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

[LeeB]

We have never done very well up there, I think. Then again, we haven't done well anywhere for ages.

We don't generally do well up there, but occasionally we get a unlikely win when we're not that good, which is the hope I'm clinging too.

[john e]

I think we can win

not because I have any faith in Smith left but because -

1 - Newcastle have nothing to play for
2 - their manager is even less tactical aware than ours
3 - we won’t turn into sponge puddings because Newcastle arn’t a considered a top 6 side
4 - we really really need to win and the players know it’s a big opportunity
5 - Although higher in the league they are not much than us and will play predictable football
6 - Grealish & Mcginn are due to come good
7 - it’s probably our best chance of 3 points out of all our remaining games

if all the above fails then we’re fucked

[RamboandBruno]

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.

Exactly this. If it’s the starting 11 and formation tomorrow, I hold my head in my hands.
Talking to a mate tonight who is a manager at non league level, he reckons the fact that we’re only a point behind West Ham and Bournemouth, is affecting Smiths tactics and making him overly cautious, as he thinks the odd draw will be ok. There could be something in this in regards to his mindset, this is where you’d hope his coaches come into play and tell him to get a grip, get in the oppositions faces and play two up top ffs

[eamonn]

Interesting. It's not Tim Flowers, lately of Solihull Moors, is it ?

[Gareth]

My team would be;
                  Nyland
Guilbert Mings Hause Targett
    Luiz Drinkwater Nakamba
                  McGinn
                       Grealish
                  Davis

Reina
Konsa
Elmo
Hourihane
Jota
Lansbury
El Ghazi
Samatta
Barry

I’d play Drinkwater on the basis that this fake football that they are playing with no crowds has so little pace that he won’t get over run & Douglas aside our midfield on Sunday were a disgrace - if we had more options I would also have dropped McGinn to bench to give him a rest & the opportunity to come on with 25-30 minutes to go rather than trying to pace himself from kick off.

I can see the calls for two up top but do we have enough in midfield to make that a possibility?

[john e]

My team would be;
                  Nyland
Guilbert Mings Hause Targett
    Luiz Drinkwater Nakamba
                  McGinn
                       Grealish
                  Davis

Reina
Konsa
Elmo
Hourihane
Jota
Lansbury
El Ghazi
Samatta
Barry

I’d play Drinkwater on the basis that this fake football that they are playing with no crowds has so little pace that he won’t get over run & Douglas aside our midfield on Sunday were a disgrace - if we had more options I would also have dropped McGinn to bench to give him a rest & the opportunity to come on with 25-30 minutes to go rather than trying to pace himself from kick off.

I can see the calls for two up top but do we have enough in midfield to make that a possibility?

things are looking grim
but they are even worse than I thought if that’s possible if we are relying on Drinkwater in any way for our premier league survival

[Legion]

Drinkwater? No.

[Legion]

Tomorrow is massive.

[Jon Crofts]

Tomorrow is massive.

Wicked wicked Jungle is massive.

[Brazilian Villain]

Tomorrow is massive.

Agreed, a repeat of Sunderland away (March 2015) would be nice. Go on Villa, give us a pleasant surprise for once.

[Gareth]

I’d say Hourihane has had more 3/10 performances than Drinkwater this season including Sunday - there comes a time where he can’t be on the pitch on the off chance we get a free kick as he contributes so little in open play. 

[Legion]

Away at Norwich this season. That Sunderland game never happened.

[Gareth]

Away at Norwich this season. That Sunderland game never happened.

8 x Norwich always would be lovely.

It did happen....it did!!! :-)

[Legion]

Not for me it didn't. The wounds run deep.

[Brazilian Villain]

Not for me it didn't. The wounds run deep.

I thought it was the 6-1 win at home that you missed.