Aston Villa 3-3 Leeds United Post Match Thread

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

You can see with Leeds what a quality coach with a game plan can do. I’d agree that the media are too quick to wank Bielsa off and blow smoke up his arse but, quite frankly, what he’s managed to do with what essentially is a motley crew of mainly lower league players is brilliant. You put the majority of them in another team and they’d be shite.

Hopefully once Gerrard’ ideas and plans are taken on board we’ll be a lot more consistent in a positive way.

[brontebilly]

Having slept on it I think last night was par for the course given the upheaval we have had this season,  Leeds Jekyll and Hyde style of play, and the fact that they appear to be a bogey side of late.

Only 15 mins in last night I mused that Doug's time may be up with us but more concerningly, McGinn seems all at sea. The CB's were exposed and made uncharacteristic mistakes, certainly as far as Konsa is concerned. Ahead of Newcastle  the midfield needs work. Perhaps dropping McGinn to DM, we have enough going forward to sacrifice him in that role and bringing Sanson in for Doug.

I thought last night the midfield three without the ball completely malfunctioned. But surely Gerrard to get some kind of base in front of a CB partnership that was also having a meltdown he should have put Luiz/McGinn into an orthodox 2 (not McGinn at RCM which grinds my gears...) and Ramsey further ahead. Let Leeds have the wings if needs be.

The fact he didn't change shape at all, made very poor like for like subs and went on to speak eloquently post game about what went wrong....reminded me of his predecessor.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I thought Ferdinand summed up our problem perfectly last night; Leeds throw so many players forward but we never punished them by making them have to run back to help out and defend. They attack, we win the ball and within seconds we give it back to them. There was no need for the Leeds attackers to track back they just kept their advanced role as the ball kept coming back to them. We fell perfectly into their trap and overall allowed them to dictate the game.

Had we slowed the game down and kept possession their 5 attacking players would have been knackered by half time. That said, two of our goals came from counter attacks and they were both brilliant. Fine lines etc but I believe we played into their hands.

[Richard E]

For the first goal Mings was stuck with two Leeds players and didn't quite get out of trouble.

For the second, he was unfortunate with that jump with Digne (I think) sandwiching James into the perfect spot.

For the third he at least was there in the first place, he just didn't put his boot through the ball,could have done better.

He made clearances off the line, defensive headers, and nearly scored himself. He's a leader and frankly  I like him.

I was disappointed last night at how easily Leeds seemed to pass and move in triangles, particularly on the wing, and how James seemed to constantly find space.

You could say we were a bit unlucky with the second and third goals in as much as that both of them came from balls ballooning up off Villa players which could have gone anywhere.

[The Edge]

For the first goal Mings was stuck with two Leeds players and didn't quite get out of trouble.

For the second, he was unfortunate with that jump with Digne (I think) sandwiching James into the perfect spot.

For the third he at least was there in the first place, he just didn't put his boot through the ball,could have done better.

He made clearances off the line, defensive headers, and nearly scored himself. He's a leader and frankly  I like him.

I was disappointed last night at how easily Leeds seemed to pass and move in triangles, particularly on the wing, and how James seemed to constantly find space.

You could say we were a bit unlucky with the second and third goals in as much as that both of them came from balls ballooning up off Villa players which could have gone anywhere.

Their second goal was the most annoying one for me. We had Mings and Emi right there and they have got to deal with it whether it loops or not. They wasn't trying to stop Andy Carroll or Big Dunc it was 5ft 8in Dan James. No excuses. That goal at that moment in the game changed everything. We'd had a sizzling 20 minute spell and had that goal not been scored when it was they would have gone into their dressing deflated and very rattled. It was a game changing moment that was entirely preventable.

[dave.woodhall]

As I said elsewhere, the trouble with defending the second goal is that if he'd gone into their player, he's on the floor and these days it's a likely penalty.

[Sexual Ealing]

the media are too quick to wank Bielsa off and blow smoke up his arse

It'd take some doing, but it's quite an image.

[supertom]

Leeds in all fairness are a great side for neutrals to watch. At best they're very good in attack and on the counter (and they're getting back to form on that front now), and on the other side of it, terrible defensively. Makes for a great spectacle. There was a danger before we equalised that they could have really done a number on us like last season where we made Bamford look like Batisfuckingtuta.

Enjoyable game. Great to watch, but equally frustrating because of the nature of their goals. We shot ourselves in the foot. The first in fairness left James with a lot to do, cracking finish. He either looks brilliant, or he looks like a headless chicken. Last night was brilliant.

Thought we were very good going forward from the equaliser to Coutinho going off. Without Beundia and Phil we lost the guile we had before. I'd be inclined to give Ings a start next time out. Waktins has had a poor run of games and he's not effective working the channels and doing the things we know Ings can't. But, Ings might well benefit from the space and vision our flair players provide, and at least you know Ings is more likely to put a chance away. I also think he could have a field day getting at Newcastle's CH's.

I dunno if anyone else thought this, but our pitch seemed appalling last night? How many players had their standing foot go? I all but shat myself watching Coutinho, Cash and Digne hobbling about after falling unchallenged. 1-2 Leeds players had it too. It certainly didn't look like a pitch that had 2 weeks off and this has historically been a point of pride for the club. I might be overthinking this. It just has a touch of the school pitch about it last night.

The Ramsey and Phil double act looks mouth watering too.

[Bobby Boy]

On a different note I thought the atmosphere at the game was quite subdued last night. Almost like the team I didn't think we really got going.

There were spells around the time of our goals when the singing picked up but generally it felt flat to me.

The first 15 minutes of the second half was so quiet it felt like a vigil.

With it being a night match and against Leeds I thought it'd be lively throughout the game.

Maybe there's still some trepidation about us that's going to take some time to get out of our systems?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I dunno if anyone else thought this, but our pitch seemed appalling last night? How many players had their standing foot go? I all but shat myself watching Coutinho, Cash and Digne hobbling about after falling unchallenged. 1-2 Leeds players had it too. It certainly didn't look like a pitch that had 2 weeks off and this has historically been a point of pride for the club. I might be overthinking this. It just has a touch of the school pitch about it last night.

You're not alone. I was surprised to see how long the studs were in the players' boots, not sure if it was Buendia's or SJM's but I've not seen studs like that since I was a nipper. It can't be easy on the ankles and knees when you make a sharp turn.

[algy]

Seems to me every time Chuckwmenka comes on it's game over. He should be of been loaned him out to the champ and El Gazi for the bench. As soon as Gerrard subbed the two creative players everyone knew the equalizer was in the post. At least El Gazi makes an impact and can hold it up. Trez could  always nick a goal.
sending out Target Trez and Gazi on loan isn't that smart, especially the ones to lower prem rivals. If Newcastle stay up they will be interested in the same players as Villa in the summer, its crucial they get relegated.

It was an exciting game and Couthinio really is brilliant, but Villa only really dominated for 15mins. The scruffy Leeds goal just before half time was the turning point. I saw Gerrards comments that he didn't want Villa to be sucked into Leeds style. Well we were doing just fine in that 15mins our attackers are better than theirs we could of easily made it 6-1 before we decided to hold. I think we should of continued to out Leeds Leeds.

I get the impression that Chucky's pushed for being part of the first team squad, and so we've not had much option - if we want to keep him - but to give him a bit more involvement in that area.  I don't think the thing is getting maximum impact out of him at the moment anyway - like JJ it's a case of letting him dip his toe in the water, and hopefully seeing him flourish next season, or even the season after that.

[FatSam]

Their second goal was the most annoying one for me. We had Mings and Emi right there and they have got to deal with it whether it loops or not. They wasn't trying to stop Andy Carroll or Big Dunc it was 5ft 8in Dan James. No excuses. That goal at that moment in the game changed everything. We'd had a sizzling 20 minute spell and had that goal not been scored when it was they would have gone into their dressing deflated and very rattled. It was a game changing moment that was entirely preventable.

Yes, it's annoying, but just as relevant as a player's height is the trajectory of the ball, and response time. Unfortunately, James was in just the right place, and Mings and Emi weren't. If the ball hadn't looped upwards, Mings would have been well placed to block the shot.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Their second goal was the most annoying one for me. We had Mings and Emi right there and they have got to deal with it whether it loops or not. They wasn't trying to stop Andy Carroll or Big Dunc it was 5ft 8in Dan James. No excuses. That goal at that moment in the game changed everything. We'd had a sizzling 20 minute spell and had that goal not been scored when it was they would have gone into their dressing deflated and very rattled. It was a game changing moment that was entirely preventable.

Yes, it's annoying, but just as relevant as a player's height is the trajectory of the ball, and response time. Unfortunately, James was in just the right place, and Mings and Emi weren't. If the ball hadn't looped upwards, Mings would have been well placed to block the shot.

James said after the game that he didn't know much about it, it just landed on his head and went in.

[The Edge]

Their second goal was the most annoying one for me. We had Mings and Emi right there and they have got to deal with it whether it loops or not. They wasn't trying to stop Andy Carroll or Big Dunc it was 5ft 8in Dan James. No excuses. That goal at that moment in the game changed everything. We'd had a sizzling 20 minute spell and had that goal not been scored when it was they would have gone into their dressing deflated and very rattled. It was a game changing moment that was entirely preventable.

Yes, it's annoying, but just as relevant as a player's height is the trajectory of the ball, and response time. Unfortunately, James was in just the right place, and Mings and Emi weren't. If the ball hadn't looped upwards, Mings would have been well placed to block the shot.

James said after the game that he didn't know much about it, it just landed on his head and went in.

That's all we want hear. I was already screwing about it now I'm fuming 😤

[Ads]

Having slept on it I think last night was par for the course given the upheaval we have had this season,  Leeds Jekyll and Hyde style of play, and the fact that they appear to be a bogey side of late.

Only 15 mins in last night I mused that Doug's time may be up with us but more concerningly, McGinn seems all at sea. The CB's were exposed and made uncharacteristic mistakes, certainly as far as Konsa is concerned. Ahead of Newcastle  the midfield needs work. Perhaps dropping McGinn to DM, we have enough going forward to sacrifice him in that role and bringing Sanson in for Doug.

I thought last night the midfield three without the ball completely malfunctioned. But surely Gerrard to get some kind of base in front of a CB partnership that was also having a meltdown he should have put Luiz/McGinn into an orthodox 2 (not McGinn at RCM which grinds my gears...) and Ramsey further ahead. Let Leeds have the wings if needs be.

The fact he didn't change shape at all, made very poor like for like subs and went on to speak eloquently post game about what went wrong....reminded me of his predecessor.

We did change shape when Young came on.