Villa v Leeds pre-match thread

[claret+blue ed]

The game against Leeds tonight is possibly the biggest we have had in a while, it hasn't the glamour of an FA cup final for example, but it will tell us where we are on our recovery back to our rightful place and whether we realistically can go back up this year.

A win tonight against a team who will be there or thereabouts in the promotion race will put us right in the mix as it is then followed by some relatively easier games. A defeat tonight wouldn't be the end of the world as we still have a lot of games left, but the all the teams above us do seem to be on good runs and picking up points which will make it difficult got come from 9 points behind

Anyway what I am getting at is anyone who can make tonight's game but hasn't got a ticket yet, get down to VP and let's give the lads as much backing as we can

Let's roar them on from the first minute to the last, regardless of how the game is going, as we have seen we are more than capable of coming from behind with players we have at our disposal

It's time for the world to see our home in full voice again

UTV

[Singapore Villa]

Agreed.  I am sending positive vibes from Singapore!

[Matt Collins]

I'm also in Singapore 🇸🇬

Though will be in Perth  🇦🇺 by the time this kicks off - 4am local time

It would be ridiculous to stay up for it though I've got a nasty feeling i'll end up checking it on the mobile

[Singapore Villa]

I always check on my mobile throughout the night.  My body clock always wakes me up at crazy o- clock when we have midweek games.

[Singapore Villa]

0-0.  Cagey, nervy affair with few clear cut chances.

[Mister E]

Jus thad some bantz with a Leeds fan inthe pub (Chris Jameson: the pub was 10 Devonshire Place, High Harrogate) and am again convinced that they are completely deluded.
we'll win.

That's my local!

You didn't step in to repress the deluded f*c*er! :-)
I had a heated - and in the main, good-natured - discussion which reinforced the fact that many Leeds fans are living in the past to a worse extent than we are!

Never heard any football talk in there, love it in there but wish they'd stop changing the beers what seems like every other day. I find one I really like and next time I go in they no longer have it.

I think it's a great bar too; the Roosters Assassin that it currently on is really good.Butm as you say, their speed of turnover on the beers is annoying

[russon]

big love being sent from Aberdeenshire

(don't want to put the mockers on it but the second worst game I ever saw was one winter v Leeds. Goalless draw with Brian Deane's hopelessness being the only entertainment)

[DeKuip]

Leeds are in better form than us, have two centre backs who are playing as well as ours, have a better midfield than us and have a more balanced attack with pace in Sacko and Roofe.
That said, we've become difficult to beat and being underdogs against one of the other big clubs in this division might just fire up the crowd a bit more.
We also have the Championship's most talented player in Grealish.
Any result is possible, and that's why I'm enjoying this season more than any in recent years. No more forgone conclusions before I even leave the house.
Roll on tonight!

[Scratchins]

I agree with claret+blue ed, no booing but total support. We've seen how it can help other teams. Let's frighten Leeds with the noise from start to finish. 

[Old Kodjia]

Spot on Claret & Blue ed.

We've got to somehow up the ante tonight.  The performances since Brighton away have simply not been good enough (although I'd settle for them if it meant similar points totals between now and May).  We got away with it against lower placed sides such as QPR, Cardiff, Wigan & Burton.  The two games we played against teams above us (Norwich & Leeds) both ended in defeat and we really looked below average.

We have to do better tonight.  Leeds will be oozing confidence and certainly not afraid of us like Burton, Cardiff, Wigan & QPR were.  We're long overdue a good performance and need to put it in tonight.

[oswald funkletrumpet]

Spot on Claret & Blue ed.

We've got to somehow up the ante tonight.  The performances since Brighton away have simply not been good enough (although I'd settle for them if it meant similar points totals between now and May).  We got away with it against lower placed sides such as QPR, Cardiff, Wigan & Burton.  The two games we played against teams above us (Norwich & Leeds) both ended in defeat and we really looked below average.

We have to do better tonight.  Leeds will be oozing confidence and certainly not afraid of us like Burton, Cardiff, Wigan & QPR were.  We're long overdue a good performance and need to put it in tonight.

Totally this

[eamonn]

Sacko and Roofe? What sort of invented names are they? Haberdashe to net the winner for us.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

I think it will be cold. And other than 15/20 minutes where we play well, we'll really feel the cold the rest of the match.

[Ads]

I've said all season that I think the play offs are beyond us. Results like the ones we had at Leeds and Norwich will happen at frequent intervals to keep us below 6th.

That said, a win tonight and I may have to admit it could be possible.

What about results like we had against Reading, Fulham and Brighton? All three of which are better sides than Leeds or Norwich.

[brontebilly]

Leeds are in better form than us, have two centre backs who are playing as well as ours, have a better midfield than us and have a more balanced attack with pace in Sacko and Roofe.
That said, we've become difficult to beat and being underdogs against one of the other big clubs in this division might just fire up the crowd a bit more.
We also have the Championship's most talented player in Grealish.
Any result is possible, and that's why I'm enjoying this season more than any in recent years. No more forgone conclusions before I even leave the house.
Roll on tonight!

Grealish is a talented player but he has been in and out of our side all season. Needs to start delivering consistently, we keep saying the likes of Ayew and Grealish are the best players in the league but they aren't delivering for us consistently and thus not playing regularly. 5 league goals is a pitiful return from both of them thus far, Tom Ince has 8 in comparison.

Adamoah with a fraction of their ability seems to have a hatful of assists since he joined in comparison.

Leeds look a very big price at 11/4 tonight considering the run they are on.