Okay, so my suggestion that we didn’t play very well against Southampton went down like a lead balloon.
I think it’s probably best to leave that debate and just say whatever the performance it was a great and much needed result.
So tonight, on Amazon Prime, we face Leeds Utd, a team that I’ve only recently come to detest more than any other team in the Prem.
And just as I sort of forecast (well, it looked strongly possible at the time), Leeds have sacked Bielsa and appointed Jesse Marsch, an American. Who I predict will fail, but that’s another story.
Leeds had no option but to sack Bielsa as much as they probably didn’t want to. They leaked twenty goals in a month and that’s a ridiculous figure, which couldn’t possibly be allowed to continue.
It seems Marsch left Leipzig after just five months, by mutual agreement. I read that as sacked, basically.
And I believe this is the first game that he will take charge of, so no-one has a clue what we’re going to see, hence the title of this post.
You would imagine that a big priority would be tightening up the defence and indeed Stevie G has commented that he thought they did pretty well in this area against Leicester.
Which is interesting, because we know that Leeds have a very good attack. Will concentrating more on defence take the edge off their attack? We can only hope so.
And you can bet Leeds won’t leave themselves anywhere near so open. I would guess they’ll also play more of a system too, instead of tracking players man for man and out-working them. I’m guessing the game will revolve around how well the Leeds players can adapt to their new way of playing.
And of course, we have the new manager bounce that can’t be ignored.
Squad news then and it’s pretty good news for us, as everyone is available apart from Marvelous Nakamba.
As for Leeds, Patrick Bamford might make a sub’s appearance after being out for three months. How typical would it be for him to score against us?
Diego Llorente is fit after a muscle strain but Tyler Roberts is out for the season because of a ruptured hamstring. I’ve seen it said the latter is actually good for Leeds, because he has been nicknamed “the man who got Bielsa sacked”. What that’s about, I neither know nor care.
We’re away and that gives Leeds an advantage.
But we have a couple of good results behind us, whereas Leeds’ form is shocking.
You would think we have this one sewn up. But as per usual in recent times, if an opponent wants to get out of a bad run there’s no better club to face than the Villa.
“Lost 10 on the trot?, no problem. We’ve got the Villa.”
But that said, I think we have enough to win this game. Coutinho is playing very well and is creating things, which is what we have been lacking.
I don’t see many goals and certainly not the 3-3 type of game we got at Villa park.
I’m going for a 1-0 win, which would be another good result.
And even if it’s a poor performance, I’ll say the result is all that matters.
UTV!
Oh my freaking, God!!! 3-0.
Awesome! Let’s have 4!!!!
I am loving this
Woo hooo the boys are flying
Martinez was awesome, we should play him next week ,
How good is Cash at the moment?
What a great 2nd half performance. Sanson is looking good in possession and Chambers goal was top drawer. Poor Konsa will have to be patient.
I’ve decided to predict the score. It’s 3 – 0 Villa.. I know I shouldn’t but why not.
🙂 Love it Bill
Some of our play was simply brilliant.
OK, it’s only Leeds of course.
Word for Sanson – starting to look like a really good footballer.
9 points out of 9 and up to 9th! Amazing what a few wins does for morale and confidence. Just to think after Watford game we was starting to look at a possible relegation battle.
Holte, sorry, but this is where I disagree with you: we weren’t ever looking at a relegation battle after a couple of bad performances.
There were a few posts on here along those lines – as well as the comments that Gerrard was a busted flush who we made a mistake appointing…
The reality was that we’ve not been looking like relegation candidates since DS left, but nor will a few wins and clean sheets put us near “Europe” either this season – we’ve lost games that on paper we should have won.
Let’s just enjoy the 3 wins in a row!
That’ll do nicely.
I was concerned at 1-0 when they came at us in the second half but we kept our cool and controlled the game.
Coutinho has added more than his own contribution on the field. it’s clear that the players are learning from him and looking very confident on the ball and playing quick, short passes in tight situations.
We can play better though. Let’s hope we keep moving in the right direction.
3 wins on the trot. 2-0. 4-0. 3-0.
No goals conceded.
Great stuff lads!!!!!
Roll on Wet Spam…