Newcastle vs Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread - Wednesday, June 24th - 6pm

[Steve67]

I think Dean will make a couple of changes to the starting 11.  Samatta to start instead of Davis.  I also think he will rest SJM as three games in a week might be too much for him.   Not that I agree with the latter.  Same old 433, although I would like to see two up top. I'll take a draw, hope for a win.

[Legion]

I think Dean has completely lost the plot and I am (was?)  a big fan of him.

[cdbearsfan]

Must win. These aren't Chelsea. No standing off admiring them for ninety minutes. Fucking go for it or fucking go down.

[Axl Rose]

Same team, same tactics. Newcastle will be too good for us.

Villa to win 3-2

[David_Nab]

Totally different game to Chelsea , they will sit back and try and hit on the break.Keeping Saint-Maximin quiet will be tough and is a headache in team selection.Risk a perhaps not fit Guilbert or go Konsa ( lose attacking threat ) or Elmo ( no pace )

If we go behind in this game we will struggle , they have 10th best defence in league and will happily sit back on a lead and counter.

We need to make changes either formation / personnel or both.We need to try and catch them out like we did with Burnley when we went to 3-5-2.

[ROBBO]

After watching Newcastle destroy Sheff Utd not sure what optimistic drug some posters are on.

[Toronto Villa]

I think Dean has completely lost the plot and I am (was?)  a big fan of him.

His interview on Villa TV was just nonsensical drivel. Man up FFS and go down fighting if that’s what ends up happening. What we are seeing right now is white flag waving bollocks.

[Toronto Villa]

After watching Newcastle destroy Sheff Utd not sure what optimistic drug some posters are on.

That’s a bit generous Robbo. It was a pretty dull even game up until their red card. Sheff Utd fell apart very quickly after that.

[ROBBO]

I'm just that kind of guy.

[Richard]

Smith needs to wake the fuck up as we are sleepwalking our way to relegation.

I actually think the back 5 have done ok these 2 games back its the formation in front of them that's wrong.

Needs to be a 5 in midfield behind Davis or Samatta, something like:

El Ghazi - left

Marv
Jack - just behind striker
Doug

McGinn or Conor - right

No more of this 433 shit with Jack playing as an extra bloody full back !

[Marlon From Bearwood]

Must win. These aren't Chelsea. No standing off admiring them for ninety minutes. Fucking go for it or fucking go down.

This.

‘Must win game’ is an over used term. But if we don’t win on Wednesday we are relegated, I believe. It’s as simple as that. If anyone can look at our fixtures and argue otherwise then I’m all ears.

[Proposition Joe]

Hoping this is where Smith proves me wrong. He has a good record against Bruce, and we are due some luck.

I don't agree we need some luck, I think the mess we're in is of our own making.

I think I would go for something like:

---‐--------------- Nyland --------------------
------ Konsa - Mings - Hause --------
Elmo* -- Luiz -- Nakamba -- Targett
------------------- Jack ----‐-------------------
-------- Davis -------------- Samatta -----

* = Guilbert if fit

[mattjpa]

There is a glaringly obvious flaw in our current plan: We are asking our wide men to tuck in and cover. When we do win the ball back we then try and go immediately long to Davis who wins a good percentage of the ball and retains possession with absolutely nobody within 40yards of him. He then swaps out Samatta and Davis and we ask AS to play a way that obviously isn't his strength. Its fucking stupid. If this is what he wants to do, he needs to find a way of them playing together. Wide men are currently a waste of fucking time. Its annoying me that he either cant see this or is hoping its going to miraculously work somehow.

[Rigadon]

We really do need to win this, but I can’t see it happening. 

[mallo]

We're not going to draw our way 0-0 to safety so we have to go suicide squad and pose a real goal threat so we push teams back. Attack. We normally enjoy more possession against Bruce so we have a chance - it is only that though. Oh for an early Davis goal.