Aston Villa v Newcastle Post-Match Thread

[jon collett]

Newcastle supporters make me laugh.

They chant that we only sing when we’re winning, that our support is fucking shit and they are the loyalist supporters the world has ever seen and then the 4th goes in and half of them leave!

[Steve67]

Asensio seemed to be a little under par until you watch the analysis of the game and see his little runs that pull defenders away from the ball.  Absolute quality movement.  I can't fault a single player, superb tonight. 

[rob_bridge]

Newcastle supporters make me laugh.

They chant that we only sing when we’re winning, that our support is fucking shit and they are the loyalist supporters the world has ever seen and then the 4th goes in and half of them leave!

They remind me of a certain other club in that respect. You know the one who Keep Right On save when they lose e.g. last Sunday

[London Villan]

Newcastle players getting very chippy with the Villa fans behind the dugout. Don’t like it when things are going against them… wonder if Targett will make any videos tonight?

[eye digress]

Watkins just said he was fuming only playing 20 minutes against PSG.

He'll hopefully get over it. He put in a display today, especially first half that he's been missing this season. His 15 minute cameo against Southampton was a clear indication he was finally looking fresh and today goes to confirm how much he needed a rest. He was back to last season Watkins and up against two tough central defenders, he ran them ragged.

Absolutely. Ollie's best performance since Brentford at VP last season. Immense.

[dave shelley]

There is one post on the Newcastle forum re SJM that said "I hate John McGinn the c**t, he's got an arse the size of Ayres Rock". Made me smile.

[Clampy]

That was just superb. It really should have been 6.

[Rory]

There is one post on the Newcastle forum re SJM that said "I hate John McGinn the c**t, he's got an arsenal the size of Ayres Rock". Made me smile.

Arse envy.

[Somniloquism]

According to Tindall, it is tough playing three games in 6 days and that is why they couldn't cope as it caught up with them. As that was our 6th game in 17, let me play the worlds smallest violin for you.

[LukeJames]

There is one post on the Newcastle forum re SJM that said "I hate John McGinn the c**t, he's got an arsenal the size of Ayres Rock". Made me smile.

I had a works dinner last week and was talking to sn Arsenal fan about all things football. Very down to earth and level headed he was, and then he came out with how much he hates McGinn. I had no idea that other fans loathed him so much. Makes me like him even more.

[Villa in Denmark]

According to Tindall, it is tough playing three games in 6 days and that is why they couldn't cope as it caught up with them. As that was our 6th game in 17, let me play the worlds smallest violin for you.

Alternatively Tindall can fuck off and have a nice relaxing bath of Cuprinol.

[SaddVillan]

From The Athletic

ASTON VILLA 4 -1 NEWCASTLE 1 WATKINS SHOWS HIS VALUE; VISITORS' LACK OF ROTATION IS COSTLY

Aston Villa romped to a big win over visitors Newcastle, striking a hefty blow on one of their rivals in the race for Champions League qualification.

Goals from Ollie Watkins, Ian Maatsen and Amadou Onana, plus a Dan Burn own goal, saw Unai Emery’s side move up to sixth place in the table, but within two points of Newcastle in third with five games to go.

The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell, George Caulkin and Chris Waugh pick apart the key talking points…

OLLIE WATKINS PROVES HIS VALUE
Despite remaining their top scorer, Ollie Watkins’ importance to Aston Villa and manager Unai Emery has noticeably reduced in recent months. A consequence of his toiling form and Villa having richer attacking depth, the England striker is no longer looked to as the team’s key source of goals.

Watkins has been omitted from crunch matches, such as both legs of the recent Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain, with Emery favouring Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford, who is now regarded as a No 9 in his system, coming off the bench after 79 minutes of the game in France and after 82 in the return.

This has essentially led to Watkins becoming overlooked in Villa’s quest to secure Champions League football again next season, struggling for rhythm and to overcome small, frustrating injuries. His future has been a bone of contention since Arsenal made their interest in signing him known in January and discussions will be held as to his longer-term plans this summer.

Having been chosen to start this time around, the onus was on the 29-year-old to rediscover the form that made him the first player in Europe’s top five leagues last season to register 15 goals and 10 assists.

To exacerbate the necessity of finding momentum quickly, Watkins was one goal away from Gabriel Agbonlahor’s record as Villa’s record Premier League goalscorer (74).

As it transpired, the tension in him vanished inside the opening minute.

After wriggling away from pressure, he hit a strike that deflected off Newcastle’s Fabian Schar and past Nick Pope in goal. It gave the forward a confidence boost and meant he was level with Agbonlahor.

Watkins was then a threat throughout the match, constantly running off Newcastle’s centre-backs and showing clarity in his decision-making. He brought team-mates into play and was at the heart of Villa’s best work, hitting the crossbar with a powerful left-footed effort before heading against the post. In the game’s first 28 minutes, Watkins had scored and hit two different parts of the woodwork.

He had a penalty appeal dismissed and gave Schar a scare when the defender — who was Newcastle’s last man — brought him down. The referee, Jarred Gillett, showed Schar a yellow card, though the decision was borderline as most of the Villa Park crowd yelled for a sending off.

His second-half assist for Ian Maatsen’s goal was from a typical Watkins position and from a typical Villa move — ripping Newcastle open through the middle before the ball found him in the inside left channel. His weight of pass was perfect for Maatsen’s overlap and strike, offering a reminder of how big an advantage a fit and firing Watkins gives his team.

EMERY’S SUBS PAY OFF AGAIN
Emery’s penchant for inspired substitutions has been something of a trend in recent times. All three goals against Southampton last week were scored by replacements and the theme continued a week later.

Villa were good in the first half, but mindful of Newcastle’s threat. Emery has been able to rotate over the past month due to having every player fit and available and having incredible strength in depth, so there is not a discernible drop-off if changes are made.

His team are peaking heading into the defining part of the season and also within matches. As Newcastle’s legs grew weary here, Villa came on strong, playing towards their favoured Holte End and powered by their subs.

Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana were introduced in the 72nd minute, and in the space of three minutes had both played an integral part in Villa scoring twice more to put the game away. Ramsey crossed for Dan Burn’s deflected own goal, while Onana’s strike — first-time from outside the box — was thunderous and met with a similar response from supporters.

Villa often score twice in quick succession, and such impact from the bench is critical in winning matches against fellow rivals for a Champions League spot.

Jacob Tanswell

NEWCASTLE SUFFER FOR LACK OF ROTATION
For Newcastle, familiarity has bred content.

For the seventh game in succession, their starting lineup was unchanged, becoming the first Premier League side since 2016 to do this across all competitions.

Jason Tindall, again filling in for the ill Eddie Howe, said before kick-off that his team “picks itself” after a run of six consecutive victories but, in retrospect, perhaps it should not have done. On this occasion, consistency of selection brought inconsistency of performance.

While Tindall’s logic was understandable — there is always a reluctance to change a winning side — fatigue rippled through Newcastle in what was their third game in seven days. After those fine victories over Manchester United and Crystal Palace by a combined scoreline of nine goals to one, Newcastle’s efforts caught up with them.

Across the pitch, there were heavy legs. Kieran Trippier was targeted by Villa at right-back, Bruno Guimaraes waded through treacle in midfield and Alexander Isak struggled to make any impact up front. They were far from alone. In terms of athleticism and physicality, Villa had the measure of their guests, bouncing back from their acute disappointment in the Champions League in midweek.

Newcastle have a tight squad in terms of quality and have not strengthened their first XI for three transfer windows now, but not rotating on Saturday was a choice rather than being forced on them.

This was one game too many.

George Caulkin

NEWCASTLE LOSE MOMENTUM IN TOP-5 RACE
It is squeaky-bum time for Newcastle now, with five fixtures remaining.

That exceptional run of six successive victories in all competitions was always going to come to an end, but the devastating fashion in which Villa tore them apart during today’s second half has suddenly made the Champions League qualification race appear extremely congested.

Only two points separate four teams between Newcastle in third and Villa in sixth, and seventh-placed Chelsea can overtake Emery’s side on goal difference if they beat Fulham in a west London derby on Sunday.

There may be an additional spot in Europe’s premier competition via the Premier League this season, but two of these five teams are going to miss out.

Newcastle remain favourites to secure one of the three slots behind title-bound Liverpool and second-placed Arsenal, given they already have 59 points and host relegation-candidates Ipswich Town next weekend and also play at home to top-five rivals Chelsea before the season is out.

Villa and fifth-placed Nottingham Forest have next weekend’s FA Cup semi-finals to think about, and Chelsea are at the same stage in the UEFA Conference League, but Newcastle and Manchester City, fourth after their win at Everton earlier on Saturday, only have the top five to focus on.

Whether that is an advantage remains to be seen, because Villa have serious momentum and, while Newcastle had it too until this weekend, it is important they respond to this humbling immediately.

Whether that is with Howe back on the touchline, only time will tell.

Chris Waugh

[SaddVillan]

And some more from The Athletic

Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins was ‘fuming’ over PSG exclusion: ‘I let Unai Emery know that’

Ollie Watkins has spoken of his anger at being excluded from the starting line-up for both legs of Aston Villa’s Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain.

Watkins has scored 23 goals across all competitions this season, including eight in the Champions League, but started neither tie of Villa’s 5-4 aggregate loss, with on-loan forward Marcus Rashford selected as the sole starting striker.

The 29-year-old was substituted on in the 79th and 76th minutes of the tie, before scoring in the subsequent Premier League victories over Southampton and Newcastle United respectively.

“I played 20 minutes against PSG in both games, I am not going to lie, I was fuming that I wasn’t playing — I let him [Emery] know that,” Watkins told Sky Sports after the match.

“He’s the manager, at the end of the day you have to respect his decision. I am not one of these players which is happy to sit on the bench.

“Something I have not experienced before and to miss out on the biggest stage. I think me and a few others were disappointed that we didn’t start the game, but it is the manager’s decision.

“The team played well, but I wanted to be out on the pitch for much longer. I have played a big part to get to where we are today and I want to play in those games.

“Against Southampton I came off the bench. I was angry I wasn’t playing and you have got to use that as motivation rather than let it hinder you.”

Watkins scored in Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Newcastle, as sixth-place Villa moved level on points with Nottingham Forest, in fifth, in the Premier League.

Emery said of Watkins in his post-match press conference: “He was fantastic. To be angry is fantastic. To play like he did was fantastic. This is the competitive way I want.

“He’s a very good person and respectful always. His commitment is always very positive, with the team-mates, the coaches, the manager and the workers.

“With Watkins, it was a very good conversation and when he responded today, wow, i am so, so happy for him, the team and our objectives.”

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Anybody saying Newcastle had an off day is wrong.
Could clearly see they are a good side. They just came up against one of top sides in Europe.

[rob_bridge]

Anybody saying Newcastle had an off day is wrong.
Could clearly see they are a good side. They just came up against one of top sides in Europe.

Our midfield bossed theirs and hence Ollie and Rogers exposed their back four to more pressure than they are used to.

They should have rotated if it was 3rd game in 6 days. We've had worse demands since international break. They could have played Gordon, Willock, Longstaff, Osula