Good Morning. It's Monday 6th January, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Two points dropped as knives comes out for Meslier Leeds Utd came from behind, but then let a two goal lead slip, earning just a point against lowly Hull City at the weekend. The Whites hadn't played particularly well in either of their two previous games (Derby and Blackburn); and continued to uninspire, against an injury ravished Hull side fighting for their lives at the wrong end of the table. Apart from a twenty minutes period early in the second half, Leeds looked anything but title contenders. They were sloppy, disjointed and inept in the final final and duly went behind after just 5 minutes, caught out once again by a trademark diagonal long ball from midfield. Wober (the slowest of the Leeds defenders) was never going to catch Kamara who calmly chipped Meslier who found himself out of his box in no-mans-land. Despite both sides missing guilt edged opportunities, the score-line remained the same going in at half-time. The second half saw an immediate shift in momentum as Leeds found an equaliser. A moment of brilliance from Tanaka reignited their hopes. Positioned on the edge of the area, he expertly bent a rasping shot around Pandur, finding the far post. It was the shot in the arm Leeds needed to take a strangle-hold of the game - and for twenty minutes at-least, they took full advantage. Under relentless pressure from Solomon and James, the Hull defence began to buckle with visible signs of panic developing around their penalty area. Leeds persistence paid off on the hour mark; Solomon's dangerous cross was kept alive by the alert Bogle, who cleverly recycled possession to James, before smashing home from six yards out. Two quickly became three ten minutes later when Pandur's poor distribution set up a Leeds third. He inadvertently threw the ball straight to Piroe, who took full advantage, much to the excitement of the travelling fans who finally came to life in the second half. Carrying a a two goal lead into the final twenty minutes the game looked cut and dried; that was until another moment of madness from Meslier deduced the deficit. Following a free kick into the box, he tried in vein to keep the ball from going over his cross-bar, suspecting perhaps that it was going out for a corner! In doing so, he dropped the ball to the feet of João Pedro, who from two yards out gave his side a lifeline going in to the final minutes of play. It was inevitable what was going to happen, and as the game went into injury time, the Tigers claimed an equaliser after the visitors failed to clear their lines after a corner. please log in to view this image Will action be taken or will the Whites just paper over the cracks Leeds United’s chaotic 3-3 stalemate against Hull City wasn't just two points dropped; it was a stark reminder that complacency will be punished. After dominating around Christmas time, back to back draws have seen the Whites lead almost evaporate. Despite still being top of the pile, and on target for 94 points, a single point still separates the top three, and as Leeds fans know too well - finishing third is not an option this season. On paper, Leeds boast a squad capable of blowing away any team in the Championship. Is it fair to point the finger of blame at Meslier? He's certainly responsible for dropping points against Sunderland and Hull, with many others suggesting he's culpable for as many as 15 points this season alone. Looks of disgust from Piroe, Rodon and Rothwell seem to suggest that all may not be well in the Elland Road dressing room. Their facial revulsions tell a thousand word, but with a two week break until the Wendies game, can Leeds Utd and Daniel Farke change things around, or are they just content to paper over the cracks? please log in to view this image
Good morning all A simple deduction from me is unless our strikers can outscore the Meslier mistakes were not going anywhere this season, if it was up to me give Darlow a run to settle in to first team football, he hasn't shown anything yet, as possibly nerves getting to him on the odd occasion he has had a chance, this is why we must give him a solid run, if no good then the imperative transfer target is a capable keeper.
I just remember Darlow last season in the Cup against Salford when he managed to avoid 8 penalties. It was like he was playing dodgeball....
Yeah i remember, but my point is, is he any worse than Meslier as being the no2 he should be given the chance as he may be the best we have got Having said all that i still don't think he would make as many mistakes from open play as Meslier, well tbf no one could not even me
TBF, the attacker is expected to score from a penalty (else why award one at all). There needs to be a clampdown on stuttering run-ups. if the keeper has to follow some regs, then so should the penalty taker.
Having seen the goals our defence was pretty pathetic for the first and third but the second is definitely down to Meslier. Farke has to put Darlow in for the cup game so we can assess if he is capable of doing a better job or not. If he can't we will struggle.
We were wide open all game on Saturday, as we have been in a number of games. Susceptible to the counter attack too often. That comes down to Farke. He has time and again failed to fix our defensive frailties. When it’s happened he’s had time to throw more and more attacking players on and adopt his favoured headless chicken formation. At Hull there wasn’t enough time. Blaming Meslier is all well and good but replacing him with a better keeper is like treating the house for damp whilst ignoring the gaping hole in the roof.
Individually Farke has quality defenders and defensive midfielders at his disposal so it’s down to him the fact the defending is all over the place. As a tactician he’s very poor.
It's the quid pro quo of the style of play though Forza. We had a similar problem with Bielsa - if you play a high pressing possession game you will be susceptible in transition. Sometimes it costs you, sometimes it doesnt. Even if you're right, it doesn't alter the fact that he's still a liability. You need to fix the roof and treat the damp. If you took our first team squad and ranked them individually v the division - better than average, average, below average.. which player would stand alone in the below average category? It's Meslier. Every fckng season. At least when we were in the prem he had some company. The ONLY justifiable reason to not get rid of Meslier is that a new keeper would have to be reasonable on the ball which (for all we get frustrated) Meslier is actually ok at most of the time... AND also be decent at actual goalkeeping basics - which Meslier has proved time and again, he isn't. We can't just chuck a 'decent stopper' into this team. The whole build up play starts with the keeper... draw the attacking press, play around it.
The defence was shocking for the first and the third... so was Meslier. At least for the second he was able to take all the plaudits
No one is denying Mes made a monumental **** up for the 2nd but Farke and the whole defence should take a look at themselves
The opening sequence is wicked.....press 2 to cancel subscription https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0kgx5tt
Brereton-Diax has signed for Sheffield Utd on loan. Brereton-Diaz is a brilliant signing at this level, especially on-loan. 36 goals in two seasons for Blackburn a few years back
