Newcastle v Villa Post Match Thread

[LeeB]

I’d have Sanson in for Luiz and Ings for Watkins and leave it otherwise. If McGinn isn’t doing it I’d hook him at half time for Chucky.

Yep.

Not going the extra mile for Bissouma feels like the mistake we all knew it would be.

Even so, our starting 11 is FAR better that both Leeds and Newcastle's and to come away with 1 point is pathetic.

It will be if we miss out on him, but I'm not sure there was enough left to chase this season to justify paying over the odds now. Had we been close to the top six and/or still in the cup then maybe they'd have gone for it.

[Axl Rose]

Luiz reminds me of Craig David.  He doesn’t turn up on a Monday, or a Tuesday can’t be arsed on a Wednesday Thursday Friday or Saturday or Sunday.

Isn't he making love by Wednesday?

[ChicagoLion]

Luiz reminds me of Craig David.  He doesn’t turn up on a Monday, or a Tuesday can’t be arsed on a Wednesday Thursday Friday or Saturday or Sunday.

Isn't he making love by Wednesday?

Well he must be putting his energy somewhere.

[RamboandBruno]

I’d have Sanson in for Luiz and Ings for Watkins and leave it otherwise. If McGinn isn’t doing it I’d hook him at half time for Chucky.

It probably won’t make much difference but it’s got to be done. Luiz just needs dropping full stop and in terms of Watkins and McGinn, they just need pulling out of the firing line for a bit and see if it does them good. They’re both good players that I think still have a good future with us.
Otherwise Gerrard has to put some fire in the belly and kick them up the arse. We have to have more intensity and desire amongst the whole team than was shown yesterday. And he cannot and must not fail to bring in a top quality DCM in the next window to come in for Sanson/Luiz.

You're probably right. While it's probably extremely tempting to drop 4 or 5 of them, too much too soon and the season will really start to fall apart.

Yep, think this is right. I dont think we have the strength in depth to take four first teamers out in one, however much we might want to after yesterday, it would just smell of panic. Despite reservations i would probably keep McGinn in for Saturday and just take out Luiz and Watkins for now. Chucky doesnt look ready for a start yet to me, so it would be Sanson and Ings as well and thats it other than a rocket up their arses

[chrisw1]

I’d have Sanson in for Luiz and Ings for Watkins and leave it otherwise. If McGinn isn’t doing it I’d hook him at half time for Chucky.

Yep.

Not going the extra mile for Bissouma feels like the mistake we all knew it would be.

Even so, our starting 11 is FAR better that both Leeds and Newcastle's and to come away with 1 point is pathetic.

It will be if we miss out on him, but I'm not sure there was enough left to chase this season to justify paying over the odds now. Had we been close to the top six and/or still in the cup then maybe they'd have gone for it.

Of course it's all speculation, but if for example we'd got him, had  a great second half of the season, finished 6, 7 or 8th we would have been far better placed in the summer to kick on, persuade Coutinho to stay and look for the next piece of the jigsaw.  If on the other hand the season fizzles out and we finish 12-14 it's going to be a tough summer.  I'm obviously making massive assumptions, but I do wonder if just paying the extra for such a pivitol position may have been worth it.

As it is I'd be amazed if we get Bissouma in the summer.  If he doesn't get a top 4 team or Spurs / Arsenal, then my money would be on him going to Newcastle. 

[ChicagoLion]

If he drops Luiz, which he definitely should.
Who plays in his spot?

[ChicagoLion]

I’d have Sanson in for Luiz and Ings for Watkins and leave it otherwise. If McGinn isn’t doing it I’d hook him at half time for Chucky.

Yep.

Not going the extra mile for Bissouma feels like the mistake we all knew it would be.

Even so, our starting 11 is FAR better that both Leeds and Newcastle's and to come away with 1 point is pathetic.

It will be if we miss out on him, but I'm not sure there was enough left to chase this season to justify paying over the odds now. Had we been close to the top six and/or still in the cup then maybe they'd have gone for it.

Of course it's all speculation, but if for example we'd got him, had  a great second half of the season, finished 6, 7 or 8th we would have been far better placed in the summer to kick on, persuade Coutinho to stay and look for the next piece of the jigsaw.  If on the other hand the season fizzles out and we finish 12-14 it's going to be a tough summer.  I'm obviously making massive assumptions, but I do wonder if just paying the extra for such a pivitol position may have been worth it.

As it is I'd be amazed if we get Bissouma in the summer.  If he doesn't get a top 4 team or Spurs / Arsenal, then my money would be on him going to Newcastle.

Looks like a fuck up to not get him.

[chrisw1]

If he drops Luiz, which he definitely should.
Who plays in his spot?

Sanson or McGinn.

[LeeB]

I’d have Sanson in for Luiz and Ings for Watkins and leave it otherwise. If McGinn isn’t doing it I’d hook him at half time for Chucky.

Yep.

Not going the extra mile for Bissouma feels like the mistake we all knew it would be.

Even so, our starting 11 is FAR better that both Leeds and Newcastle's and to come away with 1 point is pathetic.

It will be if we miss out on him, but I'm not sure there was enough left to chase this season to justify paying over the odds now. Had we been close to the top six and/or still in the cup then maybe they'd have gone for it.

Of course it's all speculation, but if for example we'd got him, had  a great second half of the season, finished 6, 7 or 8th we would have been far better placed in the summer to kick on, persuade Coutinho to stay and look for the next piece of the jigsaw.  If on the other hand the season fizzles out and we finish 12-14 it's going to be a tough summer.  I'm obviously making massive assumptions, but I do wonder if just paying the extra for such a pivitol position may have been worth it.

As it is I'd be amazed if we get Bissouma in the summer.  If he doesn't get a top 4 team or Spurs / Arsenal, then my money would be on him going to Newcastle. 

I guess without knowing the sums involved, how our spend looks in terms of FFP etc, it's difficult to evalute, but on purely playing terms we're clearly missing that type of player. Doubt it will be Newcastle though as they've just bought the Brazillian lad who plays there.

[brontebilly]

If he drops Luiz, which he definitely should.
Who plays in his spot?

This is the hard part....we definitely need to switch to 4231 anyway. Sanson can be one of the two but it's one of Luiz or McGinn for the other spot. Putting Chambers in there as some have suggested might be a very long shot.

With Traore and Bailey not fully fit, realistically only Ings and Sanson can come in. Chucky is nowhere near ready and Young is finished.

[robbo1874]

Only saw first half. Thought we were gash. Sloppy, poor ball retention and wasteful in decent areas. Think that’s the first truly bad performance I’ve seen of the new era. And we only lost 1-0. Not the end of the world, but I would’ve expected 4 pts minimum from last 2 matches.

[Brazilian Villain]

Yep.

Not going the extra mile for Bissouma feels like the mistake we all knew it would be.

Even so, our starting 11 is FAR better that both Leeds and Newcastle's and to come away with 1 point is pathetic.

It will be if we miss out on him, but I'm not sure there was enough left to chase this season to justify paying over the odds now. Had we been close to the top six and/or still in the cup then maybe they'd have gone for it.

Of course it's all speculation, but if for example we'd got him, had  a great second half of the season, finished 6, 7 or 8th we would have been far better placed in the summer to kick on, persuade Coutinho to stay and look for the next piece of the jigsaw.  If on the other hand the season fizzles out and we finish 12-14 it's going to be a tough summer.  I'm obviously making massive assumptions, but I do wonder if just paying the extra for such a pivitol position may have been worth it.

As it is I'd be amazed if we get Bissouma in the summer.  If he doesn't get a top 4 team or Spurs / Arsenal, then my money would be on him going to Newcastle.

Looks like a fuck up to not get him.

I seem to recall there was a significant number of people who didn't want to sign him because of his legal issues.

I agree with Lee's take on it.

[baddowvillans]

On the disallowed goal the ball reached Watkins off a Newcastle defender.  I think there may be something about him needing to try and play the ball but surely by looking to block a shot that's exactly what he is doing hence Watkins is onside?

[ChicagoLion]

On the disallowed goal the ball reached Watkins off a Newcastle defender.  I think there may be something about him needing to try and play the ball but surely by looking to block a shot that's exactly what he is doing hence Watkins is onside?

A deflection is not a pass.

[Villan82]

For me, progress next year would be a villa team that is harder to beat. We have lost a staggering amount of games in each of the three years we have been back. Too often we fail to grind out a point from days like yesterday and it drags us down.