16,500 Leeds fans in Elland Road for a Cat C cup clash against top opposition, hundreds less than when we played Oldham in that dismal, Cat A priced league match in the third division. Half the amount that watched us play Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal in similar midweek cup ties. If proof of boycotting were ever needed, the scum game and this one provide it in abundance. Energetic and classy performance from players like White who have lifted their game because the Sky cameras were there. He and others haven't shown that consistency and dedication in previous games, and there's no doubt they need to keep it up or risk looking like they aren't putting side before self, and are just 'shop window' players. Looking forward to the next round, glad the fans who went enjoyed it and proud of the performance (and Pearce's battered persistence!) but those two negatives are important messages to take from last night.
Would love to know the actual 'stay away while Bates is in charge' figure compared to those that are feeling the 'financial pinch'.
I am staying away until Bates is gone. It is painful not to go to Elland Road, but will not give another penny to the crook Bates!!
I reckon a huge percentage is because of Bates. I know money is tough but people will always find a way if they really wanna go. It probably doesn't help that bates' ticket prices are quite high though
If I were a gambling man and had to pluck a figure out of the air I would say 3k It sounds like green lights for the T/O when it does happen I would expect a large boost in gate figures taking into account the dare I say 'novelty factor' but without Bates I would imagine our gates would still fall short of 25k that is unless ticket prices get reduced. Of course too many other factors to take into account, if NW had funds and managed to grab a few players and have us playing like we did against Everton week in and week out and be challenging top 5 it might be a different matter too.
We average 23000, so if at least 3000 come back, then we'll be looking at about what we got in 1st season back in championship. Then if we signed well in January who knows what could happen!
My question is where do we play Byram Saturday? I thought he has another good game and looks comfortable anywhere on the park
Well its gonna be hard to justify bringing Peltier back into the team isn't it? Personally I'd drop Tonge, play white on the left with byram right side of midfield and play Peltier at RB. seems like a lot of shuffling about though with a successful team. I prefer Brown to Tonge though in CM, thats for sure
Tonge had a good game against Everton I thought but Brown put in a shift as well. Tough decisions for Warnock, lets hope he knows the opposition a bit better than I do Also Ashdown looks the best back up in the sticks we have had in a hell of a long time.
I thought Tonge did decent in the second half but was a bit quiet in the first, I was still happy with his game though. Brown was a big difference I felt, helped Austin a lot. Ashdown is far far better than Rachubka, thats all I have to say
With regard to the gates being down, I'm another who won't go until the cancer has gone from the club. The 3k mentioned earlier has got be wrong, because we all know fans who only travel to away games now because they won't give Bates any more cash. So for me there were at least 5,000 fans who would normally have been there, especially at that price. The big question for me though (Everton game) Where was young Luke Garbutt, as i would have expected him at least been on the bench against us. After all Moyes shelled out a million quid to poach him from us and he's never been heard of since
White/Dury should be duelling that one out. I'd have pelts in as right back whenever he is fit although he looks solid as a centre back Lees & Pearce need to build a partnership. There could be future in that paring!
I'm happy with the pairing of Lees and Pearce. Not only are they starting to form a good understanding, they are both reasonably young and with premier league potential. I don't think many people have their doubts about our first team defence is Peltier, Lees, Pearce, Drury. So if Byram and White are to play I think its further up the field
