I think we really missed Rodrigo today, maybe he would have scored those chances Roberts got. Defensively as you said apart from the goal was solid.
Raph faded as the game went and looked frustrated with himself at the end.
Bamford had no real supply but should he had got a pen? I think so.
Roberts started ok should have done better with his chances but as the game went on it was like he couldnt get the basics right.
Costa i thought did ok, didnt do anything special.
Dalla much better in the middle and we cotroled the game more when Alioski came on to Lb.
Klick was average today. Couple of decent moments but so frustrating when he tries to get goal of the season instead of making it simple.
Pablo looked like a player thats not played much and i dont think we can rely on him to change a game for us anymore, as sad as it is to say.
comment by BATTYWACK (U2254)
posted 18 seconds ago
I think we really missed Rodrigo today, maybe he would have scored those chances Roberts got. Defensively as you said apart from the goal was solid.
Raph faded as the game went and looked frustrated with himself at the end.
Bamford had no real supply but should he had got a pen? I think so.
Roberts started ok should have done better with his chances but as the game went on it was like he couldnt get the basics right.
Costa i thought did ok, didnt do anything special.
Dalla much better in the middle and we cotroled the game more when Alioski came on to Lb.
Klick was average today. Couple of decent moments but so frustrating when he tries to get goal of the season instead of making it simple.
Pablo looked like a player thats not played much and i dont think we can rely on him to change a game for us anymore, as sad as it is to say.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought Hernandez really good actually, moved it on really quickly whereas otherwise I thought we were slow at moving stuff on.
A miss hit shot followed by a scuffed shot through the keepers legs and Villa parked the bus for 85 minutes. They did it very well and were very well organised ... it’s hard to break down sides set up like that... you need guile, class and sometimes a bit of luck. We had none of the above tonight. It happens, we move on.
It was one of those games you knew early on that it wasn’t going to be our day.
Apart from Roberts shot in the first half the Villa keeper had a comfortable night.
Agree with the rolling around like they’ve been shot...just wish the authorities would do something about it.
On the bright side. I like the look of Llorente and think he is going to be a key player for us
I thought after 90 minutes it was such an unenjoyable match that even if we had equalised in that final few minutes of injury time it wouldn't have given me much satisfaction as we were so poor and deserved nothing.
I don't think I have ever felt like that before watching Leeds chase an equaliser.
The pitch didn't help but Villa just defended really well and took their chance and we huffed and puffed but we lacked composure and the final ball apart from one near the end was very poor.
We are still doing very well and I have to temper my critique with a reality check and be relieved and thankful we have 35 points but we have got so used to seeing swashbuckling exciting Bielsa ball and when it doesn't happen it leaves you feeling flat.
Next Monday night against West Ham on a good surface and with a couple of tweaks to the team may help the side return to the high standards they have set and set the league alight.
Llorente did something similar at Chelsea too. Needs to cut it out. Definitely looks a quality addition though.
Agree on Llorente, looks really comfortable. Few times Ollie Watkins was running with it and he just eased him off ball.
Cooper has been very good since the turn of the year. For me, I was questioned whether he'd be good at this level, as he can be slow turning, but he's been great.
It's always a tough game against a team sat back like that, but it showed our lack of quality in places to break a team down. Similar to Brighton and Wolves, if we had more quality in the squad, we get a result.
Costa and Roberts are two that should be moved on in the summer. They have flashes of quality and we know they are talented, but at this level, it's just not been enough. Passengers for the most part in this squad.
And with potentially in Radz own words maybe 5 players coming in the summer and some promising lads from the under 23s time and chances my be running out for some of our fringe players.
comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by BATTYWACK (U2254)
posted 18 seconds ago
I think we really missed Rodrigo today, maybe he would have scored those chances Roberts got. Defensively as you said apart from the goal was solid.
Raph faded as the game went and looked frustrated with himself at the end.
Bamford had no real supply but should he had got a pen? I think so.
Roberts started ok should have done better with his chances but as the game went on it was like he couldnt get the basics right.
Costa i thought did ok, didnt do anything special.
Dalla much better in the middle and we cotroled the game more when Alioski came on to Lb.
Klick was average today. Couple of decent moments but so frustrating when he tries to get goal of the season instead of making it simple.
Pablo looked like a player thats not played much and i dont think we can rely on him to change a game for us anymore, as sad as it is to say.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought Hernandez really good actually, moved it on really quickly whereas otherwise I thought we were slow at moving stuff on.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Maybe am being a bit hard on Pablo. Was a game we were never going to win.
I was surprised at Llorente's roll-around antics, doesn't seem like that sort of player normally ( from what little we've seen so far ). It was a sneaky and deliberate foul on him, though.
Don't think Pablo was play-acting, it looked a hard thump on the back of the head to me, albeit probably accidental.
The new temporary pitch is bad, but something had to be done in a hurry, the old one was disintegrating to the point of being unplayable.
You could see from the start with Struijk in the CDM role, that we were going to struggle to create. Mistake by Bielsa, in my view. Coops and Struijk together is better, put Lllorente or Dallas in there instead.
Very similar to the Brighton game, we started slowly, got hit by the early goal and never recovered. We are still learning how to win games like this, or even, to avoid defeat.
I can't help thinking that Roberts needs to drop down a league.
Some days he plays well (thinking the assist for Bamford earlier in the week) but his shooting and ball-holding is poor.
Always seems to me like he thinks he's got it in his head that he's more skilful than he actually is.
He and Klich were weak links today, despite them both giving 100% effort.
Can't wait for Phillips and Rodrigo to get back in the starting XI
A lot on here seem to rate Roberts. I don't get it personally.
Miserable excuse for a game of football. Two teams clearly missing key players on an increasingly tricky surface. Leeds poor, Villa worse.
Romeu fractured his ankle on it midweek. Don’t think it was down to a tackle
Llórente....? Well the excessive rolling is cultural....
Ot felt like after 4 or 5 seconds he remembered he was playing English football; he leapt up and I’m sure given the chance he would have them tried to headbutt him English style. Rolling around probably saved him.
He does seem to have a short fuse....so it’s worrying.
My thoughts from today. Roberts and Costa should never start again. They have both had numerous chances and neither of them are Premiership standard.
Klichl is going through a very poor patch and if we had a full squad he would be rested.
Having said that, we have over achieved this season and overall I am proud of the squad. Nevertheless, Bielsa will know by now who he needs to replace in the summer.
Not a great advert for the premier league, dire.
I actually thought Klich was good first half. Made a lot of nice runs off the ball to open space
comment by LeedsFanFor46Years - Prem4harj (U6871)
posted 2 minutes ago
I can't help thinking that Roberts needs to drop down a league.
Some days he plays well (thinking the assist for Bamford earlier in the week) but his shooting and ball-holding is poor.
Always seems to me like he thinks he's got it in his head that he's more skilful than he actually is.
He and Klich were weak links today, despite them both giving 100% effort.
Can't wait for Phillips and Rodrigo to get back in the starting XI
----------------------------------------------------------------------
When Roberts underperforms week after week but still gets to play suggests a blind spot on Bielsa’s part. No composure in front of goal and couldn’t even pass by the end!
Ultimately very frustrating - As it has already been said we never looked like having any idea how to break them down.
Rapha had a poor one today, always seemed to over hit the ball or run into defenders - suppose he's allowed an off day.
Sad to see Helder having had an effective influence last game to going straight back to being anonymous today.
Thought Villa were tedious to watch but they did what was required of them and got the 3 points - all that really matters at this stage of the season.
Id forgotten what its like to watch a boring game involving us...
I cant imagine rodrigo wont walking straight back into this side which kind of says it all for our midfield
Too predictable for my liking. Villa knew a week ago that;
* Bamford will play up top alone and can be isolated
* We'll heavily rely on Raphina
* We haven't got another defensive midfielder
* Pablo, Alioski and Costa/Harrison will be the 3 subs we make
* We have no strikers on the bench to change the game
* If we're having no joy, we won't change tactics and throw strikers on
Just seems like we get found out and will continue to do so if we don't try and mix it up a little bit. 1 nil down and we didn't bring any strikers on because we haven't got any senior ones left.
Mostly agree. It was a very disappointing result.
I really don't understand why Costa and Roberts are starting. Loyalty is great until results say it isn't.
Raphinha is human after all. Humans have off days. Some more than others.
I didn't see anything special from Hernandez: he fluffed a good chance and gave away possession a couple of times.
Llorente will only improve as he finds his feet in the EFL but cultural or not, he needs to cut out the rolling around as of right now - I hope Bielsa has a quiet word with him.
Klich seems a spent force, a shadow of his former self. He was lucky to stay on the pitch last night - what's happened to him?
And I'm guessing Struijk was substituted because he insisted on passing the ball backwards at every opportunity?
We were well off the boil last night but I'm not gutted like usually because, honestly, we didn't deserve anything more than a point at most, really. Got to say, Smith's Villa suffocated us very effectively, using both fair means and foul, mostly the latter. I suppose all one can say is that the really good sides don't need to do that. Such blatantly negative time-wasting, particularly in the second half, is the hallmark of inferiority, surely?
Perhaps we're now moving into the transitional phase: we have consolidated PL status, just about, and now we must look to replace some of the CL squad players who are not cutting the mustard.
And ffs, whatever it takes, get the pitch sorted out. It's clearly pretty dangerous.
Sign in if you want to comment
Thoughts from tonight
Page 1 of 2
posted on 27/2/21
I think we really missed Rodrigo today, maybe he would have scored those chances Roberts got. Defensively as you said apart from the goal was solid.
Raph faded as the game went and looked frustrated with himself at the end.
Bamford had no real supply but should he had got a pen? I think so.
Roberts started ok should have done better with his chances but as the game went on it was like he couldnt get the basics right.
Costa i thought did ok, didnt do anything special.
Dalla much better in the middle and we cotroled the game more when Alioski came on to Lb.
Klick was average today. Couple of decent moments but so frustrating when he tries to get goal of the season instead of making it simple.
Pablo looked like a player thats not played much and i dont think we can rely on him to change a game for us anymore, as sad as it is to say.
posted on 27/2/21
comment by BATTYWACK (U2254)
posted 18 seconds ago
I think we really missed Rodrigo today, maybe he would have scored those chances Roberts got. Defensively as you said apart from the goal was solid.
Raph faded as the game went and looked frustrated with himself at the end.
Bamford had no real supply but should he had got a pen? I think so.
Roberts started ok should have done better with his chances but as the game went on it was like he couldnt get the basics right.
Costa i thought did ok, didnt do anything special.
Dalla much better in the middle and we cotroled the game more when Alioski came on to Lb.
Klick was average today. Couple of decent moments but so frustrating when he tries to get goal of the season instead of making it simple.
Pablo looked like a player thats not played much and i dont think we can rely on him to change a game for us anymore, as sad as it is to say.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought Hernandez really good actually, moved it on really quickly whereas otherwise I thought we were slow at moving stuff on.
posted on 27/2/21
A miss hit shot followed by a scuffed shot through the keepers legs and Villa parked the bus for 85 minutes. They did it very well and were very well organised ... it’s hard to break down sides set up like that... you need guile, class and sometimes a bit of luck. We had none of the above tonight. It happens, we move on.
posted on 27/2/21
It was one of those games you knew early on that it wasn’t going to be our day.
Apart from Roberts shot in the first half the Villa keeper had a comfortable night.
Agree with the rolling around like they’ve been shot...just wish the authorities would do something about it.
posted on 27/2/21
On the bright side. I like the look of Llorente and think he is going to be a key player for us
posted on 27/2/21
I thought after 90 minutes it was such an unenjoyable match that even if we had equalised in that final few minutes of injury time it wouldn't have given me much satisfaction as we were so poor and deserved nothing.
I don't think I have ever felt like that before watching Leeds chase an equaliser.
The pitch didn't help but Villa just defended really well and took their chance and we huffed and puffed but we lacked composure and the final ball apart from one near the end was very poor.
We are still doing very well and I have to temper my critique with a reality check and be relieved and thankful we have 35 points but we have got so used to seeing swashbuckling exciting Bielsa ball and when it doesn't happen it leaves you feeling flat.
Next Monday night against West Ham on a good surface and with a couple of tweaks to the team may help the side return to the high standards they have set and set the league alight.
posted on 27/2/21
Llorente did something similar at Chelsea too. Needs to cut it out. Definitely looks a quality addition though.
posted on 27/2/21
Agree on Llorente, looks really comfortable. Few times Ollie Watkins was running with it and he just eased him off ball.
Cooper has been very good since the turn of the year. For me, I was questioned whether he'd be good at this level, as he can be slow turning, but he's been great.
It's always a tough game against a team sat back like that, but it showed our lack of quality in places to break a team down. Similar to Brighton and Wolves, if we had more quality in the squad, we get a result.
Costa and Roberts are two that should be moved on in the summer. They have flashes of quality and we know they are talented, but at this level, it's just not been enough. Passengers for the most part in this squad.
posted on 27/2/21
And with potentially in Radz own words maybe 5 players coming in the summer and some promising lads from the under 23s time and chances my be running out for some of our fringe players.
posted on 27/2/21
comment by Jonty (U4614)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by BATTYWACK (U2254)
posted 18 seconds ago
I think we really missed Rodrigo today, maybe he would have scored those chances Roberts got. Defensively as you said apart from the goal was solid.
Raph faded as the game went and looked frustrated with himself at the end.
Bamford had no real supply but should he had got a pen? I think so.
Roberts started ok should have done better with his chances but as the game went on it was like he couldnt get the basics right.
Costa i thought did ok, didnt do anything special.
Dalla much better in the middle and we cotroled the game more when Alioski came on to Lb.
Klick was average today. Couple of decent moments but so frustrating when he tries to get goal of the season instead of making it simple.
Pablo looked like a player thats not played much and i dont think we can rely on him to change a game for us anymore, as sad as it is to say.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought Hernandez really good actually, moved it on really quickly whereas otherwise I thought we were slow at moving stuff on.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Maybe am being a bit hard on Pablo. Was a game we were never going to win.
posted on 27/2/21
I was surprised at Llorente's roll-around antics, doesn't seem like that sort of player normally ( from what little we've seen so far ). It was a sneaky and deliberate foul on him, though.
Don't think Pablo was play-acting, it looked a hard thump on the back of the head to me, albeit probably accidental.
The new temporary pitch is bad, but something had to be done in a hurry, the old one was disintegrating to the point of being unplayable.
posted on 27/2/21
You could see from the start with Struijk in the CDM role, that we were going to struggle to create. Mistake by Bielsa, in my view. Coops and Struijk together is better, put Lllorente or Dallas in there instead.
Very similar to the Brighton game, we started slowly, got hit by the early goal and never recovered. We are still learning how to win games like this, or even, to avoid defeat.
posted on 27/2/21
I can't help thinking that Roberts needs to drop down a league.
Some days he plays well (thinking the assist for Bamford earlier in the week) but his shooting and ball-holding is poor.
Always seems to me like he thinks he's got it in his head that he's more skilful than he actually is.
He and Klich were weak links today, despite them both giving 100% effort.
Can't wait for Phillips and Rodrigo to get back in the starting XI
posted on 27/2/21
A lot on here seem to rate Roberts. I don't get it personally.
posted on 27/2/21
Miserable excuse for a game of football. Two teams clearly missing key players on an increasingly tricky surface. Leeds poor, Villa worse.
posted on 27/2/21
Romeu fractured his ankle on it midweek. Don’t think it was down to a tackle
posted on 27/2/21
Llórente....? Well the excessive rolling is cultural....
Ot felt like after 4 or 5 seconds he remembered he was playing English football; he leapt up and I’m sure given the chance he would have them tried to headbutt him English style. Rolling around probably saved him.
He does seem to have a short fuse....so it’s worrying.
posted on 27/2/21
My thoughts from today. Roberts and Costa should never start again. They have both had numerous chances and neither of them are Premiership standard.
Klichl is going through a very poor patch and if we had a full squad he would be rested.
Having said that, we have over achieved this season and overall I am proud of the squad. Nevertheless, Bielsa will know by now who he needs to replace in the summer.
posted on 27/2/21
Not a great advert for the premier league, dire.
posted on 27/2/21
I actually thought Klich was good first half. Made a lot of nice runs off the ball to open space
posted on 27/2/21
comment by LeedsFanFor46Years - Prem4harj (U6871)
posted 2 minutes ago
I can't help thinking that Roberts needs to drop down a league.
Some days he plays well (thinking the assist for Bamford earlier in the week) but his shooting and ball-holding is poor.
Always seems to me like he thinks he's got it in his head that he's more skilful than he actually is.
He and Klich were weak links today, despite them both giving 100% effort.
Can't wait for Phillips and Rodrigo to get back in the starting XI
----------------------------------------------------------------------
When Roberts underperforms week after week but still gets to play suggests a blind spot on Bielsa’s part. No composure in front of goal and couldn’t even pass by the end!
posted on 27/2/21
Ultimately very frustrating - As it has already been said we never looked like having any idea how to break them down.
Rapha had a poor one today, always seemed to over hit the ball or run into defenders - suppose he's allowed an off day.
Sad to see Helder having had an effective influence last game to going straight back to being anonymous today.
Thought Villa were tedious to watch but they did what was required of them and got the 3 points - all that really matters at this stage of the season.
posted on 27/2/21
Id forgotten what its like to watch a boring game involving us...
I cant imagine rodrigo wont walking straight back into this side which kind of says it all for our midfield
posted on 27/2/21
Too predictable for my liking. Villa knew a week ago that;
* Bamford will play up top alone and can be isolated
* We'll heavily rely on Raphina
* We haven't got another defensive midfielder
* Pablo, Alioski and Costa/Harrison will be the 3 subs we make
* We have no strikers on the bench to change the game
* If we're having no joy, we won't change tactics and throw strikers on
Just seems like we get found out and will continue to do so if we don't try and mix it up a little bit. 1 nil down and we didn't bring any strikers on because we haven't got any senior ones left.
posted on 28/2/21
Mostly agree. It was a very disappointing result.
I really don't understand why Costa and Roberts are starting. Loyalty is great until results say it isn't.
Raphinha is human after all. Humans have off days. Some more than others.
I didn't see anything special from Hernandez: he fluffed a good chance and gave away possession a couple of times.
Llorente will only improve as he finds his feet in the EFL but cultural or not, he needs to cut out the rolling around as of right now - I hope Bielsa has a quiet word with him.
Klich seems a spent force, a shadow of his former self. He was lucky to stay on the pitch last night - what's happened to him?
And I'm guessing Struijk was substituted because he insisted on passing the ball backwards at every opportunity?
We were well off the boil last night but I'm not gutted like usually because, honestly, we didn't deserve anything more than a point at most, really. Got to say, Smith's Villa suffocated us very effectively, using both fair means and foul, mostly the latter. I suppose all one can say is that the really good sides don't need to do that. Such blatantly negative time-wasting, particularly in the second half, is the hallmark of inferiority, surely?
Perhaps we're now moving into the transitional phase: we have consolidated PL status, just about, and now we must look to replace some of the CL squad players who are not cutting the mustard.
And ffs, whatever it takes, get the pitch sorted out. It's clearly pretty dangerous.
Page 1 of 2