Villa v Leeds Post-Match thread

[Ads]

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.

Kodjia could have scored 4 such were the chances at the start and end of the game. First half they certainly appeared to come for a point as their first attempt on goal was a wild volley in the 45th minute having done little else but recycle the ball under pressure.

Grealish going off made a difference to our ball retention I felt. I hope his knock isn't serious.

[Ads]

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.

If we'd have had Bruce since June we'd be above them. Only 7 points when you've had an 11 game head start?

Villa's gonna get ya.

What happened to the chuck it in your own net merchant that Green used to be? He looks a decent keeper again.

[Richard]

I don't get the comment that if we make the play offs we will come up against a team like Leeds. If we make Top 6 we will have no one to fear as we will have proved we are good enough and whoever we play will fear us just as much if not more especially with Bruce's record.

[robbo1874]

First match I've watched this season. Would have settled for a point before the match. Thought we played quite well the first half and thought we might win for a while. Grealish going off changed the game. Subs worked though, but I thought we should've made them 5-10 mins earlier.

Quite an entertaining match all in all. Not brilliant, but better than I expected. We've definitely improved, it's mainly the final ball and the finishing that's still letting us down. Midfield started well, but as I said above grealish going off fucked us. Both sides had chances to win it. I'm happy with a point. The biggest difference from when I saw us play last season is that players no longer seem to be scared and hiding. Players are showing for the ball now and we have options and seem to be playing with a bit more confidence. When we go behind we look capable of turning things round instead of imploding.

We'll do well to go up this season, but next season is nailed on I reckon.

[Jimbo]

If. If we get the right players, find some shape, start playing really well on a consistent basis, score lots of goals and batter teams to get into the playoffs, then the likes of Leeds would be right to fear us.

If we continue as we are, with disjointed performances, no shape and few goals, and just scrape into the playoffs, maybe teams like Leeds will fancy their chances against us? After all, why should they fear a team that handed them four points?

I don't think promotion is impossible, of course,  but from what I've seen, and from what I know about Villa, I'd be gobsmacked - and utterly delighted, needless to say - if it happened this season. 

[FranzBiberkopf]

After all, why should they fear a team that handed them four points?

That's a meaningless statistic. We've taken a point of Brighton, Derby, Newcastle, so far this season - if we beat those in the return fixtures does that make us not have to 'fear' them?

I think Bruce's comments were spot on after the game. In summary - It was a decent Leeds team, on a good run of form. There's still a lot of work to do with us, but we're heading in the right direction.

[DeKuip]

Yet another game when the opposition have retained, passed and moved the ball much better than us - yet once again we get at least a share of the points. And another manager who must have gone away from playing us scratching his head wondering how they didn't get more.
We've become a difficult team to beat and fair play to Bruce for that, it's not just luck - but wouldn't it be nice to see a Villa team that could pass or cross a ball and have a midfielder who could shoot.

[Chris Smith]

A draw was probably right; we we were better in the first half but they were on top after their goal until the subs changed things.

As has been said many times we have decent players but the squad is unbalanced, if he is able to sort that out in January then I think we can have a good go at reaching the play offs. An energetic, box to box, central midfield player would make such a difference to us but have no idea who might be available.

[VillaAlways]

Yet another game when the opposition have retained, passed and moved the ball much better than us - yet once again we get at least a share of the points. And another manager who must have gone away from playing us scratching his head wondering how they didn't get more.
We've become a difficult team to beat and fair play to Bruce for that, it's not just luck - but wouldn't it be nice to see a Villa team that could pass or cross a ball and have a midfielder who could shoot.

Here's a quote from Bruce

 "We can’t just walk into Aston Villa and say ‘right we are going to play sparkling football.’ We have to lay something down."

He has done a remarkable job in turning us around . I am convinced we will improve greatly in the second half of the season with two or three additions in the transfer window.

[Clark W Griswold]

Another point towards safety.

[robbo1874]

I reckon Bruce will have a bit to spend, butdoubt we'll get 3 new players in. Xia keeps surprising us though, so we'll see.

I've been reading a book on Cloughie last few weeks on and off, called Provided you don't Kiss Me. Oh for a manager like that right now. Sad how it all ended, but a manager in his pomp like Cloughie would walk the league with these players at Villa right now.

[olaftab]

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

It was much colder than it looked😟

[Clampy]

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

It was much colder than it looked😟

I didn't think it was that bad to be honest. I expected it to be colder than it was.

[Jimbo]

After all, why should they fear a team that handed them four points?

That's a meaningless statistic. We've taken a point of Brighton, Derby, Newcastle, so far this season - if we beat those in the return fixtures does that make us not have to 'fear' them?

It depends what we mean by 'fear'. I don't mean standing in the tunnel biting our nails, knees knocking. Psychologically, if we've already got the better of a team you could say we might feel more confident when it comes to playing them in the playoffs. More likely, it'll be a bit of a lottery anyway, but if we go into it without significant strengthening and improvement, I know who I'd be putting my money on out of all the teams you mention.

[West Derby Villan]

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

It was much colder than it looked😟

I didn't think it was that bad to be honest. I expected it to be colder than it was.

I didn't think it was as cold as that even, but I took the heated seat option on my season ticket application