Well, there's a to-do. There was I firm in the belief in January that before we went to Newcastle we'd have some good wins in our pocket. Instead we've had good (bad) defeats! So it’s eight games without a win for Villa and the Magpies are flying high at the top of the table. It does not augur well.
But the half-glass-full philosopher in me says that in this kind of situation you have to be positive, and the positive thoughts are that Villa nicked a point off Newcastle earlier in the season, albeit with a rather different team. Also to consider is the fact that Wolves, QPR and Blackburn have all taken points off Newcastle at St James’s Park this season; so why can't Villa?
The problem, of course, is that having lost two games at home on the trot after previously being unbeaten on home turf, and making mistakes and not taking chances in the process, there must be a severe shortage of confidence in the Villa ranks.
But though reliance should never be put on one player, it would be good if the Jedi can be back to give an example to his team-mates. No, he's not the most skilled passer of the ball, but he makes his presence felt, and at Newcastle that could be a prize asset in a Villa team which does not have many players with a killer instinct.
Although I'm not an advocate of this style of play in general, I don't think it would be wise to attempt to take the game to the Geordies. Instead, I would like a 4-1-4-1 formation (the '1' up front being Kodjia), and to break swiftly through a midfield and use Kodjia's 'try from all angles' approach to score. Or to rest Kodjia on the bench and see what Hogan can do on his own: he seems to have skill that could cause Newcastle some problems. But as Kodjia still finds the net every couple of games, it's unlikely he would be asked to stand down.
But this must be a team without Grealish starting in it. Have him on the bench by all means, but at this stage of affairs he must surely be a liability as we must fight to gain some points, even if it be only one at Newcastle.
I'd also like to see different full-backs in operation, but rather than chopping and changing again, perhaps we'd be better to stick with those that played against Barnsley. So long as Bruce gives them a reminding kick up the pants as they trudge onto the St. James's pitch!
So, my team (are you reading this Steve?):
Johnstone or Bunn; Hutton, Chester, Baker, Amavi; Jedinak (or Gardner); Adomah, Hourihane, Lansbury, Green; Kodjia.
The bench (outfield players): Bacuna, Bree, Taylor, Bjarnason, Gardner/Elphick, Grealish, Hogan.
But the half-glass-full philosopher in me says that in this kind of situation you have to be positive, and the positive thoughts are that Villa nicked a point off Newcastle earlier in the season, albeit with a rather different team. Also to consider is the fact that Wolves, QPR and Blackburn have all taken points off Newcastle at St James’s Park this season; so why can't Villa?
The problem, of course, is that having lost two games at home on the trot after previously being unbeaten on home turf, and making mistakes and not taking chances in the process, there must be a severe shortage of confidence in the Villa ranks.
But though reliance should never be put on one player, it would be good if the Jedi can be back to give an example to his team-mates. No, he's not the most skilled passer of the ball, but he makes his presence felt, and at Newcastle that could be a prize asset in a Villa team which does not have many players with a killer instinct.
Although I'm not an advocate of this style of play in general, I don't think it would be wise to attempt to take the game to the Geordies. Instead, I would like a 4-1-4-1 formation (the '1' up front being Kodjia), and to break swiftly through a midfield and use Kodjia's 'try from all angles' approach to score. Or to rest Kodjia on the bench and see what Hogan can do on his own: he seems to have skill that could cause Newcastle some problems. But as Kodjia still finds the net every couple of games, it's unlikely he would be asked to stand down.
But this must be a team without Grealish starting in it. Have him on the bench by all means, but at this stage of affairs he must surely be a liability as we must fight to gain some points, even if it be only one at Newcastle.
I'd also like to see different full-backs in operation, but rather than chopping and changing again, perhaps we'd be better to stick with those that played against Barnsley. So long as Bruce gives them a reminding kick up the pants as they trudge onto the St. James's pitch!
So, my team (are you reading this Steve?):
Johnstone or Bunn; Hutton, Chester, Baker, Amavi; Jedinak (or Gardner); Adomah, Hourihane, Lansbury, Green; Kodjia.
The bench (outfield players): Bacuna, Bree, Taylor, Bjarnason, Gardner/Elphick, Grealish, Hogan.
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