Aston Villa vs Newcastle Post-Match Thread

[mr underhill]

just back in. Shapeless bewildering shite for 60 minutes then as soon as we show some attacking intent we look the better side. Robbie's drinking in the saloon of last chances I think. Tactically appalling - loose Tuesday and Tone's going to be firing from the hip.

[auntiesledd]

Or how does 2 defeats in 9 this season look?

We all know we haven't been good enough so far but I really don't get why folks don't try and get some enjoyment from us getting a late goal that means something for once rather than still looking to be as negative as possible.

Indeed. If the players and management can use the last 25 minutes drive and belief to good effect, that'll be something to counteract the previous 70 and the Ipswich game.

Well let's hope that does indeed happen - so we can finally look forward to turning one point into three more regularly.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Are we still in 19th?

17th, 11 points off top.

[LukeJames]

How have we had Ayew for over a year and he hasn't been on set pieces until today?

[Ron Manager]

Westwood off and we are better

I noticed that. Tshibola showed him up good and proper.

Westwood went off with 10 mins to go including added time, we were on top the last 30 mins.

I wouldn't bother. The narrative is set. Not that I'm a Westwood lover, but Jedinak was way worse than him today

The first hour was so bad it's a massive concern. All the points have been covered

Tshibola was by far the best midfielder and the 433 many of us have wanted to see tried looked loads better

Ayew and kodjia coming off the lines looked really good. I'd play that way again against Barnsley. Baker for elphick if fit

Jedinak's passing made me long for gardner. It was god awful

Craig Gardner?

[ez]

As bad as can be in the first half. Some hope from the second half and nice to score the late goal for a change. However if we want to be serious about promotion  a draw at home against Newcastle is a bad result.

[Ron Manager]

Tshibola looks a good buy but in Elphick, Chester and Jedinak we have massively overpaid for has beens. Jedinak and Elphick especially were shocking.

I think Chester has been good on the whole.

Chester has been very good.He was today.

[Jimbo]

The thing about Westwood is that whilst he is frequently "not the worst" he is so peripheral to the game he might as well not be on the pitch.

We have a massive problem in midfield, we just look so light there, and Westwood and his inability to spot runners or to provide some sort of defensive quality is a huge part of that problem.

Crux of the matter. I don't wish injury on anyone but why the hell is it our better players that get crocked?

Probably because they actually make contact with the opposition. Westwood is like a gas floating around the middle, occasionally the wind changes and you see him.

[Matt Collins]

A home draw against Newcastle isn't a bad result

It was a bloody awful performance for an hour

I don't want to see that 352 again for a while. It was never the right way to play today

Needs give 433 / 4312 a go for a bit I feel. Even if it means leaving a lot of firepower on the bench

Wouldn't say Tish was amazing but he gave us what we needed.

[Jimbo]

Westwood off and we are better

I noticed that. Tshibola showed him up good and proper.

Westwood went off with 10 mins to go including added time, we were on top the last 30 mins.

I wouldn't bother. The narrative is set. Not that I'm a Westwood lover, but Jedinak was way worse than him today

The first hour was so bad it's a massive concern. All the points have been covered

Tshibola was by far the best midfielder and the 433 many of us have wanted to see tried looked loads better

Ayew and kodjia coming off the lines looked really good. I'd play that way again against Barnsley. Baker for elphick if fit

Jedinak's passing made me long for gardner. It was god awful

The difference being Jedinak has played about three games for us, whereas I've been watching the ghost-like Westwood haunting our midfield for four fucking years, and - surprise, surprise - we've been absolutely shit for all of those four years.

[Richard E]

Tshibola looks a good buy but in Elphick, Chester and Jedinak we have massively overpaid for has beens. Jedinak and Elphick especially were shocking.

I think Chester has been good on the whole.

Chester has been very good.He was today.

You tend to hardly notice Chester, which is generally a good sign for a defender.

[rougegorge]

A home draw against Newcastle isn't a bad result

It was a bloody awful performance for an hour

I don't want to see that 352 again for a while. It was never the right way to play today

Needs give 433 / 4312 a go for a bit I feel. Even if it means leaving a lot of firepower on the bench

Wouldn't say Tish was amazing but he gave us what we needed.

Agreed. That random first half formation left players wondering where they should be playing.

Ayew was great for the last half hour but in the first half was anonymous. Kodjia looks the part too.

If only we could sort central midfield...and the unceasing mistakes at the back.

[Richard]

Play 3 in midfield with Ayew and Grealish either side of Kodja - McCormack Adomah and Gestede to provide bench firepower.

Have a feeling Baker and Chester will be our best centre half combo.

[PaulWinch again]

Gollini is increasingly looking very good.

[tomd2103]

Felt more positive coming away from Villa Park today.  Desperately poor first half, but better when Tshibola came on and we went to three in midfield.  Didn't think much of Newcastle to be honest and apart from one crucial save in the first half, Gollini didn't have much to do.  As for the rest:

Bacuna - did OK at RB, was horrible in midfield
Amavi - some good moments going forward but looks very suspect defensively
Chester - solid game
Elphick - had a nightmare
Baker - typical Baker performance and taken off at half-time
Jedinak -  see Elphick
Westwood - why oh why? 
Adomah - started at wing-back for some reason and then taken off before he got a chance to get going on the wing
Ayew - mixed bag but had some moments of quality
Kodjia - lively but does a lot of his outside the box

Tshibola - changed the game and was a real presence in midfield
Gestede - put himself about but nothing of real note
Hepburn-Murphy - looked lively

We looked much better when Tshibola came on and we went to three in midfield, even though Westwood looked completely lost.  I thought having genuine width in the second half also helped as it stretched them a bit.  Di matteo has got to find a system and way of playing that works though as he seems like he's stumbling around in the dark at the moment.