Newcastle Utd vs Aston Villa pre-match thread

[steamer]

No Wilson, no ASM, no Almiron, and Bruce still in charge?

You'll not need a 'keeper on the pitch, let alone Grealish.

Honestly, we went to West Brom, who've the worst defence in the league, without a striker starting. We waited until deep into the second half before bringing on Gayle, then didn't play him as the striker, then gave Andy Carroll 180 seconds to magic something out his arse.

Bruce is without a doubt, the worst football manager I've seen at my club in over 30yrs watching them. Worse than Ardilles, Dalglish, Gullit, Souness, Roeder (RIP), Allardyce, Kinnear, Pardew, McClaren(FFS). He's maybe, MAYBE better than John Carver, but that's it.

We can't defend well, don't control the ball, and don't create chances as a team. We've relied on individuals way too much.

Of course, it's not Bruce's fault, what with self-inflicted injury crises, the press being negative by accurately reporting our malaise, the fans making St James' toxic by saying means things about him on twitter, the players fault for not being telepathic.

honestly, I've no idea what the profanity filter on here is like, but I swear I could break it.
So you to win this one then

[Steve67]

Good summary from The Fish and I know that there are others who read his post in a Geordie accent!  I feel your pain mate, we've been there for a while but hope that this is the start of something special for Villa with these owners.  Dean Smith normally does well against Bruce, let's hope that continues on Friday.  I've gone for a draw. Do better please Villa.

[Ads]

Martinez

Targett
Mings
Konsa
Elmo

Luiz
Sanson
McGinn

Grealish
Watkins
Trez

[Toronto Villa]

I’d play Traore in this game for sure. Or AEG if he’s fit again. Both over Trez who hasn’t looked the same since his bout with Covid.

[simboy]

Any news on when Cash will be back?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I was reading Newcastle fans’ comments on Bruce in an article in the Athletic recently and honestly, it’s fascinating for a Villa fan to hear what they’re saying as all their gripes and accusations just sound like Groundhog Day to us.

I wonder if his son goes on Newcastle forums defending him. Fish, any recent new members on your forums going under the name of 'Stuart'?

[Louzie0]

Hoping that my fantasy football will feature Villa winning.
Please!

[andyh]

No pictures of Jack in the latest round of Villa in training pics.

[Risso]

No pictures of Jack in the latest round of Villa in training pics.

Fulhm after the international break first week of April is still my guess for when he'll be back.

[RamboandBruno]

Martinez

Targett
Mings
Konsa
Elmo

Luiz
Sanson
McGinn

Grealish
Watkins
Trez

This apart from the Trez role being interchangeable with either el ghazi or Traore.
3-0 villa (Watkins, Grealish, Konsa).
Not being over confident, we’re not playing that well and nothing against Newcastle in particular. But with Grealish hopefully back for us and all the players they have out, plus their form, think we’ll get a good result up there, we also haven’t won up there since Bowyer and Dyer had a punch up, so owe them one.
Bruce on the ropes afterwards I think.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Any news on when Cash will be back?

[simboy]

Any news on when Cash will be back?

So, are you cashing in on Cash out or are you cashing out on Cash in?

[ktvillan]

Our recent form is as bad as theirs (two draws one win and a 2 defeats) which doesn't particularly make us favourites despite the league positions. Since our defence is generally strong and they have a lot of forwards out, them to get nil is a good bet, except Gayle often does well against us. We can't seem to score either so I reckon a dire 0-0, 0-1 or a 1-1 goal fest (relatively speaking).

As for Bruce, Fish I feel your pain and everything you said was said by us and in a Guardian article (female reporter, can't remember the name) when he was at Sunderland.  He ticks every box every time at every club.  Has he come out and said "who would you get who is better?" yet? The answer is pretty much anyone.  In our case we went out and got Deano who got us promoted straight away, kept us there and improved us. 

Of course your real issue is the owner and Bruce is only there as the cheap "keep us up" option until he finds a buyer.  Problem is Bruce doesn't even look capable of that right now, which anyone who really knows his approach will not be surprised by in the slightest.

[The Fish]

Loaning out Elphick and Steer was insanity. Bruce seemed to throw the budget at the likes of Bolasie in a last minute dash post takeover when there were more fundamental issues in the squad that needed rectifying.

I think a number here are forgetting the complete shit show Bruce walked into at Villa Park. His best decision at the club was exiling our main striker, a pissed up joker, and finally enforcing some discipline at the club. He also did take the club to the playoff final, should take credit for getting Grealish back on track, signed McGinn etc...So it's not all bad and I don't really understand the level of vitriol on here towards him. In terms of track record, he has a number of promotions under his belt and kept Newcastle up comfortably last season with a limited budget.

His problem has always been when he has been given money, same problem at Sunderland, Villa and Newcastle last summer. He seems to sign players without a sense of how to fit them into a game plan. Newcastle seem to have loads of centre backs, we had loads of right backs....but he wouldn't be unique in that either.

Not sure I agree that he had a limited budget. We bought Joelinton (£40m), ASM (£16m), Krafth (£5m).

Bruce's issues last season have simply worsened this season. We still don't play with any identity. Are we a solid defensive unit? Are we a quick counter-attack side? Do we knock the ball around patiently? We ended up being comfortable last season, but as someone who endured the matches, it wasn't through the execution of a plan. It was individual brilliance on the part of Dubravka, or ASM. Or blind luck.

The man is a busted flush, and that would be fine, if he wasn't also a snidey little worm.

[The Fish]

I was reading Newcastle fans’ comments on Bruce in an article in the Athletic recently and honestly, it’s fascinating for a Villa fan to hear what they’re saying as all their gripes and accusations just sound like Groundhog Day to us.

I wonder if his son goes on Newcastle forums defending him. Fish, any recent new members on your forums going under the name of 'Stuart'?

Hah, none that I've noticed. But Alex did pipe up on twitter after one of our unlikely wins, deliberately winding up the fans.

Look, I don't think anybody deserves some of the abuse that's gone his way, but Steve Bruce is making a rod for his own back with some of his own comments about the fans. Saying it's histrionics, dismissing criticism as the work of keyboard warriors, blaming the negativity on social media for the poor performances... Of course he's going to get vitriol, I mean of course he is.