The Toffees Managed To Get Stuck

So, the goal difference has been restored to zero!  And really it should be showing plus, but I can accept that with matches coming thick and fast, and with a few injuries to worry about, there's no point in the players blowing a gasket I suppose. At least one more Villa player has gone down today with a serious injury it would seem.

What were the Toffees doing? It is difficult to believe they were so poor, but perhaps they got mesmerised by some really skillful play in the first half in particular.  Using two old Villans in their ranks (Gueye and Young) did not help them one bit, allowing their old boy (Digne) to strut his stuff and provide Diaby with a chance to show his volleying skills again, and other close calls. 

With Burnley next up, we have another chance to sharpen up before we get to Anfield, and perhaps the Hibernian games will provide good practise as well. By the time we get to Anfield we will have a far better idea of how we are shaping.

I continue to admire our manager/coach in his approach, but sad also that young players are being shipped out in favour of big-money signings, and foreign players at that. But complaining is a luxury as the owners probably think that enough time has passed without silverware and if it means a big spend up to get that then so be it. I suppose. I have never been happy with that approach in the game and have long complained about the Manchester clubs, Chelseas and others for the big-spend attitude. Because my own club is now doing it rather than promoting more young players cannot change my view on this big-money philosophy. 

So long as the football is good to watch and matches are entertaining then I will try more to hold my counsel. Nevertheless, the amount of money in this sport is frightening, and with the ladies wanting their slice of the cake as well now, together with the hype building in their game, an independent observer might think that football has become something that matters above all else. This in a world that is increasingly suffering.

Don't the big-money people read the media for the news?  Do they help? Do they want to?

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They Got Our Measure - Helped By Our Own Errors

Well, where do you start? You could put it all down to the Geordies' Pace, Precision and Power; but was it as simple as that?

At half-time we had, amazingly, recorded more shots than them, but a couple of those were genuinely squandered chances. We should have been at least level at half-time.

But one of the two real turning points in the game was firstly in losing Mings to injury, and secondly that awful lapse in concentration by Konsa to effectively give away the third goal. This was after we had spent nearly 15 minutes at the start of the second half trying to take control of the match, plus the 15 minutes before half-time.

The departure of Mings affected Konsa's play, I feel, as they have formed a solid partnership over the past two or three years.

After the third goal, Villa seemed to just lose whatever cohesion they had. At the end of it all, Newcastle had 17 shots and we had 15! The difference was that 13 of theirs were on target, while only 6 of ours were similarly placed.

This result is a bit of a shock to Villa fans, but perhaps we should accept that their manager had at last got the measure of Villa's play after their defeat at Villa Park last Spring, and the draw in the pre-season tournament. They learned something while we seemed to be utterly complacent - particularly at the back, even before Mings' premature departure.

It's a bit early to draw conclusions, but it seems that injuries are rocking the boat at Villa Park quite a bit just now, plus the fact that I feel that Cash and Bailey will have to fight harder for their places. I really like Philogene; one spin turn of his near the end left three players in his wake and I feel that with being played more and with encouragement, Bailey will find what he's up against for his place in the team.

As to the new signings we saw today, Diaby will do well, I have no doubt. Tielemans came on at half-time but did little for me. Is he suited for such a match? Torres will also do well, but it's a question of getting that understanding going with his defensive colleagues. Carlos is still virtually a new player and will help our cause, no doubt. Perhaps we will see a back four of Konsa or Chambers, Carlos, Torres and Digne while Mings is out.

Well, Mr. Emery has got something to think about. The upcoming matches versus Everton and Burnley give him a chance to get things back on track before the visit to Anfield. That's the Premier League; there's not much of a gap between the really difficult matches!

Further, this defeat and the injury situation really makes me wonder whether Aaron Ramsey's supposed transfer to Burnley makes sense.

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Konsa Leads The Way!

Well, so there is still feeling in football after all! After watching Ezri Konsa's highly individual goal against his old team, I am enthused to see that coaching methods have not wiped away the individual's need to express himself.

I can imagine his thoughts. After surrendering a penalty he must have started to get angry. When Villa went 2-0 down he must have been seething as the scoreline was against the run of play. Then, suddenly, he receives the ball just outside his own penalty area and just goes for it.

The sight of two opposition players just falling off him without making one bit of difference was not only hilarious but just underlined the importance of determination ... as well as the strength and the skill.

I always had the feeling that there's more to Konsa than meets the eye. I've often got the impression that he does get really angry when things are not going right, and this time he was determined enough to put things right.

Will he do the same thing in a league match when the situation demands it? Would any of the back three be so determined to do it in a league match? I would hope that Emery is actually encouraging a certain level of individuality, as the over-coached mechanical play on show for so many years does not do it for me.

The fact that the Villa has brought in Diaby seems to indicate the desire to create more flair in Villa's play. Bailey also indicated that spirit, but Diaby's early showing seems to indicate he is the real deal. If Diaby's example rubs off on Bailey then all the better, but we also have Philogene showing real spark, and that is really good. Showing such confidence should also provide other youngsters with the example needed to break through.

Watkins, however, needs to develop a killer instinct in front of goal to be recognised as a true striker, and Archer has not made very good use of his opportunities.

Well, the pre-season matches have so far been somewhat inspiring for me in the quality of play. Let's hope that when it comes to the first real match of the new season we can bring it all together and, especially, again show Newcastle how to play.

UTV!