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On The Ball
Path to elite football full of pitfalls for Newcastle and Aston Villa
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The sale of Jacob Ramsey (second from right), a popular local boy, from Aston Villa to Newcastle furthered a sense the good times were over.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Football is full of sliding doors moments, when the game’s randomness facilitates great consequences. In May, the name of Thomas Bramall, a rookie referee, entered Aston Villa infamy for ruling out a Morgan Rogers strike at Old Trafford that might have guided Unai Emery’s team into this season’s Champions League.
Instead, Villa, already down to 10 men after Emiliano Martinez’s red card, lost 2-0 to Manchester United. At St James’ Park, Newcastle United were reprieved, having lost 1-0 to Everton and endured moments of agony as they awaited full time in Manchester.
