http://www.skysports.com/opinion/story/0,,15205_7479555,00.html
"Ford Super Sunday: Newcastle v Aston Villa
1pm, Sun, Sky Sports HD1
Newcastle are above Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League and they're starting to remind me of the time Everton finished in a Champions League spot.
But I just have a funny feeling they might lose on Sunday.
They've been scoring the first goal and riding their luck in some games. I don't know how they managed to beat Blackburn, that's a football match they should never have won, but they defended very well, they restricted the other team and Tim Krul didn't have to make many saves, apart from the penalty.
Everyone will now turn up and expect them to beat Villa at home, but I don't think Newcastle are playing great football and I don't see it happening.
Demba Ba could be involved again, but he'll have lost a lot of pride at the Africa Cup of Nations. His country, Senegal, finished bottom of their group without winning a game and I wouldn't be surprised if that knocks him a little bit.
Also, Aston Villa are good on the counter-attack as we saw against Arsenal last week. They also played very well in the second half against QPR and I just think they will be a threat to Newcastle.
I haven't been impressed with them this season, but they've been decent in the last couple of games. If they'd got through the first 10 minutes of the second half at Arsenal without conceding a goal then I think they'd have won the game. They might even have picked Arsenal off again. If they play like that against Newcastle they won't be too far away.
Charles N'Zogbia produced his best performance in an Aston Villa shirt in midweek and he always seems to do well against Newcastle, as we saw in his Wigan days. Maybe that will be the case again.
I don't know why, but I just have a feeling this game won't go the way everyone's expecting.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2"
At least he's consistent in his views...
"Ford Super Sunday: Newcastle v Aston Villa
1pm, Sun, Sky Sports HD1
Newcastle are above Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League and they're starting to remind me of the time Everton finished in a Champions League spot.
But I just have a funny feeling they might lose on Sunday.
They've been scoring the first goal and riding their luck in some games. I don't know how they managed to beat Blackburn, that's a football match they should never have won, but they defended very well, they restricted the other team and Tim Krul didn't have to make many saves, apart from the penalty.
Everyone will now turn up and expect them to beat Villa at home, but I don't think Newcastle are playing great football and I don't see it happening.
Demba Ba could be involved again, but he'll have lost a lot of pride at the Africa Cup of Nations. His country, Senegal, finished bottom of their group without winning a game and I wouldn't be surprised if that knocks him a little bit.
Also, Aston Villa are good on the counter-attack as we saw against Arsenal last week. They also played very well in the second half against QPR and I just think they will be a threat to Newcastle.
I haven't been impressed with them this season, but they've been decent in the last couple of games. If they'd got through the first 10 minutes of the second half at Arsenal without conceding a goal then I think they'd have won the game. They might even have picked Arsenal off again. If they play like that against Newcastle they won't be too far away.
Charles N'Zogbia produced his best performance in an Aston Villa shirt in midweek and he always seems to do well against Newcastle, as we saw in his Wigan days. Maybe that will be the case again.
I don't know why, but I just have a feeling this game won't go the way everyone's expecting.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2"
At least he's consistent in his views...
