Aston Villa v Newcastle United FA Cup 4th round pre match

[Dave]

F365

Game to watch: Aston Villa v Newcastle

Both picked up welcome wins over relegation stragglers in the week, but the contrasting nature of their needs remains stark. Villa needed their win to give their faint but lingering title hopes a shot in the arm; Newcastle to avoid getting dragged into an embarrassing relegation battle alongside the hopeless Spurs team they somehow only beat 2-1.

Both teams still have continental ambitions as well, which makes Newcastle’s win over Spurs particularly timely. Had they lost that one – don’t laugh, it really was theoretically possible for that to have happened – then this would have started to look like a further commitment they could have done without. Now it looks more like a further opportunity to keep the meaningful part of their season going now the threat of something catastrophic in the league is over at least.

For Villa you’d still imagine the two routes into next year’s Champions League – a top-five finish and/or winning the Europa League – remain the top priority. But with no punishment round for them in Europe and an eight-point gap over sixth-placed Liverpool in the league they can give the FA Cup a bit of a bash too.

All-Barclays FA Cup ties in the early rounds can go one of two ways, but the hope is that this one sits nicely in the sweet spot for it to be entertainingly loose in a tournament that is neither side’s tip-top priority but also not an afterthought for either.

[TheToffnar]

Think I said this earlier in the thread, but I just can't see Unai fielding a weak side for this.

This year he's shown a real dogged determination about maintaining a winners mindset through and through. Picking and choosing when that mindset applies makes it largely redundant.

I do think he'll rest Onana and Watkins, but both can be explained away.

[brontebilly]

Pretty much every time Emery has tried a left field formation, three centre backs at Palace, Bailey wing back, Cash midfield...the results have been disastrous. So he will stick with our regular shape anyway. Hopefully bit of an open game and no injuries. Some bit of impact from the likes of Tammy, Bailey, Alysson, Barkley would be great.

[Dave]

Glancing at a Newcastle forum, they seem to think that Guimares is going to be out for 10-12 weeks. That feels properly season-screwing for them.

[TheToffnar]

Feel for them if true. Had too many good away experiences up there to begrudge them anything (not results wise, obviously...). Regardless of what people think of their ownership, top fans of a great club in the same position as us.

[JUAN PABLO]

Glancing at a Newcastle forum, they seem to think that Guimares is going to be out for 10-12 weeks. That feels properly season-screwing for them.

so how many times will the camera look at him in the stands .

[VILLA MOLE]

Glancing at a Newcastle forum, they seem to think that Guimares is going to be out for 10-12 weeks. That feels properly season-screwing for them.

so how many times will the camera look at him in the stands .

yes hope he doesnt go to the games ffs .  Am I being grumpy or do the cameras spend far too much time on what is going on ithe side these days .  sometimes we miss the football

[eamonn]

Glancing at a Newcastle forum, they seem to think that Guimares is going to be out for 10-12 weeks. That feels properly season-screwing for them.

The screw was already loose.