Punters Panel; Newcastle Banter

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Nov 3, 2008

Our panel give their views on tonight's game with Aston Villa

GRAHAM BREWIS

I'VE been reading about Joe Kinnear siding up to Mike Ashley and compiling a transfer-window shopping list in January. May I respectfully point him in the direction of the job at hand? Villa at home is never going to be an easy fixture, even if we were in the top half, never mind staring up from the bottom. I'm hoping Owen is fit - he will make a difference, but not enough for a win, I'm afraid.

PREDICTION: United 1 Villa 1

OMAR MIRZA

I HOPE Joe Kinnear is aware of how important the three points are tonight - after all, it is my birthday! It will feel like it's everyone's birthday if we can beat a Villa side who are flying at the moment. Gutierrez, Martins and Barton should be reaching a good level of fitness by now, and they are the key for me tonight. Flair, graft and goals are the order of the day - let's hope we see all three tonight from the boys in black-and-white.

PREDICTION: United 3 Villa 1

LEN JONES

WITHOUT kicking a ball we find ourselves rockbottom of the Premier League thanks to Spurs, Wigan and Bolton all winning at the weekend.

Unfortunately, even though we seem to be making progress in recent matches, the table does not lie, and this piles on unwanted pressure for the Toon Army tonight. Aston Villa will provide a much tougher test than in our previous couple of matches at St James's Park, so every player must be on their guard from the first minute to the last in this one, if we are to get a good result. It as a match we dare not lose!

PREDICTION: United 1 Aston Villa 1

IAN KNOX

LOOKING at the weekend's results and the table, this is a must-win match for us. The supporters must get behind the Toon from the off. I hope Michael Owen and Nicky Butt are back, and we even change things to go for a 4-3-3. We have a fight on our hands, and this is Joe Kinnear's biggest test - but I'll settle for a 1-0 win now.

PREDICTION: United 1 Villa 0

ROBIN KENNEDY

RESULTS over the weekend have gone against us, with teams around us picking up points. I'm convinced we'll be involved in a relegation battle for the remainder of the season, so we must get as many points at home as possible with the added advantage of the support from the Toon Army. Michael Owen returning will give us a greater threat in the final third, and Jonas Gutierrez has the ability to create something special.

PREDICTION: United 1 Villa 1

CHRIS DICKSON

THE league table provides damning evidence of the impact Mike Ashley has had on the club, although two wins could see Newcastle leap up to the top 10! Despite Kinnear providing a degree of stability, United are in deep trouble. Villa are a club moving in the right direction and have a stronger squad and an intelligent manager. The performance against West Brom was far from convincing, and Villa will provide a more difficult challenge.

PREDICTION: United 1 Villa 1

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CAPTION(S):

GRAHAM BREWIS; OMAR MIRZA; LEN JONES; IAN KNOX; ROBIN KENNEDY; CHRIS DICKSON