The only 2 bad performances were from O'Dea and Bromby. The marking was awful, poor positioning and they lost possession so many times by hoofing it upfield. The rest of the players were playing well. Second half, as soon as we came under pressure, the defence started clearing it more and more and it kept coming straight back at us. People complain about Howson not getting in the game enough, but it's no wonder when our defence kick it straight to the opposition players as soon as we win the ball back. That was partly why our first half was so good, we didn't panic in possession as much. It seems when we come under pressure, we panic and give the ball away. Lonergan - Could do nothing about any of the goals. Made one good save first half from a corner, and did the simple things right. Kicking improved. 6/10 Lees - Doesn't have the technical ability to be a right back. As guilty as any to wasting possession with aimless long passes. Defensively looks fragile as well. 6/10 Bromby - A shambolic performance. He got turned so easily on the first goal. Poor positioning led to his awful challenge for the penalty. The third goal he infront of the striker, but waited for the ball to come to him. Got the basic defending wrong, wasted possession by hoofing it upfield everytime he got it. 1/10 O'Dea - The only thing he's got going for him, is he's left footed. His positioning was poor for the first goal, he let the ball come into the box too easily on the 3rd. Another who wasted possession. 3/10 White - Bombed up and down the left side, showed his pace in defence and attack. He's improving game by game. Poor throw-in led to the 1st goal, but it should have been dealt with by the defenders though. Only 19, so is expected to make mistakes. 7/10 Snodgrass - He was bright early first half. His best game for a while, althought that's not saying much. He got another assist. Even off-form he still creates chances. Worked hard. 7/10 Howson - To some people he's 'invisible', but he continued to do the job in the holding role - what he's been instructed to do. Passed well, so composed on the ball, put in a few good challenges and I can't actually remember him giving the ball away first half. When the leash was taken off towards the end, showed his quality with a great first touch and vision to pick out McCormack. 7/10 Clayton - Showed the same composure as Howson. Got forward at the right times, passes well and didn't stop. Continued his good form. 7/10 Pugh - Did okay, his lack of football was evident. Seemed composed and defended well. 6/10 Keogh - his first goal for the goal. Unselfish link up play, held the ball well and worked hard. 7/10 McCormack - On fire at the moment. Great first goal, and he was there with the composure to score at the end. Drops deep, plays on the last line and drifts into the channels. He's not just a goal poacher, has a good first touch and passing. 9/10
Snodgrass was ****e. Clayton wasn't at his best but still great as ever, got overwhelmed a bit without much support. Howson was doing well, just Snodgrass and the defense let the side down for me.
Snodgrass was the main reason we scored the 2nd goal, his movement and then pass gave McCormack the chance to score. Can't accept he let the side down, he may not be at his best, but he still is head and shoulders above Howson, O'Dea, Bromby, Lees etc.
Best Fans, what mark out of 10? I'd give him 9/10, simply brilliant and showed why he should he must be the first name in the starting 11 every week.
The hoofball from the back is our biggest problem. The players in front of the back four can all play but the centre halves are disconnected from the team. I think it's combination of lack of ability and Grayson's tactics as to why we always hoof it from the back. People need to accept that Grayson is a negative, long ball manager. The first thing he did when he took over was stop us playing. We have players who can play and like to play and when that comes out we look good, but Grayson stifles out attacking play far too often.
And while we're talking about McCormack, don't forget that Grayson didn't give him a fair chance last season. He also took him off against Ipswich in the form that he's in this season.
I think McCormack was referring to things like this, when he spoke to Sky just after the game against Brighton.
No, but this guy sounds happy with our third goal! [video=youtube;7oASX0e8erM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oASX0e8erM[/video]
He just said that the team have to score 3 goals a game to win it, but that defending starts at the front. Then he said that he was confident because the manager has instilled that in him and he is on the pitch for 90 minutes. People trying to make it seem like a dig a Grayson or the defence were quoting him out of context.
Harsh to bunch Howson with those 3. He played well yesterday. The thing is, he's playing the deep midfield role, but is coming under criticism from the fans for not standing out in a game. While, obviously he won't, he's playing as a holding player. He kept possession well, composed, closed people down and put in a few good challenges. Also grabbed the assist at the end.
I actually thought it was Howson's best game for a while,how anyone can bracket him with O'Dea & Bromby is talking rubbish.
i thought howson did well yesterday, first time in a while. snoddy is very disappointing at the mo, Lees inclusion over the mysteriously forgotten connelly remains a curiosity. Yesterday was just the same old centre half disasters though. Bromby more so than o'dea. Brighton created nothing really beyond the goals we gifted them... though didn't think we created much ourselves tbh. Was anyone else annoyed at us sitting on the 2-0 prior to half time? It's one thing to try and take the sting out of the game, and another to slow down decent attacking opportunities and pass it back to the goalie? When you have a team on the ropes you need to finish them off if you get the chance... particularly if you defend like we do.
Mix the bad performances with the mediocre and we were maybe a little fortunate. I don't agree with Lonergan and goal kicks, they were awful, a 5 from me. Snodgrass not worth a 7 I would have said 6 max as he didn't really do anything special. White bombing up and down the channel doing what exactly? Again a 6 from me and Lees looked scared everytime someone ran at him, 5 from me on that one.
From what I have been told: He does and he doesn't, if you can understand what I'm trying to say. He knows the Leeds board have agreed to sell him in January and he wants to play in the EPL, so he has mixed feelings about the whole thing. He loves playing for Leeds and would have prefered to play in the EPL with Leeds, but the club have made their thoughts known to both the player and the agent. Snoddy will always give 100% to Leeds and I haven't seen anything to suggest otherwise, he has gone off the boil lately and perhaps this is due to the way we play, more than Snoddy's own ability.
