please log in to view this image Leeds Utd V Aston Villa Saturday 27th February 2021@17:30 | Elland Road Marcelo Bielsa faces a midfield crisis as Leeds welcome Aston Villa for an early Saturday evening kick off at Elland Road. Jamie Shackleton missed Leeds midweek win against Southampton with an abdominal injury whilst Mateusz Klich was obviously in discomfort when being substituted half way through the second half of the Saints game with a hip injury sustained some weeks ago. The gaffer is already without the services of Ian Poveda, Rodrigo, Kalvin Phillips and Adam Forshaw in the middle of the park. They may have to rely on Hernandez and Dallas as a make shift midfield pairing with Harrison and Raphinho on their respective wings. Leeds are boosted by the return of Diego Llorente. The Spanish International played the full 90 minutes of the Saints game. Llorente has experience with his previous club, both as centre back and defensive midfield. This will please Bielsa, who has been unable to fill Kalvin Phillips shoes during his absence. Aston Villa are two places and one point (8th v 10th) ahead of the Whites in the Premiership table with the midland club also having a + 11 handicap over Leeds even though Bielsa's side has scored 6 more goals than Villa. Leeds will be hoping they can repeat the reverse fixture having destroyed Dean Smiths team back in late October courtesy of a Bamford hat trick. The visitors will be without their talisman Grealish who has a shin injury.
I think most Leeds supporters will think of this as a needle match. The great entertainers versus the cheats.
No needle in this for me Duke. Villa have proven time and time again what they are all about. If we lose to these cheating, unsporting, scumbags it changes nothing as we'll always be on a different level to them class wise
Nothing whatsoever to do with villa for me, a great old fashioned club and ground... it's the chumpsters in charge who are the problem...two absolute toss pots
Fair point, but; We gained an unfair reputation in the 60/70's which has unjustly lingered for a generation...so feck em
Unfair to be fair we where a bit naughty I've been caught in a fair few" friendly greetings" .....oops sorry on the pitch you mean
, you didn't have to be in any "crew" from my recollection.....just getting to the ground and back, pre match drinkies in away town, walking along with a mob wearing your denim jacket with badges on,scarves on wrist,head etc was enough to warrant attention from "fellow gamers" no membership required service or otherwise
Phillips & Rodrigo still out for Saturday...Klich is a maybe. Not fussed as I'm still having wet dreams about that pass from Llorente to Roberts for the 1st goal...it took 7 Saints players out of the game
Villa have lost the last 3 games when jacko has been out..... shiiiiiiit hate damn statistics...now c'mon lads please don't change this, don't want to see smug Smith & Terry grinning
Alright clever clogs. The stats show we have a less win % without Phillips. The stats show Villa have a less win % without Grealish. The two anomalies this season have been Southampton last week and ironically a 3-0 win at Villa (featuring Grealish).
That's without taking into account the Llorente factor, who is an accomplished defensive midfielder for both club and country when needed.
Morning all. I hope the referee is aware of Villas tendency to fall down at the slightest touch particularly iin the penalty area.
Just been watching some of the big match revisited, Crystal Palace v Man City from the 80's by the look of it. Thought i was watching a different sport, some of the crunching tackles were incredible, but players just got up brushed themselves down and carried on, regardless if a free kick was awarded or not. Also a good shout for a penalty but the guy just got straight up, shrugged his shoulders and shouted something akin to WTF at the ref when it was not awarded and then carried on, watched till the end of the half in complete astonishment as half time approached and only about 30-45 seconds added for what was then called injury time. now it's called stoppage time to allow for all the feigning of injuries etc, and seen up to an incredible ten minutes for this.. My point above is, that boy would i love to see Grealish and the rest of the Villa fairies play a game against someone from yesteryear. then they would know what it was like to play a mans sport. Good morning everyone And here's to a good result