Villa v Leeds Post-Match thread

[AV82EC]

Pleased with a point, we desperately need a midfield did we win any second balls? Only an hour back to Wilmslow and in the front door for 11pm.

[SoccerHQ]

could Kodija have squared that chance to McCormack for a tap in?

Yes, he should have, he's an all or nothing player though, quality and infuriating at the same time, did exactly the same at home to Wolves aswell.

Which one? The one at the end he had about 3 Leeds players around him so I don't think you can describe it as a tap in for McCormack.

The other was actually a good shot but Green did very well to stand up straight and block it...he dives early and the ball goes over him. Given Kodjia had just scored he wasn't doing anything but shooting in that situation.

[Des Little]

Definitely a point gained. They did a proper job on us and we were extremely lucky to come away with a point. I said before the game it would be won and lost in midfield, and whilst we didn't lose, our shortcomings were plain to see. Bruce needs at least two proven midfielders and a striker as a matter of urgency, otherwise we can forget the play offs.

[SoccerHQ]

Some bad news, Ghana have given Ayew permission to play against Cardiff.

Have they called up Adomah?

[olaftab]

No. Albert will stay in Aston where he feels more at home.

[Percy McCarthy]

We don't have enough consistent performers. Apart from Chester, Baker and usually Amarvi the rest are in and out and not cementing their places.

[villabear]

I'll say it again like after the Boxing Day game, we've got no leader in the team. We go a goal down and just look really sorry for ourselves. At times someone needs to be pointing fingers and generally rallying the team. Please no Westwood pointing jokes.

I think Steve will be pretty chuffed where we are with the players he's inherited as I think a few certainly won't be starters come the window closing January 31st.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I have no problem with Kodjia's "I am going to score" mentality every time he gets the ball. He only ever thinks of one thing, thats fine by me in a striker with his power.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Loved the first 4 minutes. Best we've played all season. After that, Leeds contained us until half time.
Second half, there was only one team in it. We did well to regroup when Rudy came on but like the rest of the game we were only ever going to score from a set piece. We're still completely pointless from open play.

Couple of other points:

We are a small midfield/attack, so why expect the long ball to work. Yes, Leeds can play it on the floor but hopefully so can we.
Our best chances came from mistakes from Leeds defenders. Why did we suddenly stop pressing them.
Finally, I hope tonight was the last time we see both Grealish and Awew start. It doesn't work, Steve. Stop it!

MOTM: Chester. Majestic.

[LukeJames]

I have no problem with Kodjia's "I am going to score" mentality every time he gets the ball. He only ever thinks of one thing, thats fine by me in a striker with his power.

And the reason why we have 1 point instead of 3.

[olaftab]

Loved the first 4 minutes. Best we've played all season. After that, Leeds contained us until half time.
Second half, there was only one team in it. We did well to regroup when Rudy came on but like the rest of the game we were only ever going to score from a set piece. We're still completely pointless from open play.

Couple of other points:

We are a small midfield/attack, so why expect the long ball to work. Yes, Leeds can play it on the floor but hopefully so can we.
Our best chances came from mistakes from Leeds defenders. Why did we suddenly stop pressing them.
Finally, I hope tonight was the last time we see both Grealish and Awew start. It doesn't work, Steve. Stop it!

MOTM: Chester. Majestic.

I don't agree. Leeds scored with their first on target due to a combination of errors and it shook us a bit  so I am not sure how you can say that? May be your seat was in different position from mine!

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

Not been up the Villa for a couple of years, found other things to do on a Saturday that aren't as painful. Went tonight, took the lad and enjoyed it, a fabulous crowd considering it was freezing and on tv only three days after a sell out. I got the feel that the Villa still clearly has a long way to go to get to former glories but the feeling of decline has been replaced with a feeling of hope. I think in the main the fans seem clear in the knowledge it's a long road too and despite being a goal down stayed with the team instead of the atmosphere turning poisonous on my last visit two years ago.

As for the players, harsh to judge them on one game admittedly but my thoughts.

Bunn - Didn't really have much to do but from where I was in the ground I thought he could have done better with the goal.
Hutton - This is his level I feel and looked decent until he got to the last third and failed to deliver enough quality from the flank. In the main defensively ok
Chester - I met him actually a couple of years ago when he was at Smethwick, a nice chap who told me as a kid he was a Man Utd fan - I'd imagine him blossoming under Bruce. I think he'll get better with a better/more dominant  keeper behind him
Baker - Looked composed and in the main did what a big strapping central defender should do.
Amavi - Really like him on the ball, looks composed, picks a pass well and glides across the pitch. However, when going backwards he looks like he's had 10 cans of stella, poor decision making and judgement. Can't he play further forward?
Bacuna - Did pretty well I thought, a couple of times he gave the ball away when trying to make the simple pass, worked hard and kept the ball ticking over well.
Westwood - Great tracking run and clearance in the second half, mostly retained the ball but at times struggles, I sensed that once Jedinak's legs went and the options to have the ball off him started to go, he started to struggle.
Jedinak - Won most headers, was big and strong. He reminded me of a bigger kid in a school football match who dominates everything, then when he's played for 10 minutes and is up against someone quicker/fitter he is looks gangly, awkward, uncoordinated and poor
Ayew - I really like his ability, good feet but didsn't do enough for me, is that due to the fact we couldn't get the ball to him, or get support to him enough.
Grealish - Looked dangerous, was expecting to see him wide but playing in the middle allowed the Leeds defensive midfielders to physically dominate him and they did.
Kodija - Looks a right handful, and perhaps if he had a little more support would have been more of a threat. Held the ball at times a little too long but he rarely had choice of where to pass the ball.
 
McCormack - Came on and livened us up. Doesn't really look like he has a position though? Is he a striker, winger, attacking midfielder?
Gestede - Caused panic - he needs crosses to score from what I've seen so we need better quality wide if he's ever going to be successful, perhaps that's why he might be off to Boro.
Adomah - Did well, was positive in trying to drive us forward.


I thought both sides could lay claim to winning the game, Green made two match winning saves for them and the bar saved us twice. Shame we didn't score in the first 10 minutes when we didn't let them out of their half.

[adrenachrome]

Yes, SB has clearly decided that if we press high up the pitch for too long, we will be hit on the break. So we we only do it in spells. That is why he doesn't like 4-3-3 either.

As expected, our defensive resilience has come at a price.

We have far better attacking players than most of this division, but so do Norwich. 

[Pat McMahon]

My local didn't show the game so had to make do with 5Live. Does anybody have links to the highlights?

Best I can do Pat

Cheers Dave.

Watching that chance at the death McCormack's movement is excellent. If Kodjia had squared the ball it would almost certainly have been a goal ( though I can see why he shot having just scored). The chance Kodjia missed early on was far worse as he should have shielded the ball from the defender who came from his left side.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Loved the first 4 minutes. Best we've played all season. After that, Leeds contained us until half time.
Second half, there was only one team in it. We did well to regroup when Rudy came on but like the rest of the game we were only ever going to score from a set piece. We're still completely pointless from open play.

Couple of other points:

We are a small midfield/attack, so why expect the long ball to work. Yes, Leeds can play it on the floor but hopefully so can we.
Our best chances came from mistakes from Leeds defenders. Why did we suddenly stop pressing them.
Finally, I hope tonight was the last time we see both Grealish and Awew start. It doesn't work, Steve. Stop it!

MOTM: Chester. Majestic.

I don't agree. Leeds scored with their first on target due to a combination of errors and it shook us a bit  so I am not sure how you can say that? May be your seat was in different position from mine!

It may have been but my eyes were open. They moved the ball around in a way that right now we can only dream of. There was a purpose to their play; with us it's like every Villa team over the last 5-10 years. Leeds are no where the finished article but for a squad bought on a shoestring, they're looking serious promotion candidates - even possible Top 2 if they can buy a few this January. They're strong, both physically (against our midgets) and have a plan that worked again with patience.

I'm more than happy stealing a point tonight.