My goodwill didn't extend to Aston Villa

Unlike last season where I wanted West Ham United to do well in the Europa Conference (they ultimately went on and won it), my goodwill didn’t extend to Aston Villa in this season’s competition.

Aston Villa were well and truly stuffed at home in the first leg of their semi-final against Olympiakos.

It finished 4-2 to the Greek side and has left the Villans with what looks their own Mount Olympus to climb.

Although Aston Villa have had a very good season in the Premier League and look set to qualify for next seasons Champions League courtesy of finishing 4th, Unai Emery will be feeling extremely disappointed if his side do get knocked out of the Europa Conference.

Emery is a serial continental winner that has lifted the Europa League four times.

He won it three years on the trot between 2013 and 2016 with Sevilla, before guiding Villarreal to their first ever major trophy in 2021.

No wonder Unai Emery was seemingly first choice for Newcastle United’s new owners after our takeover in 2021.

Newcastle have done the double over Aston Villa this season with an aggregate score of 8-2.

We may well replace Aston Villa in next season’s Conference just as they are set to replace us in the next Champions League.

After the luck that Eddie Howe and his Toon side have had during this campaign, qualifying for any European competition will be some achievement.

It’s pointless reiterating why I and a lot of Newcastle fans don’t like Aston Villa, suffice to say that they bloody well don’t like us either, as they have continually proved.

I must admit that I had a little chuckle at their final result against Olympiakos as I had a nightcap.

Some people, including some of our own supporters, think that Newcastle overachieved last season in finishing 4th.

I’m not one of them.

I thought we were bloody tremendous throughout the campaign and our place in the Champions League was thoroughly deserved.

The same applies to Villa now. They have some good players and are privileged to have Emery at the helm.

Newcastle United and Aston Villa are the two main threats to the dominance of the Septic Six, more so us, and they all know it.

So I’ll finish off by asking you all this question.

How many of these cartel clubs would be better off with an Eddie Howe or an Unai Emery running the show, compared to some of their own underachieving gaffers?

Just a quick reminder…

There will be a fundraiser held at Chirton Social Club in North Shields on May 9th that will feature former 1970s Newcastle United stars Irving Nattrass, Paul Cannell and Jimmy ‘Jinky’ Smith.

Irving and Paul both reside in North Shields and I know the organisers (more info below from them) are especially delighted to have got Jinky on board, as talk-ins and public speaking have never previously been the great man’s cuppa.

Tickets can be bought in advance online HERE or HERE, alternatively in person at Chirton Club or the Rose Inn, Wallsend, or walk up on the night

North Shields Supporters Club 

‘The Independent North Shields Supporters Club (INSSA) are delighted to hold this event with three iconic 1970s Toon stars hosted by excellent local comedian and top Newcastle fan, Gavin Webster.

After North Shields Football Club cited ‘an impossible financial situation’ before Christmas, fans have banded together and formed a fundraising organisation ready to step into the breach and deal with any eventuality that the close season may pose.

You can help out this famous non-league grassroots football club by purchasing tickets (or making a donation) online HERE or HERE.’