Be interested to read WJs match report as my link was in and out. I guess Kiko couldn't do anything about the goals and played well. Some good contributions from the lads again But read this from a coach https://www.socceriqeducation.com/bielsa-observations.html#
Had to laugh the Taddy Albion i2 ground had a crowd record of 1,324 before tonight when almost 3,000 Leeds fans turned up
Unusually, I arrived early, and discovered totals traffic chaos. I gave up trying to park close to the ground & parked illegally, counting on no traffic wardens being about (not a foregone conclusion, as many who've gone to York's ground will tell you - they give the TWs overtime 'cos they pull in huge revenue in the ground's surrounding area). I then arrived at the ground & spent almost 20 mins queuing to get in, just missing the first goal. Stunned to find loads of the crowd drinking pints in the open. Wished I'd left the car behind. Impressed by Casilla. Very assured. Very! Distribution excellent, as was his footwork with the ball. Would like to see their second goal again to see if he could have done better. From where we were (leaning on our dugout), his positioning could have been better. Defence was ok. Consensus at ground was that their 2 goals were well-worked, good goals. Sometimes you just gotta admire a team playing against you. Struijk was at LB again. Still prefer him as a CB. Berra didn't exactly set the heather alight, but can you blame him after being out so long? Together, they worked well as a unit, & Shakers fitted in well when he replaced an injured Berra just before half time. Wee Alfie McCalmont sat in front of the back 4 & was excellent imo. My MOM in fact. I thought he usually played further forward, just like I thought Gotts played in front of the back 4 - but they both did a great job in the opposite berths. Roberts was in at #10 again, but failed to impress me, mainly because I was disgusted by his shooting. I think he needs a bit more practice. Nope, scratch that, a LOT more. Supposed to be a £3m wonderkid striker, so you'd expect him to hit the target now & again, not hit birds nests in trees. Stevens great again on the right wing, but not convinced that Pearce is a left winger. Edmondson was the lone striker again. I didn't think he had a great game, but a lot of that might have been down to the service (or lack of it) he got. Did notice that he won a lot of ball tonight, but he seemed to pass it right back, sometimes to defence, though MF most of the time. Don't recall any lay-offs from him. Perhaps working to a set game plan centred on keep-ball. Have to say that it was feckin' freezin' out there & the fairly strong wind cut you in half. Fortunately I drive an automatic, as I don't think I'd have been able to work a clutch for an hour or two. Final note. Consensus opinion is not always right. Consensus was that we were going into extra time as we'd lost the first leg 2-1, & away goals don't count as double in this cup. Or so we convinced ourselves. Wrong! Bench told us we were still at the group stage in the cup. Who'd have known that, eh?
Highlights are on lutv WJ. Re Casilla and second goal, I’m wary of criticising keeper positioning because too many people who don’t know enough about it (me included) like to do it.. but yeh, he looked maybe a little close to his line and maybe over covering near post. BPF would have been put through the mill for it To be fair it was an excellent finish and it’s splitting hairs.
Agreed. Splitting hairs just about covers it. These things happen. Difficult for me to assess as I was on the halfway line on ground level, but had a hunch. Was impressed by their little #7 winger. No idea what his name is, but he was a right PITA.
LOL. Speaking of a bucket, I asked one of the team if Bielsa was due to be at the match. He said he was supposed to be there, and if he was indeed there, he'd be over towards the corner flag. Odd positioning to assess, don't you think? Perhaps he knows something we don't? Well, quite a lot actually, I suppose. I later watched a wee bit of the 1st half on FB & thought I saw him sitting on his own, at the far left of the back row of the stand behind their goal. Anyone with better eyesight able to see if it is indeed him?
I thought it was reported that he was called to the FA today to give his view of the spying non story.
