Cjay

4 minutes ago, Demitri_C said:

What's eleven sports and how will this effect them?

Sports streaming service.

He bought the UK rights to various things, UFC, La Liga etc.

But couldn't agree a deal on distribution through tv services like Sky etc, no surprise.

Its just the UK arm of Eleven Sports, not the whole thing.

He will have lost money, probably a good few million.

Besides we were skint before he did that we will still be skint after, makes no difference.

Radz isnt the sort of owner to spend more then the club can afford.

Frustrating yes.

But sensible i suppose.

9 minutes ago, hooter said:

Can I ask which forum ? There is only really one Leeds forum of any note, the others are just small groups of mates. I've honestly never seen anyone refer to "Villa" as "Vile" on the main forum, but I might have missed it.

I saw it tbf, cant remember which forum, i only post on one but i look at others.

"Vile are scoring lots of goals and thats concerning" something like that.

May have been Motforum but be surprised if it was anymore then one person.

8 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

That’s only surprising if you take the 9 games in isolation and completely forget about the clubs form up to the time he took over. 

You have been good all season so there’s no surprise your form is as good as ours. 

True its a mark improvement on previous form. 

"Moose" from talksport is very keen that you get promted along with other English managers like Darren Moore, Tony Pulis and Chris Wilder.

Shame nobody told him that Pulis is Welsh.

He discounted Chris Hughton from his list of "English managers" in the Prem so Jamaican international Darren Moore cant count either.

Bizarre man.

29 minutes ago, bannedfromHandV said:

Okaaaaaay.

Leeds United, insignificant for well over a decade now are nationally more significant than Aston Villa.

 

 

Why are we inundated with Leeds fans on here? Are we the butt of some kind of joke/trolling that I/we don't get?!

 

I don't care that fans of other clubs post on here, it's a free world (kind of), but let's not forget that they mostly appeared around the time we looked set to run into some serious financial concern in the summer so my own take is that they weren't really here to wish us well, more likely to revel in our pending misery (at the time).

Tbf unless your challenging for the top 4 then your insignificant nationally.

Most clubs have been "insignificant" for years aside from a select few.

I do like the view that derogatory terms mean a club is obsessed and inferior.

We have our own thread on the English Champs forum full of insults

Personally i like talking to opposition fans and i post more if the forums active (nothing more to it then that). Also spent plenty of time watching Leeds at Villa park sat amongst you so I'm an honorary Villain

Villa is 1 game i look forward to tbh (not the only one) but its one of a select few, its a proper game, big crowds, big teams, big atmosphere.

Surprisingly for all the praise Smith has gotten (rightfully so). The form over his 9 games is not much better then us and and this weekend could change it. 

Lose or draw vs Stoke if we beat Bolton then we then will have a better record then you under Smith vs the same teams.

You played Norwich early and we had injury problems etc but excuses are whatever, points that matter. 

Looking forward to the game vs you, will be the half way point of the season, can look at the table after and think. 

More important for you to win imo, we could draw or even lose and it wouldn't define our season.

You cant really afford to lose, a draw maybe but really need the win.

Its exciting stuff.

Another little tit bit for those who think the top 2 are doing worse then normal.

Average points of 1st after 21 games is 43 points (43.7 to be exact).

Average for 2nd is 41 points (41.2 to be exact).

Shows that the top 2 are actually on point, and actually ever so slightly higher then average.

The gap between 3rd and 2nd was less last season, 1 point less.

The gap between 7th and 2nd was also 1 point less last season.

The gap between 8th (where you are) and 2nd is 2 points less this season.

But clearly there isnt a whole heap of difference between last season and this.

Quite nice, normally ive given up by now

1 hour ago, villalad21 said:

I see Leeds more likely to slip off than Norwich. Leeds aren't blowing teams away, they get away with narrow victories most of the time

Do i think we will catch them? No, but they are the most realistic to catch of the 2

Aside from the fact we battered Norwich, at there ground, have lost less games, have a better defence, have taken more points off teams in the top half, have kept pace with them despite an injury crisis that started at the beginning of September?

Not having Bielsa being easier to catch then a team managed by Wagner lite!!!!!

Was impressed tonight, fair play, thought you attacked really well and defended better then you had before. 

Had the chances to win.

Robbed by a hand ball but got lucky with your 1st, swings in roundabouts.

But please stop wishing defeats on us, heartless barstewards

6 hours ago, wilko154 said:

Yeh but have you ever had a back 4 made up entirely of right backs?

We havent got 4 right backs

16 hours ago, A'Villan said:

Bielsa has been my favourite coach in the world for years. That will probably change pretty quickly with Smith coming to Villa. Though that's neither here nor there.

You say performances have dropped but outside of a loss to WBA you are on a very nice run of form. Looking at the stats I'm guessing the WBA game was more a case of things not going your way on the day than it was the brilliance of WBA? Same as the game against Forest, you tick the boxes for a victory but the result doesn't reflect the performance?

Outside of Hernandez (who is arguably the best in the league in his position) and Bielsa I really don't know what your team is capable of.

I called it from the minute Bielsa was announced as Leeds' that you would be on your way to promotion. He has done some truly remarkable things with squads you would of thought destined to make up the numbers or even drop a division.

Smith was the only domestic coach id have wanted after Hecky. Was surprised your owners faffed about with Henry and co since Smith seemed obvious.

WBA was the only game this season where we deserved nothing, thats probably influencing my opinions on them vs you. 

They were just much better that day with a gameplan done to perfection, at the end of the day a good gameplan and better individuals will win.

Our other dropped points there are strong arguments that we should and could have won, Birmingham we didnt have Roofe and Hernandez, tons of chances highly doubt we wouldn't have won with them.

Swansea we lost our captain in the warmup and had no cb that day.

Forest again lost of chances there 1 on target went in.

Brentford again missed chances, no Roofe and Hernandez and conceded a debatable pen.

Wednesday the same missed chances no Roofe and Hernandez and Bamford of course was out for the same games as Roofe and Hernandez.

Bielsa has done a phenomenal job, given the injuries we have had. People say we are no wolves, Fulham etc.

But without those injuries i think we'd be pushing 50points. 

Hernandez is just a genius, he has been involved in a goal or assist every game.

We are like you under Dean Smith, but maybe lacking the individual quality but slightly better at the tactical side, winning the ball back better, conceding less chances etc.

What Bielsa has done is amazing given the injuries and the fact the side is almost the same as last season.

We do have good players, maybe not big names apart from Pablo.

But Douglas, Forshaw, Bamford all won promotion from this league.

Klich is a superb on the ball, 5 goals and 5 assists from midfield while taking no set pieces. 

Jansson is imo the best cb in the league. 

Roofe is a decent finisher and link man.

Bamford has a nearly 1 in 2 record in this league while playing in a variety of positions. 

Izzy Brown is quality if he can regain fitness and form.

Ayling isnt the best defensively but his energy is crucial in the style we play.

And Jack Clarke our latest wonderkid, Chelsea and Man City are after him (he turned down City once before).

Such admiration for Bielsa just hope his stubbornness doesnt cost us.

We dont need much in January.

Good goalie,  good cb and probably a quality winger (although if Jack stays probably not).

Only 3 managers have deservedly got something off Bielsa imo.

Darren Moore, Tony Mowbray and Dean Smith, although the pen was debatable and the ref was dire, his tactics were good.

18 hours ago, Made In Aston said:

Every team has good fortune. If you were to break leeds's performances down then I'm sure they would have equal amounts of good luck. 

Of course.

But wouldn't say it was equal, havent had a penalty for nearly 60 games and Blades should have had 2 players sent off last game.

Wooah is us.

4 hours ago, gwi1890 said:

At least you have. 4th choice CB

Actually its more complicated then that.

Our first choice cb pairing was our captain and our 2nd choice right back last season .

Then our Captain got injured in the warm up vs Swansea and our 1st choice rb became our 3rd choice cb while a cm from the u23s became our 2nd choice right back by default.

Then the player most LUFC fans consider our best and 1st choice cb (but was 4th choice).came in to partner our 2nd choice right back and our 1st choice right back moved back to right back.

Then our 1st choice cb in the fans eyes was dropped to the bench while our captain came back in to partner our 2nd choice rb from last season in the centre of defence.

Then our 2nd choice rb last season got injured and our 1st choice cb in the fans eyes (4th choice)came back in.

Then we moved to a back 3 and our 1st choice defensive midfielder became out 5th choice cb. 

Then our left back got injured so our back up winger (right footed) became our 2nd choice left back. 

Then our 1st choice rb got sent off so our back up winger and 2nd choice lb became our 3rd choice rb and last seasons 2nd choice rb who had started as part of our 1st choice cb pairing became our 3rd choice left back.

Then we went back to a back 3 and the first choice cb pairing of captain and 2nd choice rb last season who had become 3rd choice lb were joined in defence by our 1st choice dm who was by default already our 5th choice cb.

Then back to a back 4 the 2nd choice rb from last season who was 3rd choice lb this and part of our 1st choice cb pairing got injured again so the fans 1st choice cb but actually 4th choice by defauly came back in while the back up winger who was 3rd choice right back and 2nd choice left back went back to left back.

Then back to a back 3 where captain and 1st choice fans cb who was 4th choice by default were joined by the 1st choice dm and default 5th choice cb while the 2nd choice lb who was a back uo winger went back in as a 3rd choice right back/ wing back while the 1st choice left back was now back from injury.

Then back to a back 4 with the captain and fans 1st choice cb (4th by default) at cb  and the back up winger who was 2nd choice left back and 3rd choice right back at right back again.

And then fans 1st choice cb 4th by default got injured and so from the u23s we found a 6th choice cb.

Then 6th choice cb was benched and 1st choice dm and 5th choice cb came in to partner captain.

Finally back to a back 3 with captain and fans 1st choice cb (4th by default remember) plus 1st choice dm 5th choice cb but then captain got injured in that game and the u23 player the 6th choice cb came back in for the rest of that game.

And now  both of the 1st choice cb pairing is out (cb who was 2nd choice rb last season and 3rd choice left back) and captain. 

Plus the back up winger who was 2nd choice left back 3rd choice right back.

So the 2nd choice right back who is really a cm from the u23s will come in at right back and the 6th choice cb will come in from the u23s (probably) to partner the fans 1st choice cb but 4th by default.

Told you it was complicated . . . . . . Now i shall go for a lay down.

4 hours ago, A'Villan said:

FWIW I think it might just be our two clubs that make up the top 2 this season.

As it is, under Smith, Villa are league leaders in a number of key stats. Guess who comes in at 2nd in all of those stats? Leeds.

We used to be first in practically everything lol. 

I'm quite pessimistic despite my defence on here of us i think our squad is to shallow to get promoted tbh.

Performances have dropped with the injurieswe have had and its probably only going to get worse.

I really want us to strengthen in January but Bielsa for all his pluses is very stubborn and has made his position clear already.

Just have to hope he has a change of heart.

You i can see getting in to the top 6 certainly, top 2 depends on January business imo.

4 hours ago, Stevo985 said:

Oh it was definitely points dropped. We should have won the game.

But like I said I don't think it's a game you can point at and say "well they conceded 5 goals so their defence must be poor", and looking at it the other way you can't say well we scored 5 so we must be amazing going forward.

It was a crazy game. Like when Man Utd drew 5-5 with West Brom or that Portsmouth game when they won like 7-5 against Reading.

It was a freak result. You have to look at more than one game to draw those sorts of conclusions. And since Smith has come in our goals scored and goals conceded have both moved in the right direction.

Yes true it was a freak result but it did highlight how i think most fans see you and Brentford back in Dean Smiths time, going forward good, going the other way not so much.

He has improved things definitely, going forward you are much better to watch and have had some very impressive results, Derby, Birmingham, Boro.

Being honest under Bruce i wasnt to worried about you as a team, thought without individual brilliance you wouldn't get far and were just fortunate to have some really good players but doubted thatd be enough to get you up as it hadnt before.

Now with Dean i am concerned because on a low budget he kept Brentford competitive and probably the only thing that stopped them was there own squad limitations and budget.

You have a better squad certainly offensively and if you can strengthen in January then no reason you wouldn't be challenging.

2 hours ago, Stevo985 said:

Forest also scored with every shot on target (thanks in large part to our awful goalkeeper)

 

You're right, conceding 5 goals at home is bad. But if you watched the game it was one of those bizarre ones where everything Forest hit went in. We had nearly 30 shots IIRC and scored the same amount.

We are a bit patchy in defence, but that game isn't really a fair indication. It was one of those crazy games that come along every now and then that doesn't really reflect either team's true form.

We have played both Forest and WBA, Forest didnt impress me at all that day, fouling, negative gits, 3 shots 1 on target 1 goal, how lucky can you be.

But like you maybe we didnt take our chances i dont know.

You had 30 shots but played 10 men for 25minutes. 

Points dropped i suppose, we have been there to many times this season to. 

Getting nervous because you talk of strengthening, we talk of not and we desperately need it.

Vs us you will probably be playing our 3rd choice right back and 4th choice cb, it isnt good reading from our point of view.

Particularly given your upturn in goals.

1 hour ago, TRO said:

I thought Forest were the best opponent I have seen so far, this season.

but you have to bear in mind, we was left a car crash in defence from Steve Bruce and Tony Xia.....Dean Smith has only been with us a wet day and already the signs are improving.

We are still work in progress and I guess players will come in, in Jan to strengthen.....I guess teams that are strong at the start are not necessarily strong all the way through, and fade

Opinions will vary during the season and its teams that capture consistency will prosper.

Interestingly i though tForest were shite and on Pulis levels of boredom and it bugs me to this day that we had to score a sodding handball to draw. 

They had 3 shots 1 on target and it went in against us, horrible negative team. 

We should have beat them, its another to add to Birmingham, Wednesday and Millwall, such is life.

Fair point he has improved you and i do like Smith a lot.

1 hour ago, bannedfromHandV said:

That's just not accurate mate. 

It was 4-4 when they had a man sent off. 

Appreciate the involvement but best to have accurate facts at hand. 

We are both wrong actually, it was 4-3 to Forest.

Sending off in the 68th minute you scored 71st and 75th and they scored again 82nd.

I do try to be right before i say facts lol my bad.

33 minutes ago, WakefieldVillan said:

Thanks for the reply, appreciate that and it is always nice to hear another fans opinion on the promotion chase.

I agree with elements of your post, but feel you are doing us a bit of a disservice saying our away form is patchy under Smith.

Our away form under Smith (to try get back on topic, apologies Mods) is two close defeats in which we could easily have had 4 points from, followed by two tremendous 3-0 victories at Derby & Boro. 

I think tomorrow night could go either way and like pretty much everyone is predicting, the match will not be short of goals / chances - but Smith has got pretty much everything spot on since his arrival and I feel a lot more confident going into these games under his leadership.

 

I think you will beat us since we are talking about promotion chase, think you will win at Villa park ( although that may change depending on how the next 2 games goes and how we cope with our latest injuries). 

WBA are the best side we have played by a distance, the only side who have worried me this season, but maybe that will change by the time we play you. 

Thanks for the response 

33 minutes ago, Mazrim said:

Our away form is patchy? We just wiped the floor with Derby and Boro, 2 of the best teams in the division.

Yeah we've started dopey in a couple of games and our defence is dodgy. But going 2 down against Forest didn't deter us and if we did the same against Blues we'd still have won. No McGinn and missed a few chances too.

As the season wears on you'll see Villa as a bigger concern than WBA I fancy.

Fair point mate, you watch the games i dont i can only see the results and see that Forest were down to 10 before you scored 2 and managed to score 5 to your 3 when it was 11 a side. 

You may be right, we havent played you yet, can only base what i say on our experiences and reading scores. 

14 hours ago, WakefieldVillan said:

Good post.

Out of interest, what do you think the score will be on Friday night? 

And what would you consider a good result for Leeds? 

I'm guessing you think WBA are more of a threat than we are (which is fair given the league positions and your recent result against them).

Ta 

Depends on Darren Moore imo, know how you will play depends what WBA do. 4 games under Smith you have had 60% possession plus, you have won 2 drawn 1 lost 1 which isnt to bad. But vs Birmingham you were fortunate not go go 2 down before you scored, against Forest you scored 2 after they were down to 10 men and 1 of the goals that day was a pen. 

Think any team that concedes 5 at home has problems, in those 4 games you averaged 2 goals a game conceded (2.9 something) scored tbf but again there was some good fortune. 

If Darren Moore sets up like he did us (something he hasnt done before or since in this league apparently), stay tight and narrow, allow you to have the ball and hit on the break i think you will lose. Furthermore, your away form is patchy even under Smith.

However, if Moore is stupid (i think he might be) then he will allow an open game then i think you can win.

Ill go for 3-2 WBA just because i have a feeling he will play like they did vs us.

Best result for us would be a draw, give us a chance to gain 2 points on 2 rivals, or you win, dont want WBA winning, they are right up our butt. 

Our goalie young Bailey and Nyland seem quite similar to me imo.

Not the worst shot stoppers but heart attacks in waiting if a cross comes in.

Think Dean Smiths style could help Nyland a lot similar to Bielsa's at Leeds.

We have the 2nd best defence in the league and have only conceded 9 from open play.

BPF faces the least shots per game in the league, 9.9 i think it is now, next best was Brentford on 11. Something.

Dont think thats coincidental.

If you play on the front foot then aslong as your good at it that protects a goalie. 

If the opposition arent getting shooting chances then they cant score (obviously).

You like us are dominating possession, trying to win the ball back high up the pitch and force the opponent back.

So even the most nervous of goalies is protected to an extent by the attacking style.

Its not perfect but its certainly helped BPF who has i think 8 clean sheets in 19 games.