Aston Villa v Newcastle United Match Thread

[Ian.]

Being undercooked was also mentioned which I took as lacking match fitness. Maybe a little more than that u presume then.

[Tuscans]

That’s a right bastard. So the rumours about Bailey were quite true.

What's the rumours, knock in training or something more serious?

Someone it was doing the rounds that he had a knock. Because Smith never mentioned it in the press conference we hoped it was just a rumour.

...or covid.

[SoccerHQ]

Let's hope the first 11 can gel quickly as there is hardly anything on the bench to change things bar throwing on the two kids and hoping they can be surprise packages.

What happened to Traore, played last week and not involved today like Bailey?

Traore pulled his hamstring in a practice match on Sunday.

Why the hell we playing a practice match 24 hours after high intensity premier league match?! I know Traore only came on as a sub but still, need recovery time and we could've done with him starting today.

Surely a practice match on Tuesday or Wednesday would be more logical.

Our pre season has been very very odd when you look at it from a few different angles.

[Proposition Joe]

Buendia right, AEZ left, and Ramsey as the 10?

[Ian.]

Let's hope the first 11 can gel quickly as there is hardly anything on the bench to change things bar throwing on the two kids and hoping they can be surprise packages.

What happened to Traore, played last week and not involved today like Bailey?

Traore pulled his hamstring in a practice match on Sunday.

Why the hell we playing a practice match 24 hours after high intensity premier league match?! I know Traore only came on as a sub but still, need recovery time and we could've done with him starting today.

Surely a practice match on Tuesday or Wednesday would be more logical.

Our pre season has been very very odd when you look at it from a few different angles.

I gather it was players who need game time, not so much the starting eleven from Saturday. Traore had an op in the summer and he was included I guess to help with his fitness. Quite a few teams were involved in these types of games on Sunday apparently. This summers pre-season has been messed about by Covid.

[Percy McCarthy]

One in the eye for people having a go at Vinnie anyway, who told us Bailey was injured.

[SoccerHQ]

Buendia right, AEZ left, and Ramsey as the 10?

McGinn surely as number 10. Ramsey and Luiz as continuity midfielders to get the play moving. Ramsey looked good in his cameo sub roles over last 12 months, less so when he actually starts a match so big test for him today.

Need far more from Buendia today as looking at that he should be drifting in from the right like he was at Norwich.

The line up could work today as it's more balanced than last week. We really need the first goal though, don't fancy us at all if we go 1 down especially with lack of options on the bench which is really frustrating with the injuries.

This will be an interesting watch.

[Monty]

I don't think anything we've seen from Smith's selections indicates he'll put Ramsey deep with Luiz and McGinn further forward. Every piece of evidence suggests the opposite. The only question is whether Ramsey is wide and Buendìa central or vice-versa.

[Mister E]

I'd like to have seen Bidace play instead of AEG

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I don't think anything we've seen from Smith's selections indicates he'll put Ramsey deep with Luiz and McGinn further forward. Every piece of evidence suggests the opposite. The only question is whether Ramsey is wide and Buendìa central or vice-versa.

Dean's mad but not that mad.

[Ian.]

I hope Buendìa is on the right, McGinn in the hole, have a feeling Monty is right though.

[N'ZMAV]

Buendia right, AEZ left, and Ramsey as the 10?

Be good to see what Ramsey is made of.

[Bad English]

Sort it out Dean!

[Steve67]

And to think, Dean Smith is happy with his squad??? Win, lose, draw, we need another couple of players. Good to see Douglas back, Ramsey gives us more energy, I hope SJM plays in the number 10 role. Is that squad better than last seasons?

[SamTheMouse]

Considering the injuries we've got, that's a good line-up. But we still need a natural reader of the game to sit and control the midfield.