Aston Villa v Newcastle United Pre-Match Thread

[Ron Manager]

I think Bent has to start

Too true he has to start!

[Surrey Villain]

Todays press conference - Baker and delph very doubtful , dunne may be involved.

Does that mean ''wee'' Barry in midfield again? I love those overhit corners!

Those corners are only 'overhit' because there is never anybody past the far post coming in.  They are all in the six yard box getting in each others way while a defender heads away. A quarter of the pitch wasted.

[adrenachrome]

Daily Heil

Lambert demands Villa strugglers bleed for the cause in crunch Newcastle clash

By Neil Moxley

PUBLISHED: 13:11, 28 January 2013 | UPDATED: 13:11, 28 January 2013

Paul Lambert says he needs players who are prepared to bleed for the cause as he urged Aston Villa's players to get tough ahead of Newcastle United's visit tomorrow.

Villa's boss fronted up in a lengthy pre-match press conference where he addressed all manner of questions as to Villa's desperate form over the past six weeks.

And one of the topics was again the fragility of Lambert's side at set-pieces, highlighted twice during cup defeats to Bradford City and Millwall last week.

The Scot will speak with Richard Dunne at training today to see whether the veteran Republic of Ireland centre-half is ready to be thrown back into the fold following a six-month absence with groin and hip problems.

That addition should help as Lambert explained what is missing.

'I need people who are prepared to be cut in the penalty area,' he said. 'People who don't mind having a clash of heads.

'I can believe the supporters are upset by what's happened. They are probably saying the same things as I'm saying.

'But when a ball comes into the box, you have to be prepared to be hurt. It's you against me in the box and you have to be wanted to do it.

'If players let you down, it's down to me to make sure it doesn't happen.

'It's an individual thing. And you have to be prepared to be hurt, to get cut. If you are not prepared to get your head and your eye cut open, maybe you shouldn't be there.'

Lambert failed to acknowledge one local press reporter after the defeat to Millwall in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup on Friday night.

He didn't apologise for that, but a comment that: 'I was annoyed by the defeat, I can't stand getting beaten and we are being beaten too much,' was as close as it came to an explanation.

But as to whether Villa will spend with the closure of the transfer window just three days away, Lambert was quick to dampen down any expectations.

'You can only play the hand you are dealt,' he said. 'That's it in a nutshell.

'I'm pretty sure the chairman knows what he is doing. It's his money. If you are asking me whether there's a massive amount of money, then there isn't any.

'You've got to go to war with the ones you've got. We have tried a few things and some people went to other clubs because the money was too much for us.

'That's football, you have to work within those parameters.'

[achilles]

I just hope the crowd stick with them through the game, we can boo vent spleens and give them a round of fucks as much as we like at the end, IMO support throughout the game is paramount tomorrow night.

Doubt it will happen though.

I agree with this. There will be some who will be disappointed if we win.

For the life of me I cannot understand comments like this, it just beggars belief!
How can ANY Villa supporter be disappointed if Villa win, it just doesn't make any sense at all!

[Dave Clark Five]

I just hope the crowd stick with them through the game, we can boo vent spleens and give them a round of fucks as much as we like at the end, IMO support throughout the game is paramount tomorrow night.

Doubt it will happen though.

I agree with this. There will be some who will be disappointed if we win.

For the life of me I cannot understand comments like this, it just beggars belief!
How can ANY Villa supporter be disappointed if Villa win, it just doesn't make any sense at all!

I am telling you that they do exist.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I think Newcastle will give us the old 5.2 diet.

[Risso]

"If you are asking me whether there's a massive amount of money, then there isn't any."

Straneg choice of words.  There isn't any massive amount, or there isn't any at all?

[Boz]

"If you are asking me whether there's a massive amount of money, then there isn't any."

Straneg choice of words.  There isn't any massive amount, or there isn't any at all?

They are strange choice, but it might be because he's a Scot and difficult to understand, with apologies to any Scottish Villa fans. 

[Billy Walker]

I just hope the crowd stick with them through the game, we can boo vent spleens and give them a round of fucks as much as we like at the end, IMO support throughout the game is paramount tomorrow night.

Doubt it will happen though.

The crowd are such an important factor here.  Even if we go a goal down we have to stick with the lads all the way through and fight our way back.  I wish the official site would get this message across to everyone that we need to stick together and battle our way through to the end of the season and a decent finish.

[David_Nab]

It's asking alot for the fans to stay with the team at this stage.How many games have we won at home in the last 18 months.I know it has been said before some other games but I really think this is the tipping point.A lose here and fans will turn ..at all involved players ,Lambert and Lerner.

[PeterWithesShin]

Andi Weimann insists there is real belief in the dressing room that the team can make a move up the top-flight table.

Villa are 17th in the Barclays Premier League and face Newcastle on the back of cup defeats to Bradford and Millwall.

Despite this, Weimann is positive Villa can turn the tide and starting winning again.

Asked if they had the belief, he said: "Yes, of course.

"If we didn't have belief there would be no point playing.

"Obviously we picked up good results against Liverpool and Norwich so we are capable. Hopefully it can turn back in our favour now.

"We have to stick together as a team and start winning games again.

"I think we know we can play football because we have showed it in some games. The confidence is not the highest. When you don't win games, it's not going to be high.

"We have to just keep going, stick together through this and it will start to turn.

"Hopefully if we get one win it will show that we can do it and things will start to turn. We will keep going as a team.

"At the moment it is just not going for us. Hopefully it is going to turn soon and start on Tuesday.

"All we need is a win, because we haven't won for a while now. Hopefully if we can do that it will turn."

Weimann is eager for three points against Newcastle - for the team and for the fans.

He knows it will be a tough proposition against the Magpies.

He added: "It's a massive game for us.

"They have signed a few players but we are going to go for it on Tuesday. It's a massive game and hopefully we are going to get the win and it will turn for us.

"The fans have been outstanding. They were unbelievable in the game against Bradford and hopefully we can get a few wins for them."

[Tayls_7]

I just want someone to give me a big hug and tell me everything's going to be ok.

[Oscar Arce]

Warnock off to West Ham, Delph out.
Tell me what is the sense in playing a shot Bannan on Tuesday when Warnock could do a job there for us, albeit limited, like he did last season.
It could mean the difference in staying in the league or getting relegated

[PaulWinch again]

Well Lambert is right, players need to be prepared to get hurt to defend our goal.

[Billy Walker]

I just want someone to give me a big hug and tell me everything's going to be ok.

We all need a big hug!  The manager, players, supporters, everyone connected with the club...We've got to stick together and fight our way out of this.