Aston Villa 3-3 Leeds United Post Match Thread

[Hillbilly]

Not great but not an apocalyptic debacle. Leeds are just a hard side to play. Also I'm not buying the narrative that they had their best players out. We've spent years bagging Bamford as shit and Phillips as overrated. Can't have it both ways.

[tomd2103]

Strange one tonight, as came away disappointed that we let a 2 goal lead slip, but relieved in some ways that we got a draw as we looked so vulnerable at times.

Thought we were really going to blow them away in the closing stages of the first half, but that was a really poor goal to concede just before half time.  We just never got going in the 2nd half and rarely threatened.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

After tonight I have some begrudging admiration for Luke Ayling. He’s the kind of wind up merchant that you’d like in your team but plays with a smile on his face and as far as I know was with them in the lower leagues and is holding his own as a good premiership player.

How the hell he never got booked I’ll never know.

[aj2k77]

Luiz would be a great deal for us if we sell him for £30m+ in the summer.

[Nii Lamptey]

…Not sure if it’s been mentioned, but also a special shout-out for Ezri Konsa already on a yellow, deciding to fuck around with their goalkeeper who was going down like he’d been shot if so much as a  strong breeze wafted past him!
Ridiculous to even attempt it and now makes us weaker in the next match.
Slow clap for Ezri.

[Pat Mustard]

Jesus Christ, the state of some of the comments on here. Just back from the game, and we looked like what we are - a team that is still getting to grips with a new way of playing. The defence was a mess at times, and there was a clear gap in front of them that a proper DM would fill. But on the other hand, some of the football going forward through Coutinho, EMI and JJ was an absolute joy - give it time and that will be unstoppable.

And also, why is Mings getting so much stick? Konsa was more than culpable on a number of occasions and was stupid getting himself sent off how he did. Mings made the clearance off the line and the header away before the third goal, at times it seemed like he was doing the job of both centre halves so was probably entitled to the mistake on their third.

Finally, the criticism of the manager for the subs. Both Buendia and Coutinho picked up knocks as far as I could see. Given they have also been halfway round the world playing matches for the last two weeks it was probably a good idea to rest them if there was a doubt - I’d rather see both playing the majority of our remaining games than be screwed for the rest of the season.

[Brazilian Villain]

Jesus Christ, the state of some of the comments on here. Just back from the game, and we looked like what we are - a team that is still getting to grips with a new way of playing. The defence was a mess at times, and there was a clear gap in front of them that a proper DM would fill. But on the other hand, some of the football going forward through Coutinho, EMI and JJ was an absolute joy - give it time and that will be unstoppable.

And also, why is Mings getting so much stick? Konsa was more than culpable on a number of occasions and was stupid getting himself sent off how he did. Mings made the clearance off the line and the header away before the third goal, at times it seemed like he was doing the job of both centre halves so was probably entitled to the mistake on their third.

Finally, the criticism of the manager for the subs. Both Buendia and Coutinho picked up knocks as far as I could see. Given they have also been halfway round the world playing matches for the last two weeks it was probably a good idea to rest them if there was a doubt - I’d rather see both playing the majority of our remaining games than be screwed for the rest of the season.

That's pretty much how I feel about it. Anyway onwards to Sunday.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

👆👏 in response to Pat Mustard

[Flin5tone]

First Half was Exhilarating. Absolutely fantastic Entertainment.

Coutinho put in a world class performance and it was nice to see a player of that ability at Villa Park and Ramsey was absolutely superb.

You can see what Steven is trying to do and it's far more appealing on the eye than the later days of the Dean Smith era BUT if we want to progress we really need to cut out the absolutely ridiculous mistakes and poor decision making.

Ings should have been introduced sooner as I thought Ollie Watkins had possibly his worst night in a Villa Jersey.

The CDM position needed to be filled in the January window and we failed miserably.

Letting Matt Targett go to Sundays opposition ,who if get a Victory over us will be breathing down our necks will prove to be a tragic decision

The Newcastle fans will be up for it Sunday and it could be a intimidating cauldron of noise where mistakes like tonight will be pounced upon. Let's hope the very basics of defending are drilled into the players over the next couple of days and we get something from the game

A great big reality check to those dreaming of European Conference League football next season

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Fair play to Leeds who played all the football and looked a very good outfit, it is just lucky for us that their defence is as crap as ours was tonight! James looks an outstanding player and never stopped working for Leeds, causing us all sort of problems.

Fair play indeed. They've had an horrible injury list throughout most of the season and are only 4 points behind us. They've a small squad without the injuries and I think they've played 8 teenagers this season, a PL record. Tonight wasn't the Bielsa Masterclass of last seasons game at Villa Park but it wasn't too far off. They dictated the play and we basically couldn't cope or play our own game.

They are far more than the hardest working team in the league, their players know how to control a ball first touch, their supporting movement is very good and they create chances. Bielsa has had them playing in that system from day one and when it's works it's brilliant. See the West Ham game. They're no where near as bad as their league position and fortunately we won't come up against many teams that well drilled.

We on the other hand have a lot of work to do to get to where Gerrard wants us to be. What is really disappointing is after such a long break when we had supposedly been working on improving our style of play we get a performance like that. Back to the bloody drawing board.

[Villatillidie1982]

Buendia?

Buendia showed some class 7.Why was he taken off?

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Buendia?

Buendia showed some class 7.Why was he taken off?

He appeared to be struggling almost straight after kicking off for the second half but carried on for another 15 or so minutes.

[olaftab]

Superb football played in that 20 minute spell. Well worth the visit in the cold to Villa park tonight. I am absolutely delighted to see a Birmingham lad standing tall, shoulder to shoulder with one of the best in the world. JJ is special and will grow more and more with Coutinho by his side.

[UK Redsox]

Emi2 picked up an injury in the warmups, so I was surprised that he lasted as long as he did

[adrenachrome]

Emi2 picked up an injury in the warmups, so I was surprised that he lasted as long as he did

Yeah. He seemed to be in trouble every time had to stretch.