I switched off all media outlets over the weekend and never watched match of the day or owt with goals. As I knew what would be coming. We were shyte let's face facts we didn't deserve anything from the game and it hurt. Going to give everyone a few games before ripping into anyone on performances. What we got to do is bounce straight back and not feel sorry for ourselves. We aren"t in a hole. Christ it's only the first game but we can"t feel lifeless and ourselves into one. Hate to say Scum played very well and took us to the cleaners. Controlled the midfield and pulled our defence apart left right and centre. We go again the weekend but we need to show alot alot more. Time to shut up the mouths again and we will.
I too turned off social media and MOTD. A few things come to mind, they were really up for the game, full stadium for the first time and the place was rocking. They tore into us, which is usually what we do. I was surprised when KP wasn't picked and Koch was unable to do the man to man job on Fernandes. That said, we were miles off the pace, maybe it was stage fright? I hope it was and for the past few seasons we've been really good at bouncing back from a heavy defeat.
Man Utd value is £837m at a very conservative estimate. They have just paid nearly £100m for Sancho, they paid £80m for Maguire, £90m for Pogba and £80m for Fernandez so we need a reality check
I heartily agree. Whatever we think of them, Man U have some VERY GOOD players and on the day they all played well and they all played very well as a cohesive unit. That's why they cost so much, because individually they are quality players and when they click the opposition is in trouble. They'd have beaten anyone else when in that form. Bielsa has a system (and yes, I'm annoyed when he changes the whole team to fit one missing player) and replacements have to fit that system, else it'll throw out the rest of the team.
Morning 2p. Now I know it's only our first game and we missed two of our main players, but another reality check is our upcoming games. and how many points do you think we'll get. Everton, Burnley, Liverpool.
Agreed but then none of us should expect a top 8 finish as we can look at other teams values and always make that same excuse. £27m for Rodrigo, compare that to not spending £50m on White and capturing Llorente and Raphinha, player values are crazy. Would you prefer Grealish for £100m or Noa and Nahitan and still have £50m change? We haven’t strengthened enough this season, we shouldn’t have carried Costa and Roberts last season and we’re going to be doing that again whilst trying to make space for Rodrigo. This should be Bielsa and Radz last season, I’m ready to be sold to oil Arabs or someone able to spend £150m on 2-3 players.
Could the perceived lack of fitness be down to the fact that 4 pre-season matches were played by the U23s. Fleetwood, Guisley, Young Ajax and Man City. The first team used a mixed team against Ajax but the last team we put out down at Loughborough was more like first team. Just back on the fitness aspect Bielsa said last week that the numbers been generated by our players were 20% up on last summer
Sorry but having rich Arab owners is not something I would ever wish for. The thought of having some Prince, Sheik or whatever sitting in his Palace asking one of his many thousands of underlings how's that footy thing we invested in going fills me with dread. That's without going into the many cultural differences between people from that part of the world and Yorkshire. Just my opinion and obviously there are good foreign owners such as the ones at Leicester. Radrizani will do for me, he's hands on and in it up to his bollocks. Hopefully he'll still be at the helm for a good time yet and if it does goes wrong he'll suffer along with the rest of us.
So giving it all in training. So there is the problem as Bielsa is obsessed with data. Distance runners ease off leading up to races and it works for them. I knew we had lost as soon as i saw the lineup. Bielsa thinks players can fit in to another position. But that is in his mind which works differently to your average supporters. Our midfield problem is not new but three seasons old. Very bad tactics from the messiah and i expected better. He is a fanatical fitness coach who goes to extremes. His man management is first class as shown by him praising koch even though Bielsa hung him out to dry. At half time everyone Leeds fan knew what to do. Bring on firpo and kalvin and. I would have been tempted to leave koch on the field too. We let teams run at us far too often.
Morning Shaks I would like minimum 6 points but it’s not often I get what I want Also mid table finish or above above rule also applies
Morning all Finally, my itchy fingers will get the better of me. Positive, we didn't concede from a set piece, a definite improvement I said to Ben at KO that team fills me with dread and I almost wonder if Bielsa was willing to concede a defeat to get players up to full speed for games we are more likely to win. Thought the first 50 minutes was quite a good game and was still celebrating Aylings wonder goal when their 3rd one went in. Said to Ben at 5-1 this is going to be a tough one to win. In reality, I am just glad it did not get any more embarrassing. Like everyone on here I hate us losing but lose we will as the season progresses. We will also win and maybe even draw a few (we aren't big on draws are we?). Time to settle down and watch how things progress and take shape, as a wise Irishman once said "let's see how the table looks after 10 games" - no point in being suicidal after one
It may get to the stage that we have to sell Phillips for lets say 100m, and buy 3 quality players Nandez, Cunha and Lang, and have 15m left over for wages!
We were beaten by the better team in the second half. I don't think there was too much between us in the first half to be honest and the team were probably still celebrating that cracker of a goal when they got their second, the same as us fans. Once they got the next one very quickly afterwards we should have changed our formation. Our lacking in midfield meant they got through our defence without too much trouble after that. At 3-1 down we still had a chance but it wasn't meant to be. Bielsa has to do it his way even if I don't agree with some things but I was surprised he just left things as they were this time. He only changed things when we were 5-1 down which was far too late. I've put the game behind me now as my coping mechanism sends the result into oblivion. Being back with our fans, singing marching on together and celebrating that goal on the terrraces was a fantastic feeling and I will keep that going forwards. We move on to Everton and it is possible that Bielsa keeps the same side though. I know we do have to learn to play without Kalvin which will be the biggest thing. Hopefully the more games we play without him, it works in our favour as we overcome the issue. Only time will tell but we will be fine. MOT!
