That was a bit hairy reading the posts, boy was i glad when stonkin said thank **** that's over. Only downer that fkn Ipswich win again. Also bloody Southampton like us are finding a bit of form, going to be tight come the new year. From the posts i have read Meslier not covering himself with glory again, bloody concern that, when your chasing Auto's, because one thing you will need is a commanding keeper.
We’d win more games more comfortably with a better keeper. I think I posted a while back after 10 games we’d have more points on the board if we had the opposition keeper in our goal and they had Meslier We can’t rely on Meslier if we go straight back up, he’s been one for the future too long, I’m not convinced Darlow is much better though
Watching forest and Everton and what a difference in standard. This is muck whereas our game was quality
But on a positive note had we swapped him out last year we’d likely be struggling in the premier league now with Jesse still manager. Every cloud…
Well our game was entertaining for a half largely due to keystone cop defending from both sides. Is that what you mean?
I enjoyed it too. First 20 mins was basketball. Great entertainment. Not sure on the quality. Though Link up play between Archie and Dj was great first half
Well I had to explain after 10 minutes that not every game was like this… but yeh he enjoyed the day. He got the full day out travel experience … delays, industrial action, and packed trains full of toilet-mouthed drunken smoggies (mainly the women). He got to abuse a useless ref, watch us get an ‘unassailable’ lead and then make it assailable. He knows what ‘very Leedsy’ means. If i’d got him a pie at half time he’d have proper lost his Leeds fan cherry.
Good game to watch for a neutral but both teams were poor defensively. Boro let the two littlest players on the pitch score with headers we just had a bad day with man marking. I'm not going after Mes yes was beat on his near post but the lad should never of had the chance to shoot like that. Young Archie takes the blame for that one for me he was to easily turned then nobody went for him in the box. yes Mes shouldn't of get beat on his near post but it was a good powerful finish. Let's not forget his good save in the latter part of that half which people seem to forget. 2nd goal was simply just a good ball in the box from the corner Byram was in the right place just the quality of the ball outdone us again though another quality finish As for us we will score plenty of goals with our talent up top I still believe we have what it takes to go up even with this squad but the defence would get eaten alive in the Prem. Need Spence sooner rather than later to make that RB slot his own get Archie back in the middle. maybe strengthen the back in Jan with another CB. I don't want to lose anyone in the window because we are simply in a position where we don't need too but if any of Ayling,Cooper,Firpo,Willy,Bamford want out aslong as they are replaced they can happily go. got nowt against any of them just think Ayling,Coops are both on the decline and there time is up here. Bamford just doesn't look happy his body Language seems like he's not wanting to be part of the group. The other 2 probably best they part ways and I'm certain Willy will go Jan. Big month coming up plenty of ups and downs to come. Only 3 teams get promoted from this league and I 100% believe its three from four. already Leicester,Ipswich,Leeds,Southampton. Don't see anyone else getting anywhere close. Roll on Blackburn next let's keep going lads.
The obvious problem with the 3 from 4 point is only 2 go up autos. The play offs are lotteries. Although the general standard in the champ is average there are sides very capable of beating us on their day. That was a boro side riddled with injuries yesterday, and a scratch back 4 and they caused us plenty of trouble - in the first 20 mins especially. Sunderland have looked very dangerous when I’ve seen them this season. If sides like them end up in the playoffs it’s toss a coin. We need to hunt down the top 2… because we’re Leeds and we all know how finishing 3rd ends up.
A while back, Farke said that Meslier was the best keeper in the division, not sure if he meant it or it was just a way to try and boost his confidence. But yet again he was beaten at his near post by a shot he should have saved, that's what? the fourth time at least this season. One signing I would make in January is a new keeper, as Ristac posted, Darlow is no better, unfortunately I think we'll stick with what we have got, which I think will cost us points and perhaps the chance of automatic promotion. He was obviously playing under orders but Kamara was hardly giving any cover to the back 4 and left Ampadu to do all the defensive graft, at times the second half, Kamara was furthurv up field than Piroe, who was also tracking back more than Kamara, I think that tactic was the main reason they cut through us as easily as they did.
So Struijk is getting pelters again. Most unfair! I wonder if any of his critics were actually at the game, to take in the team dynamics. Yes, he was caught out of position. So was Rodon. So was Archie. So was Byram. We actually picked up on Struijk's forward movement during the game, & it was pointed out that Ampadu dropped back to cover, every time. It appeared that he was following the same player every time, so it seemed a safe assumption that he was marking someone (can't remember his number), either that, or taking play to them from the back, just like Rodon. But the key thing to note is that it was not an error - it was planned. The same 'Ampadu cover mechanism' also applied to the other 3 at the back when the wingers couldn't get back to cover. But only Struijk is criticised for his part in it! Again. And again. And again. Tiresome & unwarranted. I suspect Farke might have had a word if he was unhappy with Struijk. It certainly didn't work if it was at half time, as the dynamic continued. Heidi touched on the ref in her article. Spot on, lass! James was literally rugby-tackled when through on the right wing, early doors. Not once, but twice. As cynical & 'professional' as they get. Yellow card? Nope, not even a finger-wagging. No cards for various vicious assaults on our players, until Rutter got his for innocuous 'persistence' in trying to get the ball off their player. No hesitation from the ref. At one stage, even the Boro fans were chanting 'you don't know what you're doing', so it's not as though he was biased, just incompetent. Heidi also commented that a red should have been shown for our penalty, as it was a 'last man' foul. I agree that it was an obvious red, but not for being last man, but for him preventing a goal-scoring opportunity. There can be no comment for the usual 'cover mitigation', as Rutter actually got a shot off, in the process of being fouled & it went direct to the 'keeper. Had he not been falling down at the time, as the result of the foul, he was absolutely in a goal-scoring position. Minus the foul, it would almost certainly have been a goal. Gessa is spot on about Kamara, & clearly playing much further forward than usual. Again, I guess this was part of the game plan, but it brings me to my criticism of him - he won't shoot! A couple of times he was just outside the box with a clear corridor to let fly, but preferred to pass the ball sideways. I've noticed this in other matches. Is it low confidence, fear of failure or something? He's remarkably consistent in avoiding these chances presented to him. Needs to change. Played very well, apart from that, but it doesn't excuse him. EDIT: Forgot to comment on our goal-scoring. We're on target for 82 if you extrapolate our goal rate to date. Should also note that us & Southampton have got 13 points from the last 15 - better than anyone else .....
made a similar point in the match thread Gessa. We defend as a team and whilst there were mistakes from the defenders yesterday, the real issue was them breaking through the middle. You could see Barlaser giving little give and goes past kamara/piroe and pointing where he wanted the return pass. It was neat from them but they could see the space… Ampadu deep whilst the others pressed left a huge gap. You’re always at risk if sides beat the press and I guess you could say our press forced errors from them that led to two of our goals - but the organisation wasn’t quite on it yesterday.
Well said about Struijk as he was following team orders and he and Rodon are a very good centre back pairing at this level. Don't understand the criticism of a player who's having a great season.
