Morning Everyone, With a handful of games left, it is now confirmed that Cardiff are up, and Bristol City are down. Hull, though they lost last night are almost up as 3rd place Watford lost at Millwall and are 6 points clear. In the play offs, Leicester have suddenly found a little bit of form, and have leapfrogged Bolton to enter sixth place. Now back to last nights game.... Two wins in four days see us climbing to 11th in the table. To say the table is tight is an understatement. If we had lost both our games we would be one point off the drop zone. If Millwall had lost last night, they too would have been one point from the drop zone, BUT, if they win their two games in hand, they will only be 3 points away from the play offs...... A 1-0 home victory vs Burnley, which in recent seasons must be considered one of our bogey teams has lifted us to Championship safety with a goal midway through the second half from Austin, after good work from Diouff. This was Austin's first goal since September. After the match Burnley boss Sean Dyche said "Leeds showed their experience and that's interesting because the same group of players weren't playing like that two weeks ago because I saw them. "So that's an interesting one in itself, but we caught them on a night when they were on the front foot and we weren't quite at it. "There wasn't that freedom in our play tonight, there wasn't that 'front-foot thinking"'.
Morning Elland. I have to say I never thought for one moment that we'd be in a relegation battle. So the 2 wins just confirm that we should be somewhat higher than we are. Last night's singing about being Leeds United and we're passing the ball summed up everything that's been wrong about this season. But looking forward to next season and I feel a bright future on the way.
Morning all. Boggers, there is no doubt if Warnock had stayed we would be in a relegation fight and possibly not have won it. Comments from Dyche, Varney and McCormack only go to confirm this. Last two games would have been defeats. Thankfully, that all seems a million years ago and we may now have our best manager for many years. Has experience of winning promotion on small resources, great man management abilities, a hunger for success, makes astute substitutions, plays players in their strongest positions and a desire to play football the proper way. Warnock had none of these attributes. Would like to see a decent turn out for last home game to show support for what him and the players are trying to do, last nights attendance was pitiful
No proble Eire. Discussions on whether or not we'd have got relegated under Warnock are now thankfully history. I agree that last night's attendance was poor. But that was certainly in part due to Burnley only bringing in a handful and us having little to play for other than pride. That said, it would be nice to get a decent turn out for the last home game of the season. As it's Brighton & their top 6 place isn't currently a nailed on certainty, it should be a good game with a fair turn out. So we'll see
elland We beat Hudders.Sat.could see us 6 points off a playoff spot with 2 games in hand with 3 of our last 4 games at home we beat Blackburn at home tuesday only 3 points in it. must stop sniffing this glue..........
Mighty Lets be honest that isn't gonna happen. I want you to beat udders though after they went second they told us how amazing they where lol be funny if they went down
Listened to the match last night!!!! is this the same Leeds United, same names but it was pass, pass, pass, from what i gather players always available, the player on the ball had alternatives..............all within 2 matches of McD taking over???, sorry there must have been a major problem behind the scenes at LS11. Lets see how he runs down this season and look forward to next.
Anyone heard that numbers in the Met. have just been swelled by 1000's of South Wales finest running down the M4 towards London? The first time the Swans meet Baaardiff will make Sunday's Tyne/Wear derby AND the fun & games at Wembley both look like a teddybear's picnic in comparison. Heyho, congrats to Cardiff for getting promoted. Let's hope they look after our seat for the year they'll spend in the PL before we take our rightful place back at the top of the tree for the 14/15 season and beyond.
Morning Boggers. It goes back a lot longer than this season though. If we had lost our last two games, I think we would we facing certain relegation now....
Thankfully, we'll never know for sure. So moving on, with Bolton, Boro or both & Palace, Leicester or both guaranteed to drop points, it'll be interesting to see where we are by the end of Saturday. We won't go up this season. But ending on a good flourish will definitely send the lads off in good spirits for next season. Moreover, Austin will return having finally had a decent break.
Are you Real Madrid again cos youve won 2 home games Dont panic!! No points from your next three games will bring back the reality check
Morning all - I mentioned on another post I think we are getting a little carried away with our two home wins against poor opposition, don't get me wrong I am over the moon with the results meaning we are left safe this season and meaning the new manager can take a proper look at what needs sorting and who needs replacing. I have no doubt that if we had this exact same squad of players next season playing under McDermott we would still finish the season mid table, Warnock proved to be the wrong choice but these are the players he assembled, the same players that could beat Everton one minute and lose to Peterborough the next. I can't help but feel many players are opening their mouths, blaming it all on Warnock and trying their hardest to earn a place in next seasons team, a shame many of them did not do this throughout the season. Does anyone honestly believe that McDermott is some godlike being that can transform a team in 4 days? This is a case of players trying to impress a new manager, again shame that they could not have performed better the entire season. The initial signs of McDermott in charge are good but I am not going to get carried away, I remember when we managed to keep a couple of clean sheets under Warnock and we all started to believe our defence was sorted out. Roll on the close season, lets see what funds he has and lets see who he brings in
Quite right but imagine everyones panic, including me, had we lost the last two under a new manager. We'd be calling for his head already. I'm glad to be having positive thoughts for first time in ages about our future prospects. After all, we're only missing a cash injection of a few million from the nice gfh people to complete the project
Or maybe the players are more comfortable playing for a manager who doesn't attack abuse and slag them off? and lets them pass the ball around. To an extent some of it could be to impress the new boss but mainly the tactics changing to suit the personnel has had a influence on the staff and fans over the last 2 games. Far better to watch
Afternoon all I tuned into the coverage last night, actually looking forward to it for the first time in ages. And I wasn't disappointed, sounds like we played some nice football, but I couldn't understand why a lot of the texts and tweets read out at half time seemed to suggest that fans thought we were playing boring football? Retaining possession but without teeth in attack, unless I really heard that wrong? I'd take slow build up possession play over hoof and resist pressure any day! Sounds like Varney missed a couple of sitters, which is a shame, as I think he's a confidence player and that could have really kicked him on for a good run these next few games. We'll be keeping him next season, so it'd be good to see him and Rosco get a bond going in these last few games. Good result though, shame we seemingly sat back at the end and had a few nervy moments, but it's all signs that we're moving in the right direction under McD.
If you get a chance to watch the footballers football show on Sky from last week do so. Aidy Boothroyd, Phil Brown and Gus Poyet http://www.skysports.com/podcast/0,20494,26960,00.html ep 33 They discuss team/managers style of play and Poyet says it amuses him how everyone 'thinks' Brighton are a passing team, he states he teaches players to resepct the ball, it is different to drumming into players that they must pass it about, pointless passing around between the back four is not what he likes to see. All three managers say too much is made about passing and retaining possession if you do not do anything with it. Some very interesting points are made and it is worth a watch. One interesting point all three agreed on - When taking over a new team make sure the first new face you bring in is your best one, it doesn't have to be a money signing it can be an out of contract player however everyone will wait to see who it is, what mentality they have and what they are renowned for. Boothroyd also said it would be great to sign a 6ft 2 left or right back who can tackle, is full of pace and can cross and pass the ball but when you are not in the premier league with millions to spend you make sacrifices. Go for a 5ft 8 player with pace and watch him get destroyed at set pieces meaning you have to pull and push other players out of position - Just one little snippet of why/how managers have to change the style of play to suit their budget.
Habby has it about right Ristac. Basically BMD has got them playing proper footy, keeping it on the floor and passing it around. The volume of chances being created shows the level of improvement. And Burnley weren't that bad an opposition. They were only a point behind us and looking quite good. Paraphrasing someone else, 2 swallows a summer doth not make, but a good win away at Brum on Saturday and we really could get the suntan lotion out in preparation for the start of next season.
