Leeds United v Aston Villa Post match thread.

[SoccerHQ]

Losing away to Leeds isn't the end of the world as it's obvious we'll lose a few before the end of the season, the concern for me was how bad we looked.

We were no worse than we were at SHA.

It's funny how points on the board can change perceptions of performances.

I think thats the point. We were poor against Blose but got away with it

Aye but people were falling over themselves to laud it as tactical masterclass.

It's a bit like tonight....Adomah slots it home at 0-0 and we probably win and it's another great gameplan from SB. We lose and it's wrong line up, wrong subs etc. Fine margins.

Way I'd look at it....we're looking pretty strong at home now. Away from home though we're still not looking that convincing and we'll certainly need some more away wins if we're to finish top 6.

Disappointing considering we played 3 in central midfield and we have pace in the final third in Kodjia and Adomah.

[CJ]

Top of the shopping list is a goalkeeper. Never been impressed at all with Gollini - surgically attached to his goal line, doesn't dominate his area, and when he does come out he flaps. Get someone who'll attack the ball in his box and clear out anyone who gets in the way. At fault for the first and should have done better with the second today. And a jittery goalkeeper = a jittery defence. Get rid

[Rudy65]

These are the games you win 1 nil if you are going up

[Jimbo]

Villa are back.

Today was a very bad day, but I'm afraid I've seen little to convince me we're anything more than ok as things stand, or have any realistic chance of promotion this season. Players like Hutton, Gardner, Westwood, Gabby, Elphick and probably Gollini just aren't good enough and need to be replaced at the soonest opportunity.

The reason I tend to give up on football matters on H&V. What on earth are you on? We've just lost one match in eight. We've not looked good in two/three of them. And they weren't really any better than us.

Goodnight.

Shall we resume this conversation in May?

[themossman]

Elphick is the weakest link. Him, gollini, Westwood and Gardner is some right soft shite through the spine of the team.

[brontebilly]

Got what we deserved - nothing.

But Leeds didn't deserve to win, but they did.

True they looked very poor too, hard to believe they won 2-0. Adamoah missed a 1on 1 when at 0-0, thought we looked like the only winner up to their first. Truly awful game, standard was beyond abysmal. Unfortunately, the game only ended up confirming a number of things we all knew already.

- Gollini cost us a point today by bottling that collision, we need an experienced keeper in asap
- if we play three in midfield them two of those can't be Westwood or Gardner
- Gardner isn't good enough at all
- Kodjia is not a left sided forward at all
- Gestede isn't good enough at all
- we can't afford to keep leaving much better players on the bench, I'm all for competition for places but the three we brought on are better than those on the pitch, yes unfortunately that includes Gabby

Ratings today on starters

Gollini 3, Hutton 6, Elphick 5, Chester 6, Amavi 5, Westwood 5, Jedinak 7, Gardner 4, Adamoah 7, Gestede 4, Kodjia 4.

Can't say a single Leeds player impressed either

[saunders_heroes]

What a frustrating game. We bossed most of the game but created feck all. I thought Leeds were nothing much really, and we should have got something from the game. Midfield poor again, way too many sloppy passes, and the keeper should have don't better for both goals. Let's hope we bounce back next week.

[FatSam]

We've been relying on fairly fine margins during our unbeaten run, so I'm not surprised or overly worried that we lost today. We haven't been playing that fluidly, especially today, so conceding the first goal was a real blow. I didn't have confidence that we would get back into the game, as Leeds looked pretty solid, and we hadn't looked like creating much.

However, I'm never very confident when we have Gestede leading the line. He is very limited with the ball on the deck and nothing seems to stick to him. It seems like conceding the initiative to some extent - accepting that we'll be relying on punting the ball up for him to flick on, which has pretty much never worked as a tactic. 

I think Elphick's confidence is pretty shot. Whilst Gollini was at fault for the first goal, Roofe shouldn't have had a clear run at the cross. I don't think Elphick knew where he was at all.

We were going to lose at some point, so let's see how we react now. It would be good to go on a five game winning streak like Reading had done. That would really push us up the table.

[SoccerHQ]

There's clearly a gulf in this division.

The top 2 are proper teams, can defend and have fluency in attack. I'd be amazed if Newcastle and Brighton don't get automatic.promotion. We need to stop dreaming about getting top 2, we've had a good run recently and are still miles off either, it's not going to happen.

Look in the play offs though....Reading had a great run yet got smashed 5-0 today, Huddersfield haven't won for ages and SHA lost 3-0 at home to Barnsley.

IMO none of them will finish in the top 6.

I think it will be Derby, Sheff Weds, Us and one other surprise team.

Our big problem is we're being massively handicapped by the abysmal start we made under RMD, I think we're forgetting how bad it actually was, 1 win in 11. Laughable.

[QuintonVilla]

Never thought I'd say this, but we miss Baker. Elphick is garbage.

Lack of creativity in midfield a massive problem. Gardner and Westwood offer nothing.

Leeds and their fans were crap until they scored.

Important to bounce back next week and go on a little run again.

[CT]

It was such a close game before the first goal, I thought a mistake would see something happen. Unfortunately Gollini obliged.

Gestede is nowhere near good enough to be starting, but to be honest, I'm just putting this down in the "bad day at the office" file and moving on.

We've lost. I'm not used to losing. It's not very nice.

[Exeter 77]

Just for the the Mail and the tabloid rags - Useless bluenose t**t ... (removes tongue from cheek :-)).

[Steve67]

Get through to January, make two or three signings. Poor result, poor performance. It happens. Bounce back next week.

[not3bad]

Ultimately we were outfought. Fair play to Leeds. Bastards.

[oldhill_avfc]

Villa are back.

Today was a very bad day, but I'm afraid I've seen little to convince me we're anything more than ok as things stand, or have any realistic chance of promotion this season. Players like Hutton, Gardner, Westwood, Gabby, Elphick and probably Gollini just aren't good enough and need to be replaced at the soonest opportunity.

The reason I tend to give up on football matters on H&V. What on earth are you on? We've just lost one match in eight. We've not looked good in two/three of them. And they weren't really any better than us.

Goodnight.

Shall we resume this conversation in May?

Chill out Jimbo, you're spot on.

I suspect even SB knows it too.

Tonight showed us what we already know.   We have a very average squad.  There are a couple of players with a bit of quality and the rest are mix of mediocre and garbage. 

For now we have to get to the play offs.  After, there is a lot of deadwood that needs clearing out.

That's straightforward fact not over reaction.