please log in to view this image Aston Villa v Leeds Utd Sunday 23rd December [email protected] Streaming links to follow Hi Folks Leeds make the 2 1/2 hour journey down the M1 for a Sunday lunchtime kick off against fellow promotion rivals Aston Villa. Superstitious or not, knowing the team that is top of the Championship on Xmas Day has always won automatic promotion every year since 2008 must be playing on their minds. Villa have scored 21 goals in the last 7 games, 13 of those at home - They have however conceded 13. Unsurprisingly Villa boss Dean Smith is felling positive about their chances of collecting at least a point against their Yorkshire rivals. He told Birmingham Live: "We're looking forward to Leeds United at home." “I know we’ve got players who will score goals, that’s one guarantee. “It doesn’t matter who we play against - Stoke, Leeds, West Brom, we will score.” Villa are further boosted with the news that Bjarnason, Lansbury, Jedinak and Adomah should all be available for selection. Leeds Captain Liam Cooper is back in training, though would not expect to see him at least until Boxing Day against Blackburn. I'd expect Halme to parner Jansson at centre back with Shackleton and Douglas on their respective wings with Phillips sitting in front of the defence. I see that as being our strongest defence - agree?
Has to be Halme in for Phillips who replaces Baker in midfield, the team as less fluidity with Phillips moved into the back line. I'd like to see Harrison but preferably Clarke replace Alioski too.
Villa have some good players and a top class coach. This will be our toughest test of the season so far, and will be an lndication of our progress under Marcelo. Good luck lads.
Interesting consensus. Excellent though he’s been, ’m not sure Phillips adds flair when playing dm... and I don’t think bielsa trusts halme as much as the fans do after his two appearances. The lad did well but could have cost us two goals against sheff Utd. I think bielsa’s dilemma is whether he trusts Baker more than halme... as he currently has limited centre half and midfield combinations. That said villa finished the game against stoke with 3 strikers... they’re not going to start like that but they could play Abraham and Kodjia up top... and mb would likely play halme AND Philips in a back 3. Smith set Brentford up pretty well against us and Now he has better players to do it with. Gonna be tough
Edit, just remembered bielsa has indicated Ayling will likely be back... presumably in place of Shackleton but gives him the option of playing him at centre back as 1 of a 2 or a 3 as required.
Agree. Not fully lost, but has too much time on his hands, so loses concentration. Better at running than thinking
Bielsa's pre Aston Villa match interview Eddies pre Aston Villa review "Time of their lives" Reaney, Hunter and big Jack, part 1 "Time of our lives" part 2. Archive "hated because rated"
Archive "hated because rated" [/QUOTE] Some good clips there LL. In the last couple of minutes with Malcolm Alison assessing Leeds they show a clip of the great Leeds side playing out of defence against Chelsea... the blueprint of beating the press has been around a long time!
Unfortunately working tomorrow but will check progress on here. Very anxious about this fixture it's stood out to me since Dean Smith took over at villa.
Some good clips there LL. In the last couple of minutes with Malcolm Alison assessing Leeds they show a clip of the great Leeds side playing out of defence against Chelsea... the blueprint of beating the press has been around a long time![/QUOTE] Brilliant. Really enjoyed that. Forgot how much I enjoyed listening to Mick Channon & laughing at Bally's squeak.
No mate, like Dallas I'm all Frampton, though I think Warrington might have too much in his locker - and if so, he's Leeds so I won't be too gutted either way. What some Leeds fans don't realise in their reaction to the Dallas video is that Carl is the same sort of cult hero in Belfast that Josh is in Leeds. Good to see Coops doing the ring walk too, special memory.
