Not a brilliant game going by our early season performances, we seem to have slowed down a bit and seem more intent on walking the ball into net rather than putting in some edge of the box shots. The game against Bristol City wasn't brilliant either, and I think we were due the hammering WBA gave us. Having said that, and despite only losing 3 games so far, and playing quite a few draws, some we should've won, we are in second spot. I think that's due to that extra that Bielsa brings to team. When we go behind we don't drop our heads but keep fighting, we play the full 90 + minutes game, even though some of them are ugly of late. Our number of goals scored per game has dropped off too. There's obviously reasons for this, and I think our continual injury list plays a big part, but only part. I think trying to walk the ball into net is also playing a part in our low scoring per game, the edge of the box shots seem to have somewhat dried up except for a few attempts. I personally can't see how Douglas got man of the match, he committed quite a few fouls, got a yellow and gave away an (arguable) penalty. No one played brilliantly, but Forshaw and Klich did a good job around our midfield, we felt it when Klich was subbed, but also saw the impact Saiz brought to game after halftime. Personally, I would've given the MOM award to BPF. BPF was told prior he would've been dropped if all the keepers were fit, mind you, most were expecting, and hoping Huffers got another chance, wasn't to be. Seems someone has been having a word in his shell like, or the threat of being dropped give him a kick up the arse, could also be, in part watching Huffers put in a decent performance against BC, but looks like a lot of everything to me. Apart from nearly getting caught out early in game for being to far forward away from his line, and let's be honest, if the ball had've gone in BPF would've been crucified and probably dropped for rest of season, but apart from that, BPF put in a good performance. I was glad to see him come out and take the ball from a reading strikers feet, that's what keepers should, and need to do, and BPF should do that more often. He also came forward to catch the ball and the indecisiveness, well, that didn't seem to raise its ugly head however, for all the plaudits he deserves, there are other games ahead; we'll have to wait and see if he's learnt anything. BPF's penalty save was brilliant, and wasn't lucky, he chose his side and went for it palming the ball round the post, and trust me, those low corner penalties are hard to get too. Again, apart from that early lapse, everything went BPF's way, the Gods were shining on him against Reading. While BPF became the hero with a brilliant penalty save (and we were trying hard to hang on) let's not forget the 2 penalty saves Silvestri made against Burnley, he too became the hero and got lots of plaudits, but afterwards many fans got on his back again. Dallas is not a RB, we know that, but he always, on occasions seems to pop up in the right position at the right time, especially when he scores goals. Douglas, I don't understand this lad, he doesn't seem to be in sync with anyone, especially Alioski, nor does he seem to attempt to get in sync with him, he seems to me to be reluctant to pass to Alioski or send Alioski on runs down wing, bad for team if that's the case. I read a short while back that Douglas and Alioski had a falling out, could it be Douglas is dragging that grudge onto pitch?.......I also mentioned if players around you are not performing well, they can make other players look mediocre to bad. Roofe, while he is scoring goals, he's also semi greedy, meaning greedy but not all the time. One of his flaws seems to be not looking up and looking for a better pass to someone in a better position, he needs to stop trying the fancy footwork too, it's not working., Clark and Shackleton. Young players need game time, but it can also tilt an already tilted applecart. What was Shackleton thinking when it was him and Saiz up front, and Saiz was in a better position; Shackleton was playing for himself and trying too hard to impress, but also lacked experience, and it didn't work, Saiz had every right to show his frustration. A lot of people were calling for Clark to start, as it happens, he came on at half time with Saiz. Clark is not fit enough, we saw that with those crosses to him and he didn't have the stamina or speed to get to the ball, and he only played one half. Cooper, I like Cooper as a defender, but do agree with someone that mentioned he seems to play better without Jansson, and he does, but he equally plays well when Jansson's in team. Every player has off days, even our best players. We need to up our games from here on in if we are to stay contenders for promotion. Should we get promoted, some of our players are going to be eaten alive, or played out the game. Bielsa saw the problems, and I'm sure he'll work on them, but we need better performances. Short highlights again lads. Can't find Bielsa's post match comments, maybe it's a bit early. Maybe someone subscribed to LUTV can post it. It's that kid again. wainmanjoe comments Bielsa's comments on Saiz. Clements comments on the game. Bonus, another Bielsa song by Mickey Kerr.. Mickey Kerrs Bielsa Rhapsody Huffers comments on his Leeds debut. They're writing songs about him, it seems his bucket is becoming famous too as Leeds have received offers to sponsor Bielsa's bucket. Then Leeds begin selling replicas of Bielsa's bucket, sorry, not at 80 quid a pop.
Fair play LL, Balanced comments on bpf. hope it’s liberating to describe what you see not what you want to see, and when you paste him in the future you’ll have a claim of objectivity. Aside from the fact you think douglas doesnt want to pass to him, what was your take on alioski’s performance and the dive? What was your view on Phillips? Re Clarke and fitness. Everyone assumes young kids are super fit. Feedback I’ve had is that the step up to mans football from u23s is night and day in terms of the speed of the game and physicality. It takes some getting used to. Probably burn a lot of nervous energy too.
Leeds United v Reading 27th November 2018 at Elland Road For those waiting to read my blog, apologies that it’s taken so long to post this. On arrival at Elland Road after a miserable wet journey, we went to the club shop via the food bank. My granddaughter Hannah had received her runners up prize from the Leeds United Supporters Trust after their recent competition and was itching to spend her vouchers. They didn’t last long as she came out with a new Leeds United hoodie so thank you for the prize as it was greatly appreciated by a happy little girl. As we stood chatting to my sister Erica and Carol, some of our Norwegian and Danish fans arrived so we had plenty to talk about and more photos taken. Also one of our Welsh contingent arrived and it was disappointing to hear that despite not having missed a game for three years, that he had missed out on Bolton tickets. I’m not sure what has happened when we get large allocations, but I was told recently, that the away season ticket holders get priority, then there was supposed to be a small allocation for those with most loyalty before the free for all. I know you can’t please everyone, but the club must look after loyal supporters. It’s fine when things are on the up but if, fingers crossed it won’t be, that things take a turn for the worse again, then it is the ones who stay through thick and thin who will be there. That doesn’t take anything away from those who can only come and go as their circumstances allow, as I don’t decry any of our support. My niece Sonya arrived with her Methley team mates for their photo just before we went into the ground. The team: Peacock-Farrell (back after injury), Cooper, Phillips, Douglas, Hernandez, Alioski, Baker, Roofe, Klich, Dallas and Forshaw. Subs: Saiz for Baker, Clarke for Alioski (46) and Shackleton for Klich. Leeds won the game 1-0 with Dallas scoring our goal (60). Attendance was 27,806 with 197 Reading fans. I knew there weren’t many Reading fans there but surprised to see there were so few. I see the Leeds fans didn’t turn up because Reading ultras were coming according to Twitter lol!! Although we started off on the attack, we had Peacock-Farrell to thank for tipping the ball over the crossbar to prevent Reading taking the lead. The first half didn’t set the ground alight as most things petered out and things became very silent on the terraces. What little did happen meant that I couldn’t wait for half time to come, as did many others by the look of it. Bielsa changed things at the start of the second half making a double substitution with Saiz and Clarke coming on. Young Clarke had an immediate impact running down the left hand side to us on the Kop and we were very unlucky not to take the lead. This immediately upped both the tempo on the pitch and the atmosphere on the terraces with a tale of two halves. When we’d come close a couple of times I said a goal would come and it certainly did, courtesy of Dallas, who at the time had started to play very well. Their goalie had made an initial save but Dallas pounced to put the ball into the net to the joy and relief of the Leeds fans. On the up, we came very close to getting a second after more great work from Clarke. After that Peacock-Farrell was called on to make another great save as Reading didn’t give up and started to attack us more. We didn’t give up either as play switched to our end again and Roofe was denied by their goalie after Clarke put a great pass into the box again. Just when we thought we could see the game out, there was a penalty shout but not in our favour surprise, surprise. No it was given to Reading, as I shouted to Peacock-Farrell to save it. Well he certainly did and what a fantastic save it was! The difference between a draw and a win as we took the three points, sending all the Leeds fans home happy having seen two wins in a row at Elland Road. Saturday sees us head to Sheffield Utd for another early kick off and another game on Sky. We are going straight there for this one so at least it’s not too early a start for us. See you there – LUFC – Marching on Together! I also got a great sequence of photos for the goal but unfortunately I can't post them on my website as I've made the whole site too big so have to rectify that. They are on my Facebook page Follow Me and Leeds United if anyone is on that. Will post the goals ones here though
Alioski didn't have a great game, and like I said, when players around you aren't performing they can make a good player look mediocre to bad, we've seen it happen with Pablo, Saiz and Klich. When these players make those defence breaking passes and touches, through or over, and the intended receiving player doesn't make an effort to get to it, or doesn't read the passers intention, then the pass can look bad.........Equally, if passes to Saiz, Pablo or Klich are very limited, then they'll look mediocre and been seen as not doing much. Alioski is a good player, we've seen it many times, and he knows how to score goals and, he's being played out of position. Bielsa isn't going to drop or move Pablo for Alioski, we all know that, that's like replacing a Rolls Royce with a Jaguar, meaning they both have their capabilities. When you watch us playing possession football at the back, it goes sidewards to sidewards, then most of the time it goes down the right wing, and we do play a lot of our football down the right for some unknown reason; other teams notice this pattern and adjust to accommodate. When we look back when Alioski was on right, and Berardi was RB, both Berardi and Alioski were playing in sync with each other. Obviously Berardi has the more experienced head than Douglas, and Alioski did a good job down right with the help of Berardi and Co, and played a lot of in sync football with Saiz. Douglas for me doesn't seem to be in sync, or doesn't want to be in sync with Alioski. More often than not we see Alioski in other areas of the pitch, defence, midfield, right side etc because he has to go looking for the ball to stay involved. Phillips for me is a hot and cold player, more cold than hot. I read people saying he should be called up for an England shirt......why?...what is it that he's doing to make him stand head and shoulders above the likes of Klich, Forshaw, Pablo and Saiz etc......I can't see the impact. Forshaw now does most of the work in midfield, he has a better head than Phillips, he pushes and runs forward with the ball at defences, and does a good job in defence; our midfield has been strengthened since Forshaw came back. I just can't see what Phillips brings to team, yet, he gets picked for every league and cup game over more better players, this leads me to suspect there's something in his contract. Most on here understand that I give credit where credit's due, and apart from one close call where BPF was too far forward, he played a good game and did almost everything right. Coming out to take the ball off a strikers foot was brilliant to watch, almost at the edge of the box, coming out to catch the ball was a sight for sore eyes; BPF played like a keeper should play. He deserves the plaudits for his much improved performance, especially for the penalty save, and I ain't got no problems in giving him those plaudits, however, there's other games in front of him, and if he goes back to his old self he'll get criticised, and not only by me. Good to great keepers, and players don't become good to great players because of one performance. For all the rule changes, formation and tactical changes..........football still stays the same. We have arguably the best fans in world, but there's a difference between watching a game, and reading a game. .
