hooter

1 hour ago, A'Villan said:

Refreshing to read.

Bielsa has been my favourite coach in the world for years, for his character and conduct as well as his football.

Got slated by many for holding Bielsa in such high esteem but I called it as I saw it and predicted promotion for you lot this season and so it's no surprise to see you guys on your way to promotion.

Might get slated for this too but I think Pablo is up there with Grealish for best player in the division.

Pablo has been superb for 2 years now, hope he has another couple in him, because IF we go up he's one player I'm certain will relish the step up again.

If you are a Bielsa fan you might enjoy this article from today.   

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6513567/The-secrets-Marcelo-Bielsas-Leeds-revolution-sleeping-training-picking-litter.html

9 hours ago, VillaChris said:

What's your defensive line up likely to be chap? Pretty sure you've had issues with your keepers getting injured and Ayling, Dallas and Liam Cooper are all out long term. Pontus Jansson is a good defender at this level though, will certainly need his experience to hold things together on Sunday.

All the more impressive you've won your last 5 anyway. I actually do think you'll go up now.

Likely to be as last couple of games, Douglas LB, a young academy kid Shackleton RB, and Kalvin Phillips, who has been excellent as a DM, partnering Jansson at CB. Only possible change to that is another youngster Halme who has spent some time at CB, he'd probably only play if you played two strikers, in which case we'd play 3 CBs.

Ayling and Cooper back soon apparently, but neither played in U23 game this week so highly unlikely they'll be ready for Sunday.

1 hour ago, OutByEaster? said:

We are. We're wide open. You will take advantage, but without blowing our trumpet too much, injuries allowing, under this manager we're the best attacking side in the division by a distance. We'll come at you, you'll take advantage of us at the back - I have no doubt both of those things will happen. Home advantage helps a little and  I think you'll need to score four to win it - I'm not necessarily ruling that out.

 

1 hour ago, Rugeley Villa said:

Had this argument with a mate of mine. I reckon we are easily the best attacking side in this division. He thinks Leeds a much better. They are a stronger team overall, because they are good going forward, and stronger at the back. We are frightening going forward, but awful at the back. We are one of those teams where we say ok, you might score 2, but we will score 3. Very entertaining, but we need to get more stability at the back. 

This is the most fascinating thing about this match. Bielsa is freakish in his addiction. When Radz rang him to approach him, there was no answer, so he left an answer phone message.

Bielsa rang back the next day, and mentioned he'd just watched seven of our games from last season. Radz flew to Argentina, when he got there, Bielsa had watched every one of our games, plus "selected others from the best teams"

His attention to detail is, it is said, immense, tiny things in training, and in analysis of opponents (rather like a previous manager of ours, many moons ago  )

So far he has had a couple of key rules, if the opponent has 2 strikers, he plays 3 CBs, and asks the full backs to exploit the extra space.

He nearly always aims to press and keep a large proportion of possession. I wonder whether that might change, and he'll invite you on a bit, looking to exploit your weaknesses on the counter.

One thing @Rugeley Villa said which is true, he is a supremely decent and humble bloke. If you are interested I'll try and link to his PC Friday. He'll be unstintingly generous in his praise of everything about Villa, he reprimanded his translator when he suggested our winner at SUFC was the goalie's "fault", which it clearly was, and every problem we've had has been apparently his error, he is fiercely supportive of his players. It is interesting for us to hear how he sees the game, because it happens as he suggests more times than not, frankly after rocket polishers like Evans etc, it is a treat to have a manager that one can listen to, be interested in, and feel proud of. After that scum cnut Bruce you probably understand that sentiment.

Looking forward to it, meeting my old mate "Bob the post" for a pint beforehand, any day I catch up with him is a good day, regardless. 

31 minutes ago, newhavenhibby said:

Outside the Small Heath game I think this is now the most important game this season so far for you . 

A win keeps the good sequence going and propels you further up the table whilst clipping Leeds wings.

You always seem threatening in attack so hopefully the defense can stand firm which at times this season has not been the case.

Don't know if Grealish can play but hopefully McGinn will inspire the midfield again ...........that is if we let him back out of Easter Road last Sunday 

Good luck and as someone else said they will not fancy going to a full and vocal Villa Park 

'mon Villa

Earlier in the season someone asked Bielsa about the "intimidating atmosphere" at Hillsborough.

He pointed out that in Argentina he has walked out to be bombarded by mobile phones, coins, and excrement. He was broadly confident 2018 England doesn't render him sleepless. 

Mind you, if the cabbage man is about, who knows …?

15 hours ago, BleedClaretAndBlue said:

All the pressure is on us, it's essentially a free hit for Leeds. That could work in our favour, we need a relentless display. SHA beat them, hopefully they have an off day and we can set about them and get the result to give us a good xmas.

That's how I'm viewing it, 5 wins have given us a little breathing space, and I'm confident we've a great chance to win the 2 home games after, so a draw would be just fine at yours, a defeat no disaster, and a victory a massive bonus.

It'll be interesting to watch, as I said a while back, they've had one look at each other already this season, albeit Smith with different players.

There's a lad who I suspect will come on in the second half, Jack Clarke, he's one to watch, think he'll give your full backs plenty to think about, Man City tried to snaffle him but fortunately he decided his route to first team football was more open with us, he is a special talent, be nice to see him go up against Hutton. 

Set pieces have been a weakness for us, I expect Bielsa will set up as usual to dominate possession and thereby reduce your chances to pressure us, I'm equally sure Smith will seek to achieve the opposite, game on. 

40 minutes ago, Shropshire Lad said:

Why weren’t all these Leeds fans here when the club changed their badge last season?

That could have been great 

I couldn't pick myself up off the floor laughing long enough to register. 

1 hour ago, villalad21 said:

I checked the Leeds forum a couple of weeks back discussing us as a threat and i saw people referring us as "Vile" which is a direct insult and lack of respect to me.

What are their beef against us? Don't understand it

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.

18 minutes ago, Tomaszk said:

1) I hope so, it might help if you lose or draw this weekend and as it'll feel like we're catching you that bit more. You're still far off in the distance when you look at the league table.

2) Hope you do, John McGinn will run riot. And Bolasie. And El Ghazi. This isn't Steve Bruce's one man army anymore. The transformation has been staggering and we're playing the best football at Villa I've seen since the 90s.

Where I really fear Leeds will have success is closing down, and dispossessing, any of the defence or Hourihane, who sits deep for us. They are a bit shakier than the rest of the side.

I'd put my balls on both teams scoring.

I don't think I've seen us double up on anyone this season, it isn't what MB does.

He adapts to what he sees in front of him, Blades we had way less possession than usual, he explained why afterwards.

Interesting thing is he and Smith have already had a look at each other once. Looks like Bamford and Izzy Brown will be fit by then so we've plenty of attacking options, would be handy if Ayling was back too.

He spends ages each week at his press conferences talking about his ideas, (as well as climate change and all sorts of other stuff !!) he is a very decent and humble bloke, you 'll probably find his pre match conference interesting, it'll last 45 minutes and involve a detailed analysis of his thoughts on Smith, if you are interested (and he never rubbishes anyone, but you can see some damned with faint praise, Wilder "he is trying some really interesting ideas, ideas I tried but could not make them work...)

Fact is having listened to utter gobshites like Steve Evans and Heckingbottom, this is a glorious time for us, to listen to a polite, erudite expert, trying to explain to us what he's up to.

Probably not entirely dissimilar to you listening to anyone after that clearing in the woods Bruce. 

1 minute ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

We’ve all gotta start somewhere mate. He’s about 20 years older than Smith and he started off managing NOB’s! 

Let’s see Smiths cv after he has been around that long.

I do think you’ll win the league though. We’ll finish second. 

I'd take that all day long and resume hostilities where both clubs belong.

I think you'll end up in, and probably win, the play offs, but if you can sort your defence out, maybe not. 

11 minutes ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

You look good but I hope we smash you in two weeks. We need to continue making a statement. 

Its Xmas weekend and will be a full house at Villa park. We’re going to tear you a new one mate. 

Edit: Shame it’s not sat evening game. 

We'll see. I'm taking my 88 year old mother-in-law out for a Christmas meal after the match, if what you predict comes to pass I'll be on suicide watch by 8pm...

This Bielsa chap is quite good mind, despite never having managed either Walsall or Brentford, don't be surprised if we hold our own for 15 or 20 minutes at least....

Sat evening would ordinarily have been good, but move worked for many this time as Josh Warrington's world title defence is on sat night in Manchester.

2 hours ago, villalad21 said:

Still have my doubts on Leeds. They always start well every season and then crumble in the second half of the season

Spot the difference.

Steve Evans

Gary Monk

Paul Heckingbottom

Marcelo Bielsa. 

4 minutes ago, Dick said:

We are the best team in the league by far. 

We only lose points by mistakes - players and officials.

See you on the 23rd 

1 minute ago, a m ole said:

because we’re Aston Villa, Aston Villa FC. By far the greatest team the world has ever seen.

I've cricked me neck looking down for you...good luck though. 

9 minutes ago, Dr_Pangloss said:

You keep saying this and each time, no one cares.

Here's the punchline, neither do I kidda. 

2 minutes ago, WakefieldVillan said:

Maybe said in jest, but you did it to wind up.

Another reason to hate Leeds I suppose.

There's never a shortage of those. ...

Tried to multiquote but it wouldn't let me.

Odd performance, not obvious to me why you seem to think you are nailed on with no defence to speak of, butmaybe defence is so 2017 ?

I'm not convinced Marcelo will be tearing what is left of his hair out when faced with formulating a plan to work out how to score, but who knows, Great Barr versus Rosario, can't wait. 

1 minute ago, Dr_Pangloss said:

Thanks for dropping by pal! Appreciate your input!

Sorry, couldn't resist it.

You've one imbalanced squad, scored now, you probably need keegan as manager....

I tuned in to see why you were all so confident you'll go up.

Still compiling evidence but a little confusing thus far. 

57 minutes ago, VillaChris said:

Our last two games are Leeds away and Norwich at home, the current top 2.

It's written isn't it, about time we had a cliff hanger end to a league season.

You'll enjoy our promotion party, bring a bottle. 

The BBC understands that top sports lawyers Slaughter and May have been appointed to see if the Championship clubs in dispute with the EFL can challenge the validity of the £595m TV deal that was announced on Monday.

Representatives from Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Derby, Preston, Middlesbrough, Leeds and Stoke met on Tuesday to decide their next course of action and released a statement afterwards, stating ‘the matter will not be left here’.

The clubs do not feel they were given sufficient chance to analyse the deal, and what they believe were substantial changes made between the initial short form agreement and the final long form one that was signed with Sky Sports this week.

They are looking at a legal challenge to the five-year contract and believe they have the backing of the majority of the 24 Championship clubs.

They are also unhappy at the EFL decision to allow Sky to show all midweek matches live on their red button service, although the EFL says the clubs were informed this would be happening.

From Adam Pope, BBC Radio Leeds, well connected at LUFC so this will be what the club want released in all likelihood.

32 minutes ago, Indigo said:

Next we'll be merely mentioning Samuel Saiz, the blasphemy of it all.

That will be peak hyperbole...

First better than Gareth Bale, now David Silva.

If he manages a goal and 2 assists in the Championship before year end, I expect Ballon D'Or nominations....

David Silva. 

7 minutes ago, Demitri_C said:

Not everyone lives in Birmingham mate. I live in London how would I get to a midweek game? Some live even further than me.

I think the red button is no different to thise getting a stream off fb via avtv 

The difference being the larger clubs feel confident they'd make far more if they charged supporters to watch the stream via avtv, lutv etc, than they get paid for the "red button" component of the deal by sky

Just now, TRO said:

reminds me of something else that's topical

Indeed....