Whilst I hadn't made that comparison myself, I have seen a little bit of Robbie for the U23's and very much liked what I saw. Not sure what he has to do to finally make his debut but it's certainly eagerly anticipated in these quarters.
Things are looking up. We have Bogusz who is the next Zidane, Gotts the next Bremner, Phillips the next Pirlo, White the next Ferdinand and Nketiah the next Ian Wright. We'll piss this league.
Sorry but also have to disagree with you, given we're saying Bielsa has changed the same players and made them so much better. Looked nailed on for a playoff place under Monk, finished 7th. Top at Christmas last year (everyone has been promoted) finished 3rd (12 point swing). Cruising the playoff 1st leg until the mental down. 3-0 up against Cardiff. It's when it matters we cave.
You have a point. I wonder if anybody knows how well we performed at home during those declines. Obviously Derby was at home, Cardiff was at home this season and I can remember a couple of other losses at home last season. Is it possible that the anxiety of the crowd gets to the players? In the last 10 years or so the whole team has changed, the owners have changed a few times and the manager/coach has changed so many times I can't remember. The only real relative constant is the crowd.
Fair question Eric - even neutrals will refer to the speed with which the ER crowd can transmit their nervousness to the players when a team gets at them, and if we see the fans as a positive influence when they get behind the side, the opposite is surely true when they voice their discontent. It’s a chicken and egg situation where one mistake generates a groan, leading to another nervous error, another groan, and so it goes on, gathering momentum - we’ve all seen it.
There were a few occasions yesterday when crosses were what appeared to be over hit and the massive groans went up. Yet some of those crosses weren't that bad and a player at the back post was still trying to get on the end of it or recover possession and try again. It must be off putting (at least slightly) and I don't really understand the sort of pantomime nature of supporting these days. Ironically our goal came from such a cross which Ayling controlled and then laid back to Dallas...didn't stop the groans that initially went up though.
Good question, though the main games that stick in my mind other than the playoff second leg are qpr away where we lost 1-0, their only win that year I think and the 2-1 defeat at home to Wigan. Also seem to remember we became the team that ended a few clubs losing streaks last year but that might be my memory playing tricks on me.
There is a lot worse fans than ours, for the groaning, moaning etc, look at the support Bamford gets, second to non and if you can't play to a packed Elland road, then you can't play full stop.
-----------------------------Casilla------------------------- Dallas-----------Cooper---------White-------Alioski --------------------------Phillips--------------------------- Costa ------------------Klich------------------Harrison --------------Bamford-----------Nketiah---------------
Not interested in other teams mate. Re chicken & egg though, who bottles first, the players or the fans?
Probably what I’d like to see but Bielsa would never start with two up front would he? I think Klich needs resting, he hasn’t been great the last few games. I think Bamford will get the nod again today but it will be interesting to see if Bielsa feels he can start for the next three, Nketiah can’t start against Arsenal so surely Bamford will need to miss one of the next two?
The only time I ever boo at a match is when the players haven't put a shift in. Doesn't matter to me if we lose 8-0 every week, so long as those 11 lads give everything they've got for 90 minutes. It's the only demand I have of the team as a fan. If someone walks back after giving the ball away I will dig them out about it. It's probably why Becchio is more of a favourite than Beckford. Pure workrate.
Wonder why Bielsa asked Eddie to attack down the wings? Perhaps he is going to start him with Bamford at the expense of Costa?
