Lerner's Driver

Eh?

They disappeared with our playmaker and we have little more than huff and puff without him.

Eastie summed it up, poor and unlucky. We are now struggling. Need reinforcements badly.

Mate at work is Brentford and Sawyers was the one they were most worried about losing when Smith came to us.

It's okay mate, you don't have to if you don't want to, honestly.

It's an interesting one, not least because we clearly have missed him these last few games, but we have also coped. I don't him to go and don't think he will, but he admitted he was 'disappointed' in the summer, so not ridiculous to think he would find a new approach hard to resist. And if we get some money, I'd trust Smith and Suso to find some suitable replacements.

In a way yes, in a way no. I'd say more no than yes because his shite football got him the sack and delivered this exciting, new dawn. Imagine if he'd done just enough to keep wor there or there abouts...

Good result and much needed. Better in second half, first was cack. El Ghazi lucky, Neuland a hero.

You are quite an emotional guy.

Every Villa fan deep down knew it was very possible we might lose yesterday, so any anger/frustration/disappointment, can be put into perspective by remembering that we nearly went out of business in the summer. That we have rallied in the way we have, with the players we have, is basically nothing short of extraordinary. To expect 'unending extraordinary' is unrealistic. Smith is not immune from criticism, any more than any other manager, but he most definitely is deserving of way more praise than he is criticism and that alone means the criticism he does get ought to be tempered.

You don't have to like it to admit it.

Architects of our own demise. A real shame that we allowed them to get back in it, whereas the first half was reasonably equal in terms of threat. Given the lack of Grealish and a horribly make shift defence, we did well to compete. Leeds are a very decent side. Said in the week, a loss wouldn't be the end of the world and it won't. We are about to take on some lesser teams now, so should start climbing.

Exaggerated

Go and support them then

Why is your first instinct always to say something negative about the team you support?

We may well lose today, but (a) all teams are capable of producing results when the pre match analysis suggests otherwise (b) we will still be in the mix/within touching distance, even if we do Hold your nerve, wobblers!

Let's hope the players have your attitude

Gotta hand it to our new owners, 'Axing the Organ', is next level.

Sweet of you to show an interest. Do you think that interest will ever disappear altogether? We'd be sorry to see you go.

Mad

Sometimes it's for the best, certainly where my decades old lucky grundies are concerned, but more to the point @Stevo985, I'm guessing you would recuse your endlessly repeating beef with Dave from the above?

It's not unrealistic, it's just unlikely. I think the thing that is peeing me off more than anything is the random 'bad luck' of having so many fricking strong (for this league) teams in endless succession. Forget the dropped points under Bruce. Obviously that's relevant, but if we'd met even just a few lesser teams in amongst this run, we'd unquestionably be higher up than we are by now. The fact we are not and that we are irritated by slightly under par performances, or draws instead of wins, is very much a sign of incredibly satisfying progress way beyond the pre-season expectation. We are a funny bunch, like all football fans, I guess, but definitely odd in our own special way. I'm keeping an open mind, despite the disappointment of today and even the possibility of losing to Leeds. Once that is out the way, I genuinely think we are going to cause some mayhem. Come what may, what we are seeing at the moment, is on the whole pretty bloody lovely and I really couldn't be happier just to have a genuinely competitive team to support again, one that not only competes but also shines, making others sit up and take notice.

Largely cack. Stoke pretty ugly, but reasonable interplay at times. Anyone wondering why Jack is needed, there you go. We lacked ideas. He gives us rhythm. A point is reasonable I suppose.

This has felt like a loss the whole game.

Agreed that there were two fouls, so Nyland can't be blamed, but he is definitely being targeted by the opposition as a weak link. He looks too slight to me, like a junior.