Aston Villa 2-3 Leeds United Post Match Thread

[Legion]

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/championship/11590412/bolasies-filthy-nutmeg

[Nelly]

The good news is we don't have to play Leeds every week. I thought they were excellent. My Lambo-ism of the day.

We had an off-day, coupled with a few key players out and a couple of players who we're getting tired of, starting. Hourihane and Whelan are too blunt and we were not prepared to adventure. We never got to grips with their midfield and didn't impose ourselves enough. Hourihane's goal was well taken. Perhaps their keeper should have done better, but Kodjia did so well to set that up.

Our defence is poor. We never really found a way to cope with their wingers in particular. Elmohamady. I wish I knew what he was thinking for their third. That said we still had chances. Better decision making, more ruthlessness and who knows.

Still, one loss in eight? We had been playing exceptionally and there's definitely more of that to come. All is not lost, even if the automatics might be. If we sneak into the playoff positions we would be a serious force I believe. I always thought if we only played better football, I can take losses and I stand by that. We will win more than we lose I think. So even though we were schooled a bit today, overall I'm still very hopeful and positive about this season and the direction we're finally going in.

Up the Villa!

[avfcpg]

Our full backs drive me insane. Not only are they prone to the more than occasional fuck up, they are never close to their man and just let them ping the ball in with ease...Stop it coming in and that's half the job done.

[sirlordbaltimore]

Have to say i thought Leeds were the better team from the off.

They played some lovely football and never looked panicked on the ball when in a tight space unlike ourselves. We all said at half time it didn't feel like we were winning 2-0. If we'd have taken one of the chances at the start of the second half and gone three up we 'might' have won it. But i still feel Leeds would have scored a couple

Lost to a better side. No great shame there.

Bolsaie will continue to get a round of fucks off me for that pathetic flick thing he tried in the second when he could've just smashed it across goal. The absolute tit.

Roll on Boxing Day

[Legion]

Still think we will make the play-offs as long as Smith can strengthen the defence in January.

[sickbeggar]

Not surprised by the result really. As it stands we're not good enough for promotion. The new 'keeper is a start. Hopefully there's more to come.

[Risso]

Our full backs drive me insane. Not only are they prone to the more than occasional fuck up, they are never close to their man and just let them ping the ball in with ease...Stop it coming in and that's half the job done.

Hutton especially is the worst at that.  He gave their right side all the time and space in the world today.  He's never where you'd hope a full back should be.  I'm absolutely sick of him being torn a new one by averagely skilled wingers.  We need an entire new defence.

[sirlordbaltimore]

Hutton still being a first choice full back says it all.

[Mister E]

I hate to say this - Leeds were very good for much of the game.
My main gripe about the game today was our lack of respect for possession of the ball - we gave the ball away so cheaply at times. And, to a team like Leeds they were able to make much better use of it.
Apart from the fact that Potatohead left us with a shite defence - which really showed today - our problems ar ein midfiled. Hourihane and Whelan lack pace, energy and commitment. I'd prefer to have seen Doyle-Hayes involved in midfield because we lacked the energy to compete; I'd also have considered O'Hare for the Grealish role.
When I talk about energy, I mean the sort demonstrated by Abraham and McGinn: they showed what is required to get out of this league. And, a  dynamic midfield can cover the fullbacks when they get caught out of position, as Hutton seems to do frequently.
Bree did fine, actually: we were undone by a clever opposition and poor covering.

I've now got to go back to all the texts received from fans of dirty Leeds ...

[Steve67]

Our full backs drive me insane. Not only are they prone to the more than occasional fuck up, they are never close to their man and just let them ping the ball in with ease...Stop it coming in and that's half the job done.

Hutton especially is the worst at that.  He gave their right side all the time and space in the world today.  He's never where you'd hope a full back should be.  I'm absolutely sick of him being torn a new one by averagely skilled wingers.  We need an entire new defence.

We don't tend to rely on the two wingers to get back to cover, therefore, the three central midfielders need to cover across the pitch together.  Whelan is no longer capable of doing that and Hourihane is powder puff. 

[SoccerHQ]

Our full backs drive me insane. Not only are they prone to the more than occasional fuck up, they are never close to their man and just let them ping the ball in with ease...Stop it coming in and that's half the job done.

Hutton especially is the worst at that.  He gave their right side all the time and space in the world today.  He's never where you'd hope a full back should be.  I'm absolutely sick of him being torn a new one by averagely skilled wingers.  We need an entire new defence.

We don't tend to rely on the two wingers to get back to cover, therefore, the three central midfielders need to cover across the pitch together.  Whelan is no longer capable of doing that and Hourihane is powder puff. 

I didn't actually realise until ten minutes ago Adomah was on the bench today. Guess he was lacking match fitness but he'd have been a better sub than El Ghazi at 2-2 as he's the one winger we have at the club who is fine at tracking back and helping the FB and boy was that needed in the second half.

[olaftab]

Blame Smith or Terry for the second. Why the fuck was Hutton and not Abraham marking their only threat in the air. That wasn't the keepers fault.

No as usual Nyland gets blamed, but it’s blatantly the defence’s lack of a plan and ineptitude that cost us today. Chester, Hutton and Elmo we’re particularly dreadful.

No it’s not lack of plan it’s crap players all three of them.

[brian green]

Poor performance by Smith today.  The room given by our full backs down both flanks was a glaring, match long fuck up. The Leeds wide players must have thought they had died and gone to heaven on the wide open spaces of Villa Park.  The substitutions in their timing and effectiveness were pure Steve Bruce.  The person who scouted Hogan should be tarred and feathered.  As my son said Hogan does not play the ball, it bounces off him.

[CJ]

Have to say best team won. Hate to say it but Leeds are the best side I've seen this season and think they'll go up as champions. Seeing the line up before the game I said I'd be happy with a point, and even when we went 2 up I still thought they'd score at least one and get back at us. Losing in extra time was a pisser, especially as Elmo gifted them the goal. Love the entertainment value since Deano came in, but until he sorts out/completely replaces that defence we'll struggle to get to the play-offs let alone go up automatically (which IMO is beyond reach now).

[CT]

Hutton still being a first choice full back says it all.

Elmo being anywhere near the First XI says a lot too.