I’ve seen Leeds comments that have suggested that this is a massive fixture.
And indeed it is.
The current top two big clubs in the Championship are us and Newcastle; that’s without doubt, in my opinion.
The next level might be a bit more debatable and you could include Norwich as next on the list, but truth be told, I don’t see them as being up there as a big club.
So to me, Leeds are next, which is backed up by the fact that ticket sales are expected to be around 32,000 for this game.
When you consider this is going to be shown on Sky, that’s pretty impressive and even more so when you consider Leeds have done nothing for a while.
So they’ve got decent support.
Which makes them seem automatically a formidable foe.
Sure, it’s a plus point and one that we often use; the bigger club usually wins out, after all.
But we’re debatably a bigger club and that’s why we shouldn’t think we’re going to struggle before we even kick off.
Before I give my prediction, let’s have the team news.
Erm, I’m not seeing much to be honest.
Leeds have defender Pontus Jansson back in contention.
Whereas Villa have injury doubts over Baker (groin) and McCormack (ankle).
The big one there is obviously Baker and I feel he’d be a major loss even if we have Elphick to come in.
There was some mention about Richards, but who gives a toss?
Not that it matters too much.
Leeds are apparently seeking their fifth win in six league games and that’s pretty impressive.
But they haven’t met us yet.
Perhaps I’m heading for a fall, but I’m just feeling we’re on a roll.
A roll that says we’ll win this 2-1.
It’s all quite worrying really, as every time I’ve been confident over the last few years, it’s all turned round and bitten me on the arse.
But with Super Spud (you heard it here first) in charge, I suspect our good run will continue.
Otherwise, I’ll take a point.
Leeds’ home form isn’t great and our away form isn’t either.
Which makes this one particularly interesting.
Time to move on we’re still the only unbeaten home team in the EFL our away performances need to improve bring on Wigan I still predict a top 6 finish UTV
We’ll bounce back next week.
Keep the faith lads.
UTV
I just hope we learn how to take corners by next week, and find a forward that’s in on goal, no two ways about it bad goalkeeping the ball was coming down his throat and waited for it , he should have met it as it came to him.sad sad day.
Quality of our crosses is woeful. The only player that can put in a decent ball is Amavi. Adomah can’t cross to save his life just like Downing and young either overhits or underhits’s crosses must of the time
Inexpreienced goalie, Bill and it shows massively.
I’m going to think about this game before I post my thoughts (tomorrow)
Badger, he’s mine to help, why do we play a player that can head a ball but dont get the service, 2 when are we going to use long balls from the wings to open up defences? 3 why do we try to tip tap balls in midfield just then get robbed 9 times out of ten, 4 how was it that we got suckered with long ball in from wing play. Our goalkeeper was at fault along with us not able to breakdown other teams defences, every team will know how to beat Villa. I’m gutted that even our subbing was unbalanced taking off certain players, now I’m not blaming Bruce yet, you can only use the tools you’ve have unfortunately we have shite tools.
Bill why us Tish not starting ffs
He should of met it and take the ball and player with him very bad goalkeeping.
Normal doom and gloom has been resumed I see.
The suspicion has been about – for two season’s past at least – that Villa can be roughed up to lose, especially if the ref does not see it for what it is. Brighton are a better footballing team than Leeds, but we matched and even shaded them away – probably because they aren’t a thuggish team. Leeds are, and I have no doubt Forest and Barnsley having seen that will prepare accordingly, they can dish it out as well.
But remember Steve hasn’t bought any of the players he sent out today, and probably would not spend a penny of any money he is given on similar types. Roll on January.
Very measured response OLL. Individual errors cost us today, wasn’t down to a bad team performance. I still think our midfield is too lightweight and has been for years. Jedinak aside they all can be over powered with ease.
My takings from today, Elphick not looking like the player we first thought. Grealish needs to start, the only player with the creativity to make things happen. Gestede doesn’t work in this 3 pronged attack. Ayew is so frustrating and really needs to pick a pass more often.
Tish can look after himself yet he’s never picked it’s ridiculous. Why is gabby even on the bench he’s finished
@OLL
Have to agree this team isn’t Steve Bruce’s, its just what he’s been landed with.
Its far from being a bad side just a bit lop sided unfortunately and this will hopefully be corrected in January with some signings.
Good thing is that Steve will have time to think and then hopefully pick the right players.
If we’re in and around the top six or even top ten by the next window then I think we’ll stand a good shot at the play offs with the right additions.
Still optimistic, at the start of this season mid-table mediocrity was as good as I thought it was going to get. Bruce’s arrival has meant that we can dream a bit higher than that.
UTV
For the record lads I didn’t read past Bagers last post, i said pretty much the same.I even said Leeds was a physical side.
Agree OLL but the whole idea was the like of Elphnick Chester Gestede and Jedinek should be able to dish it out too. And Hutton despite what people think can dish it out too. Kodja goes missing once he’s been kicked a couple of times he needs to man up. And can anyone explain why Westwood is still playing and Tishbola what the hell us going on there.
oohah
the goal v cardif plus yesterday first hutton was so far out of position ,as for westwood the tealady would be an improvement
True but at least Hutton tries maybe we ought to play him in right mid to toughen up midfiekd a bit and bacuna at right bk
Not a bad shout Oohah, he does spend more time up field than back, I’ve now come to the fact that we are playing player’s with no footballing nous, centre forward playing with players that don’t send in high balls, players that don’t get past the first defender from corners , goalkeeper that doesn’t get to a high cross ball, central Defender’s that move like cart horse’s, spells I’m only here for the money.
disappointed to lose, but I’ve seen enough games to understand, we were in that game and only just lost. because one side took their chances, while we never,that’s football.
how villa players react to this defeat will be telling. i think they will be better for this set back. if we can go on another run. then we have learned from this setback.
i also agree with a few earlier posts. steve bruce is playing what he sees as the best players available to him currently. we haven’t a bad squad in this division. bruce will want to add some players. this has to wait until jan so BE patient.
Jan is crunch time for us Bruce needs a creative midfielder desperately. Also Kodja will be away though he will only be missed at home games as goes missing away.
Oohah, i tend to agree with you on some matters but not about Kodja, he hasn’t got players with him, as for Trish I haven’t got a clue as to why, Ayew don’t get a ball past the first defender on corners, we piss about in midfield and inevitably get robbed of the ball, as for the goalkeeper where the fuck we got him from.he’s never in the game most times but fucks up on simplest things. I’m lost to see us get no more than mid table this season. Keep it up Oohah I do have a chuckle when Badger replies to your assessment, it does seem that your 1/2 right at the minute.
Far too many got carried away before yesterday, sure we’ve been on a decent run up to then but I have never felt that we’ve played that well.
The midfield is very poor and is dragging the whole team down, and for a team that has amassed the most expensive forward line in the championship, we’ve not scored anywhere near enough due to awful decision making in the final third.
If we sign a couple of quality midfielders in Jan (note quality not quantity) and Mccormack, Ayew and Grealish start stepping up then we’ve got a chance of sneaking into the play offs, otherwise id expect us to stay in midtable.
Agree with you V1. Saturday was a reality check for the fans rather than SB who has been trying to down play the recent results. He has consistently said there are some signs of improvement but he’s clearly a long way from being happy with the balance of the team.
We’re not out the mix by a long chalk – not yet anyway and it will depend on what SB can do in January – which is a notoriously difficult window to operate in. Don’t expect a lot of movement but a couple of loans might be on the cards.
It seems we missed Baker (no TV coverage here so didn’t see the game) – how many fans would have said that three months ago and we have an inexperienced goalkeeper. But if mid field and the strikers were doing their job the GK wouldn’t be coming under such close scrutiny.
Disappointed but it would be unrealistic to imagine we could go unbeaten to the end of the season. Keep the faith – we’re in a much better position than we were just a few weeks ago.
Xmas is crucial we need to come out in the new year no more than 6 points from play offs. Anymore than that then Bruce won’t sign anyone as won’t be worth it as this side won’t get relegated so will wait till summer to rebuild. As for Dr Xs recent comments that we could be European champions or there abouts in next 10 years he needs to get a grip. Villa have missed out big time if ever challenging at the top table against thanks to ffp.
For first goal – keeper either needs to come and punch or catch it or he needs to stay on his line and let Elphick try to get a head on it. To be honest, having just re-watched it, I think the two centres halves are to blame for not deciding who was picking the man up – one of them should have dealt with it. Because they didn’t. the keeper was caught in two minds and ends up in no man’s land.
Second goal, everyone gives up except Elphick. Hutton made no effort to get back into position (seemed like he thought “what’s the point in running back, we’ve already lost”) and Jedinack also gave up, having been guilty for giving the ball away cheaply in midfield. Hutton did the same earlier in the game,
How many goals do we concede down our right? Seems to be quite a few and I’m amazed it’s not more. There always seems to be so much space there to exploit! Whereas Hutton used to drift too far forward and not get back, he now seems to be drifting into a more central position and not getting back across.
I thought we were unlucky not to get a penalty. But Leeds also had a good shout, so that balanced out. Adomah’s great run deserved a goal. Apart from the two goals, there weren’t really any other clearcut chances, apart from a couple of Leeds headers, so it was probably a fair result overall.
good post bency
Agree
bencey
gollina mistakes have all come when elphik is playing,whose picked elphik i hhad never heard of him before we signed him so can t see how rdm signed him
All I noticed with the first goal if your committed to punching the ball at least punch something even if it’s the players head, the second my god elphick was like a carthorse getting back that’s my analysis
Agree but after watching the shambolic keeping and defending of Liverpool and Bournemouth and Utd v Everton it’s not just us. Btw the way Bournemouth cane bk v Liverpool yesterday was great imagine us ever doing that against a crap team let alone a top 4 team it’s never happened in my lifetime
I don’t know how old you are Oohah, but I remember going to White Hart Lane when we were 4-1 down at half time, then 5-1 after the restart. Tony Hateley wearing white footwear that looked like plimsolls (at the time all boots were black) scored four goals with his feet to level it at 5-5.
aresnal at home 2 down at half time ,the skydiver landed in the roof of stand we won 3 2 was it 98
3rd Round FA cup draw today. If you are still believing Villa are in with a chance of the play-offs, you probably view the FA Cup as an unwelcome distraction. And probably won’t mind drawing a Prem team away so we can exit early and concentrate on league points.
If like me you think we have blown the play-offs then the FA Cup is our last chance to rescue this season. So I will be rooting for Villa to be at home to a non-league minnow. I know the odds are 63/1 but factor in my luck and it is more like 10/1 that Sutton Utd (the team I played for) get a trip to VP. They need the money!
Fingers crossed for you OLL, tell you what? be a well supported venue that.I’d go meet you in the Villa Taven for a drink.
Here’s another negative Villa stat whilst we are wallowing in a bit of doom and gloom! Villa haven’t won a televised game for two years – last one the 2-1 win over Leicester in December 2014! Not to worry though only 3 of our next five games are on Sky!
When was Liverpool at Wembley?
April 15th 2015 & it was on the telly soz hitch still a poor stat though
I think the stats related to Sky and the league rather than the cup SF which was on terrestial tv
Anyway whichever way you look at it, it’s yet another negative stat
Now that’s put the cat among the pigeons Hitch, thanks for that, another few sleepless nights.
Spuds easy easy COYL
Tottenham away .
Good draw means we can concentrate solely on the playoffs.
Agree not going to win that in a million years thankfully. Hate the FA cup it’s pointless. Better off extending the season with more league games instead
Problem is with our luck we will go and win.
LOL
Will be interesting to see if any of our players can match it with a top 4 prem team.. Ok it’s only one game but may give us and Bruce a few hints as to who’s potentially got it or not.. we could also get slaughtered!