Newcastle United v Aston Villa - Pre Match Thread

[Toronto Villa]

If my predictions on Villa results had all come true over the years we'd not just have won the PL several times, but amassed enough points to win the Intergalatic Conference and the Interplanetary Champions League.

I predict once again that we will win.

[saunders_heroes]

I think I'm gonna hide under the bed while this game is going on.

[pauliewalnuts]

If I see the usual bullshit appear on the OS from some of the players, talking about how up for it and determined they are, add a couple more goals for the toons onto my previous prediction above.

What do you expect to see on the OS, though?

Don't get me wrong, I am as sick of the empty words and as keen to see them replaced by actual action as the next man, but the OS have a shit load of content they have to find every week of the year.

Of course they are going to speak to players, and of course they are going to be upbeat, what else are they meant to say?

What do you expect to see there? A 12 minute long interview clip with Leandro Bacuna saying "we're fucked, we've had it" over and over again?

Micah Richards telling us the damage was done under the Sherwood section of this season and we're sleepwalking into oblivion?

It's like watching BBC3 for the evening and then moaning on about how you feel like someone has replaced your brain with a piss soaked sponge. That is what is *supposed* to happen.

That's what you're supposed to read on the OS.

[tomd2103]

It is about this time in the week where the gloom of the past weekend lifts a little and a feeling of defiance kicks in usually accompanied by at least one viewing of this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gPKJh-m_GO4

[Goldie.7]

If I see the usual bullshit appear on the OS from some of the players, talking about how up for it and determined they are, add a couple more goals for the toons onto my previous prediction above.

What do you expect to see on the OS, though?

Don't get me wrong, I am as sick of the empty words and as keen to see them replaced by actual action as the next man, but the OS have a shit load of content they have to find every week of the year.

Of course they are going to speak to players, and of course they are going to be upbeat, what else are they meant to say?

That's what you're supposed to read on the OS.

I know exactly what you mean but after 4 months it's becoming highly annoying.

[Toronto Villa]

If I see the usual bullshit appear on the OS from some of the players, talking about how up for it and determined they are, add a couple more goals for the toons onto my previous prediction above.

What do you expect to see on the OS, though?

Don't get me wrong, I am as sick of the empty words and as keen to see them replaced by actual action as the next man, but the OS have a shit load of content they have to find every week of the year.

Of course they are going to speak to players, and of course they are going to be upbeat, what else are they meant to say?

That's what you're supposed to read on the OS.

I know exactly what you mean but after 4 months it's becoming highly annoying.

How much fun do you think it is for them though coming up with this stuff when the team is sitting firmly to the bottom of the league? It's not lost on them that they have spin something positive when everything Villa is quite miserable at the moment. The people that work there are not living in a bubble, so after 4 months they are probably sick of it too. Can you imagine joy on the OS let alone the clean up when we finally win a game?

[ozzjim]

It will be tough, we seem to be playing everyone at the wrong time at the moment which is tough on Garde. Everton just hit top gear, Arsenal had just found their form in mid week, Watford are flying, and now we play the one team having watched them 3-4 times that are genuinely worse than us, just as they fluke 2-3 results and have some confidence.

The front 3 has to be different. What that looks like I don't know, but Ayew and Traore wide seems the logical choice. I would risk Gabby down the middle. Sideshow Bob is not the fastest at the back for them, and he can't do worse than Gestede. I fear we would lump it at Kozak, and think asking him to come in cold to start is too much, but I would have him on the bench.

In the middle of the park Sanchez seems to have gone from looking solid to looking anything but, so I would bring in Lyden. Training reports are good, holding midfielder, seems to have a bit of something. Give him a shot and put Gueye alongside him holding. Let Veretout have some room in front to find the front 3 who should have some movement.

The back 4 you might as well pick by playing musical chairs. I would ship Lescott and Richards to left back and right back, and give Ilori and Okore the middle. Can't be any bleedin worse.

Tony Parks can keep goal.

[ChicagoLion]

Like the Derek and Clive worst job I ever had.

[Risso]

It will be tough, we seem to be playing everyone at the wrong time at the moment which is tough on Garde. Everton just hit top gear, Arsenal had just found their form in mid week, Watford are flying, and now we play the one team having watched them 3-4 times that are genuinely worse than us, just as they fluke 2-3 results and have some confidence.

The front 3 has to be different. What that looks like I don't know, but Ayew and Traore wide seems the logical choice. I would risk Gabby down the middle. Sideshow Bob is not the fastest at the back for them, and he can't do worse than Gestede. I fear we would lump it at Kozak, and think asking him to come in cold to start is too much, but I would have him on the bench.

In the middle of the park Sanchez seems to have gone from looking solid to looking anything but, so I would bring in Lyden. Training reports are good, holding midfielder, seems to have a bit of something. Give him a shot and put Gueye alongside him holding. Let Veretout have some room in front to find the front 3 who should have some movement.

The back 4 you might as well pick by playing musical chairs. I would ship Lescott and Richards to left back and right back, and give Ilori and Okore the middle. Can't be any bleedin worse.

Tony Parks can keep goal.

To be fair there's no such thing as a bad time to play us.  How many times have we seen in recent years teams and/or players on a bad run break that bad run against us.

[ozzjim]

I think that pisses me off more than us losing these days Risso. We are almost every centre forwards favourite side to play. Defensively we have been bobbins for way too long, and one of the reasons I am happy to give Garde time to sort it out is I just don't see it being an easy thing to fix, unless you can spend 30 million in January on 3-4 experienced, quality defensive players in both midfield and defence.

It could be argued the best signing any club made in the last 12 months is Robert Huth - Leicester have not looked back since he signed.

[villadelph]

Just score some goals and don't cock it up at the back..

what is so hard about that?

[Hillbilly]

It could be argued the best signing any club made in the last 12 months is Robert Huth - Leicester have not looked back since he signed.

I miss the days when we could crack open a jar of pickled herring and the likes of Mellberg and Laursen would come running (or hobbling in the case of the latter).

[ciggiesnbeer]

I am sure Newcastle fans will be looking forward to this one. Will there be banners though? I want banners!

No idea about the result, a dull nil nil would be apt but we will probably manage a loss. 1-0 to some flukey OG or something.

[VicMackey]

Just score some goals and don't cock it up at the back..

what is so hard about that?

Can you please give the team talk on Saturday?

Just score some goals and don't cock it up at the back..

what is so hard about that?

Can you please give the team talk on Saturday?

[ROBBO]

We lost three players from last season who went out wanting to win, we have players now who go out hoping for the best and too ready to accept defeat. I don't see much fight on the pitch and Huttons pull back for the penalty was a classic case of a player caught out then having a brain fart. I don't know who i would play exept for not playing Getstede ever again, they have all had chances and all let us down all season. 2-0.