This weekend will break our "consistant" inconsistant run. I wont predict the score but itll be a good one for us.

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2001

Answers

Ciara - I hope you are feeling worried about the game!

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2001

Considering how pathetic we were against Villa last season....very worried.

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2001

We beat Villa 3-0 last year, last game of the season and they were the second or third worst side to appear at Newcastle (apart from us) last year, 6 months on and they're top ?

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2001

MacB, they seem to have fluked a good side. This is the side that beat Bolton last week:

Schmeichel, Delaney, Alpay, Staunton, Wright, Hadji, Boateng, Hendrie (Taylor - 86), Kachloul, Angel (Dublin - 72), Vassell (Merson - 72).

They say Schmeichel is worth 12 extra points per season, Alpay is a wonderful CH (forget the OG against Man Utd - let's face it, it could happen to anyone) and that midfield is ace. Angel has come good and Vassell is turning into a decent player. The subs were OK, too. The other thing they've got going for them is momentum. We have a great record against Villa but we had a great record against Spurs. They play a similar sort of game to Spurs and are much better defensively. Unless one or two people find their striking boots and we get a couple of dangerous freekicks, this could be a tough game. I think it's actually one of our most important games of the season because they are big rivals for that 6th spot (as are Spurs).

-- Anonymous, November 01, 2001

.....god, I wish we could "fluke" a good side!

-- Anonymous, November 01, 2001

So do, I, Clarky. I actually nicked the expression off a Villa supporting mate who says that Gregory is so poor a manager that it has to be a fluke that they've put together a good side.

-- Anonymous, November 01, 2001

The other thing is they have lost the wannabe-at-a-big-club moaners of Southgate, Ugo (both Boro), James (W Ham) and Joachim (Walsall, or whereever he is).

Maybe our senior players who 'deserve' first team football could equally be phased out and replaced by flukey better players :0)

-- Anonymous, November 01, 2001

I feel a bit bad for Southgate and Ehiogu - they both deserve to be at a better club than Boro. Shame we didn't go in for them, either would have been good signings for us. Bet now they're back Boro's defence starts to improve dramatically. While we're on the subject of Boro players, Okon is excellent in my opinion, we should be taking a serious look at him.

-- Anonymous, November 01, 2001

Forgot the 3-0, only remembered the FAC matches. 'Course Dougal's analysis of their current squad makes me feel much more optimistic. Not. ;-)

-- Anonymous, November 01, 2001

Sorry, Ciara! Actually, all I was saying is that there seems to be a bit of surprise in the press etc that Villa are doing so well while they actually have a decent enough side. They spent half a season at the top of the league three years ago with a side that wasn't half as good as the side they've got now... Having said that, I don't see why we can't beat them: we have a couple of good players and have been defending a bit better. I'm currently thinking "draw".

-- Anonymous, November 01, 2001

Dougal - check your e-mail, please.

-- Anonymous, November 01, 2001

Just replied, Clarky.

-- Anonymous, November 01, 2001

Oh, no! The team are going for a break in Spain next week....their last visit to Spain was preceded by the Charlton away game and attended by cries of "La F.....g Manga? La F.....g Manga? They should be sending us to La Manga to gerrover watching yiz bastids".

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2001

You're cheering me up no end, Dougal. So shall I sleep in tomorrow morning?

Nahhhh...I'm a glutton for punishment ;-)

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2001

Perhaps La Margate would be more appropriate?

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2001

Jeemy Knackers: just went out to buy the paper and the first, in fact only, person I saw was a piggin' Makem.

-- Anonymous, November 03, 2001

I hope you bump into that "piggin' Mackem" then you can laugh and point at him.

-- Anonymous, November 03, 2001