Aston Villa vs Leeds United Pre Match Thread

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I've just been on the ticket site which shows game as SOLD OUT, but I still searched every section of the stadium plan and magically saw 3 seats available in the Lower Witton Lane, must have been a cancellation so I've had one of them ! The other half has paid for it as a Xmas treat (she's a stripey), she giving me a lift to the station too and I cant wait !
 

[john e]

whoever plays in place of Grealish, Barney, Hourahaine, Lansbury, Whelan etc it will be a big downscale in class and creativity

pity we haven’t got any other players who have a bit of creativity about them, there’s  not much between the rest of them in my view, apart from super john of course

[eamonn]

Would love to see Bucky O'Hare get a chance.

[Matt Collins]

Think bjarnason will play ahead of whelan. Wouldn't be surprised to see hourihane playing the deep role

I doubt ohare will even be on the bench tbh. Adomah, hogan, Kodjia /el ghazi, whelan, bree, jedinak likely to be I reckon

[Flamingo Lane]

anyone remember Jim Combes letting one slip under his body against Leeds a million years ago

think it might have been the first game of the season but memory fades

I think that may have been our opening game of Div 1 in 1976 at home at Villa Park, we lost 0-2 if I remember rightly. My Dad took me and a school mate to that game who was a Liverpool fan, we converted him over time and in 1982 we stood together as Villa fans on the Holte End watching us beat Anderlecht in the EC SF.

Opening game 75/76 season - lost 1-2 (Phillips) - Jim only played in 5 more games before leaving

Or it could have been 72/73 FLCup  Oct    1- 1 draw in home leg (Rioch) - lost 2-0 away

In the league cup game I seem to recall Jack Charlton scored their goal, with a scuffed or deflected low shot from about 25 yards.  In the opening game of the season in 75/76 Cumbes made a terrible mess of trying to pick up a simple back pass, gifting them a 2-1 win.

[mr underhill]

I'm hoping for a Wolves/Bristol City type display tomorrow but I suspect yet another draw . Play offs at best imo and next year is the key - so many players leaving through contracts running out and loan expiry. It's going to be a radically different side in C&B come August.

[Risso]

We've really got to beat Leeds tomorrow, or the table isn't going to look very clever at all.

[Ads]

I would disagree. But win we shall. A statement of further intent.

People were saying we'd be bottom 6 or closer there too after this run, but we'll be within striking distance of the top 6.

Two tricky away games and then a run, with surgery to the weak spots, to build up a head of steam.

Derby, Norwich, Stripey Filth, Sheffield United, Boro...all to come to Villa Park.

Do you want to bet against us?

[Deano's Mullet]

Draw. Good enough to score but dicey at the back.

[Villafirst]

whoever plays in place of Grealish, Barney, Hourahaine, Lansbury, Whelan etc it will be a big downscale in class and creativity

pity we haven’t got any other players who have a bit of creativity about them, there’s  not much between the rest of them in my view, apart from super john of course

We need to bid for Jarrod Bowen from Hull as an alternative - Elphick plus cash...

[Risso]

Do you want to be against us?

You're doing Saunders wrong!

[KevinGage]

Hopefully a cracking atmosphere, Leeds are usually pretty lively and our capacity crowd atmospheres can often be a subdued affair for some reason.
The 1996 final was great, we played them off the park. Twas rather lively off the pitch too as was the Carbone Cup game.

Whatever I think of some of their prehistoric fans, some of the best atmospheres we've had at Villa Park these past few years are against Leeds. 

There are some pretty big clubs down in this division now, but matches against them have been the only ones that felt like top flight fixtures.  Hopefully the early kick off tomorrow doesn't put the kybosh on that.

[four fornicholl]

If we're not up for this, on the pitch and on the terraces, we may as well give up. 2-0 Villa.

[SoccerHQ]

We've really got to beat Leeds tomorrow, or the table isn't going to look very clever at all.

Will be 8th and 4 points off top 6 with a draw. Unless Norwich have a 1 win in 6 type run we won't get top 2 even if we win 7-8 in a row (as we found last season with Cardiff) so I'd park top 2 thoughts and just focus on concentrating on getting in the top 6.

Given where we were when DS took over that's all we could realistically ask for.

[Ads]

Do you want to be against us?

You're doing Saunders wrong!

Fuck off S8! I'll edit and blame this twatty phone.