WakefieldVillan

I want him to succeed here but just don't think he's ever going to be up to it & missing chances like that are just going to make the haters hate even more (understandably)! I actually would have started him over Whelan today, not because he is any better, just for a bit more energy which I think we needed in the middle of the park, but the miss was terrible, really really poor at any level.

I agree with you and I think Albert should/will be moved on at the end of the season too and Kodjia is predominantly a striker who is filling in on the wing. Not ideal. I'd much prefer Bowen and Lolley on each flank, both far more industrious and can assist/score at the same time.

From what I have seen and heard he's been playing pretty well at Hull and though his time at Villa he has been poor, hopefully he will be coming back to us more positively and can push on and cut out the mistakes. I would definitely start him next game (that he's available) and line up; Bree Elphick Chester Hutton/Taylor However typing our defence out makes me wince

I can't really comment on the game as I didn't get chance to see it, just followed it on the Villa Talk match thread and by all accounts we have not played well and lucky to get a point, whilst also possibly sneaking all 3 late on. Must say I am surprised Smith made no changes to the side, whether it would have made a difference who knows, but it sounds like we looked leggy out there today and a bit of freshness may have helped. No game is easy in this league as other results today show, but it is disappointing not to capitalise and seems to be typical Villa. Without sounding like a broken record, we need Jack back ASAP!

I haven't said any differently

Will be interesting to see if Smith rotates the squad with games coming thick and fast and if he does, will he make the right choices at the right time? I feel that this was something that Bruce didn't get right in his time at Villa and we can't afford any slip ups but need to keep players as fresh as possible as well as fully motivated. Presuming Tuanzebe, Grealish, Taylor, Jedinak and Lansbury are all out, I would go for the following; Nyland Elmo Bree Chester Hutton Bjarnsson Adomah McGinn O' Hare Kodjia Abraham Subs: Bunn, Revan, Hourihane, Davis, Hogan, El Ghazi, Bolasie I think the fact we kept a clean sheet last time out he will hope we can build on that and keep like-for-like (not a great lot of options) but there is definite options to freshen up elsewhere. I can see it being the above but Hourihane for O'Hare. Hopefully we are 3-0 up after 60 mins and we can give Tammy and McGinn a well earned rest! Would be nice to see Davis and Hogan get some game time too. Prediction Preston 1 v 2 Villa

I hope they have NO success to be honest, I feel that their fans on here only started posting when it looked like we were going under and to rub it in, but now I am sounding bitter... Which I am

I must admit I have only seen the highlights but it sounds like the result was better than the performance, but I will take that all day long, it was essential we got back to winning ways ASAP after the Leeds defeat and more so the manner of losing it the way we did in the dying seconds. Really delighted with the clean sheet and didn't see it coming at all, pleased for Nyland who has come in for a lot of criticism (some fairly, some a little injust), hopefully it will give him some much needed confidence along with our defence. Sounds like a tactical change from Smith helped us get a foothold in the match and it is nice that we now have someone in charge who sees things in games and isn't afraid to make changes whether it be formation or personnel to give us the upper hand, he won't get them all right but I would back him to get most.

Think you are being very harsh there mate, he's a solid championship player which pretty much all the other teams in the league would take, he scores goals, has good delivery, probably doesn't affect games enough when we are struggling but I think in today's market, 10 million isn't too far off. Anyway, back on topic, we just need to try to capitalise on this 'easier' run we are about to go on and see where that puts us, but I think ultimately we will finish 5th but hopefully we will go into the play offs with no injuries and good form!

Nothing much to add to what has already been said. Selecting a competitive defence is just so difficult right now. Assuming all 'defenders' are fit except Tuanzebe who we know is certainly missing, I would probably go for; Hutton Chester Jedinak Taylor More for familiarity than anything else. I haven't seen anything of Revan so cant really consider him, though others on here do rate him and Smith must do to an extent putting him on the bench recently. Elmo (who is usually steady and reliable) has put in two shocking performances so deserves to be left out. I would put Hutton ahead of Bree at RB purely based on experience but even as I am typing, I could argue that this aint the answer ! Whoever he picks I could probably argue a case for and against. So, with all that said 0-0 and a defensive masterclass by both teams.... Not really 3-4 VILLA! HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

That's exactly how I see it, in fact usually if I back the other team when we are winning, it turns out more comfortable a win You played it very well and like you I am hurting this morning, living fairly local to Leeds, they are all coming out of the woodwork to give me grief, guys I haven't spoken to in years. I would love their bubble to burst and for revenge in the play offs with a stronger defence and Jack!

Possibly mate, I must confess I have not seen the guy play once so I couldn't really say to put him in, I know that you have much more knowledge of the guys coming through so do you think he's ready for the step up? Was yesterday too big a game for him? Smith said in his pre match interview that he thought about picking him.

I too thought he was at fault for their first goal along with Elmo. I would consider him at RB but then who plays centre half with Tuanzebe absent?!

I take that is referenced to me, which is fair enough if that's your opinion of what it is. For me, I like the occasional bet and I will bet how I view how the game is going, regardless of it being for or against Villa and at 2-0 we still looked like we were going to concede goals and yes that is not a good sign and one we need to eradicate ASAP. I would much preferred to be celebrating a Villa win this evening I assure you but unfortunately we came up short.

Bring back De Laet Cahill (on loan) Joe Bryan

Disappointing result after being 2-0 up and never easy to take (thankfully I netted £650 for backing Leeds at 2-0) which as slightly softened the blow. I think if we're honest they were the better side, although we have attacking players that can produce real class moments, they are further into Bielsa's tenure and that showed today, they also weren't missing a player of Jack's ability. I said pre-match we would miss him, he draws fouls, keeps possession and we are a different proposition with him playing. Losing Tuanzebe was (is) a big blow, Bree just doesn't look up to it currently (though not an easy game for him to come into), Hutton was poor (lucky not to concede a penalty) and I think that is the worst performance I have seen from Elmo in a Villa shirt. Defensively we are just all over the place at times. Not sure Smith made the right substitutions today, having said that, the ones that came on were poor, in particular El Ghazi and Hogan. I think that is us done for automatics but I still feel we can go up through the play offs, just need 2 or maybe 3 additions to that bleeding defence!

I realise we are possibly only in the market for defenders in this window, but I wouldn't mind us going for Jarrod Bowen, had another good game today & impresses me every time I have seen him play. He has decent stats, is direct, creates, scores (good) goals and is only in his early 20's so scope for improvement. I think regardless of the division we are in this would be a good signing, a decent replacement for Albert.

That's the spirit!

Whilst I agree, both were guilty of criminal errors leading up to the goals conceded on Saturday. Is there any chance of Richie De Laet returning in January and does anyone think he has a future here? From what I saw in pre-season he looked the stand out performer. Regardless, I think the majority of Villa Talk are in agreement that both positions need strengthening ASAP.

Cheer up mate, it's nearly Xmas! It will be a tough game, but one we should go into with no fear, let's face it (on our day) we are capable of beating any team in this league, especially at Villa Park. I know we have problems at the back and Leeds have only conceded 1 goal in 5, but there latest defensive line-up was; Peacock-Farrell Shackleton Phillips Jansson Douglas Our front 6 can (and will) cause them problems I am sure of that, they are missing Ayling and Cooper, Phillips (although by all account is playing well) is a CM by trade and I think the keeper looks very shaky when I have seen him (penalty save aside) and the strikers they have faced in this latest run are on a completely inferior level to ours (Sheffield United aside).

Such a tight league, I feel that anyone of the current top 8 could get the two automatic promotion spots, though obviously Leeds and Norwich are in pole position as it stands. Looking at the next four fixtures for each of these teams and I don't see us closing the gap too much unfortunately. I think West Brom might close up on the top 2 and particularly Norwich and Sheff Utd may go above Derby who have a tough run of fixtures ahead. With regards to the play off spots I think that Swansea, Stoke and Blues (as outsiders) are the only other sides capable of squeezing in, but really hard to call and can see this been the tightest league in the football pyramid! Our next 6 league games after Leeds are; A) Swansea A) Preston H) QPR A) Wigan H) Hull H) Ipswich Leeds next 6 being; H) Blackburn H) Hull A) Forest H) Derby A) Stoke A) Rotherham Best case (realistic) scenario I can see from that is 19 points for us, beating Leeds in the process with them gaining 10 points (3 x wins Blackburn, Hull & Rotherham and a point against Derby). The game on Sunday is massive for me on whether we can reach automatics or not.

Not sure where you've seen this, but I can't see anything of the sort, just that there is an element of our fan base that dislike Leeds, which you can include me to. Onto the game, which should be a cracker; I think if Grealish plays we win and if he is still injured like reports suggest then I would take a draw right now if offered - Such is the importance I feel he has on our play. If Grealish is out, I would play O'Hare, as this will be a footballing game unlike the Stoke match and he would be better suited to this, I also think Kodjia deserves a starting place after Saturday's cameo performance. Bamford regaining fitness is an ominous sign and if I was a betting man (which I am) I would say he is nailed on to grab a goal against us (substitute or not) and both teams to score is pretty much a given at the moment.

Currently in Gran Canaria, due to fly home just after the final score comes in, I really hope the Villa make it a better journey home! Got a feeling we will miss Jack and can see either a 1-1 or 1-2 defeat, hope I am wrong! Come on you Villa boys!

Fair play?! F*** that! He could hardly deny it. Fair play would have been telling the ref he handballed it (twice)! Cnut!

Match winners on both sides so too hard to call which way this is going to go! I think we've played ok, probably shading the first half and a little unfortunate to be going in level. A little lucky with out goal but fair play for El Ghazi, if you don't shoot you don't score. Poor goal to concede, Tammy needs to hold the ball up there, the flick would have to be something pretty special to find Bolasie, from there Hutton should clear and Chester should have been closer to Gayle. Disappointing, because that aside, they haven't created a whole lot. Would like us to try keep the ball a bit more and wear them down. UTV