Newcastle Utd vs Aston Villa pre-match thread

[N'ZMAV]

This is a game we should have more of the ball, so I'm not sure Nakamba is the right choice. I'd go McGinn, Luiz and Sanson. Traore and El Ghazi wide of Watkins.

[Skerra]

Sounds like Jack is very excited about playing for England again. So, will be in the team v Spurs, then play for England but, who knows after that. He will either be fit as a fiddle, when we play our next match after the international break or, come back with an injury. I hope it’s the former.

[eamonn]

"Winnable" game? Check.
Opposition without key players? Check.
Kickoff time with the potential to ruin a whole weekend? Check.

A guaranteed loss. Toon 2-0 Villa, goals from Kieran Clarke and Ciaran Clark.

That would be dyer.

[N'ZMAV]

Dwight Gayle's bound to score. The bastard.

[DrGonzo]

0-0 thriller.

[N'ZMAV]

0-0 thriller.

I might bet on it. That way it's bound not to happen.

[john e]

If we can’t beat this lot tonight with whatever team we put out we might as well pack up

and go back to playing cricket at the old Wesleyan Chapel

[Rudy Can't Fail]

A show of strength in midfield for me. We've tried playing with wingers and it just doesn't work, none of them deserve to start.

--------------Martinez
Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett
-----------Nakamba
McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey, Barkley
-------------Watkins

[LeeB]

I'm worried Bruce is due his jammy win, which he can then use to prove his doubters wrong again.

[RamboandBruno]

This is a game we should have more of the ball, so I'm not sure Nakamba is the right choice. I'd go McGinn, Luiz and Sanson. Traore and El Ghazi wide of Watkins.

I agree with this. I’m a strong supporter of smith but felt he made a mistake playing nakamba against sheff Utd. Nothing against nakamba, he did well against Leeds, but against the struggling teams we need to show more ambition.
We’re not in great form but even without Grealish I strongly believe we have to much for Newcastle, especially without their key forwards. Bruce will try and contain, the key is breaking them down early and we will slaughter them.
I wouldn’t start with Barkley, too off form for words. With Sanson in the team McGinn had much more freedom to roam last week and looked really good in the first half I thought. Don’t think it was any coincidence that McGinn and the midfield in general lost the momentum with Sanson went off.

Might be useful to bring Barkley on if we were winning and their tiring, if he can’t perform for us then he never will.

Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Mings
Targett
Luiz
Sanson
McGinn
Traore
El Ghazi
Watkins

I said earlier in the thread 3-0 with Grealish scoring. I’ll stick with the 3-0, Watkins (2) and Konsa as he nearly has done in the last two games.

Beers cooling, burgers cooking, cmon the lads!!!

[Woody17]

I have a really bad feeling about this. Just so unconvincing over a full 90 minutes without Jack. Dwight Gayle to have one touch inside our box and score.
It’s potentially gonna be a very long weekend.
Please prove me wrong Villa.

[martyn ellis]

It's the hope that kills you; the hope of some fluent, flowing, fulsome football (a la Arsenal away). They are capable.

[sickbeggar]

We really shouldn't lose. Draw. 1-1

[brontebilly]

Surprised that not many people would play Nakamba. Given last time we played them we beat them while playing in third gear, and he was probably man of the match, it suggests that he's got something decent to offer against this lot.

He did ok but in truth Newcastle could have been found guilty of the non trying rule that night

Luiz isnt providing much cover to our back four of late so can certainly see the argument for starting Nakamba

[ez]

Difficult to call. We should win but i don't think anyone would be surprised if we lost. I'll say 0-0.