Morning all I was starting to feel optimistic that the team was showing at least some signs of gelling, and that we might just make it to around 10th by the end of the season, which I'd be happy with as an improvement on last year. That's all disappeared now though! I can't believe how poor the game sounded last night, and then reading the reports of you lads who were there just makes it sound even worse. Hockaday should get someone else to do his post match interviews as he never says the right thing. I guess that won't be a problem soon because he definitely won't be here much longer should these performances continue. I was disappointed to see so many of last years team lining up last night, but even last years team should have been capable of putting in a better performance than that. Hockaday obviously doesn't see the issues with the diamond after saying the days of traditional wingers are gone (funny that two of the most expensive transfers in the world were wingers, and happened quite recently...) Defensively, if you are going to play a diamond then you need a proper, solid DM. One who will seamlessly drop into the back when defending, giving 3 CBs which allows the left and right centre back to push a little wider and offer cover to a full back who has pushed on. This requires a lot of discipline from the DM not to get caught chasing players all over the pitch. It also requires the other CMs to in turn, cover the DM by dropping back a bit. Then with the ball, the DM becomes the playmaker and needs to be capable of picking a pass either to the other CMs, or the AM, and with many teams playing 4-5-1, 4-2-3-1 or the like, the midfield becomes a very crowded place in the modern game. If this is a system that we are to persist with then an experienced DM should be bought. Austin could be used as one of the CMs where he would have a bit more freedom to chase people down as he seems to love doing, but by getting pulled out of position in this formation it places an awful lot of pressure on the defence.
Beating Boro was a false dawn, up until that goal was disallowed Leeds were there for the taking, Boro lost their momentum and their keeper lost it completely and Leeds got a fortunate winner, Leeds will be alright in a month or two but until then its going to be a struggle.
Leeds were prepared to put in a shift against Boro, maybe it was the cameras or first home game, and ended up getting something out of it. Against Millwall and Brighton there was no fight and they got nothing. If they are prepared to raise their game for every match, we'll be ok, otherwise a scrap to stay up is the best we can hope for. Over to you Cellino - not Hock.
Hockaday was right about us being the most hard working team in the league!!!! But working hard chasing shadows is not what I was hoping for
Morning all ... Hock is a fool, and needs to go ... we have the players now, but not the leadership from the dugout ... I still say that the players don't respect him, and it shows in gutless performances ... as for the wingers comment to try and justify his stupidity, tell that to Real Madrid who use Ronaldo and Bale out wide ... fcuking plank!!!!
I agree Hockaday has to go but I still think it is too early to say we have the players, what are we basing the "We have the players" comments on? Not looking to pick a fight here, the players on paper look decent but are unproven and from what we have seen so far they are no better and worse than many others in this division?? I am really hoping that they shine and turn out to be some of the best we have seen in many a year but Ajose and Bianchi are not shining, Doukara looked promising but is he a bit of a wimp? Sharp we know he can perform at this level but it has been a while since he was on fire and Ben Z can't even make the bench. WHEN Hockday goes and we get a new guy in I have a fear not much will change unless Cellino loosens his control, no player can possibly respect a coach when the owner is calling all the shots and I believe having a say on this formation.
Morning each and everyone of you. Sorry Billy I'm going to disagree with laying all this blame at Hockaday. Yes he is out of his depth, but surely the fool is the guy who appointed him ?? As another thought, why are we so convinced that Cellino has managed to spot all these talented players that he has brought to the club, given the mistake most people will say he made with the appointment of a very inexperienced coach at this level. Can't blame the guy for taking a job that he probably wasnt suited for, I'm sure a lot of us have been in a similar situation, so why should it be different for anyone involved in football. The more important point will be did Hock manage to pull the wool over MC's eyes with the appointment, in which case he will be gone soon, or was MC fully aware of what he was doing with this appointment, and whilst MC has a reputation for hiring and firing coaches, will he be prepared to admit he got it wrong with his first appointment at Leeds. Just to be clear I'm more than happy that MC is here, I'd be even happier when Hock eventually goes, but surely the guy who appointed him in the first place has to shoulder a large dose of the responsibility
Morning All, If you listened to the Cock's interview last night, he identified what the problem was in the first half. Quite simply, there was too much space in the midfield diamond, caused by the AM being too far away from the DM, and BHA took full advantage and over-ran us in MF. Good that he identified the issue, but absolutely unforgivable that he waited to half time to fix the problem. Surely any coach worth his salt would have screamed at the team from the sidelines to play the DM/AM closer together? I believe that this is glaring ineptitude. Second half - he changed things about, in his words, we went one on one. Which means that we tried to contain them. Which means that we hoped for a breakaway equaliser. At best. Again, completely unforgivable. We weren't playing Real Madrid away - we were playing another Championship team at home. We weren't protecting a lead. We were 1-0 down and yet he set us up to nullify the opposition. Complete & utter ineptitude. At best, the Cock is a trainer. He may even be a good coach on the training field. But he's not someone who can manage (with a small 'm') a game. He has no dynamism in that department and that is a terminal failure. He certainly terminated us last night.
ristac, there were periods in the Boro game where we played good football, so the signs are there ... we just need to be doing it for 90 minutes now
Aski I agree with what you are saying, I believe Cellino appointed Hockaday because he could control him and he was cheap. None of us had heard of him, how an Italian with little idea about the English game got to discover him I have no idea. We have a chance to be a GREAT club under Cellino and the only thing in our way is Cellino's ego. I believe 100% that any coach through the door will play 4-3-3 or diamond formation because these are the players Cellino is signing and despite what Hockaday says about picking the team and formation this is what Cellino expects.
Morning all. That was a bit of a rude awakening. So what did we kearn from last night? 1. We're not quite the world beaters we thought we might be. 2. Sharp on his own isn't the answer to our problems (& he only went off because by his own admission, he isn't fully fit yet); & 3. The diamond formation that we started with doesn't work for us. We'd be better off playing 4231 or 433 with a flat 3 in midfield. Shame the Hock took so long to change thing, but it's not the first time a team have come to Elland & had us chasing shadows. We know we're a work in progress. I just hope Cellino gives the Hock time to put things right. Let's hope for a better performance against Watford. Otherwise I fear Cellino will have a rush of blood to the head and sack the Hock, which will help no one.
I thought Ajose did well v Boro (with the scraps he had to work with) and made a difference last night when he came on
He didn't set the heather alight, but then, no-one did. The defence was battered. I did notice that Pearce always gave him the ball to pass it forward. Not sure if it's because he's got better distribution than Pearce (which he has), or if Pearce's confidence to do it himself has dropped. Last season it was usually him that the ball got passed to to move it on upfield. So in summary, absolutely average.
absolutely spot on and doesn't matter how many coaches you bring in nothing will change the guy is a wannabe manager and its his money and he calls ALL the shots always has always will
Last night was probably one of the most frustrating games I have watched in years. The first half simply appalling - I can't remember Smith getting the ball to any of our players - he either headed it out or straight to Brighton. Bianchi was mainly on the right but kept getting really narrow offering Byram no support going back or forwards. I can not see why Murphy is in the team at all - he can't pass, head or tackle - too slow in thought and deed for the championship. Tonge must have a F***ing stiff neck because he never looks round when he has the ball and time. I don't think the back four were too bad but the midfield barely existed, Austin huffed and puffed but that's bloody useless unless team-mates help. Sharpe did look tired but still worked hard, I think he was dead on his feet when swapped. We need a replacement for Tonge urgently and pray Bendicic gets fit soon to replace Murphy or it's more of the same.
