Aston Villa v Newcastle United Pre-Match Thread

[PaulWinch again]

I think we'll lose 1-3, I really hope I'm wrong. Can you imagine how much better we'd feel if we got a couple of players in and picked up an unexpected 6 points this week?

[eastie]

The real worry for me is our home form, at least away from home we seem to perform a bit better but we struggle badly at villa park- 3 wins in 14 months in the league is shocking.

[Mortimer's Bear]

The real worry for me is our home form, at least away from home we seem to perform a bit better but we struggle badly at villa park- 3 wins in 14 months in the league is shocking.

Maybe that's because away from home they haven't got 30K+ fans waiting with baited breath to moan and groan at every misplaced pass.

[VillaAlways]

The real worry for me is our home form, at least away from home we seem to perform a bit better but we struggle badly at villa park- 3 wins in 14 months in the league is shocking.

Maybe that's because away from home they haven't got 30K+ fans waiting with baited breath to moan and groan at every misplaced pass.

Under the circumstances the fans have been fantastic home and away given the complete and utter shit we've had to put up with over the past three seasons.To say the fans are somehow to blame for poor performances is utterly unfair,it wasn't the fans that removed the whole midfield against Bradford was it?

[eastie]

The real worry for me is our home form, at least away from home we seem to perform a bit better but we struggle badly at villa park- 3 wins in 14 months in the league is shocking.

Maybe that's because away from home they haven't got 30K+ fans waiting with baited breath to moan and groan at every misplaced pass.

I think its harsh to blame the fans for the ineptitude of players.

[Chrisupnorth]

The real worry for me is our home form, at least away from home we seem to perform a bit better but we struggle badly at villa park- 3 wins in 14 months in the league is shocking.

Maybe that's because away from home they haven't got 30K+ fans waiting with baited breath to moan and groan at every misplaced pass.

Maybe, but they're also highly paid professionals playing in one of the world's major leagues, so that sort of goes with the territory imo.

[danlanza]

A Villa win tonight.

[PeterWithesShin]

Paul Lambert reckons Richard Dunne has all the necessary qualities to lead Villa's survival battle.

Lambert is remaining cautious over Dunne's chances of featuring in the clash against Newcastle.

He is reluctant to rush the Republic of Ireland defender back and risk a reoccurrence of the groin injury which has kept him out of action since last summer's European Championships.

But the Villa boss is looking forward to having Dunne available again in the coming weeks.

Lambert believes the talismanic centre-back's presence will boost the team in terms of defensive steel and organisation.

"He knows the game inside out," said Lambert.

"Richard has had a great career but you can't rush somebody that's been out for that length of time.

"He will go and put his head in. He's been around the block and knows the game. He knows exactly what it entails.

"He's what we need, especially when the ball comes into the penalty area, going to compete and putting your head on the line.

"He's a good talker too, a really good talker."

Dunne was expected to step up his training ahead of the Magpies clash and Lambert will talk to him before making a decision on his availability.

It has been a frustrating season for the former Manchester City ace, who underwent surgery to correct the ongoing problem.

"It's been a nightmare for him," said Lambert.

"He's had operations, then another one and he's still not been getting to the bottom of it.

"But at this minute he's feeling not too bad.

"I'll go by Richard himself. We've had chats to see how he's feeling but he's been out for over half a year now and he's hardly trained.

"So it's difficult just to throw him back in. It's difficult for players who have been out for a few weeks, never mind half a year.

"You're taking a risk there. We'll see how he feels on the morning of the game."

[Chrisupnorth]

Bloody 'eck, it comes to something when all of our hopes are hanging on the fitness of Richard Dunne.  Yes, with the state of our current squad, I agree that if fully fit he should play.  However, the combination of relying on a semi-fit (at best) veteran and all of Lambert's 'we have to go to war' and 'put your head in where it hurts' rhetoric smacks of real desperation.  Of course more commitment is required from the players, but so is a more thoughtful tactical approach from the manager.  You know Paul, something that gets the best out of the players you have and makes Villa a more effective unit in attack and defence.  Starting tonight, it's time to stop all this William Wallace nonsense and show us that you have the tactical nous to justify keeping your job.  Right now, for me the jury's well and truly out.

[PaulWinch again]

The real worry for me is our home form, at least away from home we seem to perform a bit better but we struggle badly at villa park- 3 wins in 14 months in the league is shocking.

Maybe that's because away from home they haven't got 30K+ fans waiting with baited breath to moan and groan at every misplaced pass.

Yep it's all the fans fault. The Villa fans have been incredibly supportive this season given some of the performances we've had to endure.

[PaulWinch again]

If Dunne is fit I'd have him in side, we need experience and we need someone who's actually prepared to get hurt to block and stop the ball going in our net.

[Broughty-Villian]

I'd rather he played the william wallace monument than Dunne at the mo. wait till he's fit, THIS is still a winable game. Play an unfit, not match fit Dunne and it wont be winnable.

[Oscar Arce]

The real worry for me is our home form, at least away from home we seem to perform a bit better but we struggle badly at villa park- 3 wins in 14 months in the league is shocking.

Maybe that's because away from home they haven't got 30K+ fans waiting with baited breath to moan and groan at every misplaced pass.

Under the circumstances the fans have been fantastic home and away given the complete and utter shit we've had to put up with over the past three seasons.To say the fans are somehow to blame for poor performances is utterly unfair,it wasn't the fans that removed the whole midfield against Bradford was it?

This manager has had more support from the fans than any, bar none, in my 50 years supporting the Villa.
There has been no call for his head, no booing, not a word of abuse or stick, but I think tonight will be the tipping point if we lose.

[Clampy]

The real worry for me is our home form, at least away from home we seem to perform a bit better but we struggle badly at villa park- 3 wins in 14 months in the league is shocking.

Maybe that's because away from home they haven't got 30K+ fans waiting with baited breath to moan and groan at every misplaced pass.

Under the circumstances the fans have been fantastic home and away given the complete and utter shit we've had to put up with over the past three seasons.To say the fans are somehow to blame for poor performances is utterly unfair,it wasn't the fans that removed the whole midfield against Bradford was it?

There has been no call for his head, no booing, not a word of abuse or stick, but I think tonight will be the tipping point if we lose.

I've just been chatting to someone and we said the same thing. It could be a Bolton type scenario which is not what we need.

[achilles]

Bloody 'eck, it comes to something when all of our hopes are hanging on the fitness of Richard Dunne.  Yes, with the state of our current squad, I agree that if fully fit he should play.  However, the combination of relying on a semi-fit (at best) veteran and all of Lambert's 'we have to go to war' and 'put your head in where it hurts' rhetoric smacks of real desperation.  Of course more commitment is required from the players, but so is a more thoughtful tactical approach from the manager.  You know Paul, something that gets the best out of the players you have and makes Villa a more effective unit in attack and defence.  Starting tonight, it's time to stop all this William Wallace nonsense and show us that you have the tactical nous to justify keeping your job.  Right now, for me the jury's well and truly out.

Totally agree, good post!