Playoffs

[QuintonVilla]

With away goals not counting I don't think playing Albion at home first or second matters too much. You could argue a case for either.

For me, playing at home first would hopefully see us have a lead to take there. Then they'd have to come at us which would suit us and you would fancy us to score at least once there.

[AlexAlexCropley]

Assuming we finish 5th and are home to the Baggies, will we be playoff game B and therefore kicking off at 5.15pm rather than 12.30pm?

No way will it be 5.30 after the last time

[Villa75]

For years I have always fancied the team who hit form and come with a late run to qualify for the play offs to go on to win the play offs. On the other side of the coin I have always thought the team that misses out on automatic promotion is in danger of not being able to pick themselves up for the play offs. Compare the disappointment of the team which finishes third in the table to the relief and delight of the team that manages to finish sixth.

Unfortunately, history does not support this view.

Sides finishing 3rd get promoted far more than those finishing 6th, or even 4th.

[SoccerHQ]

Think it's vital we put in a good performance at Leeds so would pick a strong 11. Rest them for Norwich.

[OzVilla]

I’d go the other way around, sit back and let the lads rest up and scout Leeds then give them a send off at a packed Villa Park. I’m not suggesting we play the kids at Leeds but that we use the squad.

I think he will as he alluded to fringe players ‘banging down his door’ after yesterday.

[JUAN PABLO]

i cant see Leeds winning their semi , they looked knackered and the confindence has gone . 

Could be something like a Derby Villa final which I would take

[SoccerHQ]

Leeds are really vulnerable atm and will be doubting themselves seriously for first time this season.

I'm not saying we have to go there and win but equally going there with fringe players starting and getting turned over 3 or 4 nil wouldn't be a great idea.

Even if it's our second string it would play them back into form for the play offs and give them a mental boost.

[cdbearsfan]

Assuming we finish 5th and are home to the Baggies, will we be playoff game B and therefore kicking off at 5.15pm rather than 12.30pm?

No way will it be 5.30 after the last time

We have already played them on a Friday night so I struggle to see why half five on a Saturday would be particularly bad.

[Ads]

Leeds would still have a very slim mathematical chance, so they would need to go for it. A real dilemma as they can’t just give up. But they have blown it. Beaten by a Villa ‘B’ team would just add to their demoralisation too.

Leeds will be out of it. Sheffield United will beat Ipswich and Norwich only need a draw.

They had Alioski to injury so they wont be full strength.

[Ads]

Assuming we finish 5th and are home to the Baggies, will we be playoff game B and therefore kicking off at 5.15pm rather than 12.30pm?

No way will it be 5.30 after the last time

We have already played them on a Friday night so I struggle to see why half five on a Saturday would be particularly bad.

They'll only have an allocation of 2000.

[purpletrousers]

Hmm that’s a good point not giving Leeds a chance to find their gear. I have no idea, however it’s such a strangely pleasant experience to have confidence (that no one is telling me is naive) that we have a manger who will make reasoned decisions, *and* squad players who who feel like they might step up and swim with our momentum/tide of a fair crack at promotion. It must be very very different wanting to get into a winning first XI rather than a faultering one.

I’ve not seen so many games in person, but yesterday I thought we missed the chasing/pressing/hungry style of Tammy, that he does a lot of work off the ball compared to Kodj’s slightly less effortfull style, I presume that’s a common view?

Hopefully he’ll back, but in his place also an interesting idea to let Keinan start and batter then let Kodj come on and stretch a more tired side...

[London Villan]

Leeds would still have a very slim mathematical chance, so they would need to go for it. A real dilemma as they can’t just give up. But they have blown it. Beaten by a Villa ‘B’ team would just add to their demoralisation too.

Leeds will be out of it. Sheffield United will beat Ipswich and Norwich only need a draw.

They had Alioski to injury so they wont be full strength.

Even if Sheff Ut beat Ipswich there will still be a very, very outside chance and they'd need a goal difference shift of 10... improbable yes, but with playing Ipswich in the last game they would be expected to give it a go.

[ChicagoLion]

We have players that need some game time to be ready for the play offs.
We will have some that need protecting resting.
I would rest Jack against dirty Leeds for obvious reasons.

[Deano's Mullet]

As a side note i was interested to check   how Fulham's run last season compared to ours this season...

Fulham's last 29 games in 17-18 season - W 21 D 5 L 3
Villa's last 29 games this season - W 16 D 9 L 4

I know we had a better points tally at the start of the respective runs - and we still have two games to go - but thats truly impressive form they produced. I hope we are as successful as them at Wembley should we get there.

[Brassneck]

If we don’t play at full strength on Sunday then I doubt Leeds will (Saturday permitting).

Personally, I’d much prefer a second string to play.

Beating Leeds means nothing.  That said, I always suspected that during the two Easter games that Villa could have stepped up at any given time if they needed to.

A lot depends on how badly deano wants to try to catch WBA. Personally, I don’t care whether we finish 5th or 4th.