Interesting to read through these BBC Sport ‘neutrals’ comments, following on from Newcastle United losing 1-0 to Aston Villa.
A first defeat in six months at St James’ Park for Newcastle United.
The last time United failed to score at home in all competitions was back in January, a 2-0 defeat to…Aston Villa.
Newcastle battled but Villa the better and more dangerous team the first half, Manzambi putting them ahead.
Matthias Jaissle’s team edged the second half but lacked the inspiration and quality to find the equaliser, though Suzuki made a blinding save from Sven Botman.
Always interesting to hear the neutral perspectives, as well as the perspectives of fans of Aston Villa, Newcastle United and…Sunderland.
The BBC Sport readers comments from neutrals…
‘What a dirty team Newcastle are. How Joelintin stayed on the pitch and Botman. Maybe if they tried kicking the ball, they might have some success.’
‘Super result for Football.
Villa played with poise, movement and pace…..despite the best efforts of Newcastle to kick them off the park.
Well done Villa….shame on you Newcastle.’
‘What drivel.’
“Villa played with ‘poise’ … was wondering what the ref’s name was.
So many Villa players up for an Oscar and the ref pandering to them.
‘Half right, compared to 50 years ago today’s ‘bad challenges’ were whimsical in comparison. Not saying that’s a good thing, but oh boy how times change’
‘On tonight’s showing Newcastle are the biggest bunch of thugs since Sean Dyche’s Burnley. Should have ended with 9 on the pitch.’
‘The irony coming from a supporter of the team that has thugs Cash and McGinn.’
‘I saw a lot of villa players giving a sneaky push from behind, rolling around like they were shot, grabbing shirts – yeah nufc weren’t great but villa are still below them and scrapped a 1-0.’
‘Newcastle, could they struggle this season? Conceded four against Coventry in their previous match and have just lost at home to a Villa team who aren’t exactly full on confidence either.’
‘Villa not full on confidence? Just won 3 & drew 1 of our last 4 games.’
‘Losing 4-1 at Coventry and Leeds is not for everyone and still Newcastle haven’t played anyone near to top.’
‘The Geordies missed Isak today. I hope they enjoyed his goal today.’
‘Sad Mackem I guess.’
‘No sad Mackems in Portugal this week. Quite the opposite. Plenty sobbing on Tyneside though.’
‘I actually agreed this is the sort of game where Isak made the difference in previous years.’
‘That was straight from eddies book. Can’t out play them. Disrupt kick and harrass them.’
‘It summed up the referee in 3 seconds. He thought the Joelinton and Botman tackles both deserved a yellow card. One wasn’t a foul, the other was a straight red.’
‘I think the joelinton yellow card saved botman as a free kick was already given. So the game was effectively stopped at botmans tackle.’
‘You mean the free kick that never was. No contact between Joelinton and the Villa player, he just went diving like most of the squad. Botman should have been off, it was stupid, lazy and dangerous.’
‘Horrific challenge – i’m glad Jackson is ok’
‘You mean Botman easily got to the ball and the Villa players threw himself to the ground’
‘Great win at a ground we usually struggle out. Ref and VAR bottled the Botman challenge.’
Photo by The Mag
‘Ref and linesman couldn’t wait to stop play in villa’s favour.’
‘Not sure how Newcastle finished with 11 players.’
‘Not sure how they finished with more than 8’
‘That’s a bit dramatic. Botman was a red. Not sure any one else was ever in trouble. Joelintons yellow wasn’t even a foul. Also worth considering Villas diving, one lad booked for it, Pau Torres screaming in fake agony, the keeper time wasting.’
‘Joelinton was a textbook yellow. At least three Newcastle players should have received 3-4 bookings apiece.’
‘Newcastle and Villa both hampered by FFP. Newcastle haven’t had their team decimated.’
‘Not had their team decimated? Clearly losing players for over £250M in the summer doesn’t count. Not to mention the others who left at the end of their contracts.’
‘Pack in the FFP rubbish. To spend money you have to win things and make money. Otherwise you’re a bad as Man City. What, you expect to be able to spend billions all because your owners are rich? And that fair on everyone else that doesn’t have a sugar daddy, is it? Give it a rest, it’s becoming boring’
‘It worked for Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool before PSR though didnt it, or is that ‘different’
‘Both teams being destroyed by the PL and the red cartel. You will continue to sell and win nothing until you fight back. Say what you like about City but your clubs need to make a stand against FFP and any rules that try to keep you down.’
‘So Villa sold their ladies team to their sister company generating 77 million. Thats ok is it.’
‘Depends which teams you talk about. Villa and chelsea selling ladies teams to sister companies. Newcastle selling ground to themselves. Brighton 400 MILLION apt loan, Arsenal 250 Million apt loan and many more. In case you don’t know an APT loan is a sugar daddy loan that never needs to be repaid and has no interest payments. A gift. Sure many clubs would like that, do you homework.’
‘They have had their team massively weakened. Look back at that team in 24-25 that won the league cup. Losing Isak, Gordon, Bruno and even Tonali from that is a massive detriment.’
‘I’m a villa fan, but Newcastle definitely had their team ripped up this summer too.’
‘Villa Fan. I like to see Newcastle do well. Proper club and proper fans , but you looked confused and lost today.’
‘Villa going from strength to strength again. Frantic summer, but Suzuki, Manzambi, Madjo, Mbaye, Jackson – the future is bright. Disgraceful Botman didn’t see red. Newcastle huffed and puffed but have no threat. That’s what they’re missing and it drains the confidence. Wissa’s efforts were disgraceful.’
‘Another shocking refereeing performance! Favoured Newcastle!’
‘Villa diving all over the park and as for Suzuki’s constant time wasting !!’
‘It’s bad enough when managers whinge about perceived injustices, but fans don’t need to copy them.
Yes it could, and perhaps should, have been a red card, but these decisions always carry an element of judgement, and that original judgment was a yellow card. Hence unsurprising they couldn’t see enough to over-rule the ref. Had he started at a red, I doubt VAR would have over-ruled it.’
‘Great game to watch. Would have taken a 1-1 away at St. James but chuffed with a 1-0 win. The ref however. Awful. Lost control of both Half’s. How Newcastle still ended the game with 11… And Wissa didn’t score ANY of his chances?
Anyway. Onto the next for both.’
‘It’s plain for all to see we’re work in progress and hopefully we get there, and with Unai I think we’ll be ok. I genuinely hope Newcastle start performing better soon, we need them, us & a few others challenging the Sky 6 (why 6?!)/ media darlings/corrupt clubs/ clubs with huge debts for the sake of football’