Newcastle United v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[djbone]

Nothing in the game at all. Newcastle were  no great shakes but they have momentum and the ball is running their way. Krull made some good saves, Given had to make none and a left foot swinger finds the top corner.

We do go through very poor patches though and although the defence is fragile, we do lack presence in midfield when teams crank up the pressure. Was impressed with Gardner but someone needs to tell Bannan that Hollywood type passes invariably give the ball away.

Spot on. As disappointing as it was, I thought we were a bit unlucky today.  Baffling subs by McLeish tho, be interesting to see what the truth about the Ireland subbing was.

[Phil from the upper holte]

If anyone needs a Bollocking for not passing It's nzogbia, yes he created the goal but he could have created more if he looked up once in a while

[villadelph]

If anyone needs a Bollocking for not passing It's nzogbia, yes he created the goal but he could have created more if he looked up once in a while

While I agree he could improve by considering his passing options more often, he is the only player in the squad today that was willing to put his head down and try to beat a defender. No one else in our side is capable of that.

[paul_e]

For the first twenty of the second half we hardly had any possession at all. The substitution was made in order for Heskey to help get hold of the ball and get the team passing again. This actually worked, but then they got their second. Gardner looks good and it'd be good to see him get a run of games now.

Exactly, because it's Heskey the facts get ignored but we improved when he came on.

No we didn't, it was 1-1 when he came on and 2-1 a few minutes later.

I'm not blaming heskey for the goal but the situation clearly didn't improve for the substitution, a change needed to be made but the one he decided on was the wrong choice.  That's nothing against heskey or positive for nzogbia, simply an acknowledgement that them having 75% possession for the first 20 of the 2nd half wasn't being caused by nzogbia not being a target man.

The change that need to happen at that point was in the middle where petrov's legs had gone and clark had been doing the running for both of them for 20minutes.  When Clark when off he'd run himself into the ground covering the holes petrov was leaving by not tracking players.

Petrov has been utter gash since the middle of december and is costing us lots at the moment.  He needs to be dropped for Gardner for a game or two but McLeish is scared to make the big calls like that so we'll stumble through the rest of the season with Petrov out on his feet by half time.

[ez]

I really thought we'd seen the last of Heskey.

[Dave Clark Five]

More crap from Twitter.
Regarding N'Zogbia, he continually gave the ball away.
Heskey was not a popular sub but it gave the anti-McLeish crowd a chance to come together in harmony.
Warnock may have had a few howlers again but he is not frightened to go in where it hurts.
Their second goal came from a wrong decision by Halsey. It what not a foul by Heskey.
We have played far, far worse at Newcastle in the past.

[taylorsworkrate]

Oh and a big "where the fuck was Dunne trying to head the ball for the 1st goal?"

[Jimmy Smash]

Another tactical master stroke by McLeish. Take the width out of the team that created the most chances in the first half and try and play through the middle. It's very frustrating.

[CJ]

I really thought we'd seen the last of Heskey.

Me too.  I have a horrible feeling though that as no-one will buy him McCleish will offer him another year

[villadelph]

I really thought we'd seen the last of Heskey.

So did I. I was utterly STUNNED when he came up to the sideline. Having just come off injury and preparing to leave the club in a few months.. what good was he on the field?

I honestly hope, for the fans sake, he never comes on the field again

I DON'T GET IT.

[Matt Collins]

We've got Citeh next, where a draw would be a good result, but where I just can't see us containing their fwds

After that, 3 eminently winnable games (Wigan, Blackburn, Fulham) if we can get 7-9 points out of that, we'll be virtually safe on 35+ points. And make no mistake we do need to make sure we're safe given the run of games later on

I really think Gardner needs to get more minutes. I don't want to pile too much pressure on, he's missed 3 brilliant chances already, but he adds physicality, good composure and excellent running off the ball. Clark, after an excellent start, is looking out of form.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I really thought we'd seen the last of Heskey.

I hoped we had

[DB]

Is it me or does anyone think we have a really good squad? They just don't play with ay conviction. Add to that the team selection / sub decisions.

[tarzansbrother]

Collymore via Twitter: "Couldn't believe how many Villa players were back chatting to McLeish through the game. Can't be very healthy.."

They're confidence in the manager seems to be dropping.

This is where some of the experienced players really are stinking the club out. Dunne is the perfect example, his half hearted attemp for the ball for their second goal and his last 30mins were a joke. He really looked like he wasn't bothered.

[taylorsworkrate]

More crap from Twitter.
Regarding N'Zogbia, he continually gave the ball away.
Heskey was not a popular sub but it gave the anti-McLeish crowd a chance to come together in harmony.
Warnock may have had a few howlers again but he is not frightened to go in where it hurts.
Their second goal came from a wrong decision by Halsey. It what not a foul by Heskey.
We have played far, far worse at Newcastle in the past.

N'Zogbia also created our goal with an excellent run and cross.

Heskey should not be in the squad full stop. It's not about McLeish. Heskey's had tons of stick when MON and Houllier were in charge.

Warnock may be prepared to go in where it hurts, but so would I for the money he earns. I wouldn't make that many more fundamental errors either.