So there I was, having a look via my usual source to see what football was on today. It turns out there isn’t any, but looking at the page, https://www.livesoccertv.com/competitions/england/premier-league/ ,I noticed something interesting. Villa are one of only four teams to have won four or more of their last games, the others being Wolves and Liverpool. Newcastle head the way, with five wins out of the last five.
The point is Newcastle and ourselves are both in good form, while everyone else around us is dropping points all over the place. I think we’ve seen that for ourselves anyway and many have mentioned how results are going our way for a change, but it’s nice to see it in that table and I recommend having a look at the link. Plus it’s a good site to bookmark too, imo.
I’ve said previously that what we do/did in the Champions League this sesaon, while of course massive, is not as big a deal as us continuing to qualify for the competition (winning it apart, of course) and it’s for this reason I actually almost feel this is a bigger game than the PSG one the other night. I know, that might sound daft to some, but the future is not about qualifying this season and then dropping out next season. It’s about constantly qualifying and getting the revenue, recognition and then better sponsorship, followed by better players coming in. We all know how it works and have watched jealously while the sky 4 or 6 have kept creaming it in.
But things are changing and other clubs are beginning to seriously challenge now, with Newcastle, Villa and even Forest and Bournemouth being in the mix. It’s nice to see and proves that old adage where nothing lasts forever. What I’m getting at, is that an opportunity is presenting itself and we have to take advantage of it before some other club does.
And it’s this that makes this game a possible season breaker in my eyes. Lose this and I’d think CL qualification will most likely be beyond us. Yes, we’d still be very much in the running for the Europa or Conference leagues, but frankly, they’re not the same.
Of course, the Man City game on Tuesday will also be just as important for us, but well, let’s just worry about one game at a time, eh?
Squad news and it’s all good. Everybody is available, which is for the first time in a long while.
As for Newcastle, Lewis Hall is out for the season, Jamaal Lascelles is struggling to be back this season and it’s too soon for Sven Botman.
I’m concerned about this one, I must admit. Newcastle are in the middle of a goalscoring spree, having scored 1,2,3,4 and 5 goals in their previous games and while I’m not expecting them to get anything like 6 goals in this game, I definitely expect them to get more than one. I think we’ve conceded 11 goals against them in our last 3 games and I’m still not convinced we’ve anywhere near tightened our defence up, so I don’t think that bodes well.
But then, we can score goals too and I also see us getting a couple. This is too close for me to call either way really and I think with Newcastle’s pace and the physical approach they have will see the result revolving around our defence.
I’m going for a 2-2 draw and I really hope that’s not the result. 3 points is a must today.
Watkins dive, for me.
We can’t keep giving the ball away in dangerous midfield / defensive situations.
If in doubt kick it anywhere.
Was just about to say the same. It looks like some of our defenders have a bet on Newcastle!
Don’t take your chances + keep giving the ball away = loss.
We’ve been the better side too, imo.
Maddening last 5 mins. So lax but we survived. Dilemma for Uni with Ollie playing his best for ages and Rashford so keen to get on. Maybe try to play them together for a while. This is a different Ollie
They are overloading Cash’s side to get the crosses over or to cut in and shoot. I would like to see Malen on for Asensio and push Rogers central.
They are putting in some dirty tackles as per usual. We need to match up the physicality as we can’t allow them to bully us.
Agree Holte. Our right is ripe to be targetted, just like it used to be our left that got battered. It’s our weak point.
Definitely Malen on, as he has plenty to offer and Rogers can go anywhere for me. He’s just great running at them wherever he is.
The Premier league must have the worse referees in that league, how many fouls has that referee passed? And there should have been a sending off without a doubt. Football today is crooked when you see games like we have had all season , to be honest it’s robbing the working man .
I think this all comes down to the substitutes and we should win.
Never been convinced by Ascension starting, much prefer him as a sub coming on. He’s not pressing hard enough allowing them an easy out ball.
I’d prefer Onana for Ascensio, with Kamara and Onana defensive midfield and Tilesman playing as the number 10.
I still expect is to win.
Should be up here ffs
Hope it’s not gonna be a game of 2 halves come on lads
How the fuck Bruno still on the pitch?
WTF is Guiterez still doing on the pitch????
Maatsen, 2-1!
About time he scored!
Celebrated with faint praise Badger!
Mattsen has played very well so far.
Not keen on him Hitch, tbh.
Brilliant. Nothing less
Yesss!!!!!! Maatessons sausages!!!!
Get in!
Totally deserved maatsen
Jesus can’t believe Townsend played for us? Having an absolute wankfest about Newcastle.
Ramsey and Onana on, Asensio and McGinn off.
About right. Asensio has been meh and resting SJM’s legs
Youri, just as I was writing. Ramsey’s ball
3-1 and surely game over!
Oh my days 😀
Ramsey you little genius!
Yeeesssssss!!!!!
Give them hell