Newcastle United vs Aston Villa pre match thread

[VillaTim]

            Emi
Cash Konsa Mings Digne
       Kamara Luiz
   Mcginn   Tielemens
     Diaby   Watkins

thats the team for me

[London Villan]

Happy with that.

I can see Torres starting though.

[eamonn]

Has Nice Guy Eddie been saying nice things about us at his "presser" this morning?

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

            Emi
Cash Konsa Mings Digne
       Kamara Luiz
   Mcginn   Tielemens
     Diaby   Watkins

thats the team for me

Thirded.

[Russ aka Big Nose]

            Emi
Cash Konsa Mings Digne
       Kamara Luiz
   Mcginn   Tielemens
     Diaby   Watkins

thats the team for me

Thirded.

Agreed. When we beat them convincingly at Villa Park, SJG played high and wide on the right and really targeted Burn as a weak link in their backline - though they were all poor that day.

If they have Targett at LB, then I think he will also struggle with the physicality and nous of SJM.

I would also fancy Diaby and Watkins taking a wide-ish left position and running at Trippier - he is a booking waiting to happen. UTV

[Bad English]

This is being shown live on Canal+ in France. Ace our kids!

Is that free to air? Meaning I could easily watch via browser now I'm here?

No. Subscription channel. Lots of bars have Canal+ and should be able to put it on.

[VillaTim]

Happy with that.

I can see Torres starting though.

me too. i also think he will play Bailey.

[RamboandBruno]

Buendia would have 100% started on Saturday.

I really don’t think he would based on a very mixed pre season, moot point now.

[Mister E]

            Emi
Cash Konsa Mings Digne
       Kamara Luiz
   Mcginn   Tielemens
     Diaby   Watkins

Yes, that would be it for me. But, like others, I wouldn't be surprised to see one of the fullbacks replaced with a 3rd CB.

[paul_e]

If Torres plays we won't start tielemans tucked in on the left, we'd go with someone who gives us natural width on that side.

When we have possession our shape turns into a front 5 of the 'wide' midfielders, 1 full back and the 2 forwards, that's why Bailey has played so often because he gives us that width on the right to balance out Moreno on the left. If we flip that shape we need a bailey on the left, so either him swapped sides or philogene makes more sense.

[eamonn]

Has Nice Guy Eddie been saying nice things about us at his "presser" this morning?

I'll answer usself, shall I...

On Aston Villa, who Newcastle drew 3-3 with in the Premier League Summer Series last month, and his opposite number Unai Emery...

"If you look at last season and the job that he did - and we obviously encountered one of those wins that they got towards the end of last season - I thought they were excellent against us. I think he's done a magnificent job, I think his players have done a magnificent job as well and they narrowly missed out on getting close to us.

"We know it's going to be difficult. We've played against them again in pre-season, so I think we know each other quite well and I think there's a lot of healthy respect between the two teams. It's the Premier League, though - there's several teams in our bracket, as in vastly improved and looking upwards, so we're not alone. That's where the Premier League is such a special league, because there's no guarantee for any of those clubs that that momentum will continue."

[john e]

My outrageous prediction of the season is that Eddie Howe won’t be there at the end of it

[simboy]

            Emi
Cash Konsa Mings Digne
       Kamara Luiz
   Mcginn   Tielemens
     Diaby   Watkins

thats the team for me

Thirded.

Agreed. When we beat them convincingly at Villa Park, SJG played high and wide on the right and really targeted Burn as a weak link in their backline - though they were all poor that day.

If they have Targett at LB, then I think he will also struggle with the physicality and nous of SJM.

I would also fancy Diaby and Watkins taking a wide-ish left position and running at Trippier - he is a booking waiting to happen. UTV

If you recall Watkins, Moreno, and Ramsey terrorised Trippier that game. From the first minute where Watkins hit the post cutting in from the left. So Diaby on Trippier is a good call. McGinn on Burns on the right was another great move. It stretched their defence across the pitch and we really exploited the gaps.

They have home advantage though and it is probably one of the places you do not want to start your season. We imploded up there last year, I think it will be different, a proper test first up.

[papa lazarou]

My outrageous prediction of the season is that Eddie Howe won’t be there at the end of it

That's outrageous.

[AV84]

Schar is supposedly fit now, or he's been training with the team since Tuesday, so interesting to see if he make the starting 11 or not. Could be another avenue to target if he's not 100%, or there's someone of a lesser standard playing instead of him.