Mazzy

Really good from Gordon and Miggy. Something horrendous from Cuccurella to allow that to happen.

Was just about to say we've looked alot better aince Schar went off but then Botman dicks about with it for too long and we get caught out. Strange game this so far. Almost zero chances for us on goal but we've been alright in some areas around the halfway line. Chelsea exposed us early one but seem to have dropped off.

Not suprised Schar is sitting down hes been pretty poor so far. So have Tonali, Miggy and Isak.

The fact it's just a loan is a shame but not surprising that no one wants him permanently/to pay anything for him.

I said it at the time. We missed Joelinton/Longstaff in that first half. We were being played through so often, Villa players were running off Bruno and Tonali and straight onto our backline. Perhaps just a side affect to the formation change but seemed more than that. Doesn't matter if its pre season or not, football is football and this is exactly why teams play pre season games so they can observe these things and make changes.

Bruno and Tonali will work well as a paring against teams in the bottom half but against good teams we need Longstaff/Joelinton in their to break things up.

This Mbappe deal (if it happens) will be the last straw for UEFA. They will need to do something quickly to stop their precious Champions League assests from leaving. It's not going to be long now until FFP gets scrapped. Which obviously would be great news for us and 7 other teams in the Prem but not so good for the other 12.

If by those names you mean £50M+ signings then I dont think so. I reckon we could only afford to get one more player in if we were to pay Isak money. But I can see two more coming in at £25M/£30M each and then perhaps a loan with option to buy.

I can never watch footage like that and not think about the Nike advert from years ago. The nostalgia is overwhelming.

Probably a fair result in the end. We missed 3 big chances and had atleast one blatant penalty turned down and they regularly got into dangerous positions in behind us and took their chances well. Villa still have Diaby and more than likely another big signing to add before we meet them on the opening day.

Hopefully Barnes has got up now. Was down for a while.

Joelinton moaning about getting a yellow card for his 7th or 8th foul. Surprised its taken this long for him to be booked.

Back to 433 it seems. More compliments about Barnes in this last 2 minutes than any other newcastle player in the whole game.

Joelinton is getting another haul of yellows this season isn't he. I reckon he could break the 15 barrier by May (In all comps).

Are we not technically the home team or are they showing it on Sky in the stupid American format where the Home team are shown on the right?

Tielemans looks visibly more trim than he did last season. Clearly had given up a little bit at Leicester in his last few months.

Wasn't sure about the foul on Wilson as it looked like the defender potentially got the ball first but I do think that Gordon one should've been.

I was probably 30 seconds away from saying that without Schar and Trippier we lack some creativity in the back line and then Lascelles pulls out that ball over to Gordon.

Manquillo with a double nutmeg on Digne.

First attack and we concede again.

Looks like Big Jo may well be imminent. Hopefully going back to 433.

Brilliant from Anderson. He's pulled this back by himself more or less.

Definitely shouldn't be. As good as he is, that's not his position and he's not like Walker who has the speed to play there as a sweeper.

We miss Joelinton in the middle, or maybe we miss Longstaff. Whoever it is, something is missing in central midfield.

We should've started Lewis and Gillespie then.