure their third successive Premier League victory away at Villa"
There's a shock.
I had us to win 2-3 against Wolves (http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=60304.msg3668937#msg3668937), and we delivered some of the worst football I've seen for some time. Every team and their dancing mascot knows we're mentally weak and fade badly around 60 minutes. Losing again seems a more likely outcome right now than winning does. Maybe if we stopped bottling it and Smith used his subs much more wisely I'd have a different opinion.
0-10 1 goal conceded
10-20 1 goal "
20-30 1 goal "
30-40 0 goals "
40-50 2 goals "
50-60 2 goals "
60-70 3 goals "
70-80 3 goals "
80-90 10 goals "
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90+?
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It reeks of 1-1 but after seeing below I'm swaying towards another narrow defeat.
Both after the international break:
"Mon 26 Nov 2018, 8PM - Newcastle secured their third successive Premier League victory away at Burney"
"Mon 25 Nov 2019, 8PM - Newcastle are hoping to secure their third successive Premier League victory away at Villa"
There's a shock.
I had us to win 2-3 against Wolves (http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=60304.msg3668937#msg3668937), and we delivered some of the worst football I've seen for some time. Every team and their dancing mascot knows we're mentally weak and fade badly around 60 minutes. Losing again seems a more likely outcome right now than winning does. Maybe if we stopped bottling it and Smith used his subs much more wisely I'd have a different opinion.
0-10 1 goal conceded
10-20 1 goal "
20-30 1 goal "
30-40 0 goals "
40-50 2 goals "
50-60 2 goals "
60-70 3 goals "
70-80 3 goals "
80-90 10 goals "
And when we do win will you be on here as much as when we lose?
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Won 0 of the last 12 against this lot, about time we changed that. 3-1.
Really? - that's a ridiculous stat!!
It is, certainly when you think that we've managed to send them down in that run!
Didn't we send them up from the Championship as well?!
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No, they were already promoted. A last minute Grealish equaliser against Brighton did ensure that they went up as champions, though.
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No, they were already promoted. A last minute Grealish equaliser against Brighton did ensure that they went up as champions, though.
You can prove anything with facts.
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With the media wankfest for Potato Head, this match is just begging for Villa to get fucked DP-style (referee and VAR)
I'm glad that I'll be at work at kick-off and on #thecuntingbus for the REMAINder of the match.
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Heart says 1-0; head says 3-1.
Sit down Potato Head!
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I can see this being quite an open game. I wonder if it might be an idea to bring in Neil Taylor seeing as they play with three forwards? He tends to sit back and defend which might let our winger do what he needs to without having to cover for Targett. Just a thought, Anyway, 4-1 to us. Tresequet, Big Wes with two and McGinn.
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Feels like quite a big game, especially given the fixtures that we have in the next few weeks following it. Might be stating the obvious, but we could really do with winning this one.
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Heart says 1-0; head says 3-1.
Sit down Potato Head!
Hope there isn't any of that to be honest. He had his critics during his time with us (justifiably at times in my opinion), but he seems like a decent enough bloke and I would hope that the dignified way in which he carried himself at the club during what must have been a very tough time in his personal life would mean he doesn't get that kind of stuff aimed at him really.
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Heart says 1-0; head says 3-1.
Sit down Potato Head!
Hope there isn't any of that to be honest. He had his critics during his time with us (justifiably at times in my opinion), but he seems like a decent enough bloke and I would hope that the dignified way in which he carried himself at the club during what must have been a very tough time in his personal life would mean he doesn't get that kind of stuff aimed at him really.
I'd agree with all of that . I'd hope likewise Bruce doesn't make snide comments about us.
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I hope he gets heaps for the full 90 minutes. Bollocks to him, bloke is an absolute arse.
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Heart says 1-0; head says 3-1.
Sit down Potato Head!
Hope there isn't any of that to be honest. He had his critics during his time with us (justifiably at times in my opinion), but he seems like a decent enough bloke and I would hope that the dignified way in which he carried himself at the club during what must have been a very tough time in his personal life would mean he doesn't get that kind of stuff aimed at him really.
Agree with all of that. The sit down potato head stuff was sang to him before he even came here so that will probably start off again but other than that, getting the three points is more important than who is in the opposition dug out.
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Heart says 1-0; head says 3-1.
Sit down Potato Head!
Hope there isn't any of that to be honest. He had his critics during his time with us (justifiably at times in my opinion), but he seems like a decent enough bloke and I would hope that the dignified way in which he carried himself at the club during what must have been a very tough time in his personal life would mean he doesn't get that kind of stuff aimed at him really.
I'd agree with all of that . I'd hope likewise Bruce doesn't make snide comments about us.
He continually made snide comments about us when he was employed by the club, so I'm not sure why he wouldn't now. I'm with Risso on this one, he deserves all he gets. Which hopefully will include a 4 or 5 goal thrashing.
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I hope the crowd give him plenty of good-natured abuse - oh and they will.
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I don't really care about him, tbh. He fell victim to the crowd-abusing paranoia that affects a lot of managers who are about to be sacked, but I don't necessarily think he's a bad sort.
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Heart says 1-0; head says 3-1.
Sit down Potato Head!
Hope there isn't any of that to be honest. He had his critics during his time with us (justifiably at times in my opinion), but he seems like a decent enough bloke and I would hope that the dignified way in which he carried himself at the club during what must have been a very tough time in his personal life would mean he doesn't get that kind of stuff aimed at him really.
I'd agree with all of that . I'd hope likewise Bruce doesn't make snide comments about us.
I don't really care about the celeriac-faced old has-been but if the piss is taken while we are snaffling the 3 points then so be it.
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The league table isn’t looking pretty for us at the moment. It’s not a “must” win game but we really do need a win and I’ll start getting a bit worried if we don’t as these are the games we need to or should be winning.
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I hope he gets heaps for the full 90 minutes. Bollocks to him, bloke is an absolute arse.
I hope we thrash them and I hope he gets the full tayter-face treatment.
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Losing would be a disaster after results today.
It's close to a must win for me, certainly must not lose.
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We’re going mash these fuckers into oblivion. Long trip. Monday night. Packed Villa Park against that bitter twat. We’ll dominate possession, we have to take advantage which I think we will as they’ll come to snatch a point.
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I would like to see a clinical annihilation of Newcastle on Monday.
I'd also prefer the fans to not attack Bruce at all. It will serve zero purpose, other than to fuel him and the opposition. He'll expect it, therefore ignoring him and winning convincingly will be the sweetest type of result in my opinion.
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It is a massive game and the sort of home game we have to win if we are to keep ourselves out of a relegation battle as the season goes on.
As for Bruce, decent bloke who did a half decent job at the club but ended up under pressure and talking bollox, making excuses and blaming everyone and everything except himself for the team's shortcomings. He had the time and money to do better but didn't.
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Bruce isn’t a decent bloke. He plays that card really well. He’s bitter and he blames others for his failures. And he has mates in the media who spin things in his favour. As soon as Newcastle won their first game he made snide comments about not being wanted up there. He’s already comments that the team that got promoted were essentially his.
No Steve, we looked nothing like the boring, shower of shit you left behind.
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I hope the Holte has a few bedsheets just to piss off further the Geordie Nation.
They still haven't forgiven us for this:
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The only thing that I care about is the fact that good should conquer evil and Smith-ball should destroy Bruce-ball.
Jack and John back in the game. Hope Wesley scores to shut a few people up for a bit. Must-win after today’s results.
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They've looked shite everytime I've seen them, Almiron is easily one of the worst players to ever play at this level, plays like an excitable kid on a council estate that is running after the Ice cream van (100% scoring now). Were technically miles ahead of them, they'll be organised, Smiths teams always dominated Bruces teams when he was here, hopefully that continues.
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They still beat ManUre and Spurs. When will we ever beat either?
Has wor Brucie said much about us in his "presser"?
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Such an important game, win we are just a couple of points off mid table lose and its panic stations.
Hope Grealish is totally over his injury and ready to fire up.
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They've looked shite everytime I've seen them, Almiron is easily one of the worst players to ever play at this level, plays like an excitable kid on a council estate that is running after the Ice cream van (100% scoring now). Were technically miles ahead of them, they'll be organised, Smiths teams always dominated Bruces teams when he was here, hopefully that continues.
Technically we're miles ahead of them? Thats a dubious claim but so long as we get the win who cares. Won't be easy but i'll go for a 2-1 win for the good guys. Hope that potato head plonker gets the full treatment from the crowd. I will never forget his words after we clawed back a point against the mighty fucking Rotherham at home. "apparently i don't know what i'm doing" Any MP would of been proud of the spin he put on that.
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I hope the Holte has a few bedsheets just to piss off further the Geordie Nation.
They still haven't forgiven us for this:
I worked with a Geordie a couple of weeks ago and asked about this. He had no axe to grind whatsoever and didn't know anyone who did, he said they would've done the same and looked upon it as a bit of a laugh. He goes home and away to every game, he'll be there tomorrow and couldn't praise Villa Park highly enough.
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Biggest game of the season so far for me, just in terms of where we are in the league, where they are, the really tough games we’ve got to come, the poor performance against wolves etc. We lose, pre Xmas looking a bit bleak, we win, we’re only 3 points off spurs. And obviously brucie factor. Was at Sheffield Wed away last season and they really went at us but faded in the last 10, when grealish took over. I expect Bruce to have Newcastle up for this in the same way, but an early goal would do nicely to settle the nerves. There in good form but equally we’re due to give someone a going over at home, optimistic 3-0 villa, McGinn, grealish, el ghazi
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I fancy us to win this. Having Jack back will be a massive plus. We've missed him while he's been injured and his ability to draw players to open up space/ball carrying.
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Never goes well when there's an air of overconfidence in the pre match thread.
Hope I'm wrong but can see it being a bitty game tomorrow with of course Newcastle playing 5 at the back but also having a decent threat on the counter attack.
Don't see us keeping a clean sheet, they'll catch us out on the break at some point. Can see this being similar to the Burnley game, another really awkward opponent who we lead twice but couldn't hold on against.
Of course if Jack starts and we see in first five minutes he's fresh and running at them like he's never been away then that will make me far more confident, I assume he will be starting.
Tomorrow is easily the biggest game so far. Win and we can then looking at getting a draw or two in the next 3 to keep creeping up the table. To have a comfortable second half of the season we need to be on 20 points by NYD so becomes much harder to get there if we don't win a key 6 pointer at home.
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Looking forward to the game. Monday night under the lights...let’s roar on the Villa boys to a much needed 3pts.
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I hope the Holte has a few bedsheets just to piss off further the Geordie Nation.
They still haven't forgiven us for this:
I worked with a Geordie a couple of weeks ago and asked about this. He had no axe to grind whatsoever and didn't know anyone who did, he said they would've done the same and looked upon it as a bit of a laugh. He goes home and away to every game, he'll be there tomorrow and couldn't praise Villa Park highly enough.
Good to hear, Nev but looking at their forum, there are plenty that still hate us for taking the piss upon their relegation (twice).
Despite recent results, they're still not happy with Bruce and feel their club stinks from top down. I almost feel sorry for them. Almost.
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We are due a draw - 1-1. Brucie delighted with the point as "it's a difficult place to come but we kept plugging away and in the end we've got our just deserts", Smith ruing "an opportunity missed to get 3 points, couldn't get that second goal and if you switch off at this level you're gonna get punished".
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The Captain Smug Potato Head half and half scarves will be on sale tomorrow.
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3-3 a Trezuguet hat trick
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I can see Wesley struggling against Newcastle's 3 CB's system. He needs another striker alongside him.
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Come on the Villa boys, let's get the 3 points tonight!! It would be great to get one over the "bitters" of the north. After the shambolic way in which bruce left our defense it would be great if we managed to keep a clean sheet and a defender scored the winning goal. Only 1 team won their home fixture in the PL this weekend. I hope we're the second. UTV!!
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I can see Wesley struggling against Newcastle's 3 CB's system. He needs another striker alongside him.
I actually have a weird intuition that he'll score tonight.
Which means he'll probably score an own goal and then get sent off while breaking a leg.
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Unexpectedly staying at the NEC for work tonight when I was due to be in Cornwall, just bagged the last available seat - A1, what a nice treat!!!
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I can see Wesley struggling against Newcastle's 3 CB's system. He needs another striker alongside him.
Should mean Jack will get plenty of space though between midfield and defence to draw them out of position, we really missed that v Wolves who play the formation much better.
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Bruce struggled at Villa Park against Dean Smith teams. Long may that continue.
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I can see Wesley struggling against Newcastle's 3 CB's system. He needs another striker alongside him.
Or the likes of McGinn, AEG and Grealish far closer to him. Could be worth trying AEG at times more centrally tonight like he did to good effect for the goal v Brighton for example.
The likes of Ciaran Clark don't have anywhere near the same quality on the ball as the Wolves trio. Schar is a fine player though, surprised Newcastle were able to hold onto him.
Difficult game for us, Newcastle are in a fine run of form and we are coming off an absymal performance v Wolves. Very close to must win.
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We'll batter these clowns tonight. 4-1
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Really hope we beat these losers tonight.
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I can see Wesley struggling against Newcastle's 3 CB's system. He needs another striker alongside him.
Should mean Jack will get plenty of space though between midfield and defence to draw them out of position, we really missed that v Wolves who play the formation much better.
I think it gives the likes of Jack, SJM, Jota, El Ghazi and Lansbury a licence to cause Newcastle problems. We need all of those players chipping in with a few goals.
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Greengrocers within a 6 mile radius of Villa Park reporting they've already sold out of cabbages.
After the Wolves debacle a few big performances needed.
2-0 Villa.
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Huge game tonight. Get a little breathing space, break up a run of defeats before more tough games and close the gap to mid table.
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I'm figuring on a dish of Colcannon tonight.
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Forty years of supporting Villa and I swear I get more nervous watching them each season.
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I think we will win by one goal.
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Forty years of supporting Villa and I swear I get more nervous watching them each season.
Funny that I was thinking only the same thing earlier about me....I’m pretty sure that we’ve got a considerably better squad than when we got relegated, but all teams and prem moved on massively in those 3 years. I thought it would be easy to find 3 teams consistently worse than us but I’m struggling at the moment
Any thoughts ?
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Tonight's game is huge, as I can't see us getting too many points out of the 4 games after this, and we have to go into the Christmas games not on what could be a run of 8 defeats. We also have to show that the Wolves performance was an aberration, and not the start of something truly worrying. Not that I'm a half glass empty sort of person.
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Is Grealish back?
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We'll find out at 7pm.
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2-0. Don't let me down lads.
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Come on villa don’t let us down
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(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EKPNDGgWsAA8f9c?format=jpg&name=large)
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Excellent
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Engels still injured is a blow.
Hourihane is a gamble. Our cm midfield looks a bit slow. Would have played marvellous