Aston Villa v Newcastle United Pre-Match Thread

[Matt C]

No ifs, not buts, no more excuses - we quite simply must win.

2-1.

[sfx412]

I'm hoping we have a fit team of first choice picks who all stay on the pitch. Makoun vs Barton bothers me.
Then we should win.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Going to be a hot one for Sunday, weather wise.

Up to 22!

In that case no way am I wearing a scarf, I'll just have to be the 11.5th man.

I shall tie mine around my wrist, 70's style.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

sportinglife.com

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew will be without suspended trio Kevin Nolan, Cheick Tiote and James Perch.

Skipper Nolan picked up his 10th booking of the season in last weekend's 4-1 victory over Wolves and must sit out two games, while Tiote completes a similar ban and Perch serves his punishment for a red card on reserve-team duty.

Ryan Taylor returns to contention after completing his three-match suspension and full-back Jose Enrique (hamstring) is fit, but Stephen Ireland is ineligible under the terms of his loan agreement.

French winger Hatem Ben Arfa is back on Tyneside and is expected to resume training with the first-team squad after recovering from a double leg fracture the week after next, but Leon Best is out for the season after undergoing ankle surgery and Dan Gosling (knee) and Alan Smith (ankle) remain on the sidelines.

[peter w]

Nolan seems to always notch against us so i'm happy he's out.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I'm not to be honest, at some point this season we are going to give someone an absolute tonking, and I think it will be Newcastle.

Oh yeah im feeling a bit of that I was gonna go for a nervy 2-1 but now im gonna go for 6-0

[Phil from the upper holte]

Might be 4-4-2 again ?

http://http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2333419,00.html

'New system'
Does make it sound like's it's now in place.

If it is, give Heskey a trot with Bent upfront.

Does anyone think GH is bowing to a bit of pressure to all of a sudden go 4-4-2?

[Merv]

Pleased Ireland can't play. He's been bloody brilliant for Newcastle since signing for them.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Might be 4-4-2 again ?

http://http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~2333419,00.html

'New system'
Does make it sound like's it's now in place.

If it is, give Heskey a trot with Bent upfront.

Does anyone think GH is bowing to a bit of pressure to all of a sudden go 4-4-2?

Does seem odd, nearly every Villa fan i've spoken to thinks we ought to go 4-4-2.
I think he finally saw sense.

[peter w]

I think he realises that its time to stop trying a formation that could be good but isn't and just be compact.

[TheSandman]

I do wonder if someone had a word in his ear.

[peter w]

If it is 4-4-2 i hope its not NRC and Makoun as that would be useless. Petrov if only to get the ball from the defence and pass it to the forwards.

[rob_bridge]

The problem was that stupid outdated 4-4-1-1 system and playing between 3 and 4 wingers as per Wolves game.
With Young playing as the supporting 1 and Downing hopeless defensively meant the full back was exposed. Also playing Gabby on the wing was stupid. In MON's first season he tried Gabby on the wing and Young supporting Carew and it wasn't effective so why Houllier thinks it will be 4 years on is beyond me.
I don't mind whether it is 4-3-3 (with two wide) or 4-4-2 provided the right players are playing.
Personally we are more solid with 3 in the middle so tomorrow would like to see NRC, Petrov and Delph/Bradley.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I don't mind whether it is 4-3-3 (with two wide) or 4-4-2 provided the right players are playing.
Personally we are more solid with 3 in the middle so tomorrow would like to see NRC, Petrov and Delph/Bradley.

I agree. We need to first win the midfield battle before we can go on and show our attacking strengths. We got seriously bullied at SJP earlier in the season and even without Nolan, they're a tough and dirty side. For all the wonderful first time passes Makoun can offer, he man can't tackle, preferring to track the player with the ball. We really need to be in their faces from the first minute as we were second half in 2007/8. Despite giving them too much space and allowing them to control the game first half, we came out and won every 50/50 ball and came back from 1 down to win 4-1. The fans that day also played their part, finishing off with a delightful "There's only one Kevin Keegan".

I'm going for a 3-0 home win. Villa Park on Sunday will be a wonderful place to be. Newcastle won't know what's hit them.

[SaluteIanTaylor]

Villa win, its has to be.  Not only for the obvious but the lady is a Toon fan!

Aston Villa F.C 2 - 0 Newcastle United F.C

Bent 23' & Dunne 56'