Magpie 24/7@Magpie24_7
Aston Villa vs Newcastle United
Premier League 🏆
Saturday 16th August 2025 📅
12:30pm Kick-Off ⏰
The opposition Preview 👀
Goalkeeper
Though there was talk of Martinez leaving, being linked to Man Utd and bidding that emotional Callum-Wilson-Like farewell to the Villa fans seemingly, a funny old game, isn’t it? He seems to be straight back in the fore.
There has been activity in the Villa goalkeeping unit, signing 34 year old dutchman, Marco Bizot, from France Ligue 1 side, Stade Brestois. They also promoted 21 year old Oliwier Zych from their U21 squad, and welcomed back 22 year old goalkeeper Filip Marschall from his loan at Crewe.
Bizot played the first part of Villa’s friendlies, but Martinez was involved to the back end of their preseason. It looks like Bizot is set to start for Villa against us, with Emi Martinez serving a one-game suspension for his red card last season in the game against Man Utd where he brough down Hojland, thus practically handing us our champions league spot!
I don’t know a great deal about the one-capped Netherlands keeper, in general play it will come down to their defence, if we can get past them and have some decent efforts on goal, I’m confident one may trickle in. I don’t think we necessarily have much joy at set pieces against Villa, we are not the best at attacking set pieces, though we have acquired a set piece coach in pre-season so we may have been working on them. But Villa tend to be strong defending set plays so I think our route could be open play.
Defence
Despite signing Yasin Özcan, a 19 year old Centre-Back from Türkiye Süper Lig side Kasimpasa for approximately £6m, I see him as more of a future signing. At 19 I don’t think it would be fair to expect the lad to hit the ground running in the Premier League.
I think we see Lucas Digne at left back Matty Cash at right back with Pau Torres the left sided centre back and Ezri Konsa the right sided Centre back. The centre back Tyrone Mings and left back Ian Maatsen could play a part but I would expect it could be off the bench instead of in the staring eleven. Villa do tend to play the offside trap, especially at home, pushing up the park, and their defence isn’t exactly full of pace, so the way around these could be counter attacking football, using the pace of Elanga and Gordon, my only caution to that would be sitting in and letting villa enjoy possession may prove costly.
Midfield
Villa tend to play two central midfielders in Tielemans and Kamara, they also have depth in this area with Onana not far off that standard either. They are athletic, physical and combative midfielders, it will be a joy to watch them go up against Tonali, Bruno and Joelinton. A real battle of athleticism and strength in the middle of the park.
Morgan Rodgers is a talent for Villa, and with Jacob Ramsey soon to be departing I expect him to be involved playing just ahead of two of either Tielemans/Kamara/Onana. Unless Uni Emery benches him and plays the three defensive minded players in the centre of the park, though I don’t think that’s his style, least not at home against in a match they will no doubt look to win. Buendia is back for Villa and has been starting pre-season so he could also be in contention, if not to start, to play a part in the tie at least, with Rodgers picking up an injury to his left ankle in their friendly against Roma, it may not be enough of an injury to stop Rodgers from playing, but it Villa could be cautious and not play him for the full 90 minutes, the perfect excuse to give Buendia a run out in front of their home fans.
Attack
With Ramsey departing, not only does this leave a bit of a shortage of options in central midfield, I think it makes it very likely we see their Captain, and workhorse, John McGinn play on the left of their attack, as he has done on numerous occasions before.
The right surely belongs to Donyell Malen, he seems to get the nod over Leon Bailey who himself is a decent player...
