Our first away game of the season is just around the corner. Scandalous ticket prices in 
evidence once again, with Villa charging up to £41 to get in and £40 for restricted view tickets. This madness has to stop.
Last week yielded what many of us expected, namely 3 points left St James’ Park and headed to Manchester with the visitors. On paper, there’s an expectation that this next fixture is more winnable, and whilst there were a few signs of life in our play last week, I wouldn’t be getting too carried away, not just because we looked weak in front of goal, but also because Villa’s tails will be up after a decent 1-0 win at Stoke City.
There’s still an element of uncertainty around our plans for the remainder of this transfer window, some reports have us now thinking ahead to the January one, some have us still looking to both recruit and sell in this one, whilst Pardew, the only NUFC representative who actually speaks (even on areas that he has no control over) is suggesting that he’s fine with what he has. Personally, I still think we’re short in one or two areas whilst we’re over stocked in some as well.
There’ll be encouraging noises made about players who return from injury, there always is, I don’t see either of a) a clinical 15-20 goal a season striker (or any other position I suppose), b) a commanding, leader who can organise our defence anywhere on our books, and c) if I’m honest, I still don’t see the midfielder who can reproduce what Cabaye could. Cabella isn’t the same sort of player (although I like the look of him) and De Jong looks a cert to be used up front so I still think we’re short in the engine room.
At the risk of being unkind, I think it’s the end of the road at Newcastle United for Vuckic, Ferguson, Sammy Ameobi, Bigirimana, Gutierrez and possibly Obertan (I refuse to recognise it’s the end for Ben Arfa) so let’s see if United can free up some salary budget and recruit where we are short.
On to our hosts then, and Villa have been active in the summer too. Whilst Joe Bennett, Nathan Delfounseo, Marc Albrighton and Antonio Luna have left Villa Park, Philippe Senderos, Joe Cole, Kieran Richardson, Aly Cissokho and Carlos Sanchez have arrived at a combined cost of around £6m
With Benteke on the injury list many fancied Villa to struggle this season. They brought in Roy Keane to assist Paul Lambert and got off to a flyer last weekend thanks to Andreas Weimann’s winner.
Benteke is joined by Libor Kozak in the treatment room whilst Joe Cole is expected to be fit.
Team News
There’s still no Tiote, Santon, Cisse or Ryan Taylor but Siem De Jong is expected to take a seat on the bench.
I expect Krul to retain his place in goal. I don’t think there’ll be much change at the back, Pardew likes Dummett over Haidara and I expect he’ll keep the Welsh defender in the team. I can’t see much change in midfield or up front unless Pardew wants to change the system.
Injured
Davide Santon – Hamstring – October
Ryan Taylor – Knee – No Return Date
Papiss Cisse – Knee – October
Curtis Good – Groin -No return date
Cheick Tiote – Hamstring – September
Possible Team (4-2-3-1)
1.Krul: 2. Janmaat, 5. Williamson, 6. Coloccini, 3. Dummett: 8. Anita, 4. Colback: 7. Sissoko, 10. Cabella, 11. Gouffran: 9. Riviere:
Subs
Elliot, Haidara, S Taylor, De Jong, Obertan, Aarons, Perez
Referee: Mike Dean
League History at Villa
1984/85 A fucking right good hiding, 4-0, hat trick for Paul Rideout. Ian Baird’s first game for us. In the team that day, Gary Megson, Malcolm Brown, Pat Heard and Baird, don’t know how we didn’t win the league!!
1985/86 Won 2-1 Beardsley and Gascoigne on the scoresheet for us, with Andy Gray on target for them. John Bailey’s fat arse squeezing into NUFC shorts for the first time
1986/87 2-0 defeat. Steve Hodge being a little, fat, shit, and scoring twice, Peter Jackson making his debut for the mags. Their relegation season!! *Smiley face*
1988-89 Lost 3-1 with a Mirandinha penalty for us.
1993/94 won 2-0 Allen (pen), and another for Cole. “United are back!!” Cole’s 11th goal in 11 games run.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPvjyz6MC_0
1994/95 won 2-0 Lee and Cole on target. Robert Lee was fucking immense at this point in time
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nju8qeIfggE
1995/96drew 1-1 Ferdinand powering through the Villa defence to score
1996/97 drew 2-2 Shearer and Lee Clark with our goals. Still in the aftermath of KK quitting
1997/98 won 1-0 Batty with a rare (but cracking) goal
1998/99 lost 0-1, Lee Hendrie pen. The weasel, faced, cunt.
1999/00 Drunken Duncan superb header was enough to win it for us, 1-0. Actually, Im saying Drunken Duncan, I don’t think anyone in the away end wasn’t drunk that day
2000/011-1 a wicked Nobby Solano volley, cancelling out Dublin’s opener.
2001/02 1-1 Shearer turning in a goal mouth scramble. Joy in the away end!
2002/03 1-0 Shearer’s late header, away end going mental
2003/04 0-0. O’Brien sent off after 10 mins
2004/05 2-4 defeat, the game that done for SBR and we should have pissed it. Sorensen should have been sent off but went on to thwart us.
2005/06 2-1 win with only 10 men! Shola and N’zogbia with the goals, Babayaro seeing red.
2006/07 Lost 2-0. Juan Pablo Angel, couldn’t score in a brothel with a £50 note strapped to his cock, but he did against us.
2007/08 Lost 1-4. Another fucking shit performance followed immediately after by another X-rated horror show that is probably more fitting for Razzle than this high class publication (cough)
2008/09 Not one to relive, much worse than the relegation of 88/89 when we knew our fate weeks in advance
2010/11 0-1. James Collins header, one to forget
2011/12 1-1 Leon Best dug us out an equaliser to earn a point.
2012/13 2-1 win, Cisse and Cabaye had us in a comfortable position, Villa poisoned our half time lucozade and the 2nd half was awful.
2013/14 2-1 win. Ben Arfa and Gouffran on target for us with Benteke temporarily equalising for the hosts.
Aston Villa Fanzines
In a forum style format, we have @Heroes and Villains’ http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/
More online dealies here at Vital Villa http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=506786
Predictions
Literally, anything could happen here.
N’Zogbia and Richardson chomping at the bit, no doubt
Chris Betts
@tfBettsy1892
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