Leeds United

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It has been 30 years since Tomas Brolin joined Leeds United to much fanfare as their £4.5m record signing at the time.

The former centre-forward joined the Whites on the back of a highly regarded 1994 World Cup campaign, where he helped Sweden finish third, and with a strong reputation from his success with Italian side Parma.

But the Swede did not live up to expectations, only managing four goals from his two years in Yorkshire and BBC Radio Leeds have been recounting the signing with fans.

"It was a funny time then. We'd been in the doldrums really after 1992. We'd started to lose our way a little bit and the football under Howard Wilkinson had become stale. Other clubs were starting to move forward," United supporter Gareth told the BBC's Adam Pope.

"You look at the way that Manchester United started to play once they got Eric Cantona while Aston Villa became a really progressive team using wingers. Even [Sir Alex] Ferguson at Manchester United had changed to out-and-out wing play with Cantona as a flair number 10 floating around.

"Blackburn had become really strong and attacking but Wilkinson was renowned for being dour and most of the time a 4-4-2. You could predict it. We were very direct and we'd started to lose a couple of players.

"I'm pretty convinced that Brolin was a Bill Fotherby [former managing director] signing and absolutely not the type of player that Wilkinson was interested. Brolin had a brilliant Euros in Sweden in 1992 and was an outstanding player.

"But there was a lot of talk at the time that when he was coming, that Wilkinson didn't want him. He wasn't a Wilkinson signing, but Fotherby had decided that he was having him. He bought him, what was it, four and a half million pounds, which was a lot of money back in those days."

In the end, Brolin made just 25 appearances for the Whites, being loaned back to Parma and then heading to Premier League rivals Crystal Palace. Gareth's verdict on the Sweden forward was fairly blunt.

"What a horrific signing," he said. "The kid was overweight, unfit and not interested. I think he's admitted about his hedonistic lifestyle after the Euros at that time had got to his head a little bit.

"He did virtually nothing for us and couldn't really compete in the Premier League. A nothing of a signing. He never even made it into a really poor starting XI into that 1996 Coca Cola Cup final against Villa.

"It was just a really bad time for us that was becoming the start of the end for Wilko even though it was another couple of years before he went. All we were doing then was ending up losing great players - Gary McAllister, Gordon Strachan and Gary Speed left.

"A real tough time for us as a club. You felt like Brolin was a brilliant signing when he came and then when you just saw this kid stood in the middle of the pitch carrying two stone and couldn't move, you wondered what on earth we had got.

"May as well have played me. I was a bit slimmer in those days!"

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"I felt we signed him for the sake of signing him," United supporter Tony told BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope.

"I remember going to Villa Park and Wilko [Howard Wilkinson] had dropped him and some lads we always saw at games said to me: 'Tony, he's dropped Brolin' to which I replied: 'Good he's been poor' - but not as politely as that!

"I never knew what he was - no pace, no real strength. In today's game, he would be a [number] 10 but not a good one. George Graham saw straight through him.

"He was a luxury who didn't fit what we needed. We should have signed [Faustino] Asprilla."

Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds

Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist

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If Daniel Farke is heading towards the exit door as Leeds manager, he is determined to go down swinging and on his own terms.

Much of the frustration from supporters revolves around Farke's team selections and tactical changes, as he waited until the 71st minute against Aston Villa on Sunday to offer attacking alternatives.

In his post-match media conference, Farke passionately defended his players, specifically midfielder Brenden Aaronson, railing against online critics and calling for greater respect.

"It is totally OK for fans to chant for subs - everyone has views on changes and game management," added Farke. "But I will not do a round table or poll before each match.

"I can't be driven by emotions, I can't make subs on 55, 60 minutes just because someone is singing."

In the first half he sent on Ao Tanaka for the concussed Anton Stach, and the Japan midfielder brought much-needed bite and energy.

However, with Tanaka on a yellow card, Farke chose to sub the sub and revealed he had been warned by the fourth official the Japan international would get a second booking after his next foul.

While Farke seems to be willing to live and die by his tactical decisions, the stats are not kind to him.

His side had not lost 53 league games under him when scoring the opening goal. But when that run was ended by Nottingham Forest a fortnight ago, Villa made it back-to-back defeats in that fashion.

This was also just the fourth time Leeds have lost a home Premier League game in which they were winning at half-time.

And, including Nmecha's opener, they have now scored four times in the opening 15 minutes - more than any other side this season.

Yet they only have three wins and are now behind fourth-bottom West Ham on goal difference. They lose control in games where they have the advantage, and responsibility lies with the boss.

Read Emma's full analysis here

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Leeds United and Aston Villa.

Here are some of your comments:

Leeds fans

Luke: Started the game well with a high tempo and looked good for a while, but we just can't seem to see the games out and lose from a winning start.

David: As usual, Farke waits until we go a goal down before making his same substitutions - like he does every single game. Villa saw what was wrong at half-time and brought on subs, which changed the game. Farke just can't or won't do that. Time for a change.

Ewan: Abysmal. Destined for relegation again. The Yorkshire yo-yo team. Too much to try to dissect, but ultimately, the recruitment has been poor, and we're not operating at a level to be competitive in the top flight. Big January window ahead to give ourselves any chance of survival. Farke out.

Paul: Sadly, Leeds are tactically naive and lacking the firepower to survive - Elland Road is no longer a fortress, so unless there are changes, it will be a short-lived visit to the Premier League.

Villa fans

Rich: Watkins was poor again. Malen shows he is a viable alternative, but isn't being given enough chances. Rogers scored good goals, but half asleep giving the free-kick away for the Leeds goal. I'm really not sure how we are fourth in the table.

Jamie: A very good three points after crawling back from being a goal behind. Our fans will remember the times when conceding the first goal always resulted in a loss. But Emery has instilled confidence and calmness into the squad that makes that a thing of the past. Malen changed the game, and Rogers was superb.

Brian: Tale of two halves Rogers finally showed his class, but subs at half-time made a big difference.

Richard: Playing Leeds away is always a tough game. Their home record speaks for itself. Villa stuck to their task, and after a couple of tactical changes at half-time, Villa never looked back. So glad Rodgers signed a new deal. Pure class.

Pundits Danny Murphy and Joe Hart and join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Leeds 1-2 Aston Villa

• Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Leeds manager Daniel Farke to BBC Match of the Day: "Performance-wise, we've turned back to what we want to be. We dominated many periods against a very good side. We should've taken some points from this game. We are not back to our best; we can still improve, but at the end, we are just disappointed we did not get any points.

"To concede two goals is not good. As good as we are attacking down the left side at the moment, we concede too many goals. We concede so quickly straight after the restart.

"Over the course of 38 games, you have ups and downs. It happens sometimes at this level. Performance-wise, I was happy. At the moment, we are in a period where things are going against us.

"Of course, the fans are unhappy and disappointed once we lose games. I don't want them to have a different reaction. I want them to feel like the world is falling apart when we lose a game; otherwise, you can't be a Leeds United supporter.

"I'm just fully focused on the performance. If we perform like this today, we'll win many more points."

Did you know?

• Leeds United remain winless across their last six Premier League games against Aston Villa (D2 L4), only once enduring a longer winless run in the league against the Villans between December 1930 and April 1935 (8 games).

• This was just the fourth time that Leeds had lost a home Premier League during which they were winning at half time, after August 1994 (v Chelsea), December 2002 (v Charlton Athletic) and September 2021 (v West Ham United).

Listen to Farke on BBC Sounds

Emma Smith at Elland Road
BBC Sport journalist

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It's a familiar story for Leeds this season - start well, but fail to maintain that momentum and ultimately end in disappointment.

Including Lukas Nmecha's opening goal in this game, Leeds have now scored four goals in the opening 15 minutes of Premier League games this season - more than any other side.

Which such quick starts and a full-blooded style, it would seem the stage is set for Leeds to overwhelm opponents.

But that was not to be here as Villa grew back into the game, and dominated the second half before earning a deserved win.

This was just the fourth time that Leeds had lost a home Premier League during which they were winning at half time.

And with Villa now having lost back to back games in which they took the lead - following the 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest - questions will be raised about manager Daniel Farke's in-game decisions.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Leeds United's performance

What did you make of Aston Villa's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Leeds manager Daniel Farke makes just one change from the starting XI in the 3-1 loss at Nottingham Forest before the international break.

Centre-back Jaka Bijol drops to the bench, with Pascal Struijk partnering Joe Rodon at the back.

Leeds starting XI: Perri; Bogle, Rodon, Struijk, Gudmundsson; Ampadu; Aaronson, Longstaff, Stach Okafor; Nmecha

Subs: Darlow, James, Calvert-Lewin, Piroe, Bijol, Tanaka, Justin, Gnonto, Gruev

There is also one change to the Villa team, with Youri Tielemans replacing the injured Amadou Onana in midfield.

Ezri Konsa and Matty Cash both passed fitness tests, while Morgan Rogers has recovered from a "hamstring niggle" picked up on England duty.

Aston Villa starting XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins

Subs: Bizot, Lindelof, Barkley, Malen, Sancho, Maatsen, Bogarde, Guessand, Hemmings

There are two games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Leeds United v Aston Villa (14:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times GMT

Follow all of the action and reaction from Elland Road here

Keep across everything from Emirates Stadium over here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Leeds v Aston Villa" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Tottenham".

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Leeds have been strong at home for a long time now, and they have picked up eight of their 11 points so far at Elland Road.

But this still feels like a massive game for them, because although they have made a reasonable start to the season, there are still some Leeds fans who are not sure about manager Daniel Farke.

If they lose at home to Aston Villa, albeit an in-form and improving Villa, then it could start to turn ugly for Farke if they fall into the relegation places.

So Farke needs something here and it won't be easy because Villa have the quality to hurt them, and they have got a bit of momentum too.

Unai Emery's side have won eight of their past 10 matches in all competitions, and one of the games they lost was against Liverpool when they actually deserved something from it.

I don't think Villa will lose this, and a draw would be a good result for Leeds.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here