roonst83

Looks fitter, sharper and better on the ball. Need him to keep this up.

I’ve got a feeling our only win will come in the last game of the season. But by then West Ham will be safe and we’ll already be down.

Top 9 side I think

That last minute goal against Arsenal was massive and pushed them away from everyone. They may mathematically be involved but that result and the timing of it really pulled them away from the pack.

That is a valid suggestion. I imagine he probably will for Liverpool at least as it’ll be a park the bus job to try keep the shoreline respectable. But after that we need to be braver going forwards and take risks to try win games. Guilbert is much more positive than Konsa going forwards so I expect he’ll be given reduced game time via sub appearances at Liverpool and possibly against United before starting against Palace.

I’m more concerned we’d lose our week’s preparation in between both games. Should we still have something to okay for then, of course.

Looks like our game with Arsenal will be moved. They’re in the FA Cup semi and Lineker has just said they’ll be played 18/19 July. We’re due to play Arsenal on 18th. Assume it’ll be a midweek game instead after the semi. A few days before West Ham.

He does a a bit of the “Andreas Wieman-esq non stop hustling” about it. I’m at the stage when anything is worth a shot. We’ve certainly lacked any urgency and we don’t press as a team so can’t do much harm.

He’s a disruption but not a threat, sadly.

Lots of rumours across Twitter that Villa chiefs are in talks tonight about sacking Smith.

Lord. Help. Us.

We lose these games during the drinks break and half time because opposing manager's have the ability to see issues that need correcting on the field and put it into practice. We only react when we're losing and I just don't see any tactical nouse from Smith and his staff. There was a draw there today possibly, but in truth, we'd reached our maximum whilst Wolves could easily have stepped up the gears. Jut feel flat and numb to this and haven't enjoyed this season at all because we simply haven't been competitive enough and do not have enough quality. We didn't lay a glove on Wolves today. We looked organised again and Luiz stood out as the most composed and assured player on the field for us, but we were simply out thought (again) tactically by a far superior manager and team. Every time we attacked we were out numbered so heavily by their defence. We're too easy to beat, too easy to bully and it's too easy to nullify any threat we may have, noticeably by shutting off Grealish and forcing him into our own half. The teams around us just won't keep losing and we're essentially gifting three games to the opposition as we'd do well to take zero points from today, Liverpool and United. Plan just hasn't worked and after so much hope, exceitement and expectation it now feels as if we're just awaiting the inevitable.

Game is just massive. Which is worrying. Think it’s time for two up top. I’d go for 3-5-2 (Elmo and Targett as wing backs) and throw Sammy and Kienan up top. Samatta is more mobile than Kienan so can hopefully cause problems. I’d have a middle of Luiz (holding) and McGinn and Jack taking it in turns to roam. Think we’ll need to be brave and take risks to get a win up there. There’s no crowd so will be interesting to see how we take to being away for the first time since the restart. Certainly can’t do any harm to not have 50k geordies, who now seem to despise us, screaming and booing us. This feels like a must win for me. Not enough games left and with the likes of Wolves, United and Liverpool in the horizon we need something special. It’s time to stand up and be counted and to try start proving all the doubters wrong, because even our own fans have largely written us off now. Understandably but still. This alone should be motivation enough for our team but we seek to have a team full of individuals and I don’t see the fight and desire or togetherness that I did last season. One win could change that.

He’s on 8 yellow cards now so two away from a two match ban. Any idea if there’s a deadline for that it is the end of the season? EDIT :: Apparently before the season was stopped the deadline for ten yellow card punishment was the “second Sunday in April” but no idea what that now means with the restart. Anyone know?

Didn’t rate him in the Championship and he’s done nothing to convince me he should should start for us in the Prem. He couldn’t care less and it shows.

I highlighted this before the Sheff Utd game which was met by (polite and bantery) sarcasm by some on here. First couple of games he’s been largely ineffective. Naturally lacks sharpness but doesn’t look anywhere near as svelte as he did before. He was quick and could turn on a sixpence. We really need him to pick up form and quick. Granted, he was up against a top team today and one who bossed us off the park all game so hopefully he’ll have more of the hall and more opportunities at Newcastle.

Always said, Conor is someone capable of doing very good things but he’s not a very good player.

Spot on. I was concerned the moment I heard Purslow say how we were one year ahead of plan when we got promoted. Recruitment has been poor overall but we’ve had some bad luck with decisions and injuries.

It was a typo, my bad. I’m from Bromsgrove.

Biggest surprise in this is that he lives in Barnet Green. Never knew that.

He doesn’t look too overweight (compared to normal) in these so not sure if it was these pics. Will see tomorrow assuming he features. Am just glad he’s back to be honest. We’ve missed him massively.

I’ll see if I can find them, it was a week or so ago and maybe on the official site’s Instagram story so may not be up anymore.

Anyone else think he’s looked a fair bit overweight in the training?

The break in season can’t have done us any harm. None atall. We were in utter freefall and I believe were the worst team in the league back in March. The break has given time for Smith, the coaching staff and the players to reflect on their performances and try and workout how to rectify that. And we have had more time for McGinn to recover from his injury. Having him back, when fit (he current looks well overweight, in my opinion) will be a big plus if he can get back to the form he had at the beginning of the season. Plus it’ll help take the focus off Grealish. However, what worries me is how atrocious we were defending as a unit/team. We allowed the most shots in the league and let in the most goals and most set pieces etc. All these defensive stats place is 20th in the division. We were fragile as a team and conceding way too many chances to the opposition. Unless that can change then I’m very worried for us. As much as I like Mings and think he’s a great leader on the pitch for us and that we look better with him, he is prone to major lapses in concentration each game leading him to drift out of position and make mistakes. Again, unless this can change were going to struggle. Sammygoal looks a threat, but we need to use him well and provide for him. Just get crosses into the box and he’ll thrive. Trezzy and AEG have flattered to deceive and neither offer enough of a threat and are too easily defended against. That first game against Sheff Utd will tell us a lot about us. They’re a super fit team who are very well drilled. It’ll be tough. There’s no home advantage which is something that stays show we benefit from. Smith states that we have too many “training ground players” in our squad so hopefully they step up in away games when there’s no home crowd for the opposition.

YES! Let's make this happen. Would be perfect