Aston Villa 1-1 Leeds Post match grumble

[RamboandBruno]

Another frustrating day, but there is some context. Leeds aren’t great but including yesterday, out of their last 7 away games they have lost once, to a last minute goal at Newcastle. They have drawn the other 6, including at Brentford, Sunderland, Everton, Liverpool and Chelsea. So not an easy game with their current form.
Any team would struggle losing their three main midfielders at the same time, we just have to find a way of scraping results till firstly McGinn then Tielemans is back.
If Torres isn’t injured he has to play. Dougie for me considering he’s had virtually no football for two years, is slowly getting better and played well in the second half.
Onana was poor but i don’t think there is an option to take him out at the moment.
I doubt whether Barklay could last a whole game, but I think its worth starting him instead of Beundia. Emi was never meant to be as good as he has been but he’s regressing now, I think he would still be a decent impact sub for the rest of the season.
I thought Bailey has been ok since he’s been back but not yesterday. Sancho to start from now on.
Watkins brightened up second half but he’s struggling badly, Abraham is a different player, in terms of Im not sure he’ll stretch play as much, even so he’s a fox in the box and I would start him for the next couple of games.
We’re not playing great but we’ve lost once in the last 5 league games, so just need to scrape through this period.

[Chris Smith]

Lost to Everton and Brentford and drew with Leeds but beat Man City and Arsenal and Man Utd. Had,we beaten the 1st 3 and lost to the latter 3 would everybody be moaning? 

Yes, but that narrative ignores time - these shit results have all come recently, that's why people are more concerned. Bad performances happen, you can't win them all, but we seem to be on a run of them, performances recently have been piss poor on the whole. We are lucky, other results have largely gone well for us, though.

I think we’re in a holding pattern at the moment, need to keep ticking along until we get our injured players back and hope they can pick up where they left off.
We are missing almost our entire first choice midfield, which is a big contributing factor, but I am not sure it is enough to explain the shiteness against absolute dross like Leeds.

I think you’re underestimating Leeds performance, they were organised and worked their bollocks off to make it difficult for us. I think a big part of why the subs made such an impact was that they were up against tiring opponents who had put so much into the game.

[Villa Lew]

Yet another worrying performance, enough so we should have won the game, if Ollie hadn't given away a needless free kick, which led to their goal and re our disallowed goal, Ollie was half asleep, could easily have avoided being offside, if he had been quicker coming out.

[Bobby Boy]

Our last four home league games have been turgid, insipid, soporific affairs. Tough watches. There is obviously huge mitigation in view of the players that we have been missing but I can't believe that that alone explains the half-paced, pedestrian lack of intent that we seem to bring to each of these games.

The number of times Konsa or Mings have the ball and amble forward, stop and amble forward a little more with our players showing no movement and the opposition camped, set and ready ahead of them...

There are times when a quick ball option is available but we actively avoid doing it.

I don't get it. I don't see how such inert play offers us any benefit.

I'm sure that with Tielemans and McGinn in the side that guile and creativity would noticeably improve but surely upping the tempo and generating some energy isn't beyond the players who are available to us?

[eye digress]

Easy to say on hindsight but the team just wasn’t right yesterday, there is no way Bailey or Buendia get anywhere near any other matchday squad in top 6.

For me the big selection issue was not playing Torres, lost count in first half of how many times Ollie span the centre halves and started running and each time either Konsa or Mings looked but lacked the conviction to put a ball over the top or into a channel.  I get the criticisms of Ollie but yesterday wasn’t one of those performances.  Our best front 3 is 3 out of Ollie, Tammy, Rogers and Sancho….time to stop trying to get performances out of Bailey & Buendia

Agree very much with the broad assessment. Bit harsh on Buendia, though, given what he has contributed this season so far. As for Leon, he was sent packing because he wasn't at the races, and has come back to a warm reception and a starting berth. I'd say he was in debit right now, and needs to earn his keep first.

[ROBBO]

No chance of that, I fear his one good season has long gone, it just looks as if he doesn't want to be there.

[mrfuse]

Easy to say on hindsight but the team just wasn’t right yesterday, there is no way Bailey or Buendia get anywhere near any other matchday squad in top 6.

For me the big selection issue was not playing Torres, lost count in first half of how many times Ollie span the centre halves and started running and each time either Konsa or Mings looked but lacked the conviction to put a ball over the top or into a channel.  I get the criticisms of Ollie but yesterday wasn’t one of those performances.  Our best front 3 is 3 out of Ollie, Tammy, Rogers and Sancho….time to stop trying to get performances out of Bailey & Buendia

Agree very much with the broad assessment. Bit harsh on Buendia, though, given what he has contributed this season so far. As for Leon, he was sent packing because he wasn't at the races, and has come back to a warm reception and a starting berth. I'd say he was in debit right now, and needs to earn his keep first.

I’m not sure hindsight even comes into this one – everyone knew how Leeds were going to set up yesterday. As much as I rate Unai Emery and think he walks on water he got the setup wrong this time. Even the best managers make mistakes.

I’ve seen people say Tyrone Mings was in there to deal with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but for me Pau Torres should have started. In fact, until we get some proper creativity back into midfield, I’d have Pau starting every week for his composure and distribution.

At home, against poor opposition like Leeds, we’ve got to be braver. I’d have no problem going with Ollie Watkins, Tammy Abraham, and Jadon Sancho, with Morgan Rogers roaming in behind. Leon Bailey just left behind.

[brontebilly]

An alternative viewpoint: Playing poorly. Still not losing.

Against poor teams though, could take a hiding when we play better teams in our current form. There's a lot wrong but no easy fixes right now.

[Ian.]

Leeds haven’t been poor lately and nor have Brentford. It’s sometimes about form. We’re not in form, those have been. Football isn’t always about who’s the best side, it never has been.

[RamboandBruno]

An alternative viewpoint: Playing poorly. Still not losing.

Against poor teams though, could take a hiding when we play better teams in our current form. There's a lot wrong but no easy fixes right now.

Im not saying Leeds are a good side, but since we beat them in November and then they were unlucky to lose away at Man City the week after, they have lost 2 in 13 league games. One to a last minute goal away at Newcastle, the other a humping to Arsenal, which as we know, can happen.
Yesterday was never going to be easy, especially with our injuries which are in turn impacting on our form.

[Nev]

We're in a bad run, lacking inspiration and everything feels like a grind but we remain in a great position and we'll improve before long.

I wasn't expecting much yesterday and got precisely that.

It was good to have a Sat 3pm ko, a drink with old mates before and after reminding us of days gone by. And hopefully more days like that next season if we do qualify for the CL.

[kippaxvilla2]

I’m as much a fan of Ollie as anyone else but I called him starting before the crowd had left against Newcastle.  He simply cannot start against wolves.  Tammy has earned the right to start.  Whilst we are at it Barkley should start as well.  Even if he does look the sweaty antithesis of Andrew of Windsor after ten minutes.