that’s pretty much the business argument I was putting forward last year Eric. It’s an insurance policy. The only reason not to do it was: A) you don’t have the 10mill B) you do have it but are greedy and want the gain without paying the insurance premium. To me last year if I was rads I would rob my granny for the 10 mill... and this year I’d rob my grandad. Both my granny and granddad are long dead and didn’t have a pot to piss in regardless... but you get the gist.
Agreed, I’m fine with loans who have quality and a point to prove... or a signing if the right player is available. Don’t care... means to an end.
Bamford was excellent today...as usual it probably didn't show up on TV but he was definitely one of our better performers. Nketiah probably had his best half an hour in a Leeds shirt, good movement, held the ball up well and looked fully commited to the cause. The conundrum rumbles on...
Attended the match today, but watched my recording too, just to clear up some stuff. One thing not picked up on the tv, and on reflection, probably rightly so, was our penalty claim in the 1st half, around the 20m mark. We were all convinced it was nailed on & was widely discussed at half time. We also had a second claim seconds later when Ayling was shoved off the ball as he went up to head just inside the penalty area. Probably a correct decision on both counts, but it didn't feel like it at the time. Another thing confirmed by the recording was that they should have 4 or 5 players booked in the first half alone. Some pretty vicious fouls going in on us. Also, one player (Potts) should have had a yellow on 2 occasions, the first for picking up the ball & walking away with it a fraction of a second before we took the kick, and again by kicking it away, just as we were about to kick the ball into play. Ignoring this once was ridiculous, twice was unforgiveably negligent. Which just about sums up the ref in general. He was appalling. Tactics Hats off to Preston. They used a 2-line press tactic when we had the ball in our half. The top 3 killed space, & didn't really press as such. The 3 behind them (& even their back 4) were the pressers, as we were forced to go long. Only we didn't. I believe that Casilla only kicked the ball into their half once. He seemed to favour knocking it 40 yds up the middle & hoping for the best. It didn't work. The ball came straight back at us. The tactic should have been to knock it 60yds+ into the channels for our wingers. Only Phillips achieved this. Once. Result? Scrappy play, to put it mildly, especially in the 1st half. Their goal Well taken goal. These things happen when you're in all-out attack mode, & it's a risk you take & are well aware of. However, I still believe that Casilla was at fault, as he backed off & lost his cover angle. He should never have backed off, & stayed big. I'll leave it to our resident expert 'keeper to confirm. Our goal Lucky break. About time. Casilla - Ultimately at fault for the goal. Could have given another away when he went walkabout. Again. (Will he ever learn?). Had a big say in distribution today & fcuked it up royally (see above). Ayling - Not his best game, but certainly not his worst. His performance summed up our general play - all over the place in the first half, with shocking distribution, & industrious in the second, with more passes finding a home player. Cooper - Not the captain we needed today. Jammy's already mentioned his poor leadership & I agree (even as a Coops fan). Wayward passing in the first half, but better in second. White - The shine has come off him a bit. His vulnerabilities have been exposed recently, and I wonder if it's dented his confidence. Still one of our better players, but suffering a wee dip atm, imo - which still puts him head & shoulders above most, I might add. Alioski - Industrious & winding up the opposition exquisitely as ever. Apart from the Dallas goal, he had the best 5 goal-scoring chances. Depending on your point of view, that might make him a rogue, for missing, or a hero, as he was a left back in the very positions you'd expect your forward players to be in. They weren't. Well, not often enough. Was this a deliberate tactic, or was it Alioski filling the gaps his colleagues should have been taking care of. I have no idea which, but personally delighted that he was getting into these positions. I even wondered during the match if Dallas should be LB & Alioski in the middle. Still wondering ..... Phillips - Poor sod. Casilla & our CBs seemed to delight in giving him hospital balls. He was always going to struggle with his back to their goal & the high press, so why give him the ball when he was going to struggle with it? And so often too! Wasn't at his best today, but was involved in a lot of telling play nevertheless. Costa - I still believe we signed a Schizophrenic. We want Helda Costa, but regularly get Hilda Costa. Today it was Hilda. Again. Sorry to bring it up again, but we've spent too long with this guy waiting for him to fit in. We've carried him as a luxury player for too long now, & it's caused the Eddie situation imo, 'cos you can't carry 2 players who are trying to learn the system. I think Eddie would bring more to the team, even on the wing. Dallas - Scored a goal. Believe he may have played in the first half too, but unable to confirm. Klich - Believe he may also have played in the first half, but unable to confirm. Harrison - Sigh! More of the same - hot & cold, but mostly cold. TBF, they played him today. Forced him infield at every turn, and when they do that, he's going to lose the ball, as he has a predictable tendency to strike out for the other wing rather than lay off the ball. Definitely found out today. TBF, I still enjoyed a lot of his play, & the way he worked with Alioski, albeit inconsistently. Bamford - Isolated today. Think the ball got through to him twice. OK, perhaps an exaggeration, but it was a poor, poor supply he got. Not sure if this was manufactured by Preston Arse End or by our ineptitude. Worked his socks off & was a one-man press for a lot of the match. Deserved the accolade he got from the fans. Boos when they realised he was going off, standing ovation & applause, then 'Bamford!' chants to follow. Nketia - I'll be honest, I was disappointed. He played both wings, leaving a huge gap in the middle. Got in the way of the wingers too. Lots of positives, but just didn't seem to fit in with the pattern of play. This was my view at the match, & was quite justified, I thought. Then I watched the recording & it featured part of his prep. He was clearly told to stick to the wings (plural), going by the 2 outward pointing index fingers from the coaches. So apologies to Eddie - you did what you were asked to do. Had to be told more than once too, and going by his puzzled looks, it was obviously something that wasn't planned, but a tactic developed on the hoof. Who says Bielsa is a one-trick pony? Frustrating match, particularly the first half (which looked better on the telly, btw, so imagine what it was like at ER!!!). I still enjoyed it, though, & oddly enough, that equaliser felt like a winner. No idea why, but it did. Bloody hoarse too, so Mrs WJ was absolutely delighted.
Excellent report wj, I'm just sat watching the replay now and having seen the Preston goal back I didn't realise how close it was to casilla. He really is a liability just like the 3rd goal against Cardiff again. Low shot close to him result goal,again. Agree about watching it on the TV as well looks like a different game to the one I went to, all the time wasting and niggly fouls from Preston not really highlighted. As poor a refereeing performance as we've witnessed this season and there's been some shockers. All in all a pretty dire performance, managed to scrape a point move on to Birmingham.
Glad you were impressed with that Rich. Apart from Ali's shot against a post & Nketiah's saved header we huffed & puffed in the 2nd half after a shocking first-half. Poor crosses & shooting only to get lucky with a wicked deflected goal. Sorry that simply wasn't good enough!
Typical Leeds mentality Nick, if Bielsa & our board can't see it god help us! If we are promoted this lot couldn't cope with the premiership
Ayling was the worst player on the pitch absolutely useless. He can't pass... Shoot or cross. Too many times caught out too far up the field. He was nowhere for their goal and has no pace.
I usually agree with you but second half we totally dominated, I agree with Heidi, on another day Alioski could have bagged three. One great shot saved, a missile of a shot hitting the post and one when he went for power on an open goal mouth when it just needed guiding in.
I love Ayling but yesterday he was woeful, over hit crosses, gave the ball away, was beat too many times, he had a shocker. I took a look at YEP and Leeds Live match ratings out of curiosity, both had Klich, Cooper and Ayling for our worse performers. I thought Klich was sitting too deep, I just feel Dallas alongside Klich affects his game, we could do with Dallas back in at RB and Forshaw alongside Klich
Yes Eddie was pushed out wide with Costa IMO the man playing the middle, but we did look better with Eddie on the pitch, and while Bamford huffed and puffed, never really got into the game, his worst for a long while IMO.Eddie for a not very big guy is good in the air, often wins headers and usually on target.
That's the trouble right there too many sicknotes in a thin and tired squad. A bench full of maybes inspires me not. The pitches will get heavier this winter and we will fade away.
