Villa v Leeds Post-Match thread

[usav]

I thought Westwood played well tonight, he kept the ball moving and was pretty tidy.  He also hustled well and made a possible goal saving tackle at the Holte End.

[Ads]

For all this guff about Leeds, they created one chance of their own from open play, immediately after the goal when a brief panic had set in. There other chance was when Amavi stuck Sakho through.

I like the way when we play shite, our manager is clueless. When  Leeds play badly, as they did first half where they were abysmal, they contain us.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

You're probably right, KG but a few needed a bollocking first half. Bacuna only appeared after half time.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I like the way when we play shite, our manager is clueless. When  Leeds play badly, as they did first half where they were abysmal, they contain us.

However you want to look at it, they've taken 4 from 6 points from us. I wish we were that abysmal. First half I thought they were here for a point. They created our best chances with some shocking defence play. Second half they wanted all 3.

[Marton]

Got a feeling that if we do make the playoffs, this Leeds will be pain facing there. Hope they get culled a bit in January. They don't need Pontus Jansson, Wood or  Sacko in the playoffs....

[ktvillan]

What is nice is that after what seems like years of consistently conceding late equalisers or opposition winners (see RDM's reign) Bruce seems to have got us into the habit of scoring late winners or equalisers.   I used to dread the 80+ minutes mark as it was almost inevitably doom time.  Imagine what we could do if we buy a midfield/right back/Keeper. 

[Axl Rose]

I thought Westwood played well tonight, he kept the ball moving and was pretty tidy.  He also hustled well and made a possible goal saving tackle at the Homte End.

Yes, I agree. I'm a major critic if his, but that's the best hrs played since the cup semi final. He tracked back, he competed.

Ayew was a major disappointment. He needs to play off Kodjia, or off the bench.

I'm happy with a point, as Leeds played well. They're exciting, without a cutting edge.

[Matt Collins]

I've just watched the highlights

Have to say I didn't really see that late kodjia chance as one where he should have passed to McCormack. It happened quickly and the ball was bouncing

Unless it was a difference chance we're talking about

[Deano's Mullet]

37,078 attendance. Well done to all those that went, it looked bloody cold.

[ChicagoLion]

I thought Westwood played well tonight, he kept the ball moving and was pretty tidy.  He also hustled well and made a possible goal saving tackle at the Homte End.

I think this misses the point about how ineffectual he is in terms of securing the middle of the field.
It is not just his fault but what I keep seeing is every time we lose the ball in an offensive position (which happens to often) the opposition are  immediately attacking our penalty area.
We appear to be rushed and closed down in the middle of the pitch but the opposition seem to have time to pick passes and attack at will.
Our midfield is crap.

[Nelly]

Westwood's goal saving tackle came about after he miscontrolled it as we were attacking too. Credit for getting back the way he did but that whole scenario shouldn't have even happened. I seem to remember him taking a poor touch on the edge of our box in another game earlier in the season that we then conceded from. Everyone makes mistakes but I feel like we're all now watching Westwood for either his ineffectiveness or for him to botch an attack. Maybe we should have a song for him to help bring him out of this rut.

[simboy]

As has been said elsewhere their best player was Rob Green.

I thought we played ok in patches.

Ayew just doesn't look like a starting player to me, our attacking threat increased once he was taken off.

The trouble is we seem to have a lot of players who are "impact players" and not enough who will see the game through from start to finish attacking wise. Adomah, Grealish, Gestede, McCormack, none have impressed for a full 90 minutes, they have in the last 20 minutes or even the second half of games when they have appeared from the bench, but otherwise drift in and out of the game doing what you would consider to be simple things poorly with frustrating regularity.

the exception in the attacking third is Kodjia, who runs his socks off every game. He played well last night i thought, looked to get in the right places and to give others space.

 The left side of the attack really does need looking at though. S

o often when we get into wide positions and manage to get the ball in [so Hutton isnt crossing it] there's just space all around with players queuing up on the right hand side.

That maybe something that Bacuna playing more regularly has added as hes a midfielder who does get into the box [unlike Westwood, Gardiner and Jedi - who've got the same combined goal total this season as Bacuna] but it needs to be addressed and quickly. 

Chester looks so much more comfortable with Baker alongside.

I would have taken a point before the game, Leeds were on a decent run, had not been shown up against Liverpool in the League Cup and were only having points taken off them by the better sides in this division. 
 

[ciggiesnbeer]

By the way we shouldnt forget we should have been awarded three penalties in that game not one. Leeds probably should have had one as well mind.

[The Edge]

I thought Westwood played well tonight, he kept the ball moving and was pretty tidy.  He also hustled well and made a possible goal saving tackle at the Homte End.

I think this misses the point about how ineffectual he is in terms of securing the middle of the field.
It is not just his fault but what I keep seeing is every time we lose the ball in an offensive position (which happens to often) the opposition are  immediately attacking our penalty area.
We appear to be rushed and closed down in the middle of the pitch but the opposition seem to have time to pick passes and attack at will.
Our midfield is crap.

I agree that was probably Westwoods best game for us but if that's his best then he's not good enough. Played plenty of neat passes but not enough in the way of creating chances. Oh and this might be over critical of him but if he had been braver when Green parried the ball towards him in front of the Holte he could of been a hero. He should of thrown himself at the ball but instead he turned away from it and closed his eyes. It's all about desire.

[Jimbo]

I like the way when we play shite, our manager is clueless. When  Leeds play badly, as they did first half where they were abysmal, they contain us.

However you want to look at it, they've taken 4 from 6 points from us. I wish we were that abysmal. First half I thought they were here for a point. They created our best chances with some shocking defence play. Second half they wanted all 3.

I'd love to believe we're better than Leeds, but we've failed to beat them home and away, and they're seven points ahead of us in the table going into the new year. Things may change after January if we get a new midfield, a right back and a keeper, but despite our growing resilience, we're a disjointed side with poor shape and little attacking authority. If we make the playoffs we're going to come up against a team like Leeds.