Like the Liverpool Game Before it, the Leeds Game is an Anomaly in Judging Villa’s Potential

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When it comes to Aston Villa’s 3-0 defeat against Leeds United, like the 7-2 win over Liverpool before it, it’s a match you could file away in the anomaly draw, when it comes to offering up a clear indication to where Villa are at this season.

If Villa had taken one or two of their decent chances before Patrick Bamford first struck, the game could have played out more like Leed’s previous game against Wolves. Leeds impressed in that game with a dynamic and spirited performance, but their opponents shepherded the game to three points once they had scored the opener.

It’s unlikely Villa will face an opponent who play in the same style as Leeds, until they visit Elland Road later in the season, so the types of games that will provide a better yardstick of Villa’s progress will the ones against the likes of Leicester City and Southampton.

Episode 118.5

Ross Barkley’s injury-time winner against Leicester City last week, left Aston Villa as the only remaining 100% team in English football, until Leeds visited Villa Park. Leicester City, like Leeds after them, were missing key players, so Villa were very much looking to improve on their two league defeats to the Foxes last season. They certainly did with a 1-0 away win.

Southampton’s recent win against Everton to end the Toffee’s status as the last unbeaten Premier League team, will bring Villa some comfort, as it returns them to being the best placed Premier League team in terms of ‘Points Per Game’. At the same time, it showcases Villa’s own upcoming game against the Saints as another legitimate litmus test to where they’re at. A Villa win will certainly return Dean Smith’s men’s momentum and confidence, while any other result will certainly subdue expectations for the season ahead.

Episode 119 of the My Old Man Said podcast will be with you later today, that looks at life post Leeds with a view to the Southampton clash, so until then, make sure you’ve caught up with both episodes 118 and 118.5 for MOMS’ insights so far this season.

Subscribe to the show on whatever format you listen to your podcasts on, so you’re alerted as soon as episode 119 drops.

UTV

Main Show Episode 118

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Credits:

David Michael – @oldmansaid 

Chris Budd – @BUDD_music

Phillip Shaw – @prsgame

Produced by David Michael

Music by Philip Marten

1 COMMENT

  1. the leeds game was a one off, but the pattern of defending and hoping to score on fast breaks was not This is Smith;s stye of playing and as games dating back to John Gregory show, Villa are a team that is based on defence and conceding the mid field On my one and only conversation with Paul Merson, he was clear that the Cup Final against Chelsea he played in was doomed to defeat once Gregory played a 5 man back line. With only 5 players to get into the Chelsea box, 1-0 to the blues was always the most likely start.

    possesion stats of 59% leeds 41% villa showed that they were dominant and with twice as many shots then had their players hit the target as Bamford did the Liverpool result could have been reversed.

    Bielsa is a truly outstandng manager and his command of tactics was part of the problem, his ability to send a team out to play one touch football is superb. They did not have to look for their players, the could pass and go and know the bal was coming back to them. Villa have nowhere near that kind of anticipation and as a young team will take time to develop it. With limited defensive strength the aim this season remains to get 40 points as soon as possible

    trevor fisher

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