Great Thread, Can`t` make the game as down south working (gutted) Anyway if Bellusci gets clearance to play I think him & Cooper will be our center backs. Silvestri Byram Bellusci Cooper Warnock Murphy Austin Bianchi Ajose Doukara if fit (Tonge) if not Sharp Going for a 2-0 Leeds win
I think we were slightly fortunate on Saturday although Boro created very few chances, apart from the disallowed goal they never tested our keeper and Brighton have gone down 1-0 in both their opening league games. Boro had scored 9 goals in three games before playing us, that surely reflects how well our defence did against them. I am hoping we can win this 2-0 but would take any kind of win. A win and a clean sheet for us would be fantastic and it would show how quickly we are improving. We can't keep giving away as much possession at home as we did against Boro and coming away with the points but I think that will improve the more the players get used to each others game style and when we replace Austin although I heard yesterdays Sun newspaper gave Austin MOM on Saturday.
Thats just ridiculous and the journo either didn't watch the game or has no idea. Definitely was the weak link, I'd still be tempted to stick with him instead of cook though just because of his amazing work rate. I thnk the Hock needs to just drill into his head "win the ball, pass to the closest white shirt, nothing more" and then he would be incredibly effective at this level and no need for replacing.
"Win the ball, pass to the closest white shirt" I fear the hock would only get his wish in a few away games
Don't think Austin is as bad as some on here would have us believe. He's our best DM by a mile. Losing the ball or not passing to his team mates says more about the fact that the midfield are not yet a tight unit than anything else. Without him, we would have lost on Saturday, and possibly his natural successor, Cook, is not yet ready to start every game. That he might do in a season or two shows how we're progressing - no need to rush the youngsters & burn them out. If the right opportunity arose, I'd quite like to see both Dawson and Cook in midfield to see how far both have progressed. Maybe an FA cup match against a side were expected to beat at a canter.
Disagree that the defence did well, Ristac. It was actually the whole team who defended well. Midfield, and in particular Austin, smashed loads of attacks, plus every one of our attackers took his turn to track back & help out.
Austin did well, but Leadbitter still had far too many opportunities to spray passes around deep in our half ... Cook is not a DM, he is more of a play maker, a creative talent ... Bianchi is probably our best option at DM as he puts his foot in and can spot a quick pass and make it
Phil Hay ‏@PhilHayYEP 2m #lufc v Brighton: Silvestri, Byram, Pearce, Cooper, Warnock, Austin, Bianchi, Tonge, Murphy, Smith, Sharp.
Commented at the time, there were moments when there were huge gaps between Austin and the rest of the midfield for them to stroll into. Worked out in the end though, fair dos. Great thread again DU.
