Phew, what a game, what a funny game and what an extraordinary game. I doubt anyone predicted a 4-5 scoreline to Leeds, and bookies must be licking their lips no one put money on it. This game produced goals, nervousness, frustrations, confusions, lots of squeaky bum times (at times I could hear squeaks on my squeaks) and excitement, to say the least. I'm sure some will have plenty of other words to describe, and define this game. The football was dire, as it has been for last 4 games. We have lost our footballing rhythm that everyone calls Bielsa ball, and Pablo's not the reason even though we do miss him, nor should Pablo have to be reason. No one played well, there were no outstanding performances and we haven't been playing our trademark passing football of late. There's a reason for it. I said after last game teams have worked us out and will come at us from the off to disrupt our style of play, put us off balance, create problems and Mayhem and stop us playing, the last 4 games certainly show that's the case. Opposing teams tactics are working, yet Bielsa doesn't have an answer for it, he continues with his ways, and his ways only. I've said it before, Bielsa's stubbornness will come back to haunt him, and more importantly, the team if he doesn't bring about a few combative changes. All the signs are screaming at us. We went 2-0 up in first half, and everyone probably thought it's a cakewalk, this is championship, there are no cakewalks and someone needs to drill that into players. It was a good run by Harrison, who, low and behold passed forward for Costa to run onto and score. Has Harrison finally learned there are rewards for passing instead of trying to dribbling around everyone, maybe, but I still think he'll slip back into his individualism more than he passes early. Second goal, good hold up play by Nikita, passes to Dallas who crosses it early, ball rebounds to Nikita, which rebounds to Alioski who lays it off for Harrison, and with a deflection Harrison puts it away for our second. Then Brum upped themselves two gears, and never give up from then on in. Brum were stopping us playing our good passing football, and, were coming through our midfield quite easy. 5 mins later Brum got their first, on 61 mins they got their 2nd because we couldn't kill the game off. 6 mins later, Ayling (who can't shoot or score) collected a great pinpoint cross from Alioski, ran forward, aimed for corner flag and scored a brilliant goal off post by his standards. On 83 mins Brum equalised from a free kick cross thanks to bad defensive marking. 1 minute later, Dallas pops in number 4 from a pass/cross/shot from Ayling. Looked like we were going on to win it after the 84th min goal, but no. While some say Leeds never gave up, Brum didn't either, and they kept coming at us. From a pinpoint cross from our left on the counter, Brum popped in the equaliser in the 91st minute. Looked like a draw, but no, more drama, more nervousness, more squeaky bums, more sighs, moans and groans to come. 95th minute (6 mins added time) Berardi gets ball to Costa who flicks through for Ayling to run onto. Ayling crosses the ball along goal line and Brum scored an own goal to put us 5-4 up and eventual winners. What an effing heart attack, aching bum cheeks and blood pressure rising game that was. Harrison 1 goal and 1 assist, Costa 1 goal, Dallas 1 goal, Ayling 1 goal and 2 assists (not sure if he gets an assist for the own goal though). While Aylings caused own goal was a good flick from Costa, full credit to Berardi who never give up, chased the ball down and did a sliding pass to Costa which eventually resulted in the winner, had he not been so committed, we would've had a draw and plenty of different comments and opinions to read and listen to. More teams will come at us from the off throughout the rest of this second half season, they'll be looking at our last 4 games, mark my words. These highlights have already been shown courtesy of HRH , Lord Duke Sir Ell. These are ext highlights. Bielsa post match interview Dallas post match interview wainmanjoe Ocas post match comments Connors post match comments Peps post match comments Gardners post past comments Bonus Celtic v Rangers Brom v Boro
?!!? We were also 2-0 up against Cardiff after 10 minutes Any expert analysis on the goalkeeping for their second, third and fourth?
Don’t be silly, we love your expert analysis LL. So come on... tell me how teams have come at us from the off for 4 games on the trot and we can’t handle it - and how we managed to be 2-0 up and well on top in two of those games after 15-20 minutes. Then give me a moment to get the popcorn in while you explain kiko’s positioning/decision making/execution for their goals, so I can see where I went wrong.
The 3rd goal has already been explained to you...you're just too blinkered to accept that you may be wrong in your analysis. When Bielsa and his coaches are going through the game I assure you they will be talking about not dropping too early from the free kick. No one will be mentioning about Kiko staying on his line. He has to advance otherwise if one of their players volleys it in from the six yard line he would rightly be culpable. He also has to be in a straight line as to where the free kick is heading so as to claim the ball if no one touches it. The goalscorer would have been offside if we hold the defensive line and that's what the players will be told. Anyway, we await with interest LL's verdict as he's the only one over qualified to judge, given you have to be a little mad to be a goalkeeper. Now if you could stop trying to influence the decision and play fairly we should have this settled soon enough.
thanks for the assurances about the coaching staff's perspective. The third goal has been explained to me by someone who clearly understands nothing about goalkeeping. Hence I look forward to the army's finest clarifying the position and perhaps comparing and contrasting with his regular comments on BPF.
Decision pending then... I'll accept that I'm merely a football expert and not solely a goalkeeping one, so you are, in some part, correct.
Super highlights. Especially like the despondent Brum commentators. Mind you, had we not won, I wouldn’t have been able to stomach looking at them at all
Commenting solely on LL's football views he's not always a million miles from the truth. His weakspot is his negative bias and favouritism of certain players which clouds his judgement. Personally I've aways been of the opinion that Phillips has too many deficiencies to be top class. Great player for us at this moment in time and vital to the team but will be had on toast by most quick and nimble players in the PL (should he ever play there).
LL makes a decision on players and won’t deviate from it, because he sees that as a sign of weakness. Consequently he fits all his match reports to meet his pre conceived opinions. You, I and most others know it’s a sign of self confidence to reappraise your position on players, admit you may have been wrong etc. Some don’t. It’s pointless picking him up on it, because he can’t help himself... I tend to only do it when I think he’s unfairly victimising players. He can w*nk over every Alioski pass whenever he wants. I pick up in casilla fk ups for a laugh because you can guarantee they won’t get a mention in match reports where BPF was getting blamed for every goal we conceded. I think Phillips pace will likely see him caught out at the top level but at this level he’s a very good footballer. Sometimes you see that more live than you do on the tv. That said, the last time I saw him live (charlton) he couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo.
I don't think anyone on here, except one who might have said he will play for England one day (he won't) as has Danny Higginbotham on Talksport, has said KP is going to be a 'top' player or is a footballing 'messiah'. What most have said is that at this present point in time, in a Bielsa side, he is integral to our style of play. I have no idea why that viewpoint would anger anyone quite so much.
There’s always been a tendency to overhype our players in fairness. Byram, Cooke etc. All good but don’t reach the dizzy heights of top pl players. Delph was exception. Having said that I’d like to see Kalvin have a couple of years in the pl with us and see how far he could develop probably with better players around him
I agree with you. All I was saying that in my opinion he hasn't been overhyped, just recognised for his importance at where we are now.
Seems my reverse psychcology on LL has failed to garner the desired outcome... Oh well, you live and learn I guess. Sorry LL, but you're back to being a total nutjob with no clue whatsoever. Now, where else can I go fishing at this late hour ?
I think we’re all agreed and on the same page that as individuals we have a team of average players but together under Bielsa we have one of if not the best team in the division
If that's the case, it seems extraordinary that some (on here as well) were questioning whether Bielsa should continue in the job ? Totally unbelievable at the time and even more outrageously shocking now we're top of the league (again).
