3 days ago
Newcastle draw shows the need for Villa reinforcements
It was Aston Villa's first opening day Premier League home game for 15 years. It would be too far to say fans would be happy to wait another 15 for the next one but it is game which will not live long in the memory.A stalemate against Newcastle at least ensured Villa will go a calendar year unbeaten at home in the Premier League. But, especially in the first half, they were undercooked and second best behind a Newcastle side who are a direct competitor for a Champions League Magpies pipped Villa to fifth on goal difference last season and, on this evidence, may put daylight between the sides by the end of the current is clear Villa need quality reinforcements - they are without former loanees Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio and are about to sell Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle for £40m - but financial restrictions have ruled Villa's summer transfer spend. Emery called for a "review" of profit and sustainability rules in his programme column and afterwards insisted Villa will continue to respect the rules. "I am happy how we are managing things," he said. "Since I've been here we have done fantastic transfer window. We have to be intelligent and the most important thing is how we are building the team and getting as strong as possible with the players we have. "We are ambitious but we are ambitious trying to respect the rules and trying to get the best players possible. We are not going to rest in case we can be with some options in the transfer window."Ezri Konsa's 66th-minute red card halted Villa's momentum after they managed to wrestle control from Newcastle after the break. Boubacar Kamara headed at Nick Pope before Ollie Watkins tested Pope but Emery had to accept a point as a positive. He added: "We are not happy when we are losing two points at home. I think more or less they maybe deserved more because they had better chances. We have to accept it."
