Dirty Leeds vs Aston Villa pre-season friendly

[JD]

There were over 52K fans at Suncorp last night for the State of Origin League game.
Leeds will probably have double that amount of support on Sunday. 

[Footy-Vill]

Gerrard said in pre-season friendlies he'll try different things, to tweak certain things and have players adapt.

[JD]

Hope he doesn't do what Liverpool did v Manure and try to play 3 teams in one game. By all accounts over 30 players used!!!!

[Hookeysmith]

Hope he doesn't do what Liverpool did v Manure and try to play 3 teams in one game. By all accounts over 30 players used!!!!

But early in preseason is exactly the time to do those things

[Smithy]

Hope he doesn't do what Liverpool did v Manure and try to play 3 teams in one game. By all accounts over 30 players used!!!!

He's already said the players aren't ready for more than 45 mins, so I'd expect to see at least 20 players used.  Maybe more, but I'd expect the core first-team squad to be getting at least a half each.

[Footy-Vill]

Hope he doesn't do what Liverpool did v Manure and try to play 3 teams in one game. By all accounts over 30 players used!!!!

He's already said the players aren't ready for more than 45 mins, so I'd expect to see at least 20 players used.  Maybe more, but I'd expect the core first-team squad to be getting at least a half each.

Aren't ready for 45 minutes? Dean Smith once said.
"I'm still yet to see a player carried off the pitch with exhaustion!"

[eamonn]

He did, more than once and I remember cringing at it.

[Holte Antipode]

He did, more than once and I remember cringing at it.

That was exactly my reaction too, cringe-worthy at the time (acknowledging his many other good points). Dean often seemed reluctant to rest and rotate. Whilst true that nobody collapsed and had to be stretchered off, equally, results went steadily downhill. Hopefully with 5 subs and a different crew in charge, this year we use our squad to its fullest.

[sid1964]

Only being able to play for 45 minutes, that would be the same as every game last season for most of the team

[LeeB]

Only being able to play for 45 minutes, that would be the same as every game last season for most of the team

I kept finding myself last season thinking we weren't fit enough as a team to play like we were trying to play. I think the manager thinks this too.

[OCD]

When he says they're only fit to play 45 minutes, he probably means they're only fit enough to play 45 minutes to the levels he expects, at a higher intensity.

In 20/21, I think the stats had us as one of the sides who ran the most yet in 21/22 (under Smith) we had dropped down to being one of the sides that ran the least. When Gerrard came in, this did increase but a full pre-season does give him chance to get them to the levels he wants.

[lovejoy]

No, as all bars in Brisbane centre are Noses territory. Villa fans will travel in from their Vineyard Estates 1/2 before kick off.

They all live in Cairns, the toffs.

Have you been to Cairns!!

More like Port Douglas.

I saw Alf from Home and Away drinking in a bar in Port Douglas 20 years ago. You flaming gallah.

[Dogtanian]

Really looking forward to this. I'm usually awake around 4am anyway, so this will give me a lie in. Got my mate coming over, full english supplies coming with the shopping tonight, and Villa mugs all round for coffee. 

How many are planning to be up and watching it live?

[Drummond]

Really looking forward to this. I'm usually awake around 4am anyway, so this will give me a lie in. Got my mate coming over, full english supplies coming with the shopping tonight, and Villa mugs all round for coffee. 

How many are planning to be up and watching it live?

Leeds will no doubt be making billions by selling it on their website.

[GordonCowansisthegreatest]

I'll be up.