Aston Villa v Leeds Utd Match Thread

[Genghers]

The only change I can see would be Halme for Baker so that Phillips gets moved forward. Does anyone know the formation they usually use? Will be the biggest bearing on selection probably.

Think this could be similar to the WBA game in that it'll be close for the most part before a mad goal rush. Their defence is there for the taking, so there's no reason to think that we can't be the ones scoring a hat-full.

Clarke is still a better option from the bench imo. Wear teams down in the first half and then bring on a kid who will run at them for fun. Baker and Harrison haven't done enough still and Baker has had two golden opportunities to assert himself against poor Reading and Bolton sides...

[1964white]

Much better news on Luke Ayling - will be in the squad this weekend and will "probably be a starter" at Aston Villa according to Bielsa

[Cjay]

Be harsh on Shacks to drop him, unless he is thinking of playing Ayling at cb which is even worse.

But news gets better because Grealish is out.

[1964white]

Be harsh on Shacks to drop him, unless he is thinking of playing Ayling at cb which is even worse.

But news gets better because Grealish is out.

Ayling for Shackleton I reckon CJay

[1964white]

Bielsa on the possibility of Leeds opening up a 15-point gap over Villa on Sunday. "The other day I was told that when Middlesbrough got promoted, they had a 12-point difference and lost it."

[rab_rant]

Dean Smith on transfers, injuries, and Leeds United.

[1964white]

Tell me we are top of the league are we playing Man City on Sunday ?

[whiteswan]

Much better news on Luke Ayling - will be in the squad this weekend and will "probably be a starter" at Aston Villa according to Bielsa

Great news for me. But a lot of fans slated him earlier.... "Not in the right position, distribution awful...."so.......we shall see what he brings to the game

[The Subhuman]

I'm not sure it isn't a downgrade, His form before the injury was shaky and he's going to be rusty

[1964white]

I'm not sure it isn't a downgrade, His form before the injury was shaky and he's going to be rusty

I personally thought he was fine, we've missed him down that right flank, he's better than Dallas & has far more experience than Shackleton (who is a fine young prospect)

He came back like a butchers dog in our home game of last season v QPR after a four month injury.

Was still running his socks off in the 90th minute. MOTM for me that day.

Ayling gives us energy, height & causes mayhem running at the oppositions defence.

[The Subhuman]

But his passing is shocking his tackling not good and plays us into pressure at the back ...at least it was before the injury. Shack has been better at most parts of the game for me this season

[weasel]

Think both points are valid re Ayling. His energy and ability to get forward and back is a huge component of how Bielsa sets the side up but like others say his distribution and tackling at times lets him down.

[rab_rant]

The teams don't really matter in this game, the battle is between Bielsa and Smith
and the winner will be the manager who gives the opposing manager the most
compliments.

I think Marcelo will just edge it.

[1964white]

The teams don't really matter in this game, the battle is between Bielsa and Smith
and the winner will be the manager who gives the opposing manager the most
compliments.

I think Marcelo will just edge it.

Looking at some of the scores on our Predictions Forum you'd think we were playing Liverpool or Man City tomorrow

[Cjay]

Wonder if he will move Pablo infield, drop Baker, Shacks takes Pablos place out wide and Ayling comes in at right back.

That still leaves Phillips at cb which i dont like but Ayling at cb isnt any better.

[rab_rant]

Tell me we are top of the league are we playing Man City on Sunday ?

Wish we were- They are getting beat 3-1 by crystal Palace

[The Subhuman]

If you're a Villa fan or looking at this game as a neutral...this is must win for AV. At home versus an injury hit team you need to recover 12 points from? Absolutely must win

[1964white]

Wonder if he will move Pablo infield, drop Baker, Shacks takes Pablos place out wide and Ayling comes in at right back.

That still leaves Phillips at cb which i dont like but Ayling at cb isnt any better.

Just hope we're not in for a shock or two

Both Pablo & Pontus were visibly carrying knocks in the last quarter of the Bolton game

[Cjay]

Just hope we're not in for a shock or two

Both Pablo & Pontus were visibly carrying knocks in the last quarter of the Bolton game

For godsake, dont say that, not now.

Say " Pontus delivered my milk this morning carrying Pablo, then on the way back they swapped, both looked well".

[Cjay]

A player like Ayling is crucial to Bielsa's style, our attacking play relies on overloads.

Ayling has a great engine and provides that.

However the issue is imo Ayling perfectly embodies what Jamie Carragher said to Gary Neville "if your a full back your either a failed winger or a failed centre back".

Thats Ayling to a tee.

Not skillful enough or technically good enough to be a proper winger, but not defensively good enough to be a cb.

Unfortunately we cant get the perfect full backs, we cant afford them and they wouldn't come to The Championship anyway.

Manchester City spent huge on full backs and thats when things started going right.

We cant, so we have to make do.

We arent going to get the perfect fb for our style and no matter who we pick from our squad there are drawbacks.

Ayling may be the best of the bunch for our right side, but Shacks has done little wrong either.

Aylings passing accuracy is the lowest of any player we have had at right back this season incidentally, or indeed left back, its less then Dallas, Shacks, Berardi, Douglas and Pearce.

In our style passing out from the back and being so vulnerable in transition that is something that must improve.